Keen Koven Boot Review | RevHiker

[@SeanMather]

I sell all sorts of outdoor gear for a living at a big Canadian sporting goods chain, and this is my opinion, not my stores or Keen’s. Having sold Keen’s for a long time, over the years we have had a minimal number issues with the waterproofing. I personally have used the Keen Durand as my winter boot for several years now with no issues. For the people who have had a problems, Keen has fantastic warranty service for 1 year after purchase. Take your receipt back to the retailer and they should be able to help you out, or you can try going through Keen’s customer service as an alternative. Another reason this might be happening is that you did say you moved up a half size I think, and that you typically take a wider boot. It’s possible that even the half size bigger might not have been enough to keep your foot from rubbing those spots, which look to be at the widest spot of the foot, not enough to cause you a blister, but perhaps enough to cause a failure of the waterproofing, especially if there was a defect in these particular shoes. That’s still something that should be covered by the warranty. After a year of use and the warranty has lapsed, especially with heavy duty use, it’s time to start thinking about new boots when things start going wrong. If your shoes/boots are made with EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) foam, which most are because it’s light, extremely cushioning and cheaper to manufacture, after a while you’re going to start breaking it down. If you watch the video when looking at the midsole, the light coloured area between the sole and the leather/fabric upper, you’ll see creases throughout this layer. That’s called compression set, which is exactly what it sounds like, the foam has been compressed and isn’t bouncing back like it used to. Now you are able to keep using this boot, but the performance is compromised, and I’d suggest a cushioned insole to help mitigate the loss of comfort. But that’s the reason the warranty is only 1 year, and that’s true for most shoe companies. Now a more expensive heavy duty boot, say my Keen Durands, or even something like the Ecco Yucatan sandal, use a polyurethane (PU) foam. This foam is much more resilient, but not as cushioning or as inexpensive as EVA. It’ll eventually get compressed too, but it’ll take a lot longer. Typically it’s used in applications where support is critical, which is why you find it in supportive hiking boots. It’s also why a really expensive ($200+) boot might last you longer than a cheaper one, as it’s usually the midsole that goes first on a properly functioning pair of shoes. You can tell the difference as EVA tends to be slightly textured and squishy, while PU is typically smooth, slightly glossy and firm. None of that means you can’t use a shoe for as long as you want for as long as you find it comfortable, but most shoes are only going to give you optimum performance for a year at best, sometimes less you if say you’re through hiking the PCT with a 90L backpack. Wear on the upper usually happens for two similar reasons, and also from old age. Either abrasive stuff is rubbing the outside, causing scuffs and cuts that can weaken the shoe, or you were improperly fit in the shoe, and your feet are rubbing the inside, eventually causing blow outs. If you find your big or little toe somehow always makes a hole in your shoe, that’s a sign of a bad fit, even if you don’t get blisters or discomfort. You should be able to freely wiggle your toes around and not hit anything. This will allow for space for your toes to go when flexing the boot, descending or otherwise moving around. The heel should be locked in place with minimal movement. Don’t forget to account for the types of socks you like to use, as a thick or thin pair might change the fit. The sole gets worn out prematurely either from walking on terrain it wasn’t designed for, or from gait issues like pronation. Some shoes are designed for soft terrain, and have big flexible tread to really dig into it. However walking on rocks and especially pavement will cause excessive wear on the sole. Pavement and volcanic rocks are like sandpaper to soles, and can quickly chew up insoles. That’s why road specific running shoes are usually flatter with a harder rubber insole, and why if you run on pavement with any runner that uses an EVA sole with no rubber it gets destroyed extremely quickly. Issues with how you walk, like pronation, can cause specific spots to wear faster than the rest of the sole. If you find your heal or an edge of the shoe wearing out quicker, than you might want to get someone to analyze your gait. A lot of specialty stores can do this for free, or a orthopedist can give you a more accurate one, and then can recommend ways to fix the problem. A lot of the time you may find minor pains might get corrected once the feet are properly supported again. The Keen Koven is a light hiking boot, basically a hiking shoe with more ankle support. It’s got an EVA midsole and a decent composite rubber sole designed for hiking on varied terrain types. All that makes it very comfortable and more supportive then a shoe with a light load over moderate terrain. As he was saying in this review, you can definitely push it harder, but a more supportive boot like the Keen Targhee or the Keen Durand might be a more appropriate choice, as both of those have more structure to handle heavy loads and difficult terrain. Thank you for this review, and it’s unfortunate that you had an issue with the boot. It’s rare to find good reviews from people who have used their gear for a good length of time, so thanks for sharing! Details like this are so helpful in recommending products to people. Hope you and your viewers find something useful for in this very long comment, and that you solve your issues with the boot, one way or another. I look forward to your next review!

