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Craig was a very good husband on October 8th – he bought me a pair of hot pink KEEN women’s hiking sandals for my birthday.
I’d never heard of Keen hiking shoes before, but my previous hiking sandals were 6 years old and it was high time I replaced them – they gave me blisters and were falling apart, plus they were a little heavy.
So, I was KEEN to try these hiking sandals, and I loved them so much, that I decided to share my full review with you. If you’re on the fence about getting a pair for yourself, hopefully this review will help you with your decision.
Why I Bought Keen Sandals?
Keen Sandals are a more breathable version of hiking boots. They are a style of footwear that offers more breathability than hiking boots, thanks to the open lacing system, though they come with a toe bumper to protect your toes from getting stubbed.
They have multi-directional lugs which allows you to walk on different terrain and not slip or fall. There are deep treads so you have better traction when climbing over rocky trails, and offer grip for all terrains.
They come with a contoured fit and have good arch support, and bungee cord straps so they are easy to pull on and off.
The soles are made with foam so they are quick drying, comfortable, and don’t take in foot odor.
What I Liked About My Keen Women’s Hiking Sandals
Comfort
These women’s Keens hiking sandals are like wearing a comfy pair of socks with holes in them so you have heaps of room to breathe. I love them!
We tested the Keen hiking sandals out with a walk along the coastline which had a mix of sand and pebble. The Keens were so comfortable and light thanks to their soft cushioning. They offered plenty of protection and gave me no blisters or sore feet.
I loved walking over the sand with them because all I had to do was shake my feet a few times for the sand to fall back out the cracks when we finished.
I then tried the Keen hiking sandals out with a few creek crossings. They had good stability and kept me upright, recovered quickly on dry land, didn’t give me blisters, and dried quickly.
Durability
These shoes are highly durable and have lasted me many, many years (more on that below).
They have also remained comfortable after multiple hikes, many of which in desert or rocky landscapes, and have barely a scratch or tear on them.
Waterproof
Being waterproof, I can wear them in the water when swimming over rocks or corals, as well as walk through river crossings without having to remove my shoes.
Flexibility
The rubber outsole means they are flexible and move with my feet. This means no rubbing or blisters.
Lightweight
Since I travel a lot, having a shoe that fits nicely in my bag is ideal. The compression on these shoes are fantastic, and they take up barely any space or weight when I travel.
They also don’t feel clump when I walk.
Quick-dry and easy to clean
One thing I have always hated about hiking shoes is how they are always so hard to clean. Some are not machine washable, which makes them stink and difficult to get odors out of.
I love my Keen hiking sandals because I can put them in the washing machine and they dry so fast. They have polyester webbing straps, which means they don’t hold the water and can dry within a few hours.
Often when I am hiking, I will wash them and leave them to dry overnight on a window sill, and they will be perfect the next morning.
Good for the planet
Keen has removed the use of forever chemicals in their products and are PFAS free, meaning they don’t use materials that are harmful to the planet.
What I Don’t Like About My Keen Hiking Sandals
Of course, there are always some downsides to everything, so here are a few things I don’t like about my hiking sandals (hint, there’s not much!).
Mud and dirt cover my feet
Because they have an open style, if I hike somewhere particularly sandy or dusty, this can often get into my shoes and get stuck under my feet.
I rarely need to take my shoes off though. I can usually shake my foot and tiny stones fall out the side.
Verdict: 3 Years Later; How Are They Holding Up?
I’ve now had my Keen hiking sandals for over 3 years now and they still look brand new and are as comfy as ever!
My Keens shoes have never given me a blister, but rocks and sticks sometimes do get caught under my feet.
But, it’s no biggie. I’ll definitely be buying Keens hiking shoes again, if these ones eventually fall apart.
They look like they have a lot of life left in them and are by far the best hiking sandals I’ve ever owned. I cannot believe how long they have lasted.
Just so you know in the three years since owning these shoes, I’ve road tripped around Australia for 18 months and spent 12-months road tripping across the US with them. I do plenty of hikes, especially in the dry and dusty outback, including plenty of wading in water. They’re still in perfect condition.
My Keen women’s hiking sandals are definitely my biggest travel gear recommendation to add to your travel packing list.
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Are you shopping for a pair of hiking shoes? What are some things you look for in hiking sandals? Let us know in the comments.
Your Keen sandals sound great, Caz. My go-to shoes are my Merrells – they are light and super comfy too – but they can be a bit hot in Summer and definitely aren’t any good for creek crossings! I’ll have to check out Keen sandals and maybe add a pair to my shoe collection.
Last year I was in New Orleans and the sandals I had were killing my feet. I ended up splurging about $150US on a pair of Keen sandals and they literally saved my trip. I have really high arches and the keens had great support, and I didn’t need to by an insert (like I do for most shoes). My Keen’s have become my go to sandals for the summer, and I’d definitely splurge on another pair again. Now I just have to find a pair of shoes that are just as good.
Hmm … Never heard about this brand before, and it looks good! I’m still looking for a good sandals that I’m going to use when I travel … Better check this one out! 😉
I LOVE KEENS! They make wonderful hiking boots as well. Next time you need to replace your hiking boots, get Keens. Super comfortable…almost like wearing slippers! They make some breathable waterproof ones that are great for hiking soggy trails or trails with lots of stream crossings.
Keen’s all the way! I love them. My first pair lasted 6 years I think of serious wear and tear!
I have a pair of Merrel sandals which have lasted really well. They’re also nice and light, but it looks like your Keens would dry out better than the style I have. I’ll check them out the next time I need a pair. Mine only came in boring black!
Our family of four left Sept 1st for a 10 month trip RTW and these shoes are the only ones we brought. (We’re only doing carry-on and there was no room for another pair after all the homeschool stuff). We’re heading into our fifth country (Sri Lanka) and have absolutely no complaints. We love these shoes.
No doubt, KEEN provides some good quality sandals and shoes both for men and women. I love the pink color KEEN shoe too! I will bring the shoe for my wife, who loves to hiking in the weekend! I think she will love the color too!
Love the KEEN shoes! They are just great to wear. My friend has the pair and she love to walk with the shoes. Simply amazing shoes, according to her!
Yep. Love ours!
They’re the best. I can’t believe how new mine still are after two years of wearing them all the time!
mostly travel blogger wear keen, but it hard to find in Indonesia 🙁
Agree with you Zulfan,
it’s hard to find them in Indonesia.
I have pair of Keen hiking sandals, too. I took mine to Sumatra last year and they proved to be perfect for the jungle terrain when we were on walking day-trips. Loads of little river crossings and the humidity was high, though they worked a treat. Plus, my sandals are not made from animal products, which is mandatory for me. Thank you for sharing your experiences, Caz!
I was JUST thinking about this. I wore my Keen’s on my last trip hiking in Sumatra and around Indonesia. They were incredibly comfortable but they were a bit heavy and I thought they didn’t dry very quickly.
I left them at home for those reasons and brought my old open toe Teva sandals for my current trip in Laos. I am already regretting not having my Keen’s as my Tevas don’t offer enough support and the sole just broke. I am going shoe shopping tomorrow ?.
I am tempted to buy a pair of proper walking shoes but don’t want to carry them on the heat of Southeast Asia.
Possibly stick with the Keens. They’re more lightweight than other hiking shoes I’ve carried with me before.
Thank you!
That’s look great, your keen sandals will support you at every moments. In my country Indonesia, we usually use this like hiking and trekking hehehe but we have to bring your replacement in your bag.
Hi,
You are right, Indonesia has a lot of mountains that must we hike.
Next time, I’ll visit your country, mate!