Keen Men's Redmond Shoe : Plain But Mighty

My first impression of Keen's Redmond trail shoe probably won't be yours. Also, my second impression is much better than my first.

To explain: I'm a big-footed lady, descended from vikings. I often test men's shoes because most women's shoes are too narrow for me. So, my first impression was: these shoes are kinda bla...why don't they come in a fun color like red or purple?

But you, dear male reader, probably don't want brightly colored trail shoes to match your trail tops. Shades of brown are probably just what you're looking for. Also, the more I looked at my new Redmond shoes, I started to fall for the simple design, the subtle contrast stitching, the cool way the laces and ribbon along the sides and heel of the shoe add some character to this classic suede hiker. What a great looking shoe! So simple and so functional.

I've been wearing my Redmond shoes almost every day for hour-long power walks. The same thick, stable sole I expect from Keen, as well as an excellent tread for the trail. What I love about Keen shoes is how they manage to make a lightweight shoe that is fairly firm through the forefoot. The longer I walk, I want that stability -- a more flexible forefoot wouldn't provide the support I need.

The Redmond shoes also have the ubiquitous Keen toe bumper, although it seems more slimmed down from bumpers on years-ago models. The entire shoe seems slimmed down. It's still plenty wide, but not Frodo-foot shaped. A bit lower profile, a bit lower volume, with a tough suede upper and asymmetrical lacing for added stability. My feet don't move around at all in these shoes. I've been pounding out some seriously fast-paced mileage over the past month, and I'm happy to say that my Keens have kept my feet pretty happy.

I did experience a short break-in period, but after four or five outings, I felt the shoe adapting to my foot. I found these shoes to run a bit short, but I also wear a thick, full-length cork and leather orthotic. So, if you're right on a size, wear a bulky orthotic, or are in between sizes, you might want to go up a half size as I did.

Available in sizes 7-14, and in three different colors.

Bottom Line :  Sturdy trail shoes that will charm anyone who'd like less flash and more substance in their footwear.--E.D. (May 09)

Price : $110

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Manufacturer's Site: www.keenfootwear.com

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