Keen sandals

[SouthernBelle]

Anybody tried these?

Just got an email telling me what my REI dividend is and with the 20% coupon I'll have enough to get them. But my feet are picky. I would go to the store and try them on.

There may be better things to blow my div on. :D

[mimitabby]

some people love Keen. I found their platform too rigid for my feet.
They are well made shoes and I sigh every time i see my Orange keens that i can't wear anymore. :( Do try them.

[SouthernBelle]

some people love Keen. I found their platform too rigid for my feet.
They are well made shoes and I sigh every time i see my Orange keens that i can't wear anymore. :( Do try them.

Mimi, do you not wear a stiff bike shoe?

Also just realized I am not being specific enough. I mean the Commuter Bike sandals:

http://www.rei.com/product/765248?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_LD

[jobob]

I just bought a pair of the Keen bike sandals from TE. Although I haven't gone out on any long rides on them yet, so far so good on my trainer. They're pretty comfy.

If I commute in to work tomorrow (15 miles each way), I'll let you know how they work out.

I use Eggbeater pedals & cleats, btw

[mimitabby]

Mimi, do you not wear a stiff bike shoe?

Also just realized I am not being specific enough. I mean the Commuter Bike sandals:

http://www.rei.com/product/765248?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_LD

Yes, I wear SIDI's, but I don't hike in them!
My feet are rarely too hot, so I have not gotten bike sandals yet. I was just referring to the foot bed in the Keens i have owned. My feet are not flat, just different from the "keen mold" whatever that is. I am very jealous of my girlfriend who CAN wear the keens, they are really cool.


So if they fit well, the ones you are looking at; I can guarantee they are a good shoe.

[Pax]

I have three pair of Keen summer shoes and one pair or Keen winter boots (I'm wearing them right now). I love Keens and find them incredibly comfortable...that said they can get a little sticky and stinky in the summer.

[Grog]

I am envious of those of you who can wear Keens. They are always too "high" for me (i.e. there is a lot of room between the top of my foot and the upper of the shoe). But they're really cool.

[sgtiger]

Mimi, what size are your Keens, if you don't mind my asking? I may be interested if they're the right size.

[mimitabby]

honey, no way are your feet as big as mine! These are size 9's, they are a slip on shoe, not a bike shoe.

[IFjane]

I have three pair of Keen summer shoes and one pair or Keen winter boots (I'm wearing them right now). I love Keens and find them incredibly comfortable...that said they can get a little sticky and stinky in the summer.


Same here, Queen - except I have four pair of shoes - no boots. I wear them all the time.

[Pax]

Same here, Queen - except I have four pair of shoes - no boots. I wear them all the time.

I don't know if it gets cold or wet where you live but the Keen Targhee boot is light as a feather and dry dry dry!

[sgtiger]

honey, no way are your feet as big as mine! These are size 9's, they are a slip on shoe, not a bike shoe.

So close! I wear a size 8 in most shoes. Though, I think the Chaco sandals I have are either a size 8.5 or 9. Hmmm... [Rubs chin, lifts left brow] If you are willing to part with the Keens, could you bring them to Knot's so I may try them? Just concerned if they may be wide enough for my hobbit feet.

Oh! oh! I could probably just go to REI and try the ones they have there. That would give me the perfect excuse to try the cycling sandals! 'Course if I do that I may not be able to walk out of there without them.:eek:

~ Sg(Whose REI dividend is burning a hole in her pocket. And who can resist the 20% off discount anyway?;))tiger:D

[SouthernBelle]

I've been doing so well not abusing my credit card of late. Now I'm wanting multiple pairs of Keens.

[jobob]

honey, no way are your feet as big as mine! These are size 9's

I'm a size 10.

I don't tip over easily in a breeze. :cool:

[SandyLS]

How are the women's Keen commuter sandals sized. Do they run true to size? I see TE does not carry them in 1/2 sizes but REI does. The size charts on REI and TE seem to differ from one another. I'm usually a 9.5. The only Keens I've owned are flip flops from STP and I really like them. The sandals are on my birthday list.

[Tuckervill]

I'm wearing my Keen H2 sandals right now. I like them better in the winter with wool socks, than in the summer. I get hot under the ball of my foot in these. So I only wear them in summer at the river or when I don't care if my feet stink! ;)

Karen

[jobob]

How are the women's Keen commuter sandals sized. Do they run true to size? That's kind of hard to answer - your best bet would be to try them on.

I take a 41 in Dansko clogs & sandals, and 41 in Eccos. I got the Keens in US size 10 which according to their sizing is the equivalent to Euro 40.5. So my guess is the Keens run reasonably true to size. In women's Sidis (which run notoriously small) I take a 42.5.

If that helps any ...

