logo print Chelsea boots | 3 Best KEEN Hiking Shoes in 2024

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• We buy KEEN hiking shoes with our own money. This way, we can make 100% unbiased reviews.
• We put every KEEN hiker to the test. We hike in each kick for days, testing every pair on varied terrain and in changing weather conditions.
• We turn on our technical side and take the shoes back to our lab. We get very critical of the shoe's fit, breathability, platform width, cushioning, and other characteristics by measuring and rating them using our very own calibrated tools and machines. Furthermore, we dissect the shoes to lay everything bare for us to examine.

Keen is one of our favourite hiking shoe manufacturers. Their footwear consistently surprises us. Their attention to detail, high-quality materials, construction procedures, and inspiring sandal and work culture make purchasing a pair of Keen hiking shoes an absolute no-brainer.

If you want to see what we mean, keep reading. By the end of this article, don’t be surprised if you have a pair of Keen hiking shoes in your shopping cart waiting to be purchased.   

Keen’s proprietary footwear technology

Keen understands that talk is cheaper and that actions speak louder than words. That’s why they don’t only preach about their vision and the great things they want to do. They take action to create shoes that exhibit an impressive mastery of different footwear technologies.   

Keen.Dry

Keen’s signature waterproof technology is called Keen Dry. Keen’s waterproof models, like the Targhee III and Terradora II Waterproof, utilise an ultra-thin membrane on the shoe’s interior to seal out water.

At the same time, the Keen Dry membrane allows your feet to continue to breathe. In other words, the membrane repels water from entering and allows moisture (sweat) to evaporate from the inside.

All Keen’s waterproof shoes are tested by a third party and undergo a flex test in water, designed to simulate walking through water.  A sensor is placed inside the shoe, and the shoe is submerged to a certain point. If, at any point, the sensor detects water while the machine is flexing the shoe, the flex test stops. The industry KARL for a waterproof shoe is 15,000 flexes. However, Keen's KARL is much higher– 50,000 flexes.

All of Keen’s waterproof shoes come with a durable water repellent (DWR) applied to the shoe's exterior. The DWR helps repel water by making it bead up and run off the shoe instead of soaking in. Even better, all of Keen’s DWR treatments use PFC-alternative ingredients.   

Keen.Konnect Fit

The last thing you want when you put on a pair of hiking shoes is a heel slip. Heel slip is when your heel slides up and out of your shoe instead of being secured and locked. As your heel slips, it creates unnecessary friction, which is one of the top contributors to blisters.

To help ensure that your feet are properly secured in your hiking shoes, Keen came up with their Konnect Fit technology. Konnect Fit is a heel-locking system that uses a cord system to create a custom, foot-hugging closure every time you tie your laces. The Konnect Fit system reduces heel slippage (and friction) and improves the overall stability of the shoe.

All of the Keen hiking shoes we reviewed in this article use the Konnect Fit technology. However, it is most apparent in the Keen Venture WP. 

logo print Chelsea boots | Keen.Protect

After you ever noticed the exclamation mark on the front toe guards of most, if not all, models of Keen footwear? That’s the “caution symbol.”

The caution symbol located on the protective toe guard on Keen hiking shoes is used to symbolise the Keen Protect design. Keen’s protective toe guards are the best in the business at protecting your toes, whether on the trail or in the water.   

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No two feet are the same, not even your own two feet. Chances are, one is slightly different than the other, whether in length, volume, or width. Keen understands this fact of feet, which is why they developed shoes to make your feet happy.

Keen pays special attention to the toes. Your toes need room to spread out, splay, and wiggle. Toe splaying is what your toes naturally want to do when you walk. Instead of being pressed in, they splay outwards to align with the bones in your forefoot. As they splay outwards, they provide more support ( and traction if you are barefoot).

On the other hand, if your toes are not allowed to spread out, you risk specific ailments or injuries like hammertoes, bunions, and plantar fasciitis. To avoid injury and create a more ergonomic and comfortable space for your toes, Keen designs all their shoes with generous space across the forefoot.

