Keen Shoes Review

About Keen Shoes

It’s always important for people to head outdoors into nature, but let’s be real, running shoes don’t always cut it when you’re heading up some rugged hills. An American family-owned company who creates comfortable and fun footwear for outdoor adventures, Keen shoes are about making sure everyone can go outside. 

With over 200k followers on Instagram, it’s pretty obvious Keen shoes are popular. They’ve  even had features in Outside Business Journal and PR Newswire. But in addition to that, they’re hyper-focussed on the bigger picture — equal opportunities, volunteering, and donating.

In this Keen shoes review, we’ll inspect what it is they do to contribute to the globe, their company policies, customer feedback, and other important FAQs so you can make the decision on whether this brand can support you when you’re on your adventure in nature. 

Overview of Keen Shoes

Founded in 2003 by Martin Keen and Rory Fuerst, the outdoorsy duo kept looking for well-made shoes that could survive their outdoor adventures in Portland, OR. Since they couldn’t find one, the pair decided to make their own. And from that point, Keen has been a leader in crafting active footwear. 

With work boots, slippers, sandals, hikers, and a few versatile styles in-between on their roster, Keen decided to turn their attention to the environment, along with volunteer and outreach programs to support their communities, even spearheading funding initiatives like the Colorado wildfire they’ve been raising $25,000 to support. 

While there’s lots of high points to speak of when talking about Keen footwear, here’s a glance at some of the top qualities that make the brand stand out:

Highlights

• Durable and well-crafted footwear options
• The brand practices ethical manufacturing
• Environmentally friendly products
• Donates to good causes like Colorado Wildfire Fund
• Offers volunteer organization called Keen Corps 
• Free shipping on orders over $100

If there’s one thing these folks are doing right, it’s making a difference in their community, country, and on a global scale. But we’ve barely gotten started. Now, let’s take a gander at what Keen is doing for products, starting with the ladies category!

Keen Women’s Shoes Review

Since this Keens shoes review is talking about footwear, we’ll take a look at their best sellers so you know what styles and options are out there for this brand’s products, and what they cost. 

Keen Shoes Whisper Sandals Review

Don’t let the hot weather and sweaty feet keep you from going off the trail. With such sturdy straps and an impenetrable sole, the Keen Shoes Whisper Sandals can pretty much take you anywhere. 

For anyone who needs a bit more support in their hiking shoes, these sandals have been created with an orthopedic focus. The lining and sole are quick dry and anti-odor, as well as non-marking. Bonus? They’re machine washable and are wearable in water. For sandals, that’s a solid perk.

Coming in 9 fun and unique colors, including smoke blue, red dahlia, and original tie-dye to name a few, the sandals are available in US sizes 5-12, retailing for $120.

Keen Shoes Targhee III Waterproof Mid Boots Review

When you’re huffing and puffing on the trails, you’ll want a boot that’ll keep your feet in comfort. And wherever your adventure takes you, these boots will always protect you. 

The Keen Shoes Targhee III Waterproof Mid Boots are best sellers for obvious reasons. These ankle-high hiking boots have a genuine leather outer layer, with a breathable mesh inner lining to allow for great water protection and air flow. The soles are rubber, with incredible arch support.

These hiking boots are rugged and stylish without being bulky or heavy. They range in US sizes 5-11 and come in 2 colors, magnet/atlantic blue and weiss/boysenberry, retailing for $175.

Keen Shoes Presidio Review

The Keen Shoes Presidio features one of their more classic and iconic fits. The rounded and contoured shape of these low-profile shoes, paired with their specializations in orthopedic support, give you relief especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet. 

With moisture-wicking capabilities, rubber soles, odor-fighting inner lining, and a leather exterior, it would make anywhere you stroll feel like you’re walking on air. Available in 2 colors — black/magnet, or cascade/shitake — these Keen classics come in US sizes 5-12 and retail for $145.

Keen Men’s Shoes Review

Men can be tough on their shoes, especially when they’re heading outdoors. What they need are shoes that will last and can handle any sort of terrain their adventure throws at them. What’s great about this brand is their footwear can handle anything. So, for this Keen shoes review, we’ve included a look at their best-selling men’s collection.

Who Is Keen Shoes For? 

Keen shoes are created for outdoor enthusiasts, and people seeking comfort and quality for a reasonable price. The brand reaches plenty of people — their customers use them for multi-day treks, on the job site, as water shoes, or just to lounge around at home.

The company doesn’t discriminate, using their advertising to reach any age or demographic because their products are so versatile. However, it’s safe to say that their goal is to get people in a comfortable, well-made pair of shoes. If your purpose happens to be climbing a mountain, well then, you’ve made the right choice, because Keen shoes do that, too.

