Keen Sandals! (Not really bike related, but...)

I just bought a pair of Keen sandals, and I love them so much I have to share with the world (others may have done the same, I just didn't spot anything). I have not had a pair of sandals this comfortable before.

Size reference: I have wide feet, somewhere around a womens 8-9. Running shoes men's 8EE. Biking shoes mens 41.5. Normal shoes, 8-9 womens if they are wide, 7 mens (sometimes even have to go wide mens, sigh).

Keens are apparently a little narrow (or average at least), I didn't even try the womens' version on. The nice helpful man at REI said not to bother after I said I had wide feet. I put on the mens' size 7 (Newport H2s) and they fit like a dream. I don't have to "lace" them up at all, and they fit around the top of my feet pretty well (they will stretch/form as we go, too). The heel piece at the end is a little loose on both feet, probably because I'm in men's shoes.

For those of you with less Fred Flintstone-y feet, a friend of mine has the womens' version. She has narrow feet and "laces" hers up pretty tight. She loves them as well, and has no complaints about fit.

A little hard to get on (as is customary with a lot of sandals and wide feet), I have to push my foot through then worry about adjusting the top and heel. I do not feel constricted at all in them after they are on, though. The arch support is pretty good, my feet don't hurt when I wear them all day, and nobody has to look at my purple smashed toe ;) They do have anti-microbial footbeds so hopefully I won't get "sandal feet" AND I can put them in the regular wash if they need to be tuned up a bit.

I'm not sure how popular they are in other places, but out here in the NW I see Keens a lot. I wish I could bike in them... ;)

Oh, yeah. Just bought my 3rd pair (Venice H@ for fishing) and finally talked Bubba into a pair because we both dislike our guide model Tevas. He wore them for the first time and had no hot spots or blisters.

I think they're taking a bite out of the Teva and Chaco market. I'm just hoping the H2 models have good traction for fishing.

I love Keen's! I have two pairs of sandles (Jamestown and Jamestown slides) and the Seattles which are Mary Janes.

I bought my 5th pair of Keens before this trip! A replacement for some I had worn out!

V.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

I bought my 5th pair of Keens before this trip! A replacement for some I had worn out!

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I wish I would have bought them sooner. They are great. I can see myself living in them every season of the year (and probably being made fun of for it, too ;)).

How long did it take you to wear them out?

Keens are starting to appear on Sierra Trading Post!

Nanci

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Originally Posted by colby

I wish I would have bought them sooner. They are great. I can see myself living in them every season of the year (and probably being made fun of for it, too ;)).

How long did it take you to wear them out?

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Two years I think.

V.

I (heart) Keens. I had never heard of them till I saw Spazzdogs Keens. Now I (heart) them.

love them!

have red newports.

spazz

Love mine too.:)

Got three pairs and LOVE 'em! Bought my first pair to wear kayaking and decided they were so comfy that I needed to wear them to work too. :D

:) I also bought them for kayaking and have them half worn out before my kayaking trip this week.
I have a 2nd job working retail and they are great for standing 4-6 hours.
KEENS ROCK!--;)

I have 3 pair of Keens.

2 pair of Chacos.

The Chacos are the most comfortable, but the Keens are awesome too. I can wear all my Keens at work. Can't wear Chacos at work.

My oldest Keens are about 2 years old now. No problems with them at all. My newest Keens (the Bronx sneakers) are falling apart where the outsole meets the leather. Kind of a bummer, but I am really hard on shoes at work and I wear the sneakers quite a lot.

I have a couple pairs of Keen clogs. At first I loved them. Then I discovered they gave me a corn! ouch.
I live in my Teva sandals during the warmer months. Can't stand to put on "real" shoes anymore (the exception being my Ruby slippers) and I wish I had a job where I could wear my Tevas to work. I'm already pushing the envelope by wearing Born or Dansko shoes with skirts and no hose. Especially since I have "teva tan" feet and a tattoo on the side of my lower left calf.

