Why I Love Them….
I’m a bit obsessed with hiking boots. I think it’s because I was trained in boot fitting and I just nerd out on them.
I wanted a lighter pair of boots for summer and was really happy to discover the Keen Ridge Flex Mid Waterproof boots. Having wider feet, I can’t wear a lot of brands, but I knew Keen’s roomy toe box works for me. I was intrigued by the Keen.Bellows Flex technology and hadn’t met it before, and I loved their colour choices.
On researching, I found that the Keen.Bellows Flex system was born to improve energy efficiency during hiking. They came up with the Bellows Flex technology, which improves flexing and reduces the common problem of leather boots cracking in the the toe bend location.
Keen state that ‘When flex-tested against similar boots in the hiking category, the Ridge Flex with KEEN.BELLOWS FLEX in the forefoot and heel required 60% less energy to bend, resulting in a more efficient stride that feels easier’. (Keen Web site. See Link below)
I don’t know how they measure that, but irrespective – I love the boot and find them great to use.
Here are my pros and cons for the boots based on several years of using them.
Great for:
- Summer hikes
- Wide feet
Pros
- The wide fit: Keen are great for wide fit boots and the generous toe box. These boots were equally generous.
- The Keen Bellows Flex technology gives the boot lots of flexibility at the toe, allowing greater versatility.
- Waterproof: I have never had leaking issues – and they have been through my ‘bog-test’. As with all boots however, you need to look after them and keep re-proofing.
- Colours. I loved the colour options and really enjoy the aesthetic design.
- Lightweight. My winter boots are a traditional leather boot, and quite heavy. For summer, these Keen boots are a perfect lighter-weight choice, whilst maintaining the quality.
- Comfort. Ultra-comfy with padding around the ankle.
- Durability. I have now worn these for several seasons and they are still going strong. (Admittedly slightly grubbier – but still fine).
- Rubber toe bumper. Keen are known for their toe bumper and it really helps to cushion those ‘stub your toe on the rocks’ moments.
- Heel lock. I love the inner bump above the heel, which prevents heel slip within the boot.
- Long laces. My pet hate is not having enough lace length and these laces are quite long, allowing for your ‘lace-tying technique’ of choice.
- Keen are very environmentally conscious and work to reduce climate impact. See Link below.
- Cost (around £100 at time of writing)
- True to size.
- Excellent all-rounder summer boot
Cons:
- I find them a little slippy on wet rocks. Compared with my winter boots, I felt these boots did not have as much grip.
- If you need a stiffer sole for your particular adventure, or have foot pain issues, these are very flexible, so may not be the right choice.
How to care for them.
I would recommend cleaning off excess dirt with water and a soft brush, followed by Nikwax cleaner and proofer for fabric boots. Follow the instructions, as Nikwax is water-based and the boots need to be wet for this product. This has worked for me, and they continue to be waterproof.
Summary
In summary, these boots have been fantastic for a UK summer hiking boot. They have taken me up many a myriad of Wainwrights; through bogs, grass, mud and even a few river hops. In my opinion, the main drawback is that I find them to be slippy on wet rocks , otherwise – I am a big fan, and would buy again.
For all boot fitting, I would always recommend a professional boot fit, such as Cotswolds, or George Fishers.
So, what do you think? What are your ‘go to’ boots for summer?
Links:
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