Keen has been around a long time now, and we’re all familiar with their special brand of shoe/sandal hybrid footwear. You can spot a pair of Keens a mile away with their enormous toe bumpers and water-friendly style. Well at Outdoor Retailer 2012 Summer Market, they’ve rolled out their latest designs called Keen.CNX.
Basically, the Keen.CNX is a line of shoes and sandals that are lighter than previous offerings. They also have a lower profile for better ground feel without sacrificing the foot protection they’re known for.
The most Keen-like kicks in the new line is the Clearwater CNX. Available in both men’s and women’s versions, the Clearwater CNX is a light weight sandal with multi-directional flex grooves with razor siping for bomber traction on slippery-when-wet surfaces. They have polyester webbing uppers, metatarsal ridge for underfoot support, 4mm midsole drop, and a proprietary light weight PU midsole compound for support and comfort.
Next up is the Cascade CNX. It’s much like the Clearwater, only with a synthetic upper welded to a seamless microfiber lining. This makes the Cascade more of a water sport sandal that dries fast. Available in both men’s and women’s styles.
Also in the new CNX line is the Multi-Sport category. These shoes are built for lightweight agility and comfort on day hikes and easy approaches to the local crag (or just milling around town.) They feature Reverse Strobel construction with Keen.Zorb to provide a streamlined interior, moisture wicking DRI-LEX lining to reduce friction, metatarsal ridge for a natural fit, and the same PU midsole and TPU shank that the Cascade and Clearwater have. The women’s version is called the Haven CNX, and men will get to wear the Tunari CNX.
Another cool-looking line for Keen footwear coming out this spring is the Verdi Collection. These are men’s and women’s waterproof light hikers featuring a more typical Keen style we know and love. They’re built for more technical terrain and will get you anywhere you need to go in the backcountry, while not looking like those full-leather boots grandpa used to wear. Available in low and mid versions.
Finally, for you ladies out there who insist on a more feminine-looking sandal, Keen has your painted toenails covered. They’ll be releasing the women’s Rose sandal, a water sandal with all the technical features of other Keen models, but with an upper that matches a more chica style.
All of these new sandals and shoes from Keen will be available in store Spring 2013. Until then, we’ll just have to be content with what’s currently available at www.keenfootwear.com
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