For those wearing Keen sandals...

[deskrider]

I bought a pair of Keen cycling (SPD) sandals yesterday and have not yet mounted the cleats. I was curious, since so many people seem to ride with these, how many actually use them WITH cleats and if so, how is their performance? I am curious especially about what kind of distance you ride clipped in with Keen and are you happy with 40-50 miles in those?

[Chicken Little]

I can do 50 easy. I find them quite comfortable, but not as stiff as my regular riding shoes. BTW, I have always had to use the spacer on the cleat mount. I think they set the screws too deep.

[Tri Girl]

I have ridden mine for up to 75 miles and have been very comfortable in them. I wear them on a week long bike tour every year where we typically do about 400 miles. I even race triathlons in them (I got some grief from some of my friends because they are so clunky and heavy- but really- my body is more overweight than my shoes).:p
I even wear them in winter with 2 pairs of wool socks.

True, not as stiff at my Sidis, but WAAAAYYYYY more comfy!!!

I actually had to use the Dremel to cut the shoe away a little so I could unclip- there didn't seem to be much room for that foot to move and unclip. Since I did that I've never had a problem. And last weekend when my friend had mechanical issues and we had to walk our bikes 3 miles up a gravel road- I was so glad I was in my Keens and not in my regular road shoes like her. ;)

[warneral]

these sound so fun! I actually have 10 or more keen shoes & leather sandals.

[Crankin]

I only have used them for around town farm stand rides, etc. Not more than 20 miles. They do feel a little harder to clip in and out of, but nothing that really bothers me. However, for some reason, the heel hits my pannier, even though I have it pushed all the way back. I's annoying. Neither my Sidi mountain shoes or my Gore Alp-X winter cycling boots do this. Since I only use the sandals on my Jamis, which is not used for long rides, I deal with it.

[soprano]

I use cleats on mine. Wore on tour last year. Days with 50+ miles were not a problem.

I've had my Keens for almost 3 years now. They're in great shape, and I have NOT been gentle with them. They've finally developed a little odor lately, so last week I threw them in the washing machine with a load of rags (cleats and all!) and they look like new.

[blackhillsbiker]

I noticed today that Sierra Trading Post has them on sale... (no affiliation)

Deb

[Catrin]

I prefer Keen Commuters on my BMX pedals without cleats. I tried them in spinning class with cleats and found they were collapsing a bit around the pedal. Perhaps it was just this particular pair, but I didn't care for it. I've ridden up to 75 miles with the Keens on BMX pedals, so it hasn't been a problem. The cleats didn't last long enough on the Keens last summer for me to try them on the real bike.

[Miranda]

I love my Keens:cool:. Yes, I wear them with cleats.

I wear them to teach spin class in. Class is 60mins, and this winter I taught six classes a week. No problems there. Only lots of compliments as they are unique.

Also, I wear them to mtb in with Smart Wool socks for little more protection. Plus, sometimes casual riding around the neighborhood with the kids.

The thing about the road biking I found for me is that I needed a stiffer, wider, more supportive platform. In that case I ride Look Keo Elle pedals, and a full carbon sole road shoe.

Good Luck:).

[lauraelmore1033]

I wore my keens last year for both days of the STP. They were pretty comfy most of the way, but I do seem to recall having to stop and take them off and kneed my achy feet close to the end of the ride, but who knows if I wouldn't have needed to do that with regular shoes?

[Miranda]

I use cleats on mine. Wore on tour last year. Days with 50+ miles were not a problem.

I've had my Keens for almost 3 years now. They're in great shape, and I have NOT been gentle with them. They've finally developed a little odor lately, so last week I threw them in the washing machine with a load of rags (cleats and all!) and they look like new.

Wow!:eek:

Mine have the odor problem as well. I really noticed it when I whipped off my shoe to show the cleat to a student in my spin class and bout fell over from the smell lol:o.

Well, Keens are tough. I've never thought about the washing machine though, hmm.

[marni]

I love my keens- 3 years pluc, two cross countries with lots of walking around in them in between. They seem stiff enough to me and I have ridden some long and difficult days in them.

[withm]

Oh gosh, I LOVE my Keen sandals - with Frog pedals/cleats. I have worn them for up to 70 miles on a single ride, no problems. In fact the very first ride I did with them was 64 miles. I just wish it would warm up enough to start wearing them again. I put away my winter Sidis but I did 30 miles today with my regular Sidis and by the end of the ride my toes were frozen. That east wind coming over the ocean can be very cold and damp.

[jenniferh]

I love my keens, but for more than 35 miles they have a little too much flex for me. For longer rides, I prefer my Sidi, but for breeze on your feet when it is crazy hot, nothing is better than the Keens.

[hulagirl]

40 miles was my max. I felt they weren't stiff enough over that mileage. Too much effort at the point. Can be more efficient with my SIDI's.

They are excellent for Sprint Tri's. You rinse off your feet, pop on the Keen's and by the time you are done on the bike your feet are dry!

