I am currently on my fourth pair of Keen shoes. I’ve worn out the soles of three different styles of Keen shoes in seven months. I hike an average of about two miles a day which means each pair of Keen shoes has lasted approximately 120 miles when you deduct all of the time spent without hiking shoes due to their replacements being in transit via postal service.
Here is a timeline with photos showing the various defects:
- Keen Voyageur – Shipped – 6/21/2011
- Keen Voyageur – Wore Out – 8/22/2011
- Keen Alamosa – Shipped – 9/8/2011
- Keen Alamosa – Breaking – 10/30/2011
- Keen Alamosa – Wore Out – 12/10/2011
- Keen Gypsum – Shipped – 12/17/2011
- Keen Gypsum – Breaking – 1/12/2012
- Keen Gypsum – Broken – 1/31/2012
- Keen Gypsum – Wore Out – 2/16/2012
As you can see from the above photos, the hard rubber “lugs” tend to peel away from the softer part of the soles and the primary point of failure usually occurs where the harder rubber “fingers” wrap around the side edges of the soles. The “hard” rubber parts of the shoes don’t seem to be very durable since once they are nicked or cut they will easily tear and further delaminate.
To Keen’s credit, they have replaced and shipped three replacement pairs of shoes with very little fuss or hassle. All I had to do was take a picture of the defect, fill out their online Warranty Claim form and wait for the replacement shoes to arrive in the mail. It’s almost like it happens so often they’re used to it.
I bought my first pair of Keen shoes because they had a good reputation and I wanted to replace the $40 New Balance shoes which I had been hiking in for a year and a half before they started showing minor signs of wear. I was hoping the “rugged” $100 Keens would far outlast the Plain Jane shoes that I bought from Sears but they didn’t even come close. If you buy Keen shoes and they start to peel apart, contact Keen Customer Service and return them ASAP because they will inevitably fall apart.
I’m still looking for a good, durable and comfortable replacement shoe. If you have any suggestions, please write your recommendations in the Comment section below.
I purchased a pair of Keen Turias. Within six months, the back loops was separating. I contacted Keen via Facebook. The Keen representative gave me an email address so that I could send information.
Never heard back. Yeah buddy….there’s your Keen. From the FaceBook website, there was also evidence that Keen had not responded to some free offers from their selected “fans”. Hmmm. For the price of this footwear, a person with anything more than minimal expectations may be disappointed. I guess Keen is trying to capture some special experience… it appears they have a long way to go.
You get what you pay for. You want durability buy Hanwag alaskans
Same problem , worst shoes I’ve ever had , better off with Walmart $25:00 ones than Keen $ 120.00 garbage soles falling off , leak ,
Got Keene Shoes to walk the Compostelle in France – 800km over 5 weeks. They were brand new – but not bought from the Keene website in Australia so now Keen refuses to replace or honor the new product warranty.
After 2 weeks in the cushioning started to go went and the edges where the little toes are – gave out. so 3 weeks walking in shoes tha progressively deteriorated and self destructed.
I made it to the end in the shoes – not a lot of options really – but I mean – these are meant to be a good shoe – after finding this webs site I wish had seen these reports.
As stated – THEY SUCK – If I could work out how to post photos to this I would – and Keenes only reply – sorry not covered by our warranty – even though they are new!
Just to add on, my Keen hiking shoes are starting to delaminate as shown in the photos. I have had them for 18 months but they cheerfully told me “ sorry but it is over the one year warranty so try some barge glue”
They are crap quality and I will buy another brand!
Keen’s are crap. All high end shoes are crap these days. Don’t buy 100 dollar + hicking or running shoes. They All delaminate or the soles fall apart. I’ve bought Raicle, Merrels, Tecnicas. They are all crap now. They used to be superior shoes. REI sucks too. I had a dim wit 20 something tell me since I had the shoes for over a year I got my use and value out of them. Buy cheap shoes. They last just as long.
Yeah, Keens suck. Had two pairs of Targhees at $130.00 apiece fall apart.( mine and my friends). The sole come apart with hardly any wear on them whatsoever. Didn’t know they even had a warranty until it had expired . Obvious defect and Keen won’t even admit it or do anything about it. Don’t buy them unless you like a big hassle , wasting $$$ and having your shoes fall apart. Sean
I’m on my second pair of Keens targhees. First ones lasted from May to Oct, Next pair Oct to March. I’m SERIOUSLY disappointed with the uselife of them. REI replaced my first pair but won’t replace my second pair (100% satsfaction guarantee liars) The problem is every other boot I try hurts and I need a boot that does not have break in time as I hike for work. I need comfy boots ASAP. I can’t go around with blisters for weeks. I was hoping the Gypsums were better made but my outlook is grim after reading this. Have you tried the heavier keen hikers? I’m trying to decided whether to fight REI on this, contact keen or bite the bullet and buy the keen pyranese or PCT’s. I just WISH they used a vibram or a better sole!!!!!
Hi – I know you posted this a year ago but I just found your post. If you want immediate comfort, you’re def going to be limiting yourself to the shoes that break down more often. However, if you are in the market for comfy shoes take a look at merrils. they are usually less expensive, and for sure comfortable. they don’t last very long (i would go through a pair a season – 9 months at about 20 miles a week) but I really liked them.
Sorry but that simply isn’t true. I’m an avid hiker, mountaineer and alpinist and I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that you have to pay for comfort, longevity and performance in footwear. I have had tyo break in a couple high end boots but the time was minimal – in todays world you don’t really have to break footwear in any longer after you get past a certain scope of quality.
Keens I have always disliked, especially when you stand them up against Asolo, Scarpa, Lowa, Targee and La Sportiva – they just can’t compete in that class. If you want good footware that will last then spend the money on serious gear and reap the reward.
Targhee is a Keen boot…
Red wing. They usually r backed with a limited warrenty i havent tried their hiking boots but know that some have saftey toes metal and composite and some with no saftey toe i shattered my femur so i have to use shoes i dont have to tie which is where keens come in i found for me the soles r more solid and better that walmarts 25.00 sandles which i bruised the sole of my foot hopping off some rock onto a trail but i sure dont hike much so they work for me
They use to be a very good sandal not any more. I bought a pair 6 months ago after my pair of two years (made in USA), Now made in China and they are terrible!
Keens don’t last…(period). I’ve come to this conclusion after buying a pair and having the soles wear through in 5 months. I wore them to work daily – out the front door to my car, then across the parking lot at work, then into the carpetted office.
So I returned them for a second pair of Keens that were a different model. The second pair lasted 6 months before the stitching started coming loose around the top most eyelet. I returned them for a 3rd pair, again a different model. This pair is on month 5, but the soles are wearing through already.
What blows most about the fact that Keen’s suck is that they’re really quite comfy for a guy with big, fat, feet like mine. I really hope they get if figured out, but I think that I will miss them.
I also wear mine out the front door and in the office and they just don’t last. This is my second pair and I will not be purchasing another. I don’t use them every day (maybe twice a week) so they were out of warranty by the time they started fall apart. I guess I’ll have to resort to patching them up with some Aquaseal to get my monies worth out of them. The first pair I had (which I wore every day) lasted only four months before falling apart. I thought it was just a fluke, but it is obvious that these things are just poorly made.
Merrell i find last the longest. i am a gardener and wear my shoes everyday. The gardens i work in have sheeting and gravel, rocks, soil and the merrells dont let me down. i also hike in them every day for at least 2 hours with my dogs over rough Surface as live in Menorca and rocks and Little soil. I have tried Salomon, Churica, the north face, hi-tec, bestard but nothing lasts and is a comfy as my merrells. Basically the merrells are on my feet every day all day and last 10 months which i consider a good deal. hope this helps regards sara
I’ve had two pair of Merrill that kill my feet. Never again.
They were real good when they started in Alameda, California. Later on, they’ve decided to move to Portland, Oregon and built many other shoe styles. Thereafter, all hell broke loose!
That’s what happens in the manufacturing business – they lose quality of their products whenever they get overly ambitious. Its like having too many kids in the family, then parents lose control of the children. As the saying goes…” Dont bite more than you can chew!! “
I have had a pair of Keen Targhees for the last 4 years and wore them for light hikes in dry conditions. I have wide feet and they are super comfortable BUT, I took them out for a test run in the rain (while wearing gaiters) and my feet were drenched. Realised afterwards they were separated from the sole at the sides. Well, my bad, I thought. I did not care well for the leather or waterproof them. So, I went and bought another pair of Keens, the new Gypsums. Went for two walks in them of about 8km and they have started to separate from the soles, already! So I took them back to Rays Outdoors (in Aus) and they advised they would have to consult Keen to see if they were prepared to refund my money. Still waiting on a response but disgraceful service on the part of Rays (they are faulty, clearly, and they should have just refunded my money. That is their policy.) and I will reserve my judgment of Keen until I get a response from Rays but I am expecting the worst from a company that coudl really fill a niche market well but are happy to produce inferior products. Don’t buy them. They are of poor quality and don’t last.
If a merchant or manufacturer doesn’t comply with its guarantee, call your credit card company and ask them to credit you for the purchase. If you have a reasonable explanation they usually will do so.