[Blueberry]

*stamps feet*

I want my REI dividend now too! Guess they take a little longer to make it to the East coast:rolleyes:

*end of tantrum*

I'm still intrigued by these - I'll probably try them, provided they carry them locally and I can see if the fit is good:) Of course, I'll have to be really careful to keep them out of cat range - mine love to eat elastic:eek::eek:

[SouthernBelle]

I got an email telling me about my dividend.

I definitely plan on trying them on before buying. I can't abide anything rubbing my foot and sometime sandal straps will.

I'm so sensitive, ya know.

[sgtiger]

Picked up a pair of these today at REI(Alderwood). It was too hard to resist with the 20% coupon and my dividend since that brought them down to half of the retail price. Wahoo! They're amazing comfortable - even for my wide feet. I did have to take out the Exacto knife to trim off a tiny, tiny bit around the bottom to make my cleats(Frogs) fit.

[Bad JuJu]

So did anyone ever say definitively how well the the Keen Commuter cycling sandals did when actually used for cycling?

I love the two pairs of Keens I have, but they're the H2 model--not cycling-specific. I have the Shimano cycling sandals (newer style), and they fit me all right, but the straps are a bit stiff and not as comfy as I could wish. (And my REI dividend is burning a hole in my pocket, too.)

I guess I'm most concerned to hear whether the sole is stiff enough on the Keen Commuters for, say, a 30-40-mile ride.

[MM_QFC!]

Picked up a pair of these today at REI(Alderwood). It was too hard to resist with the 20% coupon and my dividend since that brought them down to half of the retail price. Wahoo! They're amazing comfortable - even for my wide feet. I did have to take out the Exacto knife to trim off a tiny, tiny bit around the bottom to make my cleats(Frogs) fit.

Hey Sgtiger,
I'm interested to hear how you like these; so, I'll look forward to seeing you again (+ family) and hearing your review 'live' at the TE gathering next week, ok?
Mary

[sgtiger]

So far I've only done short rides(3-10 miles) to do errands and take the kids on the trails. Very comfortable but maybe not as stiff as I would like them to be for really long rides. I could see doing ~30 miles in them, but I'm not sure I would want to wear them for rides any longer than that. But honestly without actually having ridden those distances in the Keens I can't give a reliable review right now.

Mary, I'm looking forward to seeing you again too.:)

[jobob]

I've worn them a couple of days I commuted to & from work (~ 15 miles each way) and they were fine over that distance. And they're very easy to walk in despite the moderately stiff sole.

Like sgtiger, I'd probably stick with my Sidi mtn bike shoes for much longer rides. But that's simply because I haven't ridden with the Keens all that much yet.

[GLC1968]

My DH just bought these last night. I tried on the women's version, but there were just too narrow. I'm sure they'd be ok on the bike, but walking wouldn't be comfy for me.

The REI guy suggested I try the men's version on, but they didn't have my size. I can't find it online anywhere, but he said they used to have it (sold out). Anyone seen the men's in a 37 or 37.5 anywhere? If you do, I'll pay you to buy and ship them to me. :) :o

I'm pretty sure I'd get a lot of use out of these if I could just get a pair that would fit!

[AnnieBikes]

So I am not the only one with the REI dividend burning a hole in my pocket (wallet). :) I ordered a pair this week. I wear Keen Isabella sandals all summer long and have two pairs. LOVE them. I am worried about the sizing of the commuter sandals but will post here after I receive them later this week and let you know how they feel. I plan to wear them on long days of cycling.

Last year when I rode the Southern Tier, many of the women were wearing sandals and all loved them. So, we shall see. I want to use them alot before May when I leave to ride the Underground RR route with a group of riders from WomanTours.

http://www.womantours.com

Glad to find this post.

[SouthernBelle]

I'm looking forward to a report. It's a bit of a drive to REI for me and I am not buying without trying on. If anything rubs my foot I can't abide it.

[sgtiger]

Did a 20 miler yesterday with a hill at the end. The first part started out flat and the Keens felt fine. I could feel them flex a bit in the arch as I was climbing the hill, though. It felt like there was something in the shoe that kept the front part - toe to about the front third of my arch - really stiff, but it seems to end there.

I still really like them but I think I'll just keep using them for shorter casual rides and bike errands.

[MM_QFC!]

I forgot to thank you for your earlier response and review, so thanks!
Yeah, I think that Keen notes that they're a commuter sandal, not recommended for longer distances.
Also, I'll bring some cue sheets/maps on Saturday for you.
Mary



So far I've only done short rides(3-10 miles) to do errands and take the kids on the trails. Very comfortable but maybe not as stiff as I would like them to be for really long rides. I could see doing ~30 miles in them, but I'm not sure I would want to wear them for rides any longer than that. But honestly without actually having ridden those distances in the Keens I can't give a reliable review right now.