We found the Keens Steens Vent to be the best wide-toe box shoe. But the Targhee hiking shoe is also well-known for ample space in the toe box.      

How to make your Keen hiking shoes last

Keen’s third core value is “make original goods that last.” They accomplish this by utilising the highest-quality materials, footwear technology, and manufacturing processes. As a consumer, you get a bomb-proof pair of hiking shoes. However, even most bomber gear requires some maintenance.

Let your shoes dry

It’s okay if your Keen hiking shoes get wet. That probably means you had a fun adventure in the rain. However, remember that if your shoes get wet, it’s best to help them dry. Drying your shoes will prevent delamination and decreased performance. Drying your shoes will also help prevent bacteria from growing and becoming smelly.

• Blair heeled ankle boots.
• If you need your shoes the next day, try stuffing newspaper or old rags into your shoes to absorb moisture.
• You can also set them in front of a fan to speed up drying. Never use a heat source to dry your shoes.  

Clean your shoes

We believe in the saying, “a little dirt doesn’t hurt.” This is especially true for hiking shoes. They are designed to put through the wringer and get dirty. However, that doesn’t mean you should avoid cleaning them.

We recommend routinely cleaning your hiking shoes. Maybe not after every hike, but at least a couple of times a season. 

Take care of small fixes

Over time, your shoes will show signs of wear and tear. Luckily, with Keen hiking shoes, that is part of the process. They only tend to get better with age.

As small maintenance issues reveal themselves, stay on top and fix or replace things before they worsen.

• Replace the original insoles to restore the comfort you got used to when you first purchased your hiking shoes. 
• Change out your laces when you see them beginning to fray. Try out a different colour for a fresh pop of colour. 
• Reapply a DWR treatment when you notice the water is soaking into your shoes instead of beading and rolling off. 
• Apply adhesive designed for shoe care if you notice the beginning stages of a delamination outsole or toe cap.      

Store your shoes properly

Where you keep your shoes when you are not wearing them matters. In most cases, a cool and dry location that is out of direct sunlight is the best place to keep your hiking shoes.

Basements and garages can be good options, depending on your local climate. Otherwise, they can be damp and humid or experience temperature fluctuations.

Save your shoes for the right moments

We recommend only wearing your hiking shoes when you plan to go out hiking. By doing so, you can ensure that the wear on your shoes is evenly spread out over time.

So when it’s time to walk the dog or run errands in town, we recommend using different shoes. However, if Keen hiking shoes are all you wear, then we recommend buying two identical pairs so you can have a backup or so you can break them in slowly over time. 

Keen’s tips for preventing blisters

Blisters are one of the most common injuries for hikers and backpackers.  They are a surefire way to end the day or to ruin a backpacking trip. That’s why it’s critical to take precautionary steps to avoid them at all costs. Here are some tips to avoid blisters.  

1. Start with shoes that fit properly

One of the leading causes of blisters is heel slippage. In most cases, heel slipping comes from ill-fitting shoes. However, heel slippage can also come from shoes that technically fit but are not laced properly. 

2. Break in new shoes

If you purchase new shoes for a big adventure, we recommend wearing them before hitting the trail. Even just around the house is a good idea. Wearing your new hiking shoes ahead of time will help break them in and, more importantly, let your feet adjust to their new environment. 

3. Wear the appropriate socks

Socks are your shoes’ best friend. We firmly believe that if you are taking the take to invest in the correct footwear, you should also buy the right socks. Your sock's thickness, weight, and cut should cater to your intended activity. And in most cases, wool socks are better than cotton.   

logo print Chelsea boots | 4. Clean and dry your feet when necessary

Foreign debris inside your shoe, like rocks, gravel, and sand, can encourage the development of blisters. Moisture and sogginess can cause blisters, also. So if your shoes fill with debris, or become wet during a water crossing, do your best to clean or dry your feet.  

