Keen commuters (sandals) - feedback/reviews?
 

(figured the commuting forum would be appropriate)

I've seen some slightly older threads on these SPD sandals, but I'm curious to hear from folks who've put some miles on these. On first impression, they are narrow when everything else (length, ability to get them appropriately tight for good climbing & clipping out) is right. Everything I've seen comments on this fact, but what I haven't heard is how they wear over the miles....I mean, have they stretched a little in width? Still happy with 'em? Coming from wearing regular Keens, they feel a little narrow, but as good shoes to get the most out of being clipped in they feel about right. So, I guess I'm asking...

-have they stretched out any?
-do you fit them on the snug side compared to regular Keens?

Thanks in advance,

On sale, $85 at REI :)

Just bought a pair, so no review.

I bought size 47, same as my regular Keen sandals. They are a bit narrower, I assume it's so they hold the foot in place. I'm going to try to fit the cleats tonight. I heard the position isn't right on the larger sizes, we'll see.

I wore them for most of last summer and have been wearing them for the last few weeks here in NC. They've been pretty good overall. When riding in the rain, it's a good idea to rinse them thoroughly to get any fine debris off. They're OK for walking around in for short stints, but I use the platform side of my pedals for most short utility trips (e.g. grocery shopping, etc). They're definitely more snug than regular Keens, but I think this is a necessity. They will still accommodate socks for cooler mornings.

I don't have a pair, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

Actually, one of my riding buddies has these. He loves them for short jaunts where he also wants cool/ventilated and casual shoes on the other end of the ride.

Beware of bad hot spots over long distances putting force into the pedals. Just his words, as apparently the soles aren't the stiffest.

Too narrow for me. I can't imagine why they decided to change the dimensions from the standard shoe.

My wife has the Keen SPD sandals and likes them a lot, they are for sure more narrow than the regular Keens. When I ride platforms with my regular Keens they are wider than the pedals and the heels easily strike the chainstay. I live in my Keen (regular) sandals in the summer but IMO they are not good cycling shoes.

I use the old Lake 2 strap SPD sandals for warm weather commutes and like them at lot.

Not to hijack the thread but I'm wondering if anyone has a long term review of the new Lakes sandals? They look a lot like the Keens, but since they come from a company that only makes cycling products they are certainly worth consideration.

http://www.lakecycling.com/io-sdl-p-117.html

I don't have those but I have an old pair of Shimano sandals from before they moved to the extra strap (imho this covers too much of the foot) and I love them. I love having air between my toes. :D

I had first ordered the Lake sandals and hated them. Don't recall why but I think they were either too wide, too much coverage, or both.

Here are my first impressions.

Ugh, ya see that's what I'm saying. Might as well wear a full shoe! wtf!
I'm gonna be pissed when my shimano's wear out. :(


http://www.sjscycles.com/store/shimanosandalsbig.jpg

I have a pair. I've only ridden with them a few times. What I can say is that they are harder to get out of the pedals, mainly because they are looser on my heal that my Shimano MT41s. They are narrower and stiffer than a regular set of Keen Newports.

Mine haven't stretched out at all yet. And to make sure that I can get out of the pedals, I really pull the cords tight to make sure that I have as snug a fit as possible.

Mark

I have a pair and find them to fit well. I have narrow feet so there is no complaint. I do find they are not tight enough in the back no matter how tight I pull them. They wear like shoes and forget that I have them on being they are comfortable. The only drawback is the price. I think these shoes are too expensive even on sale yet there are no sandals on the market for women.

Love mine. I've had them for about 1.5 years. Ride them full-time, year round, on several different bikes, on many different ride types, including lots and lots of commutes. I never pack any other sandals/shoes. They have a more flexible sole than standard bike shoes but that's not a problem for me.

Awesome. If you love regular Keen sandals for the generous toe box, the Commuter will disappoint. Much narrower footbed and stiff sole make it perfect for clipless riding. Walking around, not so much.

And these are pretty?

Who said anything about pretty?

Sandals are meant to let your feet hang out with the minimum amount of coverage.
These spd sandals keep covering the foot more and more. First it was more/wider straps and now covering toes? Yeesh... what's the point? Might as wear full shoes! I wear my birks or tevas sometimes too but they don't have spd clips, the birks are more of a pain to get tight fit with and the tevas are a bit too wide for cycling imho. In a perfect world I'd want even less strap than the ones pictured, but they will have to do until they wear out... then I'm screwed from the looks of things.

