anybody own a pair of Keen sandal's?

I am seriously thinking of buying a pair I have seen on ebay. I am going to the big island next month and we always do a lot of hiking and water stuff. Last time we were there I had a pair of crocs I wore all over! But when we were goofing around in the pools they had a hard time staying on my feet. And anybody who has been to hawaii and the big island knows the lava is hard to walk on with anything but good traction on thier shoes.
I have a pair of old teva's which would work. But i like these keen Venice sandals I have had my eye on, and they are water proof. I can get them right now for about $60.00 I debate every purchase I make that is over $40. it seems.
So anyway i was wondering if anyone has keens and do they like them? Do they run true to size etc... Just looking for input. Maybe there is something you like more?

I have a pair of the Venice sandals. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I may have gone up a half size in them. I like them okay. They give me blisters and my feet feel really sweaty in them. I like wearing them in the fall/winter with wool socks. For hiking, I much prefer my waterproof Nike trail shoes. For watersports, I'd probably just stick to Tevas.

Brandi - I think my latest wading sandals are Keens. Will have to look when I go home... My last pair of Teva's ran a bit small, and for some reason fit better wet than dry, so I didn't cry too hard when I had a malfunction - the straps pulled out on one foot - but it didn't help that I was on a field trip at the time. I was able to salvage things for the day with the use of duct tape. :rolleyes: That night I ordered new sandals from REI.
Whatever brand I have (I do know they're NOT Teva's), I've been real happy with them, fit, function, protection of toes, traction.

I'm not sure what model I have, but I used a pair of Keen's for hiking through a slot canyon (wet) in the Grand Canyon. I was so happy with them, except that little pebbles would get stuck inside. The trail was tricky in spots, and involved some scrambling, so crocs would have been a disaster. And, I was afraid that my tevas would leave my toes too exposed too.

A thread from 2 years ago.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ht=keen+sandal

I'm still very happy with mine.

V.

I have two pairs of them, I wear them non stop in the summer...to work/kayaking/camping/etc. Love 'em.

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They give me blisters and my feet feel really sweaty in them.

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Same here. I have the Newport style and not only did my feet sweat and slide in them, the soles stunk to high heaven. I had to soak my sandals in vinegar and water to get the stink out. And I also scrubbed it down with Nature's Miracle. I contacted the company and asked if they have had other complaints about the soles and unfortunately they did. Hopefully they used a different material so the shoes don't offend as bad.

I would rather wear Birks or Merrells.

I have some Keens that are insanely comfortable, but, like some others here, my feet sweat/stunk in them. If you don't mind sweaty & possibly smelly shoes, then they're awesome!

I don't have any Keen sandals but I do want to applaud your thought process when it comes to purchasing things.

I wish more people in the US gave such consideration to spending.

....I have four pair and wear them year-round. Socks in the winter, none in the summer. Stinky feet? well....


All of mine are my true shoe size.

I have two pairs that I got in an outrageous end-of-season sale a couple of years ago. I mainly wear them for kayaking and wading, so my feet rarely get too too hot in them, and I leave them under the house with my 'yakking gear so even if they did smell bad, I don't suppose I'd notice much.

On the other hand, I did have a pair of Tevas that got awfully smelly after just a few weeks of wear.

I have a pair of Keens...I don't recall if they are Venice or not. I also get too hot in them and find they have a nasty habit of picking up stones and never letting them go! I'm forever digging pepples out from under my feet! :mad: That said, I found them to be true to size and wear them for casual.
I have 2 pair of Tevas...a "sacrificial" wet wearing pair for mud stompin' and a pair I save for street and casual (dang end of year sales...brings out the Imelda Marcos in me! :rolleyes:). For kayaking, I have a pair of super cheap Speedo Aqua-socks b/c I find things like Tevas cant my foot at a bad angle on the pegs and hurt my ankles and knees.

I have 3 pair and absolutely love them. I find them more useable then tevas including when doing water sports as they stay on my feet better and offer more toe and heel protection. They are also easier to walk longer distances in.

I'm a die hard chaco fan. They're re-soleable, made in the USA, and I've done LOTS of walking with mine (hiking in the mountains, walking on the beach, kayaking (sea and white water)).

Just food for thought:)

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

I'm a die hard chaco fan. They're re-soleable, made in the USA, and I've done LOTS of walking with mine (hiking in the mountains, walking on the beach, kayaking (sea and white water)).

Just food for thought:)

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I also have a pair of chacos.....:D

but.....no longer made in the USA. Used to be made in Colorado....

