I was fortunate enough to receive a box of goodies from Keen that will be under review in the coming weeks.  The first that I was most excited about was their Commuter Sandal.  This shoe is based on their very popular sandals that have been around for a years.

What Keen Says :

Show the world how you like to move in the KEEN Commuter. This hard-working bicycle shoe delivers dual functionality by doubling as a trail sandal. The non-marking rubber outsole provides the right grip for all your active endeavors. Hop on and off the bike with confidence and make the commute to work or the trail your own.

Features :
- Full length SPD-compatible plate
- Non-marking rubber outsole
- Polyester webbed upper with KEEN toe protection
- Removable metatomical footbed
- TPU cleat cap plate

Initial Thoughts and Preview :

Slipping these guys on I was excited about the freedom my toes and feet felt.  During the summer heat my feet were able to keep air flowing. Be warned as the open slots on the sides and tops of the shoes give you very crazy tan lines.

Walkability : The shoe is designed to be able to walk comfortably in it.  They are able to do this in two steps : The first is the mountain style cleat you would use is recessed into the shoe.  The second there is a slight flex in the sole as the sole isn’t as stiff as you would find on a mountain or road performance shoe.   Daily I have ridden my bike the 5-17 miles to the bike shop, worked all day long and then hopped back on the bike without changing shoes at all. I still had all the benefits of being clipped in from the Keen Commuter Sandal when on the bike!

Comfort and Fit :  These shoes are comfortable.   They have all the fine points that Keen is known for in their shoes from the well thought out straps to the “Aegis Microbe Shield” in the bed of the shoe.  The shoe does fit smaller than a standard Keen and I had to size up a whole size to find a perfect fit. I believe due to the fact it is a sandal the support isn’t able to be as high as I would like.  Compared to many of my other shoes there isn’t as much arch support built in, the big down fall is the fact you can’t put a new instep or insole in the shoe because it is a sandal.

Initial Preview :

I’m enjoying these shoes and they will be my go-to when doing errands or commuting back and forth.

My unanswered questions so far in the review :

• How will the hold up under constant abuse?
• Will my wool socks be enough in these to keep my toes warm this fall?
• How easy will walking be once the sole wears down?