KEEN Utility Men's Atlanta Cool Low Steel Toe Work Shoe Review

These shoes feel great! They hit that sweet spot of "just enough" protection too. That being said, my feet are kind of weird - I have 10.5 wide feet and high arches. The asymmetrical steel toes feel good and these shoes provide adequate arch support. They are wide enough to be comfortable, but snug enough to stay put. The tie is a bit strange - I tuck it into the bottom cross and pull it out when I throw them on. This keeps the tag from bouncing on my foot as I walk and keeps the string tight, but this style of shoe-string may not be for everyone. The mesh top keeps it breathable. The mesh also keeps the boots from smelling like well, old sweaty work boots. Downside, water and dirt can get in pretty easy (obviously). I don't mind, but depending on what you use these boots for, they may not be for you. I work in a trade, and these shoes have held up to the abuse for a few months now without any noticeable damage or loss of comfort / function. Lastly, the steel toe is heavier than a composite toe. Not a huge deal, but after 8-12hrs work shift, you may regret those extra couple lbs.+ Pros - Comfortable, Durable, Breathable, Reasonably Priced- Cons - Pretty open top, Shoe String not for everyone, Somewhat HeavyI recommend you go to your local shoe store and try a few pairs out. this particular style was exactly what I wanted - Comfortable, breathable work shoe/boots that offers the right level of protection. If they feel good, order from Amazon and save $40-80. My local store was selling these shoes for $50 more than Amazon.

Bought these for work, standing all day on concrete floors. They have performed perfectly & been cool and comfortable all day long.....this is my 2nd pair & the 1st pair lasted over 2 years under heavy abuse. Definitely recommend this product.

Update from after a year of wearing.The shoes have been very comfortable and durable. High marks for that as poor fitting shoes are extremely painful for me to wear. The elastic lacing system did make for quick putting on and taking off. However the elastic kept wearing out quickly. I replaced the quick lace system 3 times, even going with other brands before I switched to regular laces.One problem that I did not anticipate is not necessarily a problem with the design or manufacture of the shoe. I was finding that due to my neuropathy I apparently was raising my big toes while walking. My big toes were rubbing against the steel toe cap. This was destroying my socks and on occasion damaging my toe nail. Sadly I had to quit wearing them and switch to the Keen Braddock soft toe. Still a great shoe. Very comfortable, cool, relatively light weight for a steel toe and durable. I recommend it.I have a couple of problems with my feet. I've got peripheral neuropathy which gives me nerve pain and plantar fasciitis. I wear insoles in almost all of my shoes. I have not had to do that in these shoes. I do handyman work and also work around horses so having protective shoes is pretty much a must. I have work boots that I wear nearly every day which I like but I was wanting something that was closer to a hiking shoe that I could wear with shorts during the heat of summer. I already have owned a couple pairs of the Keen sandals and have loved them. I liked that these were water repellant and was intrigued by the lacing system.Well, after having and wearing these shoes for a little over a week I can tell you that these are very comfortable and I have not replaced the insole. Good arch support and comfortable cushioning. These are a bit heavier than typical hiking shoes due to the steel toe protection. It is not felt while walking though. Water protection is there but since these are low profile shoes you will have some moisture get in over the top edge. Water does seem to run off when I hose off the bottom of my shoes after walking around the pasture in mud.The lacing system is something I'm not fully decided on yet. It does make putting the shoes on and lacing up quicker. The loop is a bit long and stretches out to almost the toe box when cinched up. I have found that I can remove the clip on the end and shorten the laces if I decide to. By the way, these are laces and not an elastic cord such as what is found on the Keen sandals. There have been a few instances of the laces becoming loose. It is also possible to remove the lace and clip and replace with normal shoe laces. Will be curious to see how well these hold up. From first appearances they look and feel very sturdy and should do well. That has been the case with my Keen sandals.

The thing I hate about a safety shoes is the toe box won't stretch out. No need with this shoe it's generous and square. Innovative lacing and a comfortable foot bed are a surprise as well. No break inrequired. Runs true to size.

TERRIFIC SHOES!! I looked high and low for some steel toe shoes that would be comfortable while chopping wood, working with lawn mowers and weed trimmers and being on my feet for extended periods of time in my shop, working on different projects. Everything was either too expensive for something that looked half decent, or too ridiculously ugly, clunky and bulky for a decent price. These were reduced to $74 when I purchased them, but I can see how they are normally sold for over $100, as they are obviously very well made shoes, with a lot of thought put into the design and materials used. The steel toe caps can be felt by my toes, but they're just wide enough to not cramp my feet, and they don't rub against my toes or aggravate them at all. I've worn them for over 4-5 hours at a time, and they've been comfortable throughout. The upper is extremely pliable for a steel toed shoe, and they bend and flex perfectly in all the right areas. The soles are a little clunky, but they grip very well, and they are non-slip on most surfaces. I appreciate the rubberized toe cap area, that not only adds further protection to my toe, but will also make the shoe last longer, since many steel toe shoes tend to show their age in the outer toe area of the shoe; this rubberized area has already taken a beating, and still looks like it's brand new. It's hard to show arch-support in pictures, but these do provide very nice support for my higher arches, and the insoles seem really well thought out and made, too. I also like being able to slip these on quickly, without them feeling like they'll fall right back off my feet, they fit securely and come off easily, when you want them to. They look like well-crafted hiking shoes, too, instead of many steel toed shoes that look like they'd be best worn by Frankenstein's Monster.