Wow, I googled “do Keen soles wear out” and found this posting. I’ve used their warranty service. I bought Targhees, which wore out in I think three or four months. They replaced them with Gypsums, which did about the same, maybe a month longer. They then replaced them with the heavy duty leather womens hikers, the Glarus. I think these have lasted 1 year 2 months..am calling Keen tomorrow to verify the dates. I read postings from people about their hiking boots lasting ten years…this is nuts. The soles, IMO, are inferior. Mine haven’t split, they just lose their ability to support, I start getting foot and knee pain. The soles seem at that point to be over flexible and lack the support as when new. I walk a couple miles a day, normally I would never buy hikers for this (it is on trails) but….thats what Keen suggested. Very comfortable, warm, dry feet when new. But they’re hashed out now. Even tried new Superfeet insoles in them this week…nope.
Don’t be fooled I purchased Keen Pittsburgh soft Toe. The soles wear out causing the boots not to be waterproof. They warranted them within 4 months the same thing happened no warranty. Trust me not worth the 180$.
Keen voyaguers purchased 4/6/2013 superglud twice in month in half never buy keens again not worth s_ _ t
I have had a pair of Voyagers for about 4 years. The “panels” on the soles definitely start coming off… I just break them off when they start flapping around.
I don’t do a lot of hiking. But I wear them all the time including yard work.
I had a pair of Keen shoes (probably some variation of the BLVD… those lasted about 3-4 months. REI gave me a refund on those and I bought the Voyagers with the money.
I have the same problem other people have. My weird feet love the Keen sizing. Before that I wore wide New Balance shoes, but NB needs to work on their styling department… pretty lame.
Had mine for 5 weeks , walk to and from work , a total of 5 kilometers . Soles are coming apart and the rubber is wearing , support is also gone . A waste of money , crap shoe !!!
I have had a pair of voyagers now for 2 years… and I’ve yet to have any issues… I’ve also had a pair of keen winter boot (no longer available) for four years, and also no problem… Is it possible that the canadian shoe/boot are being made differently? These are the most comfortable brand of shoes I’ve ever had. Really wish my old boots were still available.
I have not yet had any problems with my Voyageur low hiking shoes. I started wearing them over a year and a half ago when coming out of orthotics I was wearing during a bout of PF. I wear these nearly every day unless I’m wearing my Keen Newport H2 sandals on hot days. I walk two miles with my dog every morning and they have been through two separate Disney World week long treks. Sunrise till near midnight on both those trips for a solid week each time. One evening it poured and we were running through standing water. No quality issues at all yet. Just now looking into another pair of Keen only because these Voyageurs are stained.
Really comfortable, lightweight footwear but really poor durability and thus very poor value for money. I have two pairs, just for lightweight casual wear. First purchase, last purchase. What more can you say?
Why do you keep spending hundreds of dollars on shoes that fall apart? Seems counter productive.
Because they are the only shoes that are consistently shaped like my feet.
That is the reason I buy the Keens, because they are the only ones with a toe box that is comfortable on my feet. Hundreds of dollars for some extra wide Danner’s that were only wide at the ankles and the toes like cowboy boots that almost crippled me and then no response from Danner. The only other boots are Rocky S2V Special Ops but I don’t like a boot that comes up that high on my leg unless I’m in snake country. I would love to get a quality handmade boot with the toe box shape of the KEEN’s
Bought Keens Gypsums in February, wore them 90% of the days with some hiking on gravel roads/trails. Sole detached completely this month and the other shoes sole is starting to detach. Will go for warranty but will only use them for occasional casual use as they are definitely not reliable enough for extended hiking. I would have been in a very bad situation if I was a dozen miles out on a trail.
I feel the same about Merrills and had the same experience… that’s why I was researching the Keen’s. The Merrills are very comfortable and their sizing is consistent across different models… if a size 10 in one boot fits, you can reliably order a different model shoe/boot in size 10. BUT… the soles wear out WAY too fast!
I wore Keen Whisper (Sandals) for hiking to Mt. Apo, Phillipines. It’s the best ever shoes I’ve tried for hiking in tropical climate (lots of river crossings), hardly any blisters. I only had it early this year, never count the mileage but definitely no 2 miles/day. I tried Teva Karnali Wraptor and Salomon hiking boots, both leaving me with blisters at back of heel and toes.
I got my A86 trail shoes in Hong Kong about half a year ago and I have more than 200km (about half trail and half road) on it and they are still doing very ok. Not sure if the quality varies for different models or whether their quality control for each pair is not consistent. I am impressed by the design and quality of A86, but reading the comments above do make me wonder if I am just lucky..
every day, 12+ hours, tropical Papua New Guinea. Countless hours walking on uneven terrain over 1 year. I am not kidding..
Every other boot I wore was destroyed in weeks–my feet were not much better off. Foot rot n peeling pads were an everyday occurrence before i wore the Keen Detroit. So after a year of daily wear and tear, rain, heat, rocks, muck, snakes, blood, sweat and tears sure the soles are showing the pain…will i buy another pair for my next contract. You bet…I just hope my next spot will let me go without the steel toe.
Hi George! I just bought a pair of KEEN Voyageur’s. As yet, unused. I’ll be trekking in the jungles of Vietnam in similar conditions you described. Was wondering what model shoe you used and if you still like them and would recommend them.
I bought my Keen Alamosa Mid WP in Taiwan on June 2013. Frankly Its one of the most comfortable hiking shoes I’ve ever had. But it disappoints me in the 2 day light trek (21 miles) , which was just the 2nd time I had it on. My feet got soaking wet after just 3 hours of small rain. Keen.Dry sucks.
Keen is AWFUL about handling returns. Because they don’t process exchanges, I had to purchase two $180 pairs of boots. According to FedEx, the returned, unworn item has been in their possession for ten days now, but I have yet to receive a refund on my credit card. Reading all of these experiences has affirmed my decision never order a Keen product again.
I’m on my 4th pair of Keen Oregons
Great hiking boots like everything in this life they wear out .
The soles have good grip on dry and wet rock haven’t found better and have tryed other brands more costly .
The wide toe of the keen is great!
Keen don’t stop making this shoe seems sometimes you find something that works good and they stop making it.
I checked the Keen website to find more information on Keen Oregons and it would appear that they no longer make them. Maybe they discontinued them because they were Keen’s one style of shoe that lasted more than 2 or 3 months of light to moderate use on rough terrain. Either way, I’ll never waste $179 (suggested retail price of Keen Oregons) on a pair of Keens just to hope that they’ll stand up to their advertised rugged durability. I think Keens have become a fashion statement and little else.
I got my pair of Keens from a charity shop for £5 about a year and a half ago. Don’t know what ‘model’ they are but at a guess, i’d say they were are about 6 months – 1 year old. I wear them EVERY day…out and about, walking and at work and they’re still alright. Ok, i’m gonna need a new pair soon and there’s the usual wear on the soles (which are still going strong) that you’d expect, i’d personally buy these again from new. now if i could only find out what model they are!!
I’ve had GREAT experience with my Keens, but I have the sandals (Newport). Bought them at the REI members returned goods sale (just $30, no idea why they were returned); that was 8 years ago. I live in northern Thailand and I have just these shoes and a pair of Crocs. I’m in the Keens constantly. I do a lot of hiking and use them for biking averaging 200km/wk. After about 3 years, the soles on both shoes split in half. I had a local shoe repair shop re-glue them and then hand stitch them all the way around. Now, 5 years on, the soles are starting to look like the pic (above) of the Keen Alamosa (lugs are de-laminating). Googled this topic to see if I could get replacement soles (the repair shop here in Thailand doesnt have a large sized sole). Upper’s on my Newports are still in great shape. I’ve been through 8 rainy seasons, I wear these at the beach and sometimes in the sea water, I can’t complain at all. Seems like all the folks with problems are having problems with Keens shoes/boots. It’s a shame, I figured I would try the boots next, I like the look and I like the toe guard. And my Newports are super comfortable.
Danner Boots are awesome. I have had a pair of the cloud cap model for over 3 years and they are just now starting to wear out and I am very hard on my boots. So try Danner boots. They make the military’s boots for them also. Very Durable boot.
Bought a pair of Keen waterproof hiking boots about three years ago at REI. The first time i wore them on a local hike they beat up my heels. I did not give up and did wear them on three short backpacks without problem in the year after that. Just back from a hike in New Zealand where the boots were an unmitigated disaster on a five day hike on the milford track. They went about five miles on day one before my left foot developed blisters. On the next day, after walking through deep water, the toes on my right foot began to swell, which continued to hikes end. The boots are terrible! They are simply a horrible design and probably poor construction. Would never buy Keen boots again.
I couldn’t disagree more. I have a pair of keen amblers. I’m 6’0″ 220 lbs. I hike an average of 15 mi a week but also took these on a 2 week walking tour of England last July. I had a 20 lb pack. Weather was in the 80s and 90s. I hiked a total of 120 miles on pavement, dirt, gravel. Traction was great. I am still wearing them now over a year later and currently have them on in ice and snow In Quebec City. They are 100% intact and comfortable as ever. They fit perfectly. I’ve stepped in2″ deep icy water and my feet are dry. There is some wear on the heels but typical for me with my stance and gait. Maybe you should try a different model. I have over a dozen pair of Keens and they have revolutionized my posture and comfort. In fact I think they discontinued the an bleed and I bought another 4 pair from cabelas.