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Originally Posted by IFjane

I also have a pair of chacos.....:D

but.....no longer made in the USA. Used to be made in Colorado....

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Really!? I thought it was just the leather stuff. That's disappointing:(

Edited to add:

Here's a quote from their website: "It is the Z series of sandals that will transition to Asia midyear in 2008." Sad.

CA

What a huge disappointment. I have 4 pair of Chacos. (3 pair of Keens, I like the Chacos the best)

Edit: miscounted, I have 5 pair of Chacos.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

What a huge disappointment. I have 4 pair of Chacos. (3 pair of Keens, I like the Chacos the best)

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Me, too - because of their arch support.....*sigh* oh well.....

Here's the link from Chaco if anyone wants to read more:

http://chacousa.com/Portal.aspx?CN=9...N=85C1703521CF

CA

Brandi, I have a pair - bought new off Ebay. They are the ones with the nylon - Venice or Newport ??? I love them. They are a little warm for sandals. My feet don't sweat excessively and tend to have cold feet. I find them extremely comfortable for hiking, biking, kayaking, everything. I think they run pretty true to size, maybe a 1/2 size small.

Oh, man, I'm just in a tailspin... I am such a Chaco enthusiast, I've sent so many folks over to the Chaco Side.

20 years ago Teva was good. I adored and bought a lot of Tevas. (this was back when they came in two models, and 4 sizes!) Teva branched out into cheaper manufacturing and many many different models. Quality declined. Teva was spread too thin, they sold their soul, and now they are a joke.

Sad to see Chaco following in Teva's footsteps.

Brandi -

My husband loves his Keens but for me the arch is not comfortable. For the amount of time I was planning to wear that kind of shoe, I didn't think I could tolerate the Keens. I looked at Newports, Venice, and one other style (can't remember right now).

I found some Salomon shoes on end of season sale at REI that worked great for me. They are called 'sandals' in Salomon's description but they are more like a water shoe. They have mesh that keeps the little pebbles out but lets the water drain out. I wore them almost the entire trip to Costa Rica a couple of years ago - no stink and great support for me. The back of the shoe can be folded down to make them become slides, which works great for before and after bike rides if you want to keep your socks on. :D

One day I must have been living right and the shoes showed up on SteepAndCheap for about $33 plus shipping. I got a second pair in another color as my backup pair for when the first pair wore out. Still waiting for that first pair to wear out so I use them both. The sizing ran true for me. Here's a link to what they look like:

http://www.backcountry.com/store/SAL...al-Womens.html

I have another pair of Salomon shoes, the style is called Karma. I bought these at end of season so haven't had much chance to use them yet except around the house. Same comfort level. Here's a link:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/SAL...oe-Womens.html

I promise I don't work for Salomon but I have found two styles of shoe in their line that work for me and might work for you. I have such a hard time finding shoes that I will buy two pair sometimes if I know a pair fits me well, especially if I find a great deal. You know what they say - if the shoe fits buy it in every color. :p Just kidding! I think you are very wise to evaluate purchases of items over $40. :)

Good luck finding sandals that work for you!

Jennifer

I'm wearing mine right now! :)

I like them better in the winter with socks than in hot weather because of the sweaty issue. I think they're H2 model, but I'm not sure. I have some Chaco's, but the pebbles get in them worse than the Keen's.

Karen

Hey, speaking of Keen's & rampant consumerism, I just found that Keen makes cycling sandals - in women's sizes !

http://www.rei.com/product/765248

must go mull ...

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Originally Posted by zencentury

I don't have any Keen sandals but I do want to applaud your thought process when it comes to purchasing things.

I wish more people in the US gave such consideration to spending.

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Thank you! I want to retire at some point in my life. I want and I need are two different things you know? So I really think hard about a purchase that is over a certain amount. And always look for the best price.

I must have freak of nature feet, I find Keens insanely uncomfortable. I have a pair of Keen Presido shoes that I can only wear a short time, forget any long distance walking in them. Chacos weren't much better for me, and don't even get me started on Crocs! :D

//snap loves her Simple Sugar shoes

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Originally Posted by jobob

Hey, speaking of Keen's & rampant consumerism, I just found that Keen makes cycling sandals - in women's sizes !

http://www.rei.com/product/765248

must go mull ...

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Oh, yeah! I already ride in my H2 Newports, and those look like they'd feel the same! Hot doggies!

Siped soles, very nice for wet streets! Removable footbeds means I can put my wedged Superfeet in there! Wheeeeee!

Ooh, I forgot I have a pair of the Keen hiking boots (Targhees I think). Unbelievably light and comfortable.