I’ve owned a lot of Keens in my day, from the original closed-toe sandals to hiking shoes. But one thing that always bothered me about them is the weight. Sure, Keens were beefy and had that huge toe bumper, but that came at a heavy cost in the weight division. Well, I’m happy to say that after testing out the new Keen Verdi Mid WP hiking shoes for review, weight is no longer an issue. These kicks are light for their style, and have lots of… well… style.
Okay, I’m just going to straight up say it. These are the most comfortable and versatile outdoor shoes I’ve tested since this website went online. Back in December of 2011, I announced that the Ahnu Elkridge WP hiking shoes were my “Golden Pair” that I wore every day. Well they’ve been dethroned. The Keen Verdi Mid WP is my new go-to shoe, and is the pair that I grab each time I go out the door, whether I’m on my way to work or hiking in the mud with skis on my back in search of slivers of spring snow to ski on.
Aside from the comfort level, other features include:
- 4mm multi-directional lugs
- Abrasion resistant and breathable textile mesh upper
- Dual density compression molded EVA midsole
- Durable leather overlays
- Gusseted tongue construction keeps out debris
- Internal torsion stability heel and TPU arch shank
- KEEN.DRY ™ waterproof breathable membrane
- Non-marking rubber outsole
- Patented toe protection
- Removable metatomical dual density EVA footbed
- Strobel lasted construction using 80% recycled material
So it’s true that I’ve been wearing these shoes non stop for about three months and have found them to be great in almost every way. While at work shooting video, usually outside, they’ve been troopers. In the winter months, I did everything from covering avalanche victim rescues to tromping around cemeteries in calf-deep snow after dark (long story.) For boots that feel so insubstantial, they act more like their beefier cousins.
Much of this, I think, is due to the KEEN.DRY membrane. I’ve been an eVent loyalist, but I have to say that Keen’s proprietary waterproof/breathable membrane works really, really well. Most recently, I wore the Verdi WP Mid in the Henry Mountains in search of spring corn skiing. The snow line was really high, so hiking was required to get there. Through puddles, mud and even wet snow, my feet stayed dry and the shoes were able to handle the weight of skis on my pack in uneven terrain.
Another reason I found the Keen Verdi WP Mid so nice to wear is because of the tongue and ankle areas. Most “high top” hiking shoes have very stiff leather ankles for stiffness and support, but that also means they’re not very comfortable. Well, these shoes have a super supple ankle and tongue that moves with my body while still offering support. The way the laces cinch down also work seamlessly.
The Good: KEEN.DRY waterproof/breathable membrane works very well, good traction, the most comfortable shoes I’ve tested thus far.
The Bad: Nothing!
Final Word: From the outsoles (good traction) to the mesh uppers (no visible wear after hard use) The Keen Verdi WP Mid have me wrapped around their little fingers… well, they would if they had fingers.
This was really helpful! I have been a Keen sandles fan for a long time, but need boots to hike at Glacier this summer.
Hey Lisa, I think you’ll like these boots. They’ll be great for hiking in Glacier as they really will keep your feet dry… just don’t forget the bear spray!