Hi Joe from Quebec City. It’s interesting to see someone so pro-Keen on this site with the inclination to post 3 separate comments defending Keen in a single day. Just because you had a positive experience, it doesn’t mean everyone else did or that they’re lying when they say that they had an experience different from yours. It’s also interesting that you mention that you’re wearing Keen Amblers which are “so great” that Keen discontinued them for men and women and now they’re only available for kids. You also state elsewhere that you have over 20 pairs of Keen shoes. That should be more than a lifetime’s worth of shoes that are advertised as being “durable shoes that rack up the miles over rugged terrain”. Maybe you just have low expectations or maybe everyone else here expects to walk more than 200 miles in a pair of hiking shoes before they wear out. Either way, all of the negative Keen shoe reviews on this site proves that not everyone shares your enthusiasm for Keen. You’re welcome to your opinion but I’m deleting your argumentative comments calling other people’s comments “BS”.
Well said
great that your get your keens free. how did you get sponsored by them?
I’m with Joe on this, I’m 6’1 and 230lbs, I have a pair of Gypsum Mid’s that are about a year old. They are the comfiest boots I’ve ever owned. They’ve remained pretty waterproof through the back-end of last winter and throughout this one in the North of the UK (Loads of mud and slush and wet grass for three to four months now) The soles are showing some signs of usual wear and tear, but nothing unusual, just a little gradual reduction in tread depth, maybe a third or so at worst. I split my walks 70/30 between a pair of very uncomfy Lowa Renegades (30) and the Gypsum’s (70) Over the last year I’ve done roughly 1500 miles in total but some are from work during lunch and in office shoes, so probably a little over a 800miles in the Gypsum’s. I am currently looking for a second pair of Keen’s in Trainer low boot style and happened across this site while looking for reviews of the various keen models. The Lowa’s are a tougher construction, no doubt and the sole is virtually unmarked. The only problem with them is I can only do about six miles before my feet cry out for relief as they’re slightly too narrow (no reflection on Lowa here, just my ability detect rubbing points in-store). The Gypsum’s have seen me through some serious 20+ mile treks in the Torridens in Scotland and performed admirably with great support and aabsolutely no pain. The only other very comfy boots I’ve owned of similar fit are the Hi-Tec Altitudes, but they didn’t last a year before the leather split and I maintain my boots meticulously. I do hope the reports on this site are isolated instances, because I absolutely love mine.
At 6’3″ and 250, sounds like I put as much punishment on these soles as anyone posting here. I have really wide feet and have found the Keen Gypsum to be more comfortable than most any other hiking shoe I’ve tried – and I do have a nice pair of Danner boots on the shelf, and have worn through a pair of mid-high New Balance boots.
I have used the Gypsum low and mid highs for day hikes up to 19 (rocky) miles (Patagonia) and backpacking. Probably have 300 miles on the low cuts and am now replacing them after a couple years – but though the soles are worn and the support is not as good (and I wear orthotics in them) as when new, they haven’t broken down or lost waterproof. And I hike in the Columbia River Gorge a lot – so they get water tested.
The mid highs are less used so far but quite comfortable. Their soles seem stiffer with less communication of sharp rocks to my feet. I haven’t done hikes longer than 12 miles with them yet, but they seem pretty comfortable up to that distance, with just a day pack. Ready to try them on a backpack. A very similar style New Balance shoe literally fell apart on me backpacking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The Keens seem stronger.
A friend advocates only non-waterproof shoes for weight and breathability. I’m going to try some Merrills – but I do not have complaints about the Keens for durability or comfort.
Same complaint as all the above. My Keen Alamosa’s are the most comfortable outdoor shoe I’ve worn in years. I’m an old guy, but active enough to be out with my dog a couple of miles a day. The Alamosa’s started heel separation at about 6 months. I have a warranty claim pending – nothing heard in over a week. Since filing the claim I’ve been looking for a similar shoe. Previous outdoor multi-sport shoes I’ve liked have been discontinued. I live in Hawaii and need a light, ventilated, but modestly waterproof shoe that can handle orthotics. Anybody have a suggestion?
I am not sure when the quality of Keen’s took such a nosedive, but they are now complete crap. I’ve now owned four pairs of Arroyo II. The first two pairs held up very well. I got at least two years of heavy abuse out of them before they each had to be retired. I considered them creek hiking boots and logged hundreds of offtrail miles in them before the cloth parts on the boot started to fail. The soles on the other hand held up great.
The last two pair have held up less than 5 months before the soles started to break down. The cloth lace loops were next, apparently from friction from the laces. I’m not talking about 5 months of creek hiking either. I spend a lot more time sitting at a desk now (vs hiking). I’m talking about 5 months of walking the 15 feet from my parking spot to the office door. I’m really disappointed and will be looking for a new shoe I guess. I used to associated Keen with high quality, but I think I know better now. Somewhere along the way they sold out, because their shoes just don’t last anymore.
I’ve been wearing Keen shoes and sandals since they started. Ugly but great comfort and durability, until new runner style appeared 2 years ago, I got about 3 months out of them before the footbed collapsed inside. Even thru orthotic insoles I could feel all the pressure points right thru to the ground. Pull out the insole and look at the pressure points dented right down to the outsole. Became painful to walk in them.
Keen quality is abysmal, went down the tubes fast……older shoes were decent. Just spent $160.00 on the women’s Revel ll, went snowshoeing and am now sick due to no waterproofing whatsoever, had it been colder, I would have had frostbite. REI said to call Keen, Keen wanted pictures…insult to injury……..NO MORE CHINESE KEEN EVER! Goodbye Keen~
I own a pair of USA made Keen Glisan sandals. Living in Texas, I get to wear these nearly everyday, year round. They go to the office and the trails with equal time Almost a year in and no problems at all other than the footbed wearing out near the toe area. But the shoe is holding up extremely well and is so comfortable. I wonder if the problem is the products manufactured outside USA?
I bought a pair of keen Kaci shoes. I got them in September they are flat on the inside and coming loose in the middle.
I’ve been extremely happy with my pair of Alamosa WP’s and very sorry to see that this model has been discontinued. Worn daily for work and also for some serious hiking (I’m a bit strange in that I prefer a light shoe even for rugged trips!). I have a wide foot shape and it is very difficult to find a shoe that fits well and is confortable. These Keen’s delivered that really well. Agree that the soles seem to wear out relatively quickly but for me there are more positives than negatives.
I agree that Keen shoes do have some positive aspects but the fact that the soles wear out so quickly is a deal breaker for me. If you actually hike in your “hiking shoes” or if you don’t have enough money to buy a new pair every 2 to 3 months, then Keens probably aren’t right shoes for you.
I can only say I’m really surprised. I’ve owned the same pair of Keens for about ten years. They were my main pair of shoes for 4 years I lived in California. Now, in upstate New York, I wear them during summers and go hiking through streams. They’re still in great shape. Maybe things have changed…
Keen’s reputation for rugged durability is the reason I bought my first pair, but after wearing out 4 pairs of shoes in about 9 months, I decided that I had given Keen more than a fair chance and wrote this article. If Keen ever fixes the problem with their soles delaminating, I’d probably try them again but Keen will have to admit to their past deficiencies before I’ll spend another $120 on any of their new shoes.
I wear Keen Gypsum for fairly serious hiking, mainly fell and craggy rock, (Peak District UK) and I find mine excellent. I would say the present ones have done over 400 miles and clean up like new. I looked for the separation many others have suffered from and to be honest I think they will wear down before they come apart.
Not the cheapest, at £115.00 but with my wide foot, possibly the most comfortable on the market. Very good from a waterproof aspect too.
As you can tell from the non-shoe related content on this site, I do a lot of hiking in Pennsylvania but I didn’t get anywhere near 400 miles out of my Keen shoes. Maybe about 100 miles at the most. I can’t really speak to their waterproof aspect because none of their shoes lasted long enough to make an honest appraisal. Maybe the Keen shoes sold in the UK are different from the ones here in North America but, as far as I can tell, they’re all made in China and their quality and consistency leave a lot to be desired.
I have a few pairs of keens (hikers and sandals), my husband does too, and so do my kids. We have never had a problem…we actually rave about how great they are. Not sure why the bad luck for some of you, but our have been superb. I have not 1 single complaint!!! Except I wish my kids would learn to untie them before they try to put them on…not sure if Keen can fix the kids! I love them…Keep up the great work Keen!
My Keen Arroyo II soles began separating from the sandels. Someone suggested I use ‘Gorilla Glue’ whch I have done according to the instructions but have only walked the equivilent of 1 mile so far and they seem to be holding okay so far. (a month); before I discovered this site and discovered KEEN may replace my faulty Arroyo’s if I need to notify them.
Terrible Shoes…Keen Voyager…Had just over 3 months black part of the sole came right off!! Going back to Merrell Keen is just not cutting it!
Really interesting discussion. Heading to USA (from NZ) for a month in August and had set aside a pair of Keen Newports just today, to pick up tomorrow. Now I don’t know what to do…
Keen have a good name here in NZ, but I don’t know what its based on since I’ve read this 🙁
Any other suggestions please?
I have been wearing Keen shoes and sandals for years with no problems. If you have foot problems like wide foot, pronation or suppination, any shoe can wear out in a short time. If the shoe spends a lot of time in the heat or sun, the glue will over-cure.
Louis, of course some people with supination or pronation will wear through their shoes more quickly but the problems with Keen Shoes is that the soles delaminate at the glue joints, they aren’t being worn down by improper alignment or gait.
If the glue “over-cures” from being outside during the summer then that would appear to be a major limitation of an “outdoor” shoe.
Also, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone else suggest that a “wide foot” is a “foot problem” that would cause premature wear in a shoe.
