KEEN

Keen: what if sandals could protect your toes?

Everyone likes the freedom of sandals in summertime, but treading carefully to avoid bumps and stubbed toes is not so cool. With a rubber bumper to fend off painful collisions, Keen sandals aren't your typical sport sandals or summer shoes. They come with rugged soles for traction on rocky beaches and slippery stones. Moulded footbeds add comfort while carrying a heavy pack or portaging a canoe. And Keen kids’ shoes are sturdy and protective for little feet no matter how far they roam.

Boots and trail shoes

But it’s not just sandals – Keen’s wide range of footwear has every season covered. Burly winter boots feature grippy lugs and waterproofing to block out snowmelt and slush. Lightweight trail shoes offer support from trailhead to viewpoint. And their ultra-popular water shoes have antibacterial linings to keep things from getting funky. Need help deciding? Check out tips on choosing the right hiking shoes or boots or chat with MEC staffers in-store and post questions online.

Keen fit and sizing

Keen is known for their wide, generous toebox that allows room for your toes to spread. They offer wide sizes for some hiking boots. They also provide foot length measurements in centimeters so it’s easy to compare and find the right size. MEC also collects size info whenever members include it in a review. You can see the consensus of whether a product runs small or large based on other peoples’ experience. If we have it, you’ll see this information on a product’s detailed description when you select your size.

Reducing PFCs and recycling plastics

Durable water repellent (DWR) treatment is common on outdoor gear, but most DWR finishes use PFAS to add water-shedding ability. Concerned with the lasting effects of these chemicals, Keen sources alternatives – their footwear has been free of PFAS since 2018. Many of Keen’s footwear styles incorporate recycled materials such as canvas, foam and rubber and any winter boot that features Keen.Warm insulation contains recycled plastic bottles, some of which have been collected from beaches and rivers.

Good gear lasts

Choosing quality footwear like Keen is a great way to keep excess stuff from ending up in landfills. If you’re looking to minimize your impact even more, keep your gear in play by following these tips to wash and waterproof your hiking boots so they’re ready to tackle trails for years to come.