Keen touts itself as the company for a “Hybrid Life.” Well, I don’t see anything “hybrid” about the new Keen Incline Mid Boots, unless you consider the combination of damn comfortable boots coupled with warmth and good looks as a hybrid. On second thought, I guess that works!
The Keen Incline Mid boots are cold-weather, waterproof kicks with classic Keen styling. The Incline feature the following:
- 200g KEEN.Warm™ insulation
- Dual climate non-marking rubber outsole
- KEEN.DRY ™ waterproof breathable membrane
- Patented toe protection
- Thermal heat shield footbed
- TPU stability shank
- Waterproof leather upper
First of all, let me just say that I have fallen in love with these boots. They are simple, comfortable, and indeed warm. But the Incline Mid are also not something you’ll want to go trekking in the arctic with. I’ve owned warmer boots, but they’ve always been heavy, clunky even. What Keen has done is find the perfect balance between technical features, insulation, and weight. As a result, the Incline Mid seems to be more of an everyday kind of boot, and that’s what I’ve put them through during testing, everyday wear.
Their arrival came just in time at my house. With a massive October snowstorm dumping 4 feet of powder in the Wasatch, I laced up the Inclines and sought higher elevations. They were great trudging through the snow in the Salt Lake Valley while shoveling the sidewalks. In the car, they felt like almost like normal shoes when operating the gas pedal and brakes (whereas most winter boots make it feel like you’re driving with ski boots on.) At the trailhead, they excelled in below-freezing temperatures in deep snow until I could get my ski boots on. And after a day on the planks, the Incline Mid were toasty and comfy for my tired dogs.
Their versatility doesn’t stop there either. I found the Keen Incline to be great for everyday wear at work or around town when the low-pressure systems open the door to precip and burr-worthy temps. Plus the fact that they’re not so hot that I can’t wear them indoors without causing a sweat-fest in my socks is a good thing.
I also really like the soft leather uppers, pliable cuff that’s just high enough to keep out moderately deep snow, good traction on ice, and a footbed that feels better than most stock insoles. Funny that, since they’re a Thermal Heat Shield designed to reflect infrared warmth back toward the body.
I really can’t come up with any complaints concerning the Incline Mid except this: they feel a bit too roomy. Of course wearing thicker socks (which we all do in winter anyway) can solve this problem, but I feel like they’re not completely true-to-size. So if you’re looking to score a pair, you may want to try 1/2 size down.
Happy Keen Incline Mid:
The perfect combination between warmth and wearability,
Sad Keen Incline Mid:
Roomy. May need to size down.
Final Word:
The Keen Incline Mid boots are now my go-to winter shoes for everyday wear. Due to the comfort, toasty insulation, good looks, and excellent traction, I downright love them.
1 thought on “Keen Incline Mid Boots review”