I was just going to pay for a pair of Keens today and decided to hold off with plans of picking it up tomorrow but sure glad I did. After reading all the posts here, I’ll continue to look around. But they do feel great on feet and looks good too. Any suggestion on a brand that feels comfy, looks great and does not fall off in 2 months?
Keens used to be much, much better. I buy casual Keen shoes, as I do a lot of walking on the job. My first pairs were nearly indestructible and lasted 2 to 3 years (!) They looked great, maintained good support, and the soles were hardy and it took a lot to wear them down. Now, they look shabby around 10 months and need to be replaced after a year.
The shoes still start out as comfortable, but clearly they are cutting costs by buying cheap components and putting the shoes together using cheap labor. Probably why Martin Keen–one of the company founders–moved on a long time ago.
I have my first (and LAST) pair of Keen. Purchased Keen steel toe wellington from Cintas In Feb. 2014. They began to come apart on the inside in May 2014. Cintas sent a replacement pair andd I recieved them in August 2014. The right shoe lining seperated when I first put it on! The left one has a ridge over the instep that is painful to wear. Worst shoes I have ever had. I had a pair of Georgia Boot Wellingtons before these that I wore for 3 years and wore the soles down, but the lining is STILL good. Going to try to get a refund or swap these POS for anything else. Don’t wast your money on Keen Footwear. What good is warrenty replacement if you can’t stand to wear them!!!!!
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I purchased the Keen shoes because I do a lot of walking with my dog. I haven’t had the problems of the shoes wearing out too quickly, but I am wondering if there is something in the design of the front of the shoe that catches more frequently on uneven sidewalks etc. and causes me to trip and unfortunately to fall a couple of times. Just wondering if it’s me or if anyone else has had this problem with these shoes? Thank you and happy trails!
I purchased a pair of Keen Targhee 2s about 6 months back. My experience is similar to many others here in that the soles rapidly began to part company with the uppers and are showing signs of wear – far too soon in my opinion for a “hiking boot” that has seen daily use but little heavy duty action.
BUT, the biggest issue for me was having bought a pair of boots to keep my feet dry working outdoors to discover that they were as waterproof as a paper bag… First outing walking in moist grass with no rain and no puddles/stream crossings or any real exposure to water and I had wet feet.. Thanks Keen for 6 months of suffering with damp feet..
They do look great, they are very comfy, but they are totally useless for intended purpose.
Buy Merrells. They have great support and are comfortable right out of the box. They are durable and last a long time. I switched to Merrells a while back and I am happy I did.
Love the comfort of my Keen Newport H2s. After about 8 months of light use, one of the side straps became unglued from the sole (small one by the toe) – I shoe gooed & all was well again. After 2 more months, the rubber toe cup became unglued from the straps under them, but the toe cup is held in place by the soles, so no need to re-glue – no biggie. After 3 more months, the main large side strap by the heel became unglued and I had to hobble home (glad I wasn’t 6 miles down a trail somewhere). When I got home, I noticed that the entire sole had delaminated (not just a little; I could put my whole hand between 2 layers of the sole. My father had same issue with the straps & toe becoming unglued. We both have about 40 miles of light use (just daily use – not hiking on rocks, etc) and are less than 2 years old. This sucks because I love the comfort of them. If they would just fix the glue or use stitching where the straps meet the sole, they would have a winner. Can’t speak to the life of the tread – haven’t used mine enough to wear the tread down any.
I’ve read through all the comments with interest. Having become aware of Keens a few years ago, recently I’ve been considering buying a pair, which brought me to this Trail Vistas website for the first time. My interest has nothing to do with style but instead to do with fit. Due to a long big toe, the only shape that I can accommodate in a shoe is one with a very square toe, such as is used in a few of Keen’s designs. Such a shape is rare. Nothing else will do.
(Birkenstock, Finn Comfort, Naot, Merrill, etc. do use a square toe in a few of their designs for casual wear, but as far as I know, none of them do this for a running or cross-training type shoe).
In spite of the many negative comments here about the Keens, I may go ahead and purchase a pair of anyway (!), as I can’t find anything else that fits.
I’m writing here not to complain, but to suggest to your readers an alternative to Keens. Those seeking more durability might consider Red Wing Shoes. As I suspect some (or many) may know, they’re an old American company (founded over a century ago), and all the work boots I’ve purchased from them over my four decades as a working adult have been remarkably durable. To boot (heh), in my case, a decade or so ago they started using a new toe style in some of their shoes called “King Toe,” which is more square and roomy at the toe by far than any other work boot or hiking boot I’ve seen. Discovering this new design was delightful. It was the first time in my life I had found a boot that didn’t pinch my big toe.
While Red Wing’s styles may be more conservative, and while they have fewer styles from which to chose than from Keen, if durability is a concern, I think they may well be worth the investment. They may cost twenty or forty dollars than their counterpart from Keens, but if they last several times longer, to my mind, it’s clear that this is a good investment. As well, many of their shoes can be resoled.
In an aside, from the standpoint of a purely visual comparison of the Keens to the Red Wings, while Red Wing uses a monolithic sole on all its shoes, I note that many of the Keens (including all the failed Keens mentioned above) use soles with a glaring, built-in weakness of putting a bunch of holes in the outermost layer of the sole, purely for the trivial sake of letting a pretty, colored, sub-sole layer peak through from beneath. I think this concession to fashion is poorly considered for the typically heavy use for which Keen seem to have created (and marketed) these repeatedly failing designs.
Just to be clear, I’m not a shill for Red Wing, only a consumer. 😉
I am not a fan of Redwings…
They are work boots plain and simple.
I am much more trusting in my US made Danners or Whites.
I bought a pair of the boots and with in a week the soles started to fall apart the shoe store gave me a new pair with alot of attitude and now the new pair is a month old the soles are almost gone what garbage I will never waste my time or money on any other keen products
I used to wear some of the LL Bean hiking boots. I switched over to Montrail hiking boots. I’ve had the same pair for 3+ years with a lot of miles on them and they are still tip-top. They are a bit on the heavy side, but durable. They have a good Vibram sole that just won’t die. I actually just bought a pair of Keens the other day – just so I could have a lighter pair. I will see how they hold up.
I have had a few pairs of Keens overs the years.
Let’s see…
I killed a pair of Oregon PCTs on a 70 mile solo backpacking trip in Pa.
Soles were coming off in chunks, soaked, blah blah blah.
I had a pair of Pyrenees. More suited for wearing with jeans. Not a bad looking boot but not my idea of a backpacking boot.
I had a pair of Keen watershoe/sandal thingamabobbers. Gave them away because I liked my Teva Omniums better.
Just bought a pair of American built Durand Mids for dayhiking. Not a bad boot for that purpose.
I pretty much refer to boots in this category as disposable being they cannot be resoled.
For backpacking (especially in Rocksylvania) I typically wear my Scarpa SLs, La Sportiva Pamirs, and for my winter solos I go with my La Sportiva Lhotse GTXs…
Comparing Keens to the boots I own is an apples to oranges comparison.
Those are hand made in Italy, can be resoled, and start out at around $300 a pair.
Keens, in my experience, are about the most comfortable things I put on my feet. They’re nice to wear right out of the box. That being said, you need to buy a lot of boxes. Keens aren’t cheap, but they certainly don’t last very long. I have a tough time getting a year’s worth of wear out of a pair. I guess it’s a trade-off. I own a pair of Hathorn loggers that will last the rest of my life, but they’re three times heavier and they took a long time to break in. They’re good to wear, but not nearly as comfortable as my Keens. The soles delaminate, so I use Gorilla Glue, and then wrap around my foot with electrical tape and wear them like that for a few hours. It gives me a few more miles of use. Open to suggestion for a shoe/boot that is as comfortable as Keen and as tough as my Hathorns.
Bought a pair of so called waterproof work boots, and after 3 months of using them 3 days a week they get my feet wet in the smallest of puddles. Then the eye hook snapped when lacing them up. The warranty web page is all most impossible to complete. Sadly my pair of $99 lacrosse boots have lasted 2 years and keep my feet dry even in heavy rain and deep puddles. Now is danner/lacrosse boots for me. Sorry keen you boots are crap along with your warranty, Guaranteed piece of sh!t.
funny, I have had a single pair of Keens for 4 1/2 years. I wear them daily and then have given them a break but they are in great shape! Some wear to the soles. I live in rugged terrain, a lava field on the Big Island. Not sure where all the folks live with the bad shoes but I have given mine an excellent test and would buy them all over again. I am actually kind of tired of my pair and am ready for a new look, but the shoes are still functioning and hey for the money , I will keep wearing them until I need more. Aloha. Too bad about all your inferior shoes, mine must have bent he exception!
You are comparing Keen shoes that were made 5 years ago to Keen’s most recent output and I’m pretty sure their new shoes are not the same quality as their older ones. Let us know how your new Keens hold up after you’ve run through the lava fields a few times. And speaking of “new looks”, it seems as though Keen is more focused on making new “stylish” shoes rather than increasing durability. They prefer style over substance now.
There is a reason that almost all boot manufacturers outsource their sole construction. It is because there are experts in that field, using those types of materials. One example is Vibram. Keen doesn’t do that because they want to collect all the “winnings” despite customer satisfaction, something that is important to most other manufacturers. Yes the boots are comfortable, but the soles are not, unless you like feeling every rock under your feet as you hike. Keen boots are disposable, how perfect for the company, as long as they have moron return customers, they will continue to rip off the public. Love how they brag about being American Built, makes us look bad. And there’s my rant….
