A lightweight waterproof boot with serious treads for fast hikers.
I tend to wear hiking shoes and boots as my every day shoes because I like the support, plus, if I get a chance to exercise during the day I can pull over and hike in a park and know my feet are ready for action. Keen’s NXIS EVO Waterproof Hiking Boot, available in women’s and men’s sizes, feels like an athletic shoe but performs like a hiking boot.
Simple and Solid
The shoe is fairly lightweight and decidedly unfussy. I like the simple style of the outer material. There’s nothing to weigh me down or snag on, and the contrast red details give the black boot I tested a sporty look. Red eyelets and black and white laces make it easy to find my laces and quickly lace up. I didn’t need any break-in time; the Keen NXIS EVO Waterproof Hiking Boot was comfortable right out of the box.
The NXIS EVO has a slimmer profile than Keen shoes I’ve tested in years past. I can’t tell if the shoe is a wee bit narrower—it feels like it—but it does run a smidge long. Even with my clunky cork orthotic I have a bit of space at the end of my toes that I’m not used to having in my Keens. There’s a padded bar inside the shoe that fits around the back of my ankle, as well as Keen’s “KonnectFit heel-capture system” designed into the boot. I was sure the bar would rub and irritate my ankle, but it doesn’t. My heels stay in place. I like that feeling. Nothing worse than a sloppy fitting hiking boot. (Check out our review of Smartwool’s Hike Lite Cushion Crew Socks.)
Breathable and Waterproof
The Keen NXIS EVO Waterproof Hiking Boot does well in the rain. I had great traction on dirt and on grass, and my feet stayed dry on several walks/hikes in nearby parks and on hour-long power walks around my neighborhood. The boot was breathable; my feet never overheated. The NXIS EVO has anti-odor properties in the lining. My feet never smell (I know, odd, but they really never smell. Unlike the rest of me.), so I didn’t notice this feature, but I’m sure many will appreciate it.
Bottom Line
Overall, I like the deceptively simple boot for light hikes, power walks, and day trips in the outdoors. I feel like the boot is stable and supportive without being rigid. I probably would wear a stiff-soled boot for longer hikes because I have a weak spot on my right foot from an old fracture, but the NXIS EVO Waterproof Hiking Boot is ideal for outdoor adventures, scrambling, hiking, trekking. I really appreciate the roomy toe box, rounded toe style, and serious treads.
Details
Men’s boots available in Magnet/Bright Cobalt, Black/Red Carpet, Black/Evening Primrose, sizes 7-15, with half sizes up to size 12. Women’s NXIS EVO Waterproof Boot comes in Black/Blue Glass, Olive Drab/Birch, and Vapor/Porcelain, in sizes 5-12, with half sizes up to size 11.
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