I got a gift card for Christmas and finally used it. I got a pair of Keen Arroyo. I am gonna use them for hiking shoes and see how they perform. I will post my field test later.
I had Keene's eVent hiking boots. After ONE trip in Utah's Escalante slot canyons the inner top linings began bunching at the toes and several outer seams were losing their stitching. I think this was Keene's first venture into backp[acking boots. They have a few things to learn about building durable boots.
Took 'em back to REI & got my money back. Went & bought a pair of Danner 453 GTX boots. After over 100 miles of backpacking in Yosemite and the Ruby Mountains of NV as well as hiking in S. NV I couldn't be happier.
I should say I do love my Keene sandals. Holding up very well so far (are those the Arroyos?). The Arroyos and other Keene sandals are actually based on thr ancient Roman Centurion sandal design, but with a rubber sole. Worked for them for hundreds of years.
Eric
Edited by 300winmag (03/15/0811:30 AM)
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"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."
Yep I have heard a few stories about sticks ect getting in them. We will see. I wanted to try chacos, but the place (gander mtn) where the gift certificate came from was limited. They had a lot of hunting stuff, ect...so I got the Arroyos. I wore them on my afternoon walk today and they seemed comfortable- the traction is incredible.
I forgot to mention the only dislike I have so far. Its not major and took a while to develop each time, but the lacing system loosens over time. The lacing system is basically a cord lock. This is more appealing in the store than on the trail. If these were town or camp shoes the lacing system would be nice, but for hiking it is not so good. The laces loosen and then yoor foot can slide in the shoe - this felt like it had the potential to allow the foot to slide to outside edge and rock on the outer edge of the sole - I see a turned ankle potential with this. When they dry out I am going to work on a compromise or just ditch the cordlock and tie them like my momma taught me.
Further reporting - I have faily tuff feet and was not aware that these shoes caused some sort of toe strain/injury. Let me explain - I wore them the day after my hike on my afternoon walk - 4 paved miles. 200 yards from house my index toe (the one next to my big toe) started aching. With every step it ached. It eventually subsided as I walked, but it must have taken a mile. I have not had this feeling since I wore Tevas back in 1992 on a 22 mile day. I had a time frame to meet a shuttle and 22 was the mileage for that day. Tevas were wading shoes for me back then, and I was glad to have them that trip because the sole of my right boot delaminated and was not useable. I had other foot soreness from that day, but I remember the toe thing because it made walking very painful. I did not realize that I had this pain until I put the keens back on. I am thinking that there is not enough stability in the shoe. I usually wear Hardrocks and do not have this type of pain - or any pain from walking. I think they flex too much in the toe area and allow the toe to superpronate - upwards. I have more testing to do - but right now I think these would be limited to water and camp shoes and emergency footwear, but not for day in day out travel. I will continue to test these and am thinking about testing the Chacos as well. My quest is to find a shoe that I can wear sockless to hike in the warmer months. I am not tough enough to be one of those barefoot hikers, but I can handle sockless. I have various water shoes of all types from years of whitewater canoeing, but they have narrow platforms and scream of turned ankles. If I can't find a suitable shoe for this I will get some croc knock-offs for camp use and be done with it. I know I will change this way of thinking, but I want to try using my hardrocks as my hiking and camp shoes and switch them out with a sandal for rainy, or multi crossing days. That way the hardrocks will stay dry and I can give my feet some variation. Plus I like the open air feeling when I hike, but like a campshoe that allows me to bushwhack without slicing a toe open. I am asking too much. And adding too much weight -- I know. The search continues. And it gives me something to tweak.
Keep researching, hooty. I am going to wear my Keen sandals for my upcoming 200 mile hike. I am, however, bringing my trail runners. Not sure what will back up what yet. May end up using cheapo Keds.
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