I'm about to take the plunge with them being on sale at REI.

I've been using the airwalk version ($30 from target) with powergrips for years. Love them. But I"ve got clipless pedals on the commuter right now and figure why not. Still a lot more money than I want to spend, but if they work well then it's money well spent on my commute which gets pretty toasty. I like being able to douse the legs and feet with water. Or when I'm on the mountain bike, just hop into the stream.

My impression when trying them at REI was they have a very, too flexible, footbed. This is compared to to Shimano SPD sandals which is the only other cycling shoe I have ever used. The Keens sole was more like a sneaker. If they had a stiff sole like the Shimanos I may have gotten them.

Shimano changing the sandal design was a huge step backward. It is not just the extra strap, but also the extra material added all around (much smaller and eliminated vent holes) The other huge negative was the footbed used to be a hard textured pebbly surface and was changed to a soft smoother surface. The later is very uncomfortable with bare feet.

This is the new version:
http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/pr...d65_sandal.jpg

I tried the Keen sandals at REI and could not get my feet into them, just too narrow for my feet. So far the only SPD sandals that fit me are the current Shimano ones.

I have not tried the Lakes or the cheap Nashbar SPD sandals. Comments from anyone on the Nashbars?

Commuted on mine today, I love 'em. The open toe Shimanos look like you could do some serious toe damage, esp if one was a drinking man....

I've had mine about six months, and normally use them instead of my Sidi Dragons. I bought them big enough to fit two pair of wool socks, to allow for colder riding days, but they also fit fine with one pair of socks or barefoot if I tighten them a bit. I've used them for commuting, group rides, and a couple of 200K brevets. I may go back to my Sidis on the longer brevets, but might still wear the Keens. They are plenty comfortable.

I'm wearing the new Keen Springwater shoes as my commuting/touring shoe these days and here's a link to a post I'd made in another thread with my "review".

I really love these shoes. For those of you who don't like a flexible sole on a cycling shoe I don't see the point in even considering a sandal of any kind- I mean if a stiff sole is a priority get a more exclusive cycling shoe and carry an extra pair of lightweight sandals or something. The point of these kinds of sandals/shoes is to provide the cyclist with a shoe suitable for walking some distance while providing a cleated shoe instead of just regular shoe that would require a platform pedal or be counter productive on a narrow cleated pedal.

The Keen shoe is a really good compromise- in many ways not even a compromise it's a pretty stiff sole- I like the feel of it on the pedal. But it's great for walking. Since I've bought them I've often forgotten to change my shoes when I get to work and realized only later I've spent all day walking about in my "cycling shoe". I'd consider this shoe for even many of my road rides- certainly for any touring I do. It's just a tad on the heavy side for recreational road riding/racing.

There's a 20% coupon at REI for members good till May 10th (I think). I used a similar coupon back March when I bought mine and it saved me a considerable amount of money.

The sole stiffness difference between the Keen and Shimano sandal is huge. I wear the Shimano ones even when not cycling and have even gone hiking in them and traveled for weekend trips with nothing but them.

Wow...thanks for all the perspectives. I should have included in my original post that I got a pair of the Keens as a gift the other day. I haven't had a chance to really try them riding, but I've worked out the fit/width part...and it's a change in perspective 'cause with sandals I think 'loose, comfortable' but for cycling shoes, 'snug, efficient'....so I fully expect a compromise. So, for me, my own review will be on how that compromise works for me. If I need great efficiency I'll wear real cycling shoes. I do like the toe protection of all Keens 'cause they suit my clumsiness....and I'm not a big fan of their prices, but I do pay them from time to time.

and are the Shimano's a stiff sole?- or stiffer than the Keen's?

It may be that my preference for hiking/walking is different. I'm not a big fan of stiff soles on long walks. For commuting and long distance touring I'd rather have a more walkable shoe than a real stiff soled cycling shoe. I feel like the stiffer soled shoe in non-competitive situations doesn't offer enough of a benefit to make it worth my discomfort off the bike while wearing it.