The guys at
Keen Footwear
have been busy with several new models for both men and women about to
appear for
spring/summer
2010 in both mid and trail shoe form. The company's best known for its sandals and hybrids but is increasingly looking to expand into more general trail shoes and boots.
Keen's large fore-footed last is ideal for walkers with matching wide
feet and the new
Klamath
Mid expands the options from the brand. It uses a
full-grain leather and Nubuck upper with a Keen-Dry waterproof and
breathable membrane while down below there's a full-length TPU plate
for overall stability along with forefoot torsion bars.
Cushioning is courtesy of cork and EVA heel inserts and there's a
carbon rubber outsole for grip. Price is
£120 and
it looks like a good halfway house between Keen's trail shoes and the
Keen Pyrenees walking boot. Claimed weight is around 1200 grammes per
pair.
Talking of trail shoes, the new
Siskiyou
mixes leather and mesh on the upper with a woven textile lining
designed to wick moisture away and cope with warm conditons use.
There's a dual-density PU mid-sole and it looks like a good bet for
tavel and general walking use. Looks good and retails for
£70.
New Women's Specific Shoe
Brand new for this spring is the
Shasta,
again using a combination of mesh and leather for the upper and a
dual-density PU mid-sole and footbed with a 'tough rubber outsole' for
a good-looking shoe that combines reasonably lightweight, about 760
grammes per pair with decent comfort and stability.
Finally, the
Genoa Peak
WP carries on this spring and is joined by a standard,
non-waterproof Genoa Peak - no 'WP'. Like the Shasta it's been built on
a women's specific last, but the leather and mesh upper also
incorporates a Keen.Dry waterproof and breathable liner to keep puddle
outside where they belong.
There's an ESS shank for real underfoot stability and a stone bruising
plate protects from debris on rough terrain. Finally the S3 heel
support system supports the foot on impact and is claimed to dissipate
shock and reduce the risk of injury on uneven surfaces. Lots of
technology then and sounds like an interesting rough terrain trail shoe.
In the shops shortly - yes, in outdoor retails terms, it is almost
spring - more information at
www.keeneurope.eu
Halfway between sandals and trail shoes, the Keen Taos is what you want to be wearing if someone spills a jeraboam of bubbly over the rockery on Christmas Day ;-)
