Keen Glarus Boots and Emerald City Sandals

Whether your ideal summer activity is getting active outside or a leisurely stroll around town, Keen has the perfect summer shoe

With summer officially kicking off in less than a month, it’s time to think about refreshing your warm weather wardrobe (if you haven’t already).  To help usher in the balmy temps, we asked a couple of staffers what shoes they’re going to be wearing this summer, and their responses:  both are loving two new offerings from Keen.

On the men’s side, our pick is the Keen Glarus Hikining – a long-distance hiking boot geared directly at the adventurers among you and perfect for an all-day summer hike.  For the ladies, our pick is a pair of Keen Emerald City Sandals – sandals that look incredibly stylish, but most importantly, have the legendary Keen comfort to match.

Here’s a look at both.

Keen Glarus Hiking Boots ($160, men’s and women’s)

For us, summer is all about getting outside and being as active as possible, with hiking easily ranking as one of our favorite past times.  To make hiking even more enjoyable, the Keen Glarus ranks as one of our favorite trail boots, with a design specifically built for extended, all-day hikes.  Up top, a fantastically rugged waterproof full-grain leather upper paired with a KEEN.DRY waterproof membrane keeps moisture out, keeping your feet comfortable even in wet conditions.  Underneath, 4mm multi directional traction lugs provide ample grip, even in slippery conditions.  And making the Glarus boots some of the most comfortable we’ve tried, removable metatomical dual density EVA footbeds, torsion stability ESS shanks and external TPU heel stabilizers are just some of the tech Keen has packed into their newest hiking boot offering.

The full list of Keen Glarus features include

  • 4mm multi directional traction lugs
  • External TPU heel stabilizer
  • KEEN.DRY™ waterproof breathable membrane
  • KEEN.Zorb Strobel
  • Metal speed hook lacing system
  • Removable metatomical dual density EVA footbed
  • Torsion stability ESS shank
  • Waterproof full grain leather upper
  • Non-marking rubber outsole

You can learn more about the Keen Glarus Hiking Boots at the official Keen website.

Keen Emerald City Ankle Sandals ($85, women’s)

For a more laid back option in the Keen lineup, we love two of the offerings in the Emerald City lineup.  The first is the new Keen Emerald City Ankle sandal, a classically inspired sandal boasting a full grain leather upper and lining.  Not only does the emerald city look great with jeans, a skirt, a dress (or pretty much anything else), they’re also incredibly comfortable, thanks to a luxurious leather wrapped midsole.  Should things get a little more active, a non-marking natural rubber outsole provides ample grip when the need arises, allowing you to showcase your recently acquired four-minute Party Rock dance routine with the utmost precision.

More features of the Keen Emerald City Ankle Sandal include:

– Burnished leather footbed cover
– Full-grain leather upper
– Leather lining
– Leather wrapped midsole
– Non-marking natural rubber outsole

You can learn more about the Keen Emerald City Ankle Sandals at the official Keen website.

Keen Emerald City Three Point Sandals ($85, women’s)

If you love the idea of the Keen Emerald City Ankle sandal but want a slightly different style, the Emerald City Three Point sandal offers a more classically refined look with the same great comfort.  As with the ankle sandal, the three-point sandal boasts full grain leather straps, but in a slimmer design than found on the ankle sandal.  Whereas the ankle sandal is a touch more trendy, the three point sandal airs slightly more on the side of traditional.  Both look great with jeans, shorts, a dress, a skirt… pretty much anything you can think of.  Ensuring comfort during extended use, the three point sandal notes the same luxurious leather wrapped midsole as found on the on the ankle sandle, and a grippy non-marking natural rubber outsole again provides ample traction when you need it.

More features of the Keen Emerald City Three Point Sandals include:

– Burnished leather footbed cover
– Full-grain leather upper
– Leather lining
– Leather wrapped midsole
– Non-marking natural rubber outsole

You can learn more about the Keen Emerald City Three Point Sandals at the official Keen website.

Keen Tryon WP Shoes

The Keen Tryon WP combines superb comfort and excellent durability, making it an exceptional choice for a trail running shoe

With spring in full force and summer knocking on our doors, it’s time to get outside and take in all the glory Mother Nature has to offer.  One of the easiest ways to take advantage of the gorgeous weather is running, and one of the ways I love putting in miles is getting off the road and onto the trails.

Unlike traditional running, where surfaces are smooth and flat, trail running is an entirely different animal, with rocky, uneven surfaces the norm; water and mud an everyday occurrence; and the chance of injury that much greater than running on the road.  When I first tried trail running, my attempt was in normal running shoes, and I quickly discovered a pair of dedicated trail shoes were a must.  Unfortunately, finding trails shoes for running can be a difficult task, as many are too heavy and awkward for longer runs.

This spring, in seeking out a new pair of trail shoes, I picked up a pair of Keen Tryon WP, and after breaking them in for the last month, I can tell you they’re a fantastic option for anyone looking to run on rugged terrain.  For starters, they’re super comfortable.  The Keen Tryon WP provides great arch support; they’re light enough to not hold you back; and the soles are rugged enough (thanks to the KEEN.Zorb system) to dampen the blows from jagged rocks, ruts, and any other obstacles you may encounter.  Compared to other trail shoes I’ve used, there’s also a fantastic level of heel protection – more so than other trail shoes I’ve tried – and they’re just tall enough to add additional ankle support in comparison to normal running shoes.  Another great feature:  a removable metatomical dual density EVA footbed is not only provides support for your foot’s contours, it also makes cleaning the Tryon WP’s a breeze.

From a ruggedness standpoint, the Keen Tryon WP has a variety of technological designed to keep your feet protected.  There’s the KEEN.DRY membrane construction, which is a material that’s both waterproof but breathable enough to keep your feet cool.  Up front, the toe box features added protection, shielding your feet from the common trail occurrence of toe stubs.  And the entire shoe is constructed with minimal seams, making the likelihood of water penetration even less and lessening the number of weak points on the shoe.  After putting in a couple hundred miles in them , I can tell you the Keen Tryon WP have held up beautifully.

With a street price of $120, you can’t go wrong with the Keen Tryon WP’s if you’re looking for a superbly comfortable, rugged shoe for trail running.  They’re available in multiple color combos and in both men’s and women’s varieties, so you’re sure to find a Keen Tryon WP that fits you’re unique style.  To order the Keen Tryon WP, you can pick both the men’s Keen Tryon WP and women’s Keen Tryon WP from Amazon.com.