Well, I’m astonished by some of the comments here. I bought my first pair of Keens (Targhees?) five years ago for walking in the countryside and they’re still going strong. I must have walked over a thousand miles in them. OK, the soles are rather worn. And now they’re losing their waterproofness – but that only started a few months ago. I’ve now got five pairs of Keens, for walking in rugged terrain to more leisurely walking around towns etc., and none show signs of premature disintegration. I hope quality hasn’t gone down because I have wide feet and Keens are the only shoes I can find for countryside walking that fit.
You’re comparing 5 year old Keen shoes to Keen’s most recent output and as you can see by the many responses here, their quality seems to have gone downhill.
This topic started almost 3 years ago and 3 of my 5 pairs were bought during that time. All 3 are doing OK. But they’re the walking round town pairs, not the rough terrain ones. I want to buy another rugged pair of Keens to replace my old Targhees – I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I really have to stick with Keen – they’re the only ones wide enough.
I’ve read of quality deteriorating with other makes also (e.g. Karrimor) when manufacture went abroad.
Try a pair of Brasher Supalite – they’ll last for years if well treated and are uneblievably comfortable too (no this is not an ad. just honest advice from an English hiker!)
This is yet another bunch of products with good design but horrible materials and manufacturing. They’re obviously filling a niche (wide toebox, straight last) or otherwise nobody would buy them. Horrible waste of money. I’ve had two pairs and both either had the classic separation issue and/or the linings wore out almost immediately. Chinese crap.
I have a pair of five year old targhee’s which after 1,000s of miles had the soles start to fall apart in a way that made it impossible to continue to wear the boots. I sent in a claim to Keen asking for assistance on getting the soles repaired/replaced and I was offered 40% off my next pair of boots. I then bought a pair of Verdi and in less then a year the rubber on the soles separated from main body of the shoe. I sent keen customer service a note and they offered for me to use barge cement to fix the problem. I replied no way these boots are not being competently manufactured if the soles continue to delaminate not only on my boots but a lot of the boots on this message board so Keen offered to replace my verdi’s for free. Is the delamination of the rubber due to the heat or water? My guess up is a little of both and the glue is failing. Why use glue Keen, go with one piece soles. Now what do I buy? I want Keens because of the comfort but what style? Durands appear to have a better sole system but they aren’t highly rated do to the tongue and weight. Targhee are still rated high but could have the same sole construction problem. I day hike a 1,000 plus miles a year through all kinds of conditions.
są nieodporne wyimaginować pełnia propozycji matrymonialnych, wespół spośród cielesnymi, gdyby tworzą iż posłannictwo się na nie przysporzy im zdefiniowaną przewaga.
Są bezdennie interesowne i gdyby istotnie niniejsze potrafię zjednać –
nieubłagane. W 4 splotach na 5 zrozumiale uczestniki zostawieniem upoważnień
do skoncentrowanego dworu.
I just fixed a pair of Keen Voyageur’s just now (sole adhesive failure at the edges – apparently very common). Barge Cement works well. I just use Weldwood Contact Cement. Works very well. Lots of VOCs though. I used toothpicks and wooden matches to hold the two surfaces apart and dabbed contact cement on both sides; let dry to tackiness; then push the two parts together very firmly with my hands. Contact cement works better than any other adhesive I’ve used (Barge Cement is essentially the same, but more expensive and not available locally). Just information for anyone who “LOVES” their shoes and can’t part with them. I don’t ditch my Keens until they wear out on the insides.
Funny that all the keen shoes that are being talked about aren’t even made in the US. The factory in Portland is the only one to inject polyurethane mid soles and has the best shoes that’s keen offers for hiking. Try out the Keen Durand you will be pleased with the outcome or the Liberty Ridge wonderful hiking shoe lightweight and keep your feet warm and dry. Or for a lightweight keen sandal try out the uneek I own many pairs of keen shoes and work in a factory for the last 1 and a half and even hike around on weekends and haven’t had any problems with the Durand or uneek.
My last two pairs of Newport H2 had the sole prematurely fail. The sole came completely off after a about a year and a half of heavy use. Plenty of tread left. The upper looked great. I contacted Keen and was told they use a new water-based adhesive which isn’t as strong as their older glues. I was also told I was out of luck as their warranty is only a year. Thanks! $90 for a shoe that will prematurely fail is too much to pay when there are other made in China brands that will last just as long. I’m looking for another Made in the US with deadly, non-water based adhesives so they won’t blow apart on me on the trail. This same phenomenon also happened to me with a rather expensive par of BRAND NEW Vasque hiking boots. Apparently the same water-based crap adhesive. No thanks.
The old KEEN sandals that I bought about 15 years ago were almost immortal. Incredible how long I had been wearing them. Motivated by that I bought KEEN Venice 2 years ago, but what an unpleasant surprise! They wore out so quickly, it´s obvious the producer must have changed the sole material. Is this step really worth ruining their reputation? Next time I´ll probably consider buying a copycat, because the difference in durability seems to be none, but the difference between prices is immense.
i was researching what people were saying about keen shoes as i was thinking of buying a pair of keen targhee’s. i will not be buying them after reading the comments here
So I’ve been a dedicated keen buyer for 8-10 years now and it usually takes a couple years to go through a pair. the pair I bought 04/28/2015 are now demolished. Not sure if they crapped out of their game or if I became a super hiker. Keen is warranting them but I’ve spent the last month trying on and purchasing different boots. I like the flat feeling and width of keens. Most boots have a heel that hurts my lower back when hiking. I bought a Lowa, a Schnees and a Vasque and tried on probably 15 others. All three were uncomfortable just walking around indoors for a few hours so I returned them. I finally found a boot that fits as well or better than the Keen and is supposedly ridiculously long lasting. Kennetrek is the name and I love em. They’re expensive though: $455 for the pair I bought I normally wear 9 reg keens and the 8 1/2 wide Kennetrek feels like that. Obviously I have no idea how long they will last but there are many many reviews attesting to their durability. It took me 3-4 years as an adult to find a nice flat fitting boot and I was so happy with Keen for the longest time, I was afraid I would be back out trying boots for years again so I’m happy to have found Kennetrek. I heard rumor that the Keen work boots are tougher too so when my work boots (also keen) wear out I’ll probably try Keen one final time with my fingers crossed.
Crapped out is the call. Delamination is routinely happening well before the uppers and soles are even moderately worn..
I was very sorry to have to return min today at ll bean. Rugged shoe and comfortable. However the sole wore out in 3 months . Developed knee pain. I could hardly work. The pain was excruciating, had to go to the knee doctor. As soon as I put my old shoes back on, the pain was gone within a day. Had high hopes for these shoes, did not want to bring them back but didn’t have much of a choice but to switch back to my old shoes.
I really like keen shoes; best ever. Fit like a glove. Most comfortable boot / shoes I’ve ever worn! I wear them about 10 hours a day, everyday, everywhere. Im really hard on shoes and most other brands have only last me about 6 months, at most. The Keen boots I purchased are at 4 years now and the shoes are at 9 years; both are still kicking and I also walk 4 miles a day in addition to all my other activities. Keen has provided me with replacement laces free of charge including shipping. Keens are my first choice!
Purchased men’s Newport H2 Sandals, size 13, in blue in May of 2015. Worn as an everyday shoe. I am 5’11” and 195 pounds. Nothing special about my feet. The glue has broken down on the left sandal where my big toe meets the rest of my foot. The strap of the shoe is pulling away from the gray layer that sits above the sole. My co-workers have Keens that have lasted years on end. Mine couldn’t make it from May to September without the glue breaking down. This will be my first and only pair of Keens.
I started out w/a pair of Keens suede men’s slides and oh wow was I happy so I wore them 3+years til the soles got too thin and I was happy to have so comfortable for so long . Then I need safety shoes for work and got the Atlantas and I worked them hard and got a ur and a half and I needed waterproof safety shoes and bit the bullet and spent $180 on them for the golf course I got a job at and they were ok but then my feet began to get metatarsal pain if I wore them too long and my longer walking meant I needed a larger size now . But buying thru internet proved fruitless all Keens shoes ached my feet till I cried…. Really ! The sizes no longer run true to size as they say and the soles can no longer stand any kind of overuse. The company just seems to a soso overpriced shoe anymore which cannot hold up rigorous standards as they used to. So if you really need a strong shoe I suggest you hit Walmart or Sears where the return policy does not make jump thru hoops and wait for a credit or refund. Bottom line
Keen has become full of themselves trying to flood the market overpriced substandard hurry made poor quality junk and I have six pairs to prove it.
The slippers? I like those and the other lesser worn light use shoes seem ok but the honest to shoe for REAL use ? Forget about it !
Sorry this is now the case with KEEN SHOES.
I have been a regular Keens user for maybe 8 or so years now. I do a great deal of backpacking and hiking in tough terrain, as well as a lot of walking around town. I have always found them to have the best fit for my wide forefeet and bunions (I wish I knew of another brand that worked as well 🙁 My last several pair of backpacking boots were Ketcham’s. I, like many other people here, have enjoyed the comfy fit.
I haven’t had significant delamination or sole breakdown issue, but I have been increasingly disappointed about quickly the sole wears down. Primarily it happens on the rear outside corner, because I pronate. It does not seem the soles last as long.