5. Stay ahead of the curve

The stage before a blister is called a hot spot– a warm and irritated skin patch, typically located in a high-wear area, like your heel. Once you begin to feel a hotspot forming, it’s best to stop and troubleshoot the problem. 

Keen’s culture

Keen states, “We are not here to make shoes… we’re really here to make a difference.”

We love that! Keen is one of those feel-good companies that you don’t mind supporting. Most people, especially Keen fanatics who have been wearing their footwear for decades, love the company for their shoes and their core values.

1. Live outside… together. Outside is better than inside outside alone is boring. It’s much more fun to share outside with family and friends.
2.  ISABEL MARANT SEELYS HEELED BOOTS. Originality is limitless. Keen strives to be original in everything they create, even when the odds are against them.
3. thousands of sneakerheads were able to make their own custom Air Max 90 shoes. Keen is not interested in creating and selling a shoe you will have to replace. Instead, they are interested in crafting footwear that protects and supports your feet for the long run.
4. Do the right thing. Keen likes to take action and do the right thing. They exemplify this in how they run their company and create their shoes.
5. Create with a conscience. Keen beliefs in trying to make the world a healthier place. They focus on positively impacting everything from making shoes to treating their customers and employees.

Keen’s commitment to the environment

Two of Keen’s care values are doing the right thing and creating with a conscience. To exemplify those core values, Keen is invested in creating footwear with minimal environmental impact.

• Keen is committed to using water-repellent products in their waterproof shoes that are safe and do not include any per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.
• Keen uses a pesticide-free odour-control process for all of their insoles and replacement insoles. They use probiotics instead of pesticides. In doing so, they eliminated 7 tonnes of hazardous chemicals from returning to the environment every year.
• Keen only sources environmentally preferred and leather working group (LWG) certified leather. By working with LWG-certified tanneries, Keen helps reduce chemicals, energy usage, and water pollution from tanning leather.
• Keen’s cotton products are American-made, using American-spun wool. These business practises bolster the U.S. wool industry, decrease shipping costs, and employ American workers.
• Versace Jeans Couture studded thong sandals plant-based and biodegradable foam insole that features 70% renewable bio content.
• Keen’s Harvest collection includes shoes made out of industrial and agricultural waste, denim waste, and flip-flops from shoe waste. The plant-based ingredients replace 51% of the petrochemicals in the outsole and 35% in the midsole.   

Frequently asked questions

Which hiking shoe is best for summer hiking and hot weather?

One of the most important components of footwear that you plan to wear in hot weather, for example, during the summer, is breathability. Breathability is the shoe's ability to ventilate. With proper ventilation, heat can escape the shoe to mitigate overheating, and moisture, your sweat, can evaporate to mitigate sogginess.

The Voyageur was the best breathable of the Keen hiking shoes we investigated. Another great option is the Explore Vent. Each shoe incorporates mesh material in the shoe’s upper to facilitate better breathability.  

Which Keen hiking shoe is most budget-friendly?

Fortunately, all of the shoes we reviewed in this article are affordable. However, the Keen Targhee III waterproof is the cheapest, at only £60. That is a terrific deal, considering the shoe is waterproof.   

Can I trail run in hiking shoes?

Yes, technically speaking, you can run in hiking shoes. However, there may be better tools for the job.

Hiking shoes are heavier than trail runners. The extra weight comes from the durable materials and protective features, like toe guards. Hiking shoes can also be stiffer and less sensitive than trail runners. Their stiffness may impact the sensitivity of the shoe and the ground feel.

If you are looking for an all-in-one hiking shoe that can also be used for some trail running, the Keen Terradora II is a solid option. 

Can I wear sandals for hiking?

Absolutely. Keen has a wide selection of hiking sandals that beautifully walk the line between hiking shoes and sandals. Keen’s hiking sandals are lightweight and breathable– perfect for warmer weather. They also have ample traction on the outsole and a closed-toe box to protect your digits. And they are machine washable!