By Eco-Girl
from Seattle, WA on 10/13/2009
Pros:
Durable, Eco-friendly, Stylish, Warm, Waterproof, Wind Resistant
Cons:
Slide slightly downhill
Best Uses:
Backcountry, Casual Wear, Hiking, Trail Running
Describe Yourself:
Advanced
Gear Usage:
Cold Weather Living, rainy weather
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Keen never fails. I have round feet with high arches and their shoes seem to always fit me perfectly. I ordered size 8, but I'm actually a 7.5 wide, and they fit fine.
Don't let the red color on these clearance shoes intimidate you. I was worried about the red, but wanted the clearance price. When they arrived, I was pleased to find that they are actually a very soft, dusty rose and grey color--not bright at all.
I started with Keen shoes 3 summers ago when I committed to buying only eco-conscious products. I got the Newport Sandals, which I wore on a 5 mile run right out of the box. I've used these every spring and summer for everything: street and trail running, casual wear, and hiking/backpacking. They are still holding strong, and now that I've started doing winter sports, I decided to get a pair of Keen shoes for off-season.
These Wintersport Trail shoes are my cold weather version of the sandals, and they are awesome! Again, right out of the box I went on an 11 mile dayhike in the Cascades in 35 degree weather. They kept my feet warm and dry the entire time, even when going through water. The only issue I had was that they slid forward slightly when going downhill, putting some pressure on my big toes. The cushion and shock absorbsion was very good.
Since the hike, I've tried them for trail running, street running, and city walking. Again, no problems. I live in Seattle, which is very rainy in the winter, and these guys live up to their waterproof promise. These are great cross training shoes that can be used beyond hiking, for sure.
I've gone from owning 6 different pairs of shoes and boots to just owning my 2 Keen shoes. Get yourself the sandals for spring and summer and the Wintersport Trail shoes for fall and winter. That's all you need for everything! Plus, you'll be lowering your carbon footprint. :-)