I still use them on my hybrid. I miss being able to start pedaling without worry of slipping off the pedal if you don't clip in right away. The rubber grip of the soles is good for that. And for walking around. But not for longer, competitive distances for me. I would probably use them for longer "fun" rides with lots of stops.

[AnnieBikes]

I, too, love my Keens. I have had them for three years, use cleats with no problems at all. I have had no odor problems, but I do hose them off from time to time. Definitely will try the washing machine trick :D . I wear them year round and in winter, wear Smartwool socks and in the coldest weather, wear a lightweight liner sock with neoprene socks over the liners.

When I was wearing Specialized shoes, I had terrible hot foot problems. On my cross country ride, I had to stop sometimes every ten to fifteen miles. That is a pain...literally and figuratively! I heard about the Keens the following spring (2008) and thought I would take a chance. I immediately left on another cross country trip with a century on the 2nd or third day! It was then that I became sold on them!! I have not put on another pair of cycling shoes since. The Keen sandals fit the bill for me from 10 mile commutes to metrics and full centuries. They show little wear even though I have over 12,000 miles of riding with them.

Am I a fan? You betcha!!!:)

[soprano]

For anyone with stinky Keens: just Google "stinky Keens" and you'll get all kinds of cleaning advice! I tried washing them first because it was the cheapest, easiest remedy, and it worked great for me, but if you need to take more aggressive action, there are lots of things to try :) Those anti-odor footbeds only go so far. This is probably more of a problem for those of us who don't always wear socks with our Keens.

It's good to turn them over first and use a knife tip to dig any accumulated gunk out of the treads and cleats before you throw them in the wash.

[Cataboo]

I have keens with frog pedals. On longer rides, my foot can get sore because the shoe flexes around the pedal. I've done about 70 miles at a time with them. On longer rides with my sidis, I get other pains, so I just alternate which shoe I wear and which pains I get :)

[emily_in_nc]

Keen Commuter sandals are my only bike shoes now. I wear them with or without socks (and with wool socks on cold-weather rides). I use cleats and Crank Brothers Candies pedals. No problems clipping in or out, and I didn't have to carve out any of the sole (I did have to do that on some previous Cannondale bike shoes I wore with the same pedals). Have worn the Keens on up to 50 mile rides, no problems there.

The only issue I have noticed is that occasionally I get a foot or toe cramp after rides. This may happen even if I wore stiff-soled cycling shoes, though, as I get foot cramps when I haven't ridden in days as well (usually if I've run that day instead). So, I can't really blame that on the Keens.

So far, I don't think they're too stinky...I should probably check just in case! :eek:

[deskrider]

For those of you who wear wool socks in the "winter" with your Keen sandals--what is winter in your land? Here we ride in 35-ish degrees and I can't imagne Keens! I wear thick smartwool winter socks with a full shoe and also shoe covers that are waterproof and windproof.

[Crankin]

Same here. My winter riding is with Woolie Boolie Smart Wool socks, shoes, toe covers AND booties. And, I have been known to put a chemical heater in there, too.
If I am riding my hybrid, I have winter riding boots with cleats, but I even find them a little cool with the same wool socks.
I mean, I like my Keens, but for riding or walking around in sporty- type clothes, going to the pond. Definitely not work attire for me.

[Bike Chick]

I love my Keen commuter sandals and I do clip in with mine. They are perfect for commuting, running errands or easy rides. I don't like them for long rides or hills because the sole isn't stiff enough to get a good pedal stroke. I feel like my foot wraps around the pedal and standing to climb just doesn't work.

I've never washed my commuters but I have two other pair of Keen sandals and DH has a pair and I have washed all three in the washer with great success.

I love Keens. Period.

[Cataboo]

I have a set of waterproof windproof seirus socks (they might not be great for immersion) that I use with my keens (biking or not) so that I can use them in lower temps.

[Tri Girl]

our winters are cold. Sometimes on my commute to work it will be in the teens or single digits. I wear two pair of wool socks and don't have too many cold foot issues. Of course, that's a 30 minute commute- much longer than that and my feet would probably freeze off!!

[Norse]

I have no personal experience, however, I have ridden with a guy who wears them, with cleats, and he says he's quite comfy in them. He wore them on a 4-day, 300 mile ride (highest mileage day was 80) and said they worked great. He is primarily a recreational rider.

[emily_in_nc]

For those of you who wear wool socks in the "winter" with your Keen sandals--what is winter in your land? Here we ride in 35-ish degrees and I can't imagne Keens! I wear thick smartwool winter socks with a full shoe and also shoe covers that are waterproof and windproof.

I live in North Carolina and don't ride if it's < 50 degrees. That's wintry enough for me. :D

[OakLeaf]

I don't, but a couple of my riding buddies do, including a guy in his late 60s who rides any time it's over 20°F and not snowy/icy (with wool socks), and did the Great Divide tour in them last year. :eek:

[tangentgirl]

Are there other sandals/"regular" shoes that have cleat spaces that anyone likes?