The KEEN Newport H2 sandals have been around forever, so much so that it’s a damn icon for the company. As a result, there’s not much that can be done to make them new and exciting for people, right? Well, KEEN found a way by enabling you to custom design your own sandals.
This new customization feature is kind of huge as the options are almost limitless. This isn’t just about choosing you favorite color. KEEN says there are around 65 million possible custom options to choose from with over 80 colors – that’s quite a palate to play with!
Intrigued, I got a chance to make my own custom KEENs using their website. It’s a very simple interface where you first choose your sex and size. From there, you’re taken to a picture of plain, black Newport H2 sandals with a color palate on the left hand side. First you pick a color for the nylon straps, but even better, you can choose a different color for each strap! Next is the ritual choosing of the stitching and microfiber accents, followed by the lining, woven tabs, bungee laces, outsole and footbed.
By the end of it, you can have the most garish, colorful, melted ice-cream creation imaginable, or just make everything straight up black if you want. It’s all up to you and your personality. Once designed, custom KEENs ship directly from the factory to your house in about three weeks.
As for the KEENs that I made for myself, well, I’m a bit of a bore. I went with navy blue webbing, grey stitching, navy microfiber, grey lining, black/yellow tabs, and to spice things up, grey footbeds and outsoles. These shockingly unusual kicks are just my style, and to make sure that I wasn’t making a pair I could just buy from the store, I checked… and yes, they are indeed custom (though there is a navy pair that’s very similar.)
I’ve been wearing my new custom KEENs every day since they came in the mail with a nifty bag and a nice letter from the company congratulating me for being one-of-a-kind. Made me feel special n’ stuff.
Along with being awesome looking, they perform great on the trail and are as comfortable as any KEENs I’ve worn.
The only downside I can see about ordering up a pair of custom KEENs for yourself, is that it costs $30 more than simply buying one of their mass-produced versions. So if you’re going to pay the extra dinero, you better make a statement, even if your statement is boring… like me.
To make your own custom KEENs, head on over to their “Build Your KEEN” webpage and get started!
The Good: Custom design your own KEENs! It’s fun, and you’ll know you have a style that’s original and unique. Plus, they’re Newport H2s, so you can’t go wrong there.
The Bad: Costs $30 more for the customization option.
Final Word: KEEN Custom Sandals are the way to go if you can’t find the colors you want, or you simply must make a fashion statement.