Keen Shoes Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

The brand has been around for a while, so it’s no surprise that there’s a mass of Keen shoes reviews out there, letting consumers know how customers feel about their product, their customer service, and their general brand. 

Below is a consolidated look at some Keen shoes reviews on the products we’ve mentioned above:

• Women’s Whisper Sandal: 4.5/5 star average, from 1023 customer reviews
• Women’s Targhee III: 4.1/5 star average, from 328 customer reviews
• Women’s Presidio: 4.3/5 star average, from 623 customer reviews
• Men’s Newport H2 Sandal: 4.3/5 star average, from 1017 customer reviews
• Men’s Howser III Slide: 4.8/5 star average, from 108 customer reviews

TrustPilot has 201 Keen shoes reviews, and this 5 star feedback stood out, covering pretty much all you need to know about Keen hiking boots: “I’ve owned three pairs of women’s Keen hiking boots. The first pair I bought about 15 years ago. They’ve been very well used and have not fallen apart.”

“The second pair of hiking boots I wore for 3 or 4 years and only bought a replacement pair because I wanted new ones. I wore them a lot with no problems and I’m now on my third pair without any issues. For me they’re always very comfortable, don’t need breaking-in, and are reliably waterproof.”

The same customer completes their review on a positive note: “The sandals are durable and I have yet to break a pair. The versatility of these sandals makes them well worth the replacement cost since in one day you can literally go for a hike (or run), bicycle, and canoe (or do other water activities).”

On Outdoor Gear Lab, an adventure enthusiast platform, this customer gave a Keen shoes review a 4.5/5 stars on one of their top-selling product, the Targhee II (which comes in both men’s and women’s):

“A long time favorite of distance hikers, the Keen Targhee II doesn’t need much introduction. Its low price and extremely capable design have been upholding its ranking as an extremely popular shoe.”

Continuing on, this customer said: “Foot support and comfort are top priorities in this shoe’s design. The toe protection is near-legendary, so you can forget stubbed toes on unseen rocks and roots when trails get rough., though, this shoe remains a great value for many hikers, ourselves included.”

Lastly, among the 6349 Amazon reviews out there, the brand has averaged a 4.4/5 star rating. This 5 star Keen shoes review managed to include all viewpoints of a customer’s experience, including a negative aspect that was rectified: “Get these shoes! I wear a 11.5 and heard these run small, so I went up to a size 12. The size 12 fits perfectly and glad I went up half size.”

They continued: “With a combination of these shoes and superfeet orthotics, I can now hike with greatly reduced pain. These shoes have increased the quality of my daily living. Cons: After 2 months of wearing them, I had a piece of thread start to come loose, which is unacceptable. However, Keen has amazing customer service and promptly shipped me a replacement pair.”

Although there’s a few negative Keen shoes reviews out there, the general feedback is great. For a brand that sells fairly expensive footwear built to support a person’s adventure, comfort, or their trade, the company puts out great shoes and is well-loved by many.  

FAQ

Who owns Keen Shoes?

The company was founded by Martin Keen and Rory Fuerst in 2003, and is now solely owned by Fuerst (with Keen selling his share to his co-founder in 2015).

Where are Keen Shoes made?

Keen shoes are made in a few primary locations, such as Thailand, Mexico, and Portland, OR. The company proudly owns their factories in those countries, to ensure safe and ethical practices for their employees. They also partner with factories in a number of other countries that practice similar ethics.

Does Keen Shoes ship internationally?

Currently, the brand only ships from their website within the US. But if you’re in another country and want to get your hands on Keen shoes, there are plenty of third-party platforms that carry their products and will ship internationally.

What is Keen Shoes’ Shipping Policy?

For orders over $100, Keen offers free shipping anywhere in the continental US. There is an additional fee if you’re ordering from Hawaii, Alaska, or the US territories.

For shipping options, Keen has a tiered system:

• Standard: $10 (up to 7 business days)
• Express: $20 (up to 3 business days)
• Rush: $35 (up to 2 business days)

What is Keen Shoes’ Return Policy?

Keen offers a 30-day window from your order date to return unworn footwear. So long as you’re within the US, they offer free shipping as well! To begin your return process, you’ll need to contact the company through their Returns Portal and request a return label. Once Keen receives your goods, it will take 7-10 business days to refund your credit card.

This Keen shoes review also found the brand does returns and exchanges in-store within 30 days. However, they don’t offer an exchange program online – you just have to return your original items, and order whatever item you’re looking for separately.

How to Contact Keen Shoes

If this Keen shoes review hasn’t answered all of your pressing questions, you can reach them in the following ways:

• Contact form
• Live chat 
• Phone: 1-866-676-5336

The brand’s representatives are available from Monday to Friday, between 6 am to 5 pm PST, and Saturday-Sunday, from 7 am to 4 pm PST.