Keen Quality??

Christophe Noel

Expedition Leader
... I like their designs.
Well, they said they replaced a couple designers as well. That's a good thing. Their styles were getting a bit stale. The push to make the toe more sleek and less like a clown shoe is a welcome change in response to continuous pleas from dealers like us to do so.
 
Last edited:

RusherRacing

Adventurer
I hope they followup on the warrenty claims I submitted early in the week...

3+ days to respond to an email..

I am thinking the Salomon Tracks GTX will be my next pair of Shoes I try based on what Flounder said in another thread or go a little crazy and try those fivefingers - I really need to try a pair on next time I get to a city.
 

Toyotero

Explorer
I hope they don't change the toe too much, as that is the reason that I like them so much.

Ditto. I greatly liked the similar toe protection on my old Lowas. They do well to protect the toes in rock scrambles high on mountainsides. The toe protection is part of the reason I recently purchased the Keen boots I have now. I imagine that the appearance could take some getting used to (I vaguely remember my Lowas appearing a bit odd when I first got them), but it's worth getting used to if you utilize it.
 

RusherRacing

Adventurer
I still haven't heard back from Keen!!

But anyhow, as for the toe design. I like it in the winter or when I am on a "adventure" but I also don't wear Keen's when I drive my corvette. The large toe section makes it a PITA with the pedals! - I have to switch to my Puma driving shoes.
 

tdesanto

Expedition Leader
I guess I've been lucky so far. I have 3 pairs of their sandals, one pair of street shoes, and a pair of trail shoes. I've been happy with all 5 pairs so far.
 

Christophe Noel

Expedition Leader
Ditto. I greatly liked the similar toe protection on my old Lowas. They do well to protect the toes in rock scrambles high on mountainsides. .
Almost all outdoor footwear provides some form of toe counter. The issue with Keen's toe wasn't about protection, but aesthetics. It was kind of fun and kitchy when it first came out. The feedback now is less positive. Many consumers and retailers started asking for a less bulky toe. Again, there's no problem with retaining protection while making the toe less clunky looking. We'll sell several thousand pairs of shoes this year, and it's increasingly common for people to comment on the not-so-svelte looking toe. The words "clown shoes" come up often. So, making them a tad more slender is a good thing. It won't effect fit or protection, but will help get their lagging sales back on track.
 

RusherRacing

Adventurer
KEEN is a stand up company!!

They will replace both the boots(out of warrenty) and shoes with only minor issues. Now replace them with the same thing I already have or .....

Hopefully they can nip the QC issues in the butt and produce a quality product in the future.

I don't like to have issues but if a company stands behind the product they sell then they will typically keep me as a customer.
 

ETAV8R

Founder of D.E.R.P.
I have four pairs of various Keen shoes. Two are the same and have toe cap delamination, third pair also has toe cap delamination, fourth pair is ok but are more dressy and don't go out on journeys like the other three. They are definitely comfortable shoes.
 
Short walk with the new Keens today. Super comfortable and a lot warmer then expected. Taking a longer hike with them tomorrow. So far so good.
 

Warn Industries

Supporting Vendor
I've got a couple of pairs, as does my wife.

My Keen boots have been to many WARN events as well as many hikes. They've been beat pretty hard. I got them in '07, and just now there's a flap on the side of the sole that's starting to get "flappy." Some ShoeGoo will likely fix it.

My wife's had hers since 2005 and still wears 'em regularly. I like mine.

- Andy
 

High Center

Adventurer
I had mine for 4 years of hard duty. Appalachian trail, beach, swamp, repeat. The sole finally came off of the shoe completely. Most comfortable footwear I have ever owned.
 

NorCalLC

Adventurer
I've had several pairs of Keens over the years now and they're the best fitting shoe for me, right out of the box. The street type shoes held up really well and my water sandals are still great, tho, I don't really wear them that much. But my Targhees? didn't hold up that great in my opinion. I wore them a few days per week in an office invironment and on the weekends just hanging around. No serious hikes at all, no water at all and the soles were coming off pretty bad in an 8 month span.

I took them into REI and customer service told me "they were having several problems with the shoes and they couldn't recommend them again" so I got my money back. I love the feel and look of the shoes/ boots but at $125 for the boots, they should be holding up a lot better. I hope they are really working on quality control and I would give them another try.
 

Christophe Noel

Expedition Leader
But my Targhees? didn't hold up that great

I took them into REI and customer service told me "they were having several problems with the shoes and they couldn't recommend them again" so I got my money back. I love the feel and look of the shoes/ boots but at $125 for the boots, they should be holding up a lot better. I hope they are really working on quality control and I would give them another try.
That's a pretty normal story. At one point, even our Keen sales rep was suggesting we cancel orders (stand up thing to do since it cost her commission money). The Targhees were the most prone to fall apart. We have already noticed the quality improving.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
188,342
Messages
2,905,811
Members
229,959
Latest member
bdpkauai
Top