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Originally Posted by mickchick

Can't stand to put on "real" shoes anymore .

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I'm with ya. I go hiking all the time, full pack and everything. People are always hollering at me that I can't hike in my chacos and I just tell them to stfu. The thought of putting on regular shoes (and worse, SOCKS) during a day of hard activity... ugh. There are very few times I wear my hiking boots 1) when it's cold 2) sometimes if the copperheads are running rampant and 3) if i'm doing technical scrambling where chacos could be a hazard

I used to have a 7 year old pair of Tevas that was held together only with sheer determination and a tube of Barge cement. I upgraded to Chacos (found a men's pair on sale for 39 bucks so said what the heck) and after a few weeks adjustment to my feet they fit wonderfully.

Shoes are for winter, and Keen sandals just seem like too much shoe for me! (but The Boy has Keens and hearts them, so I guess it depends on personal preference).

Sounds like we have the same feet--I have a pair of men's Keen H2's in size 7 also. They are my waterproof alternative to Birkenstocks, which I wear the rest of the time:D

I bought a pair of brand new Keen Newports last winter at the REI Garage Sale for $20 - they were used in a photo shoot and couldn't be sold as "new" anymore. I recently started wearing them and I love them! I'm a convert!

Now I'm eyeing a pair of Mary Jane Keens, but I got such a good deal on the first pair, I'm reluctant to pay full price!

Fujigirl---check Zappos. I bought mine there---on sale---at a great price.

Fuji - I have the Mary Janes. They have held up beautifully for 2 years. you won't regret them!

I've worn my Keen Newports (red!) so much this summer, I'm getting this funky striped tan on the tops of my feet! :D Guess I need to start sunscreening them.

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Originally Posted by Bad JuJu

I've worn my Keen Newports (red!) so much this summer, I'm getting this funky striped tan on the tops of my feet! :D Guess I need to start sunscreening them.

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My mom kept telling me "honey you've got some dirt on your feet" when she saw my faded tan stripes at Christmas. :D

I'm a freak, I didn't like my Newport's at all so I sent them back.

BUT!

I ordered these on sale from Terry: Isabella

Will the Keen Newports be good for cycling? They're exactly the ones I've been looking at!

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Originally Posted by pooks

Will the Keen Newports be good for cycling? They're exactly the ones I've been looking at!

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Good question. If they fit you, I'd say yes. The toe protection is probably a really good idea if you're going to wear them cycling. :)

There is a more shoe-y model that is kind of a cross between the Newports and a shoe. Less open, but still not like wearing a whole shoe. Newports (and Venices) have open heels, so you could get something "in" your sandal, but I'm not sure you'd have that problem cycling.

Do you think the sole is stiff enough?

They are definitely not stiff--more like a sneaker. I have ridden my bike with them, but only for a short way. Not like you couldn't ride far with them, but they are certainly not stiff like actual cycling shoes are.

Okay -- sounds like the Lake sandal would be better for that. Thanks!

I just got a pair of the venice ones from rei - I did not like the toe ledge of the newports. I think they are comfortable but they really make my feet sweat - unlike my tevas. I wore socks with them yesterday and it was much better - but kind of defeats the purpose of sandals.

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Originally Posted by pooks

Will the Keen Newports be good for cycling? They're exactly the ones I've been looking at!

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I love my Keens! but...
I've tried biking in my Keen sandals, and I find the rubber "bumper toe" sticks out just enought to clip my tires soetimes when I turn. I don't have that problem with other walking shoes/sneakers. :(
Lisa

I tried the Keen's but didn't like the way the rubber toe felt on my toes.....anyway, was at a store about a year or so ago and saw a sandal made by Primo. It was a men's model, black leather and looked rather like a Keen but with no rubber toe. They are wonderful....I wear them everywhere and they look a bit more formal than the Keen's so can get away wearing them in some dressier situations (which for me is still pretty informal I guess).