HOWEVER, I have another issue with Keens that is really pissing me off. I wanted to try Liberty Ridge because they look like a tougher boot and are supposedly US made. However, they have this shock absorber in the heel which sticks up as a bump. Their insole is designed to cover it up well, having a little indentation to house the bump. BUT, I wear custom orthotics in place of manufacturer’s insoles. Keens doesn’t recommend using custom orthotics in their boots, and when I tried them out in the store, I could feel the bump pressing up against my heel. Seems ridiculous to design a shoe that cannot be used with orthotics.
I thought about trying to grind it off, but that seems risky with an expensive shoe (though I have a deal to get them for $100). Not sure what to do. I see a lot of people complaining about Keens here, but not many alternative brands put forward with a wide toe box. I don’t like Merrels, and Vasque don’t fit right. Don’t want a boot any heavier than Liberty Ridge, I feel kind of stuck.
Bipolar durability: Keen Targhee mid, broke lugs after 3 weeks of daily walking, 3-5 mi/day or so. City parks, gardens, some pavement; nothing horrible. Returned them, got Targhee 2 low. Lugs held, but toe seams came undone after a few weeks. I stitched them back, functional but imperfect; wet when moisture hit that side of the boot. Leather straps kept coming apart for the next year, but the boot kind of held. Never waterproof, always almost-comfortable. The toe box need a couple degrees to match most real feet, such as Footprints/Finn Comfort; almost. Some times I could feel pain from pressure to toe on adduction. Almost right, so close in so many ways. Fix your control quality issues & you should have customers for life. Retailers don’t want to sell your shoes ’cause people kept bringing them back. You have a niche market; treat your customers right & will continue to grow. Regards, Kai from Oregon.
The experience has been similar for: Keen Class 5 (tow box medial pressure), Austin (seam failure). The Newport sandals, however, held up incredibly well, lasted a couple years of good service & died of natural causes (normal wear & tear). The thing with keens is that they do get used quite a bit…
I had to return to pair of Keens voyagers. On my third pair, which I got in late 2013, I seem to have finally gotten lucky. They’ve lasted for two years, and still have life in them as walking around shoes. However, I bailed to some Salomon GTX mids that were on sale at REI in a significant discount.
I have own numerous pairs of Keens. My biggest issue is the webbing for the laces coming apart! I have had to put a small hole in the leather tab so I could lace up the shoe. Just had 3 break on one shoe while hiking in AZ this February. A real pain! Anyone else have the problem? Will Keen come clean on this problem if you report it?
I have the Detroit mid ST. They fit great but I was not impressed with the comfort. The store owner said, “give them a week they’ll be the best boots you ever put on your feet”. They are crippling my feet, ankles, calves and knees. I gave them 9 days and even tried better insoles. The store owner says, Keen don’t have a comfort garrantee so no refund. I contacted the Keen representative and he says there’s no manufacturers fault so no refund. They are not uncomfortable, they are crippling.
My son got a pair of Keen Targhee II mid hiking boots- May 11, 2011- for a two week hiking trip. After that, the boots sat in his closet until January 2016 when he started wearing then all around as an everyday shoe in the city. Within 2 to 3 months the lacer loops started ripping completely through (2 of them completely, and another one is almost completely ripped through) which makes it impossible to tighten correctly. I just submitted a claim and will see what happens. I am on my second pair of the same boot, and the first ones lasted about 5 years. Total number of Keens purchased in my family is 5! I am very disappointed with the poor quality of this product.
5 pairs of Keen sneakers to date in four years. No problems for me with durability wearing them every day on construction sites. It’s understandable that they don’t look so new after a few months. My issue is comfort. Seems to me that four to five months in, they just stop being comfortable. It’s like Keen headquarters has a switch somewhere they flip on that’s de-activates their comfort. One day it’s fine, next day feels like a totally different pair of shoes. It’s shocking. I’ve tried new and different type of insoles nothing works. The sole must break down. Around the same time one shoe starts to squeak after walking through wet grass or a puddle. People can hear me coming from the constant “squeak squeak”, combined with the distraught look on my face from the foot pain. This has happened to every pair! The latest pair has been extremely uncomfortable after a month, l cannot wear them. I could never wear traditional work boots or any flat soled shoe, nor could I tolerate anything with a high arch. Keens are somewhere in the middle. I bought all of them from Amazon. I don’t personally think the keen shoe changes all that much from design, my newest pair was the same steel toe hiking shoe as my 4th pair. I DO think wearing them has changed my foot in such a way that I can no longer wear Keens of any kind new or old.
complete separation of the sole on the Owyhee sandal occurred
I would not buy from Keen again
I dunno, I’m mixed. i love my keens. I bought my first Targhees 2 years ago and have hiked probably 700 miles in them through everything. The only thing that has gone south on them has been the sole. It has simply worn out where I pronate. I wish they hadn’t because I was hoping to keep them for longer than 2 years.
Then again, I am a short woman who does not weigh very much. Me + my full pack weight about 155 lbs.
Everyone,
Most sandals are made for a season’s worth of use. That’s it. If you use a sandal heavily, then expect to only get one season of hiking or whatever out of it. Find me a hiking sandal that will get used HEAVILY (I’m not talking about light walks) and last for years. Hard to do.
Plus, wear and tear depends on a multitude of factors. It depends on a person’s weight, size, the way one walks (people don’t know how to walk – true), your foot structure, the manner in which you take care of footwear, etc.
Throughout most of human history, a person’s footwear (ancient people in Northern Europe for ex. had some amazing footwear), was customizable and easily repaired. It was made of 100% natural materials. Today (if the plastic wears out, if the rubber goes, etc) materials are synthetic and have to be 100% replaced. What are you gonna do ? Fix plastic on the trail ?
The bottom line is: one cannot have high expectations of footwear that is made fast and cheap. Buy it for the season, discard, replace. Wasteful, but what will you wear instead ?
“Find me a hiking sandal that will get used HEAVILY (I’m not talking about light walks) and last for years. ”
My old Keens from before they sucked. I’ve worn them all summer every summer, walking anywhere from 2 to 8 miles a day, for I can’t remember how many years. My old (c. 1992) Tevas lasted many years as well.
Their decline in quality has been well documented all over the internet. It’s a shame if you have wide feet because they’re so comfortable.
Purchased a pair of Keen Newport sandals. Worn 2 summer seasons at the Jersey shore. Adhesive on toe area failed on both shoes in less than two summers. Their product sucks,
I just bought a very expensive pair of Keen shoes, because I thought they were made in the USA. Very disappointingly, they are made in China. Sadly, I have noticed a pesticide, metallic smell to the inside of the shoe, or is it the sole. I did some research to see if anyone else experienced the same thing, and as a matter of fact, there are some owners of Keen shoes who have experienced the same toxic smell, The smell is nauseating. Please see link below regarding this toxic smell. Truly, I am very disappointed I spent so much on these shoes for two reasons. 1. they are made in China and not US, and 2. The very toxic smell. I will probably return these shoes and buy from Danners or Frye shoes which are made in the USA. http://dynamics.org/Altenberg/CURRENT_AFFAIRS/CHINA_PLASTIC/
Has anyone got any recommendations as replacements for Keens.
When I last needed to buy another pair of walking boots I wanted to buy Keens again (I praised them earlier in this discussion) but the owner of the outdoor shop I visited said he’d stopped selling them due to increased customer dissatisfaction. He suggested Meindl as a possible alternative and that’s what I went for – they make some wide fitting ones, the reason I kept going back to Keens. Anyway, I’m happy with my Meindls so far (over a year)
I bought my Keen mid hikers at Cabela’s 5 years ago and have hiked, backpacked and scrambled well over a thousand miles in them and they are still going strong. I’m sad to hear that there are so many quality issues, but the pair that I have are as solid as a rock!
Love my Keens.
I suppose if I paid $400 (plus shipping and tax) for a pair of high quality all leather and glove leather lined hand crafted Vibram soled Limmer Standards and I had the failures everyone has listed I would be disappointed to.
But for $100 (online, no shipping, no tax) for a pair of production Keen’s that fail with use every couple of years is a cheap price to pay.
If anyone wants to send me $400.00 I’ll do a 2-year detailed review of a pair of Limmer’s. I’m quite sure they will out perform all of our Keens in every way. That’s why they are 4 Times the price!
If I had $400, I’d be buying a few more pairs of Keen Targhee II’s….I’ve only had one pair of Keen’s…I bought a few years ago…wore them for a warehouse job where I averaged over 7 miles a day of walking on hard surfaces…I wore them for a little over 6 months before switching to Asics and New Balance running shoes (only reason for the switch was the cost…I could get two pairs of shoes that would last longer).
I love my Keen’s, but they do break down rather quickly and I don’t use them for ANY hiking. I like them for work and I like them for winter use because they are warm and keep my feet dry. I recently pulled them out again (there is a decent amount of life left) and started wearing them on occasion…sadly I need new ones in a half size bigger now as I have gained a bit of weight in the last almost two years since I’m not nearly as active as I used to be. The added weight is spreading my foot out a bit more, but I can still kind of squeeze into the Keen’s and I still enjoy the insole and width of them.
I just ordered a pair of their GHI Lace Suede shoes to try out for daily use just running around…hopefully they’re good for the $35 I am paying after a coupon.
