KEEN Utility Men's Reno Low Height Soft Toe Flexible Waterproof Athletic Work Shoes Review

I have owned a few Keen footware products over the years. Namely I have some tried and true boots that have held up as being waterproof, comfortable and practical both for Ohio winters when I need to get out in a few inches of snow, or to hike through some soggy trails when backpacking.I wasn't skeptical of these shoes but generally interested in how I'd like them and how they'd function. I have an office job but I have toddlers and like comfort and function over anything else. These shoes are great for keeping my feet try in the soggy spring weather when having to splash and squish through grassy fields with my kids when playing, or some light snow or other outdoor stuff in my urban life.I've had some Merrell, Carhart and Adidas Gore-Tex shoes and currently was using some The North Face Cragstone waterproof shoes. Most the others were geared toward outdoor adventuring and were always good for hiking. These Keen shoes are different but in a good way!They are about the same weight as my Cragstones but they are much more comfortable and easy to get off and on. They fit true for my 10-10.5 US Men's foot size and I feel stable and secure but comfortable. They aren't as snug around the back of my ankle but I feel that this is okay since I won't be using these for hikes with a heavy pack on my back for multiple miles. The insoles are way better than any of my past waterproof shoes. Probably because those are all more firm and maybe meant for hiking and more stability. I know these shoes will be excellent for being a primary winter shoe for me where I can use my standing desk and pad and be comfortable at work.My feet don't get as hot in these as they would in my other past waterproof shoes.They come in a big shoe box with tissue paper stuffed densely in there to keep shape during shipping and transportation. I have no complaints at all with this. I would say these could be multipurpose for many folks. But I wouldn't use these as my first pick and purchase if you only want waterproof shoes for hiking and backpacking. There are more practical options which offer better support in that arena and perhaps higher ankle coverage if you need that.For sure a 5/5 though, I love Keen products and I have to remind myself they aren't cheap, but they've proven to last me and that makes it worth it IMO.I haven't tried these for any disc golfing I sometimes do but I figure they may do well so I don't have to wear my older waterproof Adidas shoes when I'm playing a course with soggy patches of grass in the spring

UPDATE 9/18/2023: I just got back from a trip To Buffalo, NY and was able to put these hikers through a better workout at some state parks like Letchworth and Watkins Glen. They were very stable on the sometimes fairly graded paths and my footing always felt solid on loose gravel or wet rocks. They are completely waterproof as advertised and nary a drop penetrated when tromping through some creek beds. My feet never felt fatigued or achy after multiple days and many miles of walking on paved surfaces or though parks.I logged about 5 miles walking on pavement for the initial break-in, and honestly, the first half mile or so felt like I had wood planks strapped to my feet and I thought these were going to be a big mistake. But, I guess the insoles started conforming to my feet because they got more comfortable the longer I walked. They seem pretty wide for regular sizing and have a roomy enough toe box that my feet never felt cramped or squished. These definitely trend against the lightweight soft-soled walking shoes that everybody seems to wear nowadays. These have stiffer uppers and firm rubber soles and weigh in at nearly 1-1/2 pounds per shoe (size 13). Paved walks are one thing, but hopefully I will get them out on some trails soon to see how they perform on rougher terrain. Overall, I am quite happy with the initial quality as they look to be very well constructed with tight stitching and a solid build all around. The sizing is accurate as my usual 13 is a perfect fit.

I like keen for work shoes but the quality ain't here on this set. My shoes came with different size insoles in them. I found this out cause the shoe was uncomfortable to walk in.After finding this I called keen to see what options I had. They told me in a very snarky way that they don't just send out insoles and they didn't sell them separately other than Amazon or shoe suppliers.Pretty much left me no option other than to return the shoes to Amazon.The show it'self is flat and the insoles provide very little arch support.Because they are water resistant they don't breath very well.They are heavy on the feet as well. Quite a work out for the legs.This was my first and last tennis shoe style keen I'll purchase.Poor attention to detail and even worst customer service!

I wanted to wait several months to see if there would be a change with these shoes but for me there hasn't. Regardless of the socks or the use it has left me with blisters on top of my foot where the very hard and inflexible ribs between the toes and the laces sit. The traction is good, and they are water resistant but I don't understand why they put inflexible hard plastic between the toe and laces?

If you are familiar with the KEEN brand then you know they don't skimp on quality! They didn't here either. These work shoes are very well crafted, solid, and durable. They are so aesthetically pleasing you can wear them almost anywhere. They look great, but perform even better. The special outsole really grips most all surfaces, and resists chemicals and oil. The insole is crazy comfortable and mimics an athletic shoe. You can wear these comfortably all day long! The laces wrap your foot nicely and securely. The soft toe box is strong and rugged enough to protect you without the added weight of a steel toe. There is also reflective piping on the lace area and heel loop pull for visibility. Add to all this a waterproof lining and you have a perfect work shoe! I simply love these and highly recommend them!