Mary, I'm looking forward to seeing you again too.:)

[jobob]

I did a 68 mile ride w the Keen cycling sandals this weekend and I never thought about them, which is good. :)

It was hot out -- mid to high 80's -- but I wore my lightweight smartwool cycling socks and all was well. I haven't tried wearing them w/o socks, and I don't think I will, I'd be worried about chafing. I have delicate feet. :rolleyes:

We walked around a bit during our lunch break and they were fine for that as well.

I use eggbeater cleats & pedals, btw.

[AnnieBikes]

Well, I said that my REI dividend was burning a hole in MY pocket, too, especially with that 20% coupon as well, so I bought a pair. I ended up needing a 9.5 as the 9 was too small. I think they do run a little small. Sorry that it took me a month to post but I had to get the new sandals after trying out the size nine, then wait for the 9.5 to come and try them out before I felt like I was "qualified" to really talk about them.

After my Southern Tier problems last year with BAD foot burn, these have absolutely cured my problem. I have ridden with them on long and short rides and had no problem at all. :p I was a bit concerned that they would not be as good when "pulling up" while climbing hills but that turned out not to be the case. They feel plenty stiff enough for all the workouts I can dish them! I use Shimano A520 pedals (SPD cleats) so that I can use them for road and MTB. I really feel that these are going to be the answer for my foot burn. The first three or four times I used them (two times spinning) I had pain in one of my arches but that has not been an issue since those first few rides. They are comfortable from the first pedal stroke now. I really do highly recommend them and they will probably be the ONLY bike footwear that I take with me on my Underground Railroad ride, which starts in two weeks. I still have time to make the decision but feel sure they will work great for long distances. I have a century the second day! http://www.grahamcam.com/annesbicyclejournal

Several people had bad sunburn on their feet wearing sandals last year with Shimano sandals so I intend to wear socks with them all the time (prevents blisters, too, or just chafe) These sandals are comfortable to walk in, have recessed cleats so that you do not slip when walking, or hear a click from them. All in all, I highly recommend these "commuter sandals". I don't know why they designated them for commuting! Give 'em a try and post what you think here!

[SandyLS]

I got a pair for my birthday this month and have had a chance to try them out on a 20 mile ride this week. They were very comfortable and caused no problems at all. I also wore socks with them to reduce the possibility of the straps rubbing the first ride out. They were felt so good that I think that the socks would not have been needed except to prevent sunburn.

[jobob]

There's a thread on the Randon (randonneuring) list discussing Keen cycling sandals

http://groups.google.com/group/randon/browse_thread/thread/b7a3d32784f8d149?hl=en#

[Tuckervill]

Speaking of Keene sandals....if anyone has an old beat up pair of the kind with the elastic lace, no matter what size, that they don't want anymore, I'd pay shipping to get them. I really need only the elastic and the little clasp that holds it for my left shoe. My dog Lucy really likes that one little clasp for some reason, and has chewed it twice! I've managed to put it back together but the elastic is really short and makes the shoe kind of uncomfortable, and I don't know how long the clasp is going to last.

I tried calling Keene and they don't send out parts. :P

Karen

[SouthernBelle]

Speaking of Keene sandals....if anyone has an old beat up pair of the kind with the elastic lace, no matter what size, that they don't want anymore, I'd pay shipping to get them. I really need only the elastic and the little clasp that holds it for my left shoe. My dog Lucy really likes that one little clasp for some reason, and has chewed it twice! I've managed to put it back together but the elastic is really short and makes the shoe kind of uncomfortable, and I don't know how long the clasp is going to last.

I tried calling Keene and they don't send out parts. :P

Karen

Have you checked to see if you can find generic elastic laces? Or buy some elastic and make your own??

ETA: http://www.locklaces.com/ordering.html

[Blueberry]

Tuckervill-

If these are the bungee style, Keen will send you replacements.

Go to: http://www.keenfootwear.com/faqs.aspx

Look for "does keen sell replacement laces" and then click on the link to request replacement bungee style laces.

CA

[Tuckervill]

Wow, how'd you get that to work???

I looked all over their site for that and the "click here" never worked...but it worked this time!

It's been so long since I did it that I didn't remember it until you posted. THANKS to you--my laces are on their way! :)

Karen

[Pax]

I just ordered a new pair of Keens in a really nice blue (http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/23123856/c/26055.html). Since I have to wear the guys sizes it's nice to find an almost pretty color for a change!

[AnnieBikes]

I am now into my third week on the Underground Railroad Route and if anyone thinks that these sandals cannot be used for long distance, I can now say that these are the best things I have ever put on my feet! I have worn them on two consecutive 90 mile days, on steep hills, in heat, in torrential rain, and worn them every day. They are wonderful. Yes, the are not as stiff as road shoes but for long distance comfort, ability to walk around if there are tourist sites on the route, and just all around great cycling sandals, these are the ones! About 8 people on our trip of 29 women have them and all are delighted with them. I can highly recommend them to anyone who is interested in sandals with cleats. I have SPD's, by the way. Don't know if they work with other types.

