Bushwalk Australia

I'm wondering what others feel about Keen boot treads.

I have a wide left foot so I struggle to get a good fit with various brands.

I picked up a pair of Keen Koven Polar boots on a recommendation. I like the fit. They are quite a comfy boot. It didn't need much breaking in and walking around the parks at home wasn't a problem.

But I am now walking in northern Hungary doing some overnighters and I'm finding the low tread to be quite bad. Its autumn in the forests here hence the polar version for a warmer boot. The mountains are wet and the ground is damp and muddy and the forest floor is wet leaves, rocks, broken branches and roots. I have been slipping and and sliding all over. I didn't bring my hiking poles this trip and I'm struggling on both ascent and descent with these Keen boots. I'm not sure if it is the tread pattern or the harder compound that they used.

I should have got the inkling they weren't the greatest when I also had a slidey moment in town when I walked on a metal grate and nearly went ar$e over.

I can't recall having such low traction with boots in my past four recent purchases..

My favourite and comfortable Bates boots had a wide fit and an "mutant" vibram sole with great traction. The notch at the heel helps on descents as well. But no longer made in the USA my last Bates boots lasted one and a half seasons before the sole started delaminating from the shoe. I tried Vasque next and the tread was good but the boot gave me black pinkie toes. I put almost 400kms into it before I gave up on them.

So back to these Keens. I'm not sure whether its the base tread pattern or is this a Keen thing? Am I just unlucky with the model I bought? Is it the tread pattern or the compound they used or the lack of a heel cap (it is flatter more sneaker like)? Or combo of these?



A slight downward gradient coupled with muddy hard ground or wet rocks and I'm doing an unskilled ninja landing impression.

I am quite frustrated with the lack of traction and had assumed that the Keens would be up to it. Sadly without an alternative I'll have to suck it up. I've found European brands tend to have a narrower fit. I went to town the other day and tried on some Merrells and some other brands I haven't heard of and they were too tight on my wide foot.

Shame as these Keens are very comfy and their waterproofing has been great on two wet days so far. They are quite a warm boot (with insulated footbed) and on airport tiles and smooth floor they have the basketball shoe squeak. Just not so good on damp mountains in practice.

Re the slipping. I have a pair of low cut Keen hiking shoes with pretty much the same sole as pictured. Had them for years and they are nearly worn out. But I learned early on to be very selective where I use them for the same reason - they just don't have great traction on slippery surfaces. Otherwise yep, great fit, very comfortable, hard wearing. I suspect it is something to do with the compound used. I know one or two others who also use similar Keens and have seen them go A over T on slippery rocks in creek beds etc. I have noticed that the grip on mine has improved a little with wear but not enough for my liking.

Lack of a heel brake has to be a contributor. Interestingly, I previously had a pair of Zamberlan Trail Lite's that were absolutely deadly on wet dolerite, but my current Zamberlan Baffin's are fantastic. It's all about the compound.

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Maybe it's not just me being clumsy then.

I have very wide feet (4E) and recently switched to Keen shoes as the only brand not squeezing my toes. On my first major walk in them I slipped and sprained my ankle.

Yep I have a pair of keens and they are only used on a very select few walks. The most comfy boots but they slip a lot

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Darn. Well it's good to know it's not just me then.

The Targhee II boot I looked at also had a similar tread but I had read that outdoorgearlabs said it had good traction.

I will have to pay more attention to the soles on the next pair I buy. I'll probably get something a bit higher on the ankle too. I find the comfort of the Kovens is very sneaker like but a bit lower than I'm used to.

It is a comfy boot though. Just on under 200kms in them and other than the low traction they are nice.

Yes Keithy
Comfortable but terrible in mud, and the soles wear quickly too.
Got mine resoled with a Vibram,
a bit heavier but much better!!
John

It's the rubber material with those Keen boots. They are very comfortable, great in the dry but loses a bit in the wet. Not bad in the wet but just not great. The wear is decent though.

GPSGuided wrote:It's the rubber material with those Keen boots. They are very comfortable, great in the dry but loses a bit in the wet. Not bad in the wet but just not great. The wear is decent though.

Very comfortable but dangerously slippery in the wet, especially on rock and smooth surfaces. I think they need to do some serious redesign of the soles...maybe I got a dodgy pair but they're gradually losing pieces of rubber. As for being waterproof...maybe for an hour then it's back to wet socks. The thing I dislike the most is how long they take to dry. Sometimes I think they would be better off without the so called waterproof membrane to allow water to escape rather than squishing along in a puddle of water. A pair usually lasts me about 9-12 months but I think I'll go for a different brand when I'm due.

