Keen Sandals for a Hybrid Lifestyle

Keen. Just Great Sandals... 

Keen footwear started life back in 2003 in response to the need for footwear which offered the protection and comfort of a walking shoe, yet with more of the lightweight design of a sandal for summer coolness.  The problem with walking shoes is that whilst great on dry land, even the best waterproof treatments will not stop them getting wet when you head into the water to get some respite from the heat of the summer sun. The problem with sandals is that whilst they are designed to be cool and cope with full submersion, the toes are left exposed, and when wading through water obstacles have a habit of finding the toes.  The question which Keen set out to answer, was can sandals offer more protection for the toes? The answer was yes, and Keen found it.

Keen sandals occupy the niche between sandals and shoes and have been termed hybrid footwear. They not only give greater protection for the toes, but feature waterproof and quick drying fabrics to ensure that even after submersion they function perfectly well as walking shoes. They are the ideal choice for all summer adventures, and if water features in the plan, there is no better footwear to have on your feet. Many walkers and hikers are loathed to swap their robust and protective walking shoes for lightweight flimsy sandals in summer, which often do not offer adequate support and protection. They may be fine for the beach and casual wear, but for off road walking they often don’t make the grade.  Not so with Keen sandals, as the innovative design, high degree of comfort, and great versatility makes for full on amphibious adventuring in maximum comfort, and an easier time of it on the trail. The hybrid footwear has won award after award, and are still some of the most highly rated sandals ever released, even after some 8^th years on the market.

The Keen sandals collection started with the Newport, which features the trademark toe protection system, which is present throughout the entire range.  The sandals enclose the toe in a chunky toe bumper, and ensure that the toes are protected from stubbing; both on the trail and underwater. The footwear uses a host of Keen technologies to ensure maximum performance, no matter what the terrain and where your route takes you. The Newport is now in its second generation, with the Newport H2 now released with a redesign to give even greater aqueous performance, and offers a considerable weight saving on the original. The original Newport is still in production, and is the best choice for summer hiking, with a highly robust design, thanks to waterproof leather uppers, with a hydrophobic mesh lining to stay dry when the going gets a little wetter. A beefy tread makes light work of off road walking, with razor sipped soles to give excellent traction in the wet.

The Newport H2 offers a 30% weight saving, and replaces the leather uppers with polyester webbing, making it ideal for the beach and for white water adventures. Both models are fully machine washable, feature AEGIS™/Microban™ anti-microbial treatments for great foot health, and have a metanomical contoured footbed for great support and comfort.

Of course, Keen sandals offer more than just the Newport which launched the range, with a great choice of men’s styles, including the Keen Kanyon with an ultra slim design for faster speed in the water, and the Keen Kreek which adds more protection to the foot, and offers better performance on the trail.

So, whatever terrain your route requires you to cover, with Keen sandals you can be sure you’ll get the maximum performance, and your toes will get all the protection they deserve, and if you want the maximum versatility from your footwear, there really is no better choice than Keen.