KEEN makes hiking shoes and closed-toe sandals, right? Well, yea, that and so much more! The company that touts a “Hybrid Life” has exponentially expanded their lineup of footwear to the point that you can wear KEENS for just about any occasion, even to a barefoot wedding. *record scratch* Barefoot wedding? Yes indeedy, so long as you wear the KEEN Bleecker Lace CNX shoes.
Before I go any further with my stretch of an explanation, a little product feature-roundup first. The Bleecker CNX comes with:
- Contoured arch for midfoot support
- Full-grain leather upper
- Metatarsal ridge for natural underfoot support
- Non-marking rubber outsole
- Patented toe protection
- Proprietary lightweight PU midsole compound for long lasting support and comfort
- Reverse strobel construction with KEEN.Zorb
- TPU stability shank
So about that barefoot wedding. I don’t mean a full-on, toes-to-the-wind occasion, but a barefoot-style, minimalist shoe that looks dressy enough to wear to a wedding. Take all the barefoot/minimalist/zero-drop shoe freaks in your life, tell them to get dressy, and they’ll be glad to slip on the KEEN Bleecker CNX.
My experience wearing this low-to-the-ground shoe actually felt very non-KEEN. The KEENS I’ve hiked, walked and scrambled in before were all burly. But these CNX deals are the opposite. Trekking in my gravel driveway, I was appalled that I could feel the rocks beneath my feet. They really are minimalist! KEEN says this low-profile gives you the ability to make “every step a natural connection” to the ground. It’s an odd sensation when you’re wearing what are basically souped-up loafers instead of teched-out, zero-drop, trail running shoes.
After getting used to the shoes and breaking them in, however, they soon became one of my favorite pairs to wear for pretty much every day use. Going to work at the office, or going out for tacos on the weekend, the Bleecker CNX looked good and made me feel like my calves were getting a workout at the same time. Yes, it’s true, you use different muscles when wearing this kind of shoe, and it takes time to build up a tolerance. But since I’m always embarrassed by my chicken legs, any opportunity to girth-up my calves is a welcome one.
Plus, the KEEN Bleecker CNX just look really nice. They’re leathery, have laces, and the brown *ahem* “chocolate” brown version looks killer when paired with blue jeans.
The only knock I have with them is that I’m used to wearing my KEENS with shorts, but wearing the Bleecker CNX shoes with a pair of cargoes will make you look like a hipster child molester.
The Good: Very classy looking for an outdoor shoe company, low-profile gives that “barefoot” feeling. Classic KEEN toe bumper for protection against bed posts and swinging doors.
The Bad: Leather tab on heel catches on pant legs (annoying,) not real capable for actual outdoor pursuits, never wear them with shorts, especially if you go to Chuck E Cheese.
Final Word: The KEEN Bleecker CNX is a dress shoe for the barefoot crowd. Now you can train at the office. Huzzah!