I think the Keen is more of an urban/light-medium bush boots. Great in the city as an all weather walker and for leisure day walks. For the more serious day or multidays, I would go with my Scarpa with Vibram.

I too have Keens boots with the above sole.

GPSGuided wrote:Great in the city as an all weather walker and for leisure day walks.

I'd contest that, I've worn my pair around town a fair bit and in the wet they are evil, particularly on any form of wet metal as a number have said.

Not long after I got them I did the South Coast Track and numerous Royal NP walks in damp/wet weather. The Royal NP is full of metal grates, the grip was so bad I ended up off track where I could to avoid the wet metal.

Based on my experience, I am extremely unlikely to purchase a Keens product again. I have moved to New Balance Leadville V3 Vibrim soled trail runners to get the width and grip I need. The weight of them is nice as well.

johnrs wrote:Got mine resoled with a Vibram,

Thats a great idea, never occurred to me. Where did you get them resoled?

Flipper Hands wrote:Based on my experience, I am extremely unlikely to purchase a Keens product again. I have moved to New Balance Leadville V3 Vibrim soled trail runners to get the width and grip I need. The weight of them is nice as well.

I don't consider them to be in the same category. The Keen models are more boot like than runners.

I have had problems slipping with my Vasques (vibram) and with my Keens. Is any footwear going to offer great grip on slippery metal?

I have also found my Keen Gypsum mids very waterproof. Having said that I certainly don't put them to the test that many of other forum members would.

cajun wrote:I have had problems slipping with my Vasques (vibram) and with my Keens. Is any footwear going to offer great grip on slippery metal?

I have also found my Keen Gypsum mids very waterproof. Having said that I certainly don't put them to the test that many of other forum members would.

Fair point, In my experience other sole types can be slippery on wet metal as well. However relatively these Keens soles make it feel like you are on ice, even on the type of metal grates you see on some tracks, which have a nice jaggy surface for grip.

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GPSGuided wrote:I don't consider them to be in the same category. The Keen models are more boot like than runners.

Totally agree.

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Hi FH
Got them resoled at Nu Tred Sports Shoe Resoling in Asquith Sydney
Contact details (02) 9477 3944
About $100 so not cheap but now comfortable as well as much better grip
John

Resoling sounds like a great idea. I wonder if I can use my Bates Vibram soles with the Keen upper part? It might not be totally cost effective though.



This is one of the parts I was slipping and sliding. It is muddy - those are deer hoof prints in the mud - and once there is a slight gradient I'm slipping. I am wishing I brought my gaiters as well.

I saw this on the internet and thought it might be better than the Keen soles!

Bumping this up again with an update. I've worked my way up the Dalmatian Coast and to Slovenia where these Keen boots are unsuitable for the hillside hikes. I missed the mountain season and some routes already have snow and some huts are closed.

I've walked some little hills up to 1500m where there was already snow. In these boots the going was slow but I am now more cautious on wet rocks, leaves and mud.

The thing that has sent me over the edge is that they were still new at the start of October and now a month and a half later in November the stitching on the left toe has come out already!




So while they are the most comfortable boot for my slightly wider left foot, I don't think I can recommend them due to the slippery soles and the poor quality.

I've tried on various European brands while I'm here from the various Italian brands to German and Austrian brands. The Italian brands including Zamberlans that I tried were too tight for my wide foot. The German brands like Hanwag seemed to have a wider fit but i couldnt find any in my size.

I found a Slovenian brand - Alpina http://www.alpinashop.si/c2/pohodna-obutev?p=8. They currently have their hiking and mountaineering boots on sale so I picked up a pair that fit me nicely. At a reasonable sale price too! So I'm now left with a pair of Keens that I can leave in Slovenia with someone and pick up next year when I'm back or just donate them to the needy. The Keens are a comfortable and warm boot, just let down by the slippery sole and poor construction quality.

That's unfortunate with your Keen experience. I've now had a few pairs of Keens in low cut boot and sandal styles. Quality have not been an issue but I wouldn't use them for really serious walks. For a start, the stiffness of their sole is not to my liking (too flexible over pointy rocks). Otherwise I prefer them for comfortable urban bashes and light-medium bush walks. Walking in mud will pose a challenge to most shoes, short stiff boots that can dig right down.