Replacement for Keen Austin?
 

I've had these 4 years and they are starting to wear out. I looked online recently and discovered they were discontinued and replaced in Keen's lineup with a sandal SPD (don't want that). I have looked at Chrome, DZR, Quoc Pham, etc. but haven't found a worthwhile replacement. I wanted durability along with something I could wear to the office. Not looking for something with an edge or trying make a statement, but rather shoe that would blend in. Any suggestions?

Backup plan is to do with stiff non-SPD shoe.

For all-day office wear, I don't think that I would find any cycling specific shoe that is suitable. Either it is stiff enough for riding, or flexible enough for walking. Too much of a compromise for me.

Are you looking for something to wear all day, or just for a few minutes at the start and end of the day to wear "through" the office? If the latter, I would also give Dromarti a look. I don't have a pair, but I know a couple of people who do, and they say that they are extremely durable, and polish up pretty well. The can make a pass through the office without being noticed.

I bike commute every day and will take trips to happy hour, lunch, outside meetings, grocery store, etc. during the day or on the way home from work.

The Keen Austin was a do everything shoe that thankfully did not look like MTB shoes, so maybe I am asking a lot.

Did see the Giro Rumble VR that looks promising

Keen Austin Cycling shoes have been discontinued. I love mine for winter riding here in Texas and when I need to wear and blend in while in cycling shoes. I found my 2nd pair online when I found out they were being discontinued at REI. I keep them treated with Obenauf's Leather Paste, a beeswax product, to protect the leather.
And no, I haven't seen an equivalent shoe out there.
Keep us posted if you find an acceptable alternative.

Old Guy, I still Like Birkenstocks.

have you tried looking everywhere online to see if anybody still has stock you can buy? Like if you are size 8 Nordstrom Rack has one pair left, etc.

The most comfortable shoes I have ever owned are a pair of Keen Jaspers that I got from Salvation Army for $3.50. They were pretty well used, after a few months I had to shoegoo some parts of the sole, but they are so soft! Unfortunately all the new Jaspers have garish color accents, mine are nice and all blue-grey. I wouldn't recommend them for biking though, unless new ones have significantly stiffer soles. Mine are like moccasins.

Keen made a bike-specific version. That was discontinued a year or two before the "regular" Austin, and were impossible to find two years ago - the last time I looked.

Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's - REI.com

Okay just bought my Keen Austin replacements and will try them this week. Here are the $80 Giro Rumbles with their predecessors:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=511096

They look a lot smaller

Keen shoes are bulky on the outside, so they look a size or two bigger than they are. I like them because the toe boxes are oversized.

A stiff arch supportive Insole adds enough stiffness to make most any Shoe a commuting cycling shoe.

Conversely, enough pedal surface area spreads pressure sufficient to make any shoe a commuting cycling shoe.

In both cases though, people with out-turned feet (like me) need to also control heel strike. I take a box-cutter to old running shoes and remove the inside flare of the heel. And use 20mm pedal extenders. And position my feet a little outboard. Yes my feet basically go sideways.

Indeed, agreed. My Keen Austin Cycling shoes are my go to winter shoes in Austin, Tx. Plenty of room for wool socks, including toe box. Wore these through the Ohio winter of 2014 (cold one w/ lots of snow) and they served me just fine as winter cycling shoes while I was working up there. Rode in temps down to -10F or so a couple of times. Kept wool on the feet and beeswax on the leather.