Perhaps Kean began manufacture in U.S.A. (quality good), then shifted manufacture to lower labor cost countries (China, Romania, Vietnam) (quality bad). I suppose Kean got lower manufacturing cost, however paid heavy price of customer dissatisfaction of quality. So many here report that they will not again buy Kean, that I wonder if Kean made bad business decision, or if Kean managers think Kean can foist enough to these on naive buyers to emerge profitable.
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I bought a pair of Keen Voyageur last spring for the Summer hiking/scrambling season in the Cascades. Paired with Smartwool socks, they were hands down the most comfortable shoe I’d ever hiked in. Walking up and down talus field, the grip was like glue. Fast forward ~80miles and the side lugs began separating; google brought me to this website. Keen was cool and credited me the cash, so I bought Durand WP for the rainy season. The WP shoes have a single sole w/o lugs. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Keen hasn’t fixed the soles with faulty lug design? I’d love to buy another pair of Voyageur, but won’t until the design is fixed.
I brought a pair Durand Mid WP for walking the dog so worn daily, the first pair were really comfortable straight out the box but the right boot started leaking through the material on the top and to the rear of the toe, I submitted a claim and was asked to do a leak test and video it which I did and I received a full refund….. great customer service.
I really liked the Durand Mid WP comfort that I used my refund to buy another pair hoping lightning won’t strike twice…. well the 2nd pair has lasted just over 10months and now the stiching on the sides and to the rear of the toe cap on both boots has failed/split and the right boot again leaks …… waiting for a reply from customer services for another claim.
Just a note, I noticed that the Durand Mid WP has dropped from around £130 down to £77…… are Keen having a lot of failures with the Durand Mid WP and getting rid?
I bought the Keen Targhee II from a legit store and they felt great out of the box. That said after about 100 miles and 8 months the shoes are coming apart, rubber toe pulling off, bottom seems very worn, I now feel rocks through the foot bed. I went on line and My box said Targhee II but it does not look like anything like the one on the keen website, I am guessing it is counterfeit. I would bet that the Chinese plant is making subpar and selling it out the back door to other distributors who sell it to unwitting stores. MY girlfriend bought a pair and they looked different. I just figure women’s vs men’s version. I think that is not the case.
Shoes are difficult to fathom.Everyone’s footprint is specific. The$50. pair you bought prior were plain janes. To pay under$100. for a serious walker is merely window dressing. Besides going barefoot, this price point is my benchmark for O.K Apparel.Go figure
Yes they are comfortable , yes they where a good shoes , I will miss they them , I hate getting shite but I refuse to pay for shite
Shop from a wide collections of hiking shoes for men and women. We offer waterproof, leather, mesh, and several types of hiking shoes.
I know this thread is old but I went on keens website. And they have shoes made in China and assembled in USA. They have a filter that shows only use assembled. Also most of the ones I heard you guys talking on the thread. Were the Chinese manufactured ones. Like the toughees. The are the cheap ones. The also use there cheaper sole that the said where’s out faster. They will say in the features if there assembled in USA. But they do have a built in filter for that. So just make sure you know witch ones are witch some are Chinese made and some are American assembled. The durrand are still made in Portland I believe.
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Keens are complete garbage. I used to own about 9 pair. 8 of those have literally fallen apart . Will never buy Keen again.
Sadly must agree with negative views expressed on Keen shoes on this site. Bought a pair to walk the Camino. They started to come apart before I’d walked 400 km. Very disappointing.
On return to Australia they went back to the store and I got a full refund. It was very clear they were not fit for the purpose for which they were purchased. I won’t purchase Keen shoes again.
Bought several pairs of Keens 5-6 yrs ago, dont recall models but one was an all-leather mid hiker, a low boxy toe pair and their sandals with the black rubber toes. They were some of the best out-of-the box shoes for comfort. Wore the leather models all over, hiking (they were waterproof) including in the snow, operating heavy machinery, climbing trees and ladders. No issue at all with soles wearing or separating. They were showing age so went to replace them. Bought a pair of the Targhee Mid hikers on vacation in Grand Staircase E. They fit well but sole was too flimsy (6 ft, 235 lbs, 25lb pack) for hiking; poor stability and you could feel most pebbles right through the sole. Bought low Targhee II a few months ago, to replace previous ones. Total disappointment. Not sure why but I decided to see if they would get better with wear. Nope. Looks like they left off one set of attachment points (eyelets?) for the laces so it feels like the heel is always slipping. Heel is way to high too. May try to return to Cabela’s. Prob back to Merrell and Danner as no issues with them.
first pair i bought were great.. lasted ages comfy etc etc.. bought two more pairs. Different model as they stopped making the ones i bought first.. Both second pairs were terrible and fell apart. one pair only lasted 2 months. Cant recommend them to anyone im afraid. thankfully the shop i bought them from were very understanding and have accepted the return without question..
DONT BUY KEEN FOOT WARE….
First pair of Keen sandals I bought — maybe 15 years ago — were great. Comfortable, convenient on and off. Eventually, however, the soles fell off. I bought two more pairs of sandals and a pair of their waterproof hiking boots, none of which fit my foot as well as the original pair. I am still wearing those three shoes. So far, so good on them. This past Xmas my brother, knowing of my liking of Keen sandals, gave me a pair. The sole just fell off one of them. It seems like my experience is like many others above: some good, some not so good. I will keep wearing the ones I have, but I am unlikely to buy another pair.
unfortunately I am in the same predicament with my boyfriends keens. He works outside hiking roughly 4 miles a day and the shoes last maybe two months if he is lucky. He absolutely loves them because they are so comfortable but they just fall a part so quickly! Keen has been wonderful about replacing them but this time the boots didnt even last two weeks!!
1 out of 5
sandals fall apart after months of light usage
i got them end of last year, used them only lightly for a few months and the glue came off on the flap holding the shoe together. warranty case was denied. they said that the model was made in 2012 and they do not warrant that. i called them and was treated without respect in a condescending way. keen does not stand behind their products. even the rep on the phone said that the shoes look like new.
i recommend to buy other sandals instead. i own two pair of other products for almost ten years and they are still holding up and they even look like new. the other company stands behind their products offering lifelong warranty. i will never buy anything from this shady company in my life
I have had nothing but wonderful experiences with Keen’s footwear over the past 7~8 (?) Years. They last and last and last. Eventually, the sole wears out, and I replace them, after 1 to two years. I wear them for work, as a CNA, logging many many miles per shift!
I returned a pair of Targahee II boots after less than 200 trail miles and a year of use. A large chunk of the heel on one side simply fell off. Keen gave me a credit under warranty (thumbs up for that as I was right at end of my warranty). I bought Targahee III boots. Put about 150 miles in some rainy and cool conditions, and now the small cleats or lugs on the ball and heel of each boot are falling off. You can see where they are mostly separating between the grey cap material and the black sole beneath.
I won’t say these are easy miles, but two trips for 40 and 110 miles should not show that kind of wear. I contacted them and they suggested I file a warranty claim. They also said they don’t usually warranty claim on boots acquired from a prior claim.
The boots are very comfortable, and quite waterproof. I really love how they fit and even the uppers on both pairs look decent despite hiking through Zion, the Grand Canyon, and parts of the AT. But I need them to tell me if these boots are really for hiking in the mountains or clubbing in Atlanta. Definitely seems more like clubbing attire based on my own experience.
I am 92 years of age with neuropathy and was advised that your shoes would help my stability of which I believe it helped some what. How ever I am not satisfied with the shoes as they are wore out and the soles are falling off and I cannot wear them in fear of catching and falling.At my age and my problems I have not put any excessive wear on them. And at the price I paid I feel unhappy. What can you do fir me??
Used Keen Detroit as a work boot, hard toes and all. They were great in 2013-14. Work in land survey, walking the countryside was my job and needed the hard toe for occasional visits to industrial sites. Super shoe, so when they failed, (rubber wore unevenly on the ball of foot and caused misalignment.) I replaced them and also got low rise non work keen hikers for regular life. The non industrial boots wore even faster and quickly the wear would cause misalignment that meant knee and hip pain. By 2017 the boots were not cutting it at all. Same problems are above. Fast wear, rubber lugs separating and sheering off, leaky. Unfortunately as above, I too like the box toe very much and need to look for the next thing…. So much for KEEN…
Second pair of Keen, same problem with lugs peeling off. These are a year plus a few months so Keen did engineer the failure for just over one year. I use them for everyday wear, workouts and day hikes in the Rockies.
So far my Garmin Connect app says I have 280 miles on them, not including untracked activities. I’m going back to the Merrell.
Keep in mind that the KEEN brand is a well known target for counterfeiters. They keep a list of retailers that they supply at
[Insecure Link Removed]
Note that Amazon isn’t on that list, and also doesn’t list where product in their marketplace are made. That’s because they have insufficient control over their sellers and can’t guarantee that the products are not counterfeit. So, if the company you are buying from isn’t on the list above, it’s as much your fault if you get a bad product.
I bought all of my Keen shoes from a retailer on Keen’s list of online retailers and they all fell apart after a few months. Blaming Keen’s poor durability performance on counterfeit products is a stretch. Also, Keen and other “approved retailers” sell Keen shoes through Amazon, so purchasing Keen shoes through Amazon doesn’t automatically exonerate Keen from their shoe’s poor performance. Regarding your statement that Amazon “doesn’t list where product in their marketplace are made”, Keen isn’t very forthright on the origin of their shoes either. Keen proudly proclaims that “some” of their shoes are “assembled” in America using materials from “around the world” (could be from anywhere), and the Keen website displays no discernible country of origin for the remaining majority of their shoes.