[jobob]

Awesome! :cool:

Glad you're having a good time and the Keens are a hit.

BTW, I assume the Keens will work with any cleat that's compatible with an SPD-type sole mounting. I use Eggbeaters with mine.

[Susan Otcenas]

A gal in our office (Sandy) rode 357 miles in 24 hours wearing her Keen sandals at the 24 hours of Davis last month. She loved them.

A very good friend of mine wore hers on a 400km fleche a few weeks ago and was similarly enamoured.

Sandy jokes that all bets are off after 358 miles, though. :D

Susan

[ny biker]

Oh no. I have been really wanting a pair of these even though I don't really need them. But I'm trying to be thrifty and practical since I'm saving for the long list of renovations that my condo needs. Now after reading this thread it's going to be that much harder not to buy these sandals.

I'm going to take a long look at my hideous not-renovated-since-the-'70s bathroom now in the hopes it will give me strength not to rush out to REI and buy a pair.

[uforgot]

I bought a pair of these today from Traci (Bike4Ever formerly Bikemom) at Alpine Shop in Kirkwood. Everyone there is always so great and helpful! I had tried on the women's previously and they were too narrow for me, but the men's fit like a glove. I usually wear 8.5 - 9, and the 7.5 mens were perfect. I rode about 10 miles on them today and they were mah-ve-lous! Very comfortable! Perfect summer cycling shoe.

[momof4greatkids]

I am in the process of breaking in my new Keen Commuter Sandals.

Perhaps "breaking in" is the wrong term, because they are really so comfortable, no break-in period is required.

It did take me a couple of rides to dial in the cleat position. I use candy's on my road bike. After a couple rides where I either could not unclip (very scary) or spending 50+ miles with my feet precariously unclipped on top of my pedals, my DH put a shim in, and they are perfect ever since.

These sandals are lined with a very soft, comfortable fabric so there is absolutely no rubbing of any kind. There is no need to wear socks. I feel one of the best aspects of sandals is the ability to go without socks. One less item to launder.

Having my feet open to the air is such a refreshing feeling. They are easy to walk in and I think they look pretty nice too. Pedicure optional ;)

As far as sizing, I normally wear 8 1/2, so I sized up to a 9(only full sizes on TE). An 8 1/2 would have been perfect, the 9's feel just hair too big. Occasionally when I twist my foot to unclip, the foot moves, but the sandal doesn't, because they don't fit really tight. I can correct this by pushing down while unclipping and get all the traction I need. And I can add a thick sock when the weather gets colder, so that's a bonus.

I'm going to take only these sandals on an upcoming week long bike tour. I can wear them off the bike and even in the public showers, (they are waterproof) so they versatility is outstanding.

I was somewhat skeptical about spending this much on bike sandals, but now that I have them, I am very happy with them.

Colleen

[Lise]

Thanks for the comments about the sandals being a bit narrow. I currently have....heck, can't remember what they're called, and I'm at work.... While I love wearing sandals with clips in the summer, I have wide feet compounded by bunions. My middle toes on the left foot go numb every time I ride with my sandals, which is a drag.

I'm planning to ask for the Keens for my birthday--I think I'll just ask for a gift certificate, and try the mens', as well as the womens'.

TE comes through again! :p

[jeff1025]

My Keen Taos lace clasps slip, so that the shoes are always loose. Does anyone have any ideas on how to keep the laces tight?

[Zen]

I am envious of those of you who can wear Keens. They are always too "high" for me (i.e. there is a lot of room between the top of my foot and the upper of the shoe). But they're really cool.

How about putting insoles in them? That would also alleviate any stinky problems.

[LisaSmith1963]

I am very interested in purchasing Keen Commuter Cycling Sandals; however, I have road clips. Do these sandals work with road clips? or do they only work with SPD clips? Sorry, but this is only my second year of cycling and I am very new to clips.

Thanks,

Lisa

[redrhodie]

I am very interested in purchasing Keen Commuter Cycling Sandals; however, I have road clips. Do these sandals work with road clips? or do they only work with SPD clips? Sorry, but this is only my second year of cycling and I am very new to clips.

Thanks,

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Only SPDs.

[ASammy1]

How about putting insoles in them? That would also alleviate any stinky problems.

Great idea Zen! I find that I have the same problem with my Keens. Mine are just a smidge too big and that would definitely help. Especially in the summer when socks are not necessary.

[Zen]

Hi Lisa,

Only SPDs.

I wear mine with Crank Bros. But still no road clips.