[@RevHiker]

Thanks for the extensive info! I much prefer this type of comment to the "you're wrong" or "you're an idiot" comments I get sometimes haha... you gave good info, even if it was a long read👍

[@jamiemaxwell2074]

Terrific explanation (as I am trying to decide on which shoes to buy, for this year). Thanks for all the information.

[@MrArjunchoudhary]

You should write for a living.thanks for the informative comment haha

[@jamiemaxwell2074]

I enjoyed your review and the fact that you actually used them, before reviewing them. I get tired of hearing how great something is, simply because it "looks great". Looking at these boots now and I may just pull the trigger on them - they are on sale right now.

[@RevHiker]

Thanks👍

[@BitsOfEternity]

I bought a pair of these recently, and - this review is from three years ago, so - I'm curious to know if you applied that waterproofing you mentioned, and if so, do you mind sharing the brand/name/product info? And/or did you warranty it with Keen, or the retailer, or did the problem go away on its own? God bless!

[@thefucrew9865]

Good review, Sir. Was it a proprietary waterproof liner (gore-tex or such) failure ? Or did your foot sweat just pool up in those areas ? How long did you have them on the day you felt the "wetness" ? Were they properly dried out from the previous wearing/use ? I had the same issue with some Merrell waterproof hikers (which I had fallen in love with after being allowed to wear them during my military time). The problem was that I was using the same pair too soon, and wasn't letting the "moisture wicking" action of the waterproof layer/bootie enough time to "sweat" my foot moisture out, before sticking my feet back in that boot and adding to the moisture content already in the boot. Once I got a 2nd pair, and switched them out (while in the service, and since being a civilian) on a daily basis, I haven't had that issue again. Keep up the great work !

[@RevHiker]

Thanks. I thought it could have been the sweat build up too, because I was wearing them 5 days straight while putting on about 10 miles a day in the snow when I felt the wetness come in by my little toes and the big joint of my big toe. I assumed it was a failure because those are the points of most wear/bending of a boot. After the trip, they had a few days break and I took them back out in the snow and felt the wetness again after a few hours. It was minor, but noticable. I guess it would be possible for it to be my sweat/ moisture, but I do believe it was a failure due to the sudden onset the first time, and that fact that it came back after having ample time to dry.

[@rivendellfarmandforgehomes3040]

Drew, what is that axe I see in your pack? I enjoyed the word at the end.

[@RevHiker]

Thanks👍 it's a council tool flying fox

[@GearReviewDepot]

I actually have those on my feet right this minute... been wearing them for about a year now. Definitely not waterproof. Resistant maybe but not waterproof.

[@RevHiker]

They are great boots aside from the water "proof" claim

[@prestonscott5367]

It encouraged me... take care

[@Buht0pe3]

thanks, good video

[@tiegger9316]

The keen liner is the best!!!!!! Its the only system based on the sympatex technology due to dermizax membrane. What you have noticed in heavy wet gras is the ww3 for any bott. With or without membrane. The soft water will normally massaged by every step in your footwear. To stop this you can not find man boots to resist. Normally not. The Keen is today one of the only company who is able to resist. And by the way after 5 years of hunting with the same shoe for example a worker boot. There are only a few shoes like Meindl Perfect Lowa Combat Boot Hanwag Tundra Top? Or short hhigh performance boots that can compare to any keen to be waterproof after! The right impra process. For those combined wet terraine i would try after 30 years of experimentating a Keen is waterproof is needed!!!!!!

[@KENAHIGHLANDER]

Great honest review.

[@RevHiker]

Thank you👍

[@defidemon1763]

Bro, mine lost waterproof state after 3 weeks of use. The store wont even replace them but instead want to refund me which will take days before I get my money back when I need fucken shoes now as I am on leave and want to hike

[@peters3819]

It’s a hiking shoe not a hunting shoe it’s not meant for snow. It’s a spring summer fall HIKING SHOE not HUNTING

[@jaypowell0185]

Great words

[@RevHiker]

Thanks bro

[@24califrank]

Shoes not waterproof.. plus bottom soles starts falling apart.last me about 1 year