Into the Fall With Keens
Last on our lineup of shoes (for the moment) is the Keen Taos Sandals. As we close summer, and head toward the one-year anniversary of the site, we decided that we should review the brand that made a couple of our reviewers like sandals again.
Called hybrids, these are shoes that are made for all-around use, from the beach to hiking Volcanoes National Park. Durable, comfortable, and breathable, the Taos (and many of the other Keen styles) use a mix of leather/nylon and feature “metatomical strap design”. They are even machine washable!
We tried them out in some nasty rain, ran with them around Ala Moana Park, and let them sit outside for a day or two to see if the leather cracked and if their anti-microbial coating worked. We were happily surprised- there was the slightest bit of color fading, but other than that they were still in good condition. Also, the Taos features a removable footbed, which is nice to replace after a few months.
All in all, we saved the best of our sandal hybrids for last. Well worth the $100, the Keen Taos is a great shoe for most any purpose. Just, please, don’t wear socks!
The only two cons I’ve encountered with these hybrids are walking on the beach and vertical climbing with them wet. Sand packs under my toes on the beach, and is easily avoided by slipping them off and walking barefoot. If barefoot isn’t an option they rinse clean quite easily when done walking. I also found that the rubber soles slip some when climbing vertically in wet/mossy conditions.
Props to Keen for creating a shoe that will withstand every form of abuse I throw at it!
— Rita Scott · Apr 30, 01:16 PM · #