I bought my first pair of Keen Targhee III in Nov. 2018. The soles started delaminating with less the a hundred miles and 4 months on the boots. I filed a warranty clam and they sent a voucher for a replacement pair. So I got a different style hiking boot thinking the soles might be a little better. So now after 2.5 months of use with around 125 miles the second pair is having the same issue with the soles. I started filling out a second warranty claim and looked at the limitation of the warranty. They now have out for not replacing their crappy boots. It states, “Items acquired from KEEN Footwear to satisfy previous warranty claims” , aren’t covered. I submitted the warranty claim anyway to see what their comment would be. We’ll see, but this is the last time I’ll deal with Keen and their sub-par, crappy products that don’t last. You would think after all these years this company would try and fix their substandard manufacturing process and produce a quality product
I am going this morning to finally replace my teens after 7 yrs of wearing them every winter or summer run or snow. After litterly wearing them into the ground I am breaking down and getting a new pair.my 3rd pair in about 15 to about 18 yrs.and I’m 80 now .my feet thank you Keen.
I’ve bought five pairs of Keens since this topic started and I’ve still got them all. The soles of the two oldest pairs did start to come apart about two years ago but I just bought some rubber solution and glued them back together, and they’re still putting in good service. In fact, my Austins have now become my gardening shoes so they get through some tough duties.
My problem with the Keen shoe was with the eyelets. They are cloth and disintegrated so I can no longer lace the shoes. Has anyone had that problem. I contacted Keen and they told me they do not do repairs and I might want to take them to a shoe repair shop and see what they can do to fix. I believe the eyelets are made from very inferior material. I have had no problem with the soles… just the eyelets for the laces.
I believe they fixed the problem of the worn lace loops by making the soles delaminate before the loops get a chance to wear out. I previously had your loop wear problem and could find no way to repair. Made the mistake of buying another pair of keen boots and the loops are fine, soles have delaminated at the toe and at the heel. Now they are floppies. Total junk.
Its absolutely amazing to me that a pair of Keen boots that cost almost $200.00, last about 7 months.
In the last year I have started purchasing Keen footwear for our tactical unit.
I am a law enforcement agent and I choose to wear boots of this style because they meet my specific needs. I don’t abuse them, beat them up, submerge them in water, mud or other foreign substances. I wear them about 8 hours a day about 3-4 days a week, usually more than half the time I am sitting behind a desk, where the boots don’t even get exposure to the elements.
The first pair of boots I had lasted about 6 days because they were of poor quality. The whole back anchoring method to tighten the laces broke, not my fault obviously, just a sign of poor craftsmanship.
The second pair, after 7 months of really light wear, began to separate at the seems where the leather meets the rubber front area, it appears as if what ever adhesive method Keen used, failed.
I would have never imagined that Keen’s customer service would be this low-budget! These boots cost $200.00, not $20.00, I expect more than 7 months out of them.
Maybe you should model your customer service around Danner or LL Bean’s policies regarding boots. I’ve owned the same pair of Danner boots for over 10 years, only having to replace soles because of wear. Anytime I had a stitching issues they honored their warranty and took care of their customer.
So that being said, I absolutely will never buy another pair of Keen boots for myself, my family, or guys in our unit. I will not recommend Keen to anyone that I know or anyone that is curious about Keen’s products.
I will also make it a point to go to every website that sells your boots and make sure I let everyone in the world know about my negative experience and let them know how poor quality your product really is, not to mention accurately describe the poor customer service I received during this experience.
I’m stupid for buying another pair of Keen boots. It’s amazing to me that a company that hit a home run with their H2 sandals can make such crappy footwear otherwise. I’ve had 5 pairs of H2s since 2004, but my Aphlex (now discontinued I believe) were shot in less than 6 months of basic hiking here in Colorado. My big toe drove a hole through the mesh, the sole separated from the out sole, etc. Just not a good boot…comfortable, but no quality.
So I just got a pair of Venture hikers…bad idea. I just went for a basic 5 mile hike and this boot doesn’t have the support a person needs to walk to the restroom in their home, much less the support someone needs even on a well-maintained trail. My left arch and achilles tendon are killing me. I’ve never had this happen with any other boot in my life, and I’ve gone through my share of hikers. It’s supposed to be a day hiker, but this is a nothing boot. The arch support doesn’t exist, the toe box is too narrow, and it just, well…sucks. No wonder the price on their website for the Venture has gone from $180.00 to $135.00 to $104.00 in a period of two months!
I’ll never buy another pair of Keen.
Holy crap, yeah!
Happened on 2 pair of Keen waterproof sandals. Sole just coming off. Separation is so clean, it’s as though they were **designed to** fall apart!
BTW in attempt to repair, I used a variety of serious adhesives/glues without success. I think epoxy held the longest.
I have a love/hate relationship with Keen. I used to work in an outdoor gear store so was able to get Keens at a discount. Since they fit my wide feet so well, I ended up with about 12 pairs over the years, from casual shoes to their beefiest boot. The fit has generally been amazing for people with wide feet. My only complaint with their fit has been lack of arch support.
All this aside, I will never again buy a pair of keens, particularly their boots. I have had about 5-6 pairs of the Targhee IIs now, and while the first pair was reasonable durable, and I got suckered in, subsequent pairs have just been been SHIT. As so many others have pointed out, their skimpy soles fall off, peel away, come unglued in record rapid time. Leather comes away from the soles when they are relatively new. Entire soles peel away from boots. Stitching is crap.
I don’t know if anyone else has experienced this, but while Keens soles are nice and grippy on rock and asphault and gravel, on ice and snow, they are a major liability. Something happens to the rubber when they are cold that they make icy surfaces even worse for traction. You could play hockey reasonably in these.
Keen has made a fortune off disposable boots that rarely last a year. I am ashamed they have gotten so much of my money over the year, but never again.
First time I tried the Keen Targhee, I became a believer. Hallelujah, such instant comfort and no breaking in time needed. Wore them on a six-week trek in Turkey and, given the sharp and rocky terrain, was prepared to overlook the fact that a lug broke off the sole in that time. Bought myself another pair of the same model recently and would now like to consign them (and Keen Manufacturers) to hell. After only modest use, a large section of lug has broken off, rendering them unfit for purpose – any purpose. Like most of the subscribers to this page, I will never spend another cent on this substandard brand. Future buyers beware!
worst boot i’ve ever purchased!
for 2 months since i bought them the shoelaces will not stayed tied, i tried buying new laces at the store where i purchased them but no luck.
Today the laces got tangled and down i went, also pulled off a couple of the shoelace anchors.
So now i have a knee injury along w a pair of boots that are being thrown in the trash!
Never will i purchase Keen again…
I bought a pair of Targhee 2s in 2015 for a one week hike in Yosemite. The sales-person recommended I pair them with some SmartWool socks and man was she right! 75 miles of rugged terrain with no break-in and my feet were happy the whole time. For five years I’ve been wearing them to hike 3-5 miles 2 or 3 times a week and they have only recently worn down in the heel so I got another pair, this time Targhee 3s. The BEST pair of shoes I’ve ever owned, but maybe I just got lucky!
Good article! I see your points as being valid about Keen shoes review .It greatly explains the defects in them. Very helping article.
I think I might have the record for shortest use of a pair of Keens before they died.
The Keen slip-ons are among the only ones that fit my feet. I have had several pairs with reasonable success. But last time, I bought two pairs at once, keeping one in its original box in a closet while wearing the other for about 18 months. When the first pair died I pulled out the new pair, put them on, walked 30 ft to the car and drove away. 25 minutes down the highway the first large piece broke off the sole when I moved my foot from the accelerator to the brake. Confused, I pulled over and took them off. Another large piece of sole broke off in my hand.
Long story short, I drove to a walmart, bought a replacement pair of shoes for the day, and called Keen. They told me that the shoes were outside the 1 year warranty and I was on my own. With shoes I had worn for 40 minutes, walked at most a couple of hundred feet in (I wore them into the walmart) and that were completely unusable.
What I learned is that, for some reason, in the original box in ordinary conditions (no high heat, high humidity, etc) the soles will deteriorate completely in about 18 months. Since my other pair, bought at the same time, was fine and worn heavily, I think it may be that the shoes were in the box and had no significant airflow. The lessons I took were: don’t store them in a box, don’t buy old stock, and Keen soles are low quality.
These are unfortunately crap. As other have said, a very comfortable shoe at the outset. I had a targhee, side separation in less than a year. Also the water shoes did the same with almost NO wearing. I don’t get their quality control. If i had to guess, its a bonding failure of the outer sole to the rest. I am pretty disgusted. Trying Merrill for now.
I bought pair of Keens Circadia three weeks ago. After 8 days of hiking
(approx 170k’s) over mountainous terrain, they are delaminating from the sole on both right and left boots. The sole is also missing several chunks of rubber. I’ll be returning them which is a great pity as they fit my wide flippers nicely. I haven’t even had time to throw out the box they came in! Very poor quality, stay away!
2024 and Keen still hasn’t figured out how to keep their soles from separating from the shoe. Sole separated within a couple weeks off two pair of Targhee III’s.
I wish I had seen these reviews earlier. I purchased a pair of Keens for my son for Christmas. He is Superintendent of a golf course and began wearing the shoes (I don’t remember which style) around the first of April. The soles are already coming apart, big time.