Tester Biographical Information:

Name:  Ken Bigelow
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Height: 5’ 9” (1.8 m)
Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
Email:   krb84108 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Date: May 23, 2005

Backpacking Background:

I was first dragged on a backpacking trip eight years ago a have been addicted to it ever since.  My adventures vary in length from a weekend to over two weeks.  I consider myself a mid-weight backpacker as I bring along a few luxuries, such as a tent.  From spring through fall I typically backpack in the mountains or desert, while in winter I often go snowshoeing.  I typically see a wide variety of climates ranging from 10 F (-12 C) with snow to 90 F (32 C) and sunny with just about everything in between.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Keen
Website: www.keenfootwear.com
Size: Men's 10 US
Listed Weight: 11.6 oz (329 g)
Measured Weight: 12 oz (340 g) per Sandal; 1 lb 8 oz (680 g) for the pair
Color: Dark Grey/Loden (Dark Grey/Red Rock &  Black Navy also available)
MSRP: $90 US

Product Description & Initial Impressions:

The Keen Boulder Sandals are marketed as a hybrid running shoe-sandal-water shoe that combines the best of all three styles.  The Boulder Sandals are claimed to have the breathability of a sandal, comfort and support of a running shoe and be as water-friendly as water shoes.  The synthetic upper webbing  resembles standard trail runners with  large openings on the sides of the heels and on the top running perpendicular to the tongue.  This is designed so it "Encapsulates the foot and functions as a sandal".  The tongue has numerous small diameter holes when combined with the other openings means my feet should have little or no problem with ventilation.  Tightening the Boulder Sandals is accomplished through use of elastic cord and cordlock as opposed to shoelaces.  The front features a toe guard which is basically a beefed up outsole covering the toes.
According to the manufacturer, the Boulder Sandals support the feet with the Dual Density EVA Midsoles and have Padded Arch Braces to add some stability.  The "Carbon Rubber Outsole [provides] excellent traction in loose dirt, scree or rock".  The footbed is removable to allow for orthotics. I currently do not use special orthotics in my shoes, therefore, barring deterioration or extreme discomfort of the included insert I will only be able to report on the standard footbed.  The footwear is lined with anti-microbial technology that is suppose to prevent staining, microorganism deterioration (caused by fungus, bacteria, etc.) and odor buildup.  This technology can also stand up the the washing machine so cleaning the Boulder Sandals is as easy as tossing them in the washer on the gentle cycle setting with some detergent and then allowing them to air dry. 


Testing Location:

I will wear the sandals while hiking and backpacking where frostbite is not a major concern.  I go hiking or backpacking in Utah almost every weekend from the spring through the fall.  This spring I have at least two trips to Southern Utah planned and expect to hit Capital Reef National Park, Zion National Park and the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in spring or fall.  This summer I plan on hiking the High Uintas Wilderness, the Wasatch Mountains or Fish Lake National Forest at least once a week.  The terrain will vary greatly and will include wet and muddy corridors, slickrock, steep and rocky terrain as well as plain old dirt paths.  There will be numerous stream and river crossings encountered throughout the testing period.  Temperatures should range from 40 F (4 C) to 90 F (32 C).   I will likely see all types of weather ranging from heavy rain to sunny.  The elevations experienced should be between 4000 feet (1220 m) and 12000 feet (3658 m).

Testing Plan:

Proper hiking footwear is vital when vacationing in the backcountry.  Functional footwear needs to be comfortable, protective, be able to handle the terrain and most importantly, well fitting.  Poor performing footwear can make any trip rough, less enjoyable and in some conditions unsafe.  If my feet are not properly cushioned or supported I am not likely to have much fun, which is I why I go backpacking in the first place.  Over the course of the test period, I intend to examine the sandals thoroughly and answer questions I have about their performance.  Are the Keen Boulder Sandals functional as my primary hiking footwear?  Will I be able to traverse rugged terrain such as boulders, scree, slickrock, muddy trails, and steep hills comfortably and still afford support and stability?  Are they comfortable to wear on the trail and off?  Will the toe guard and webbing protect my feet by keeping dirt, rocks, weeds, thickets or any other small trail debris from ending up on my feet?  If such items do manage to tag along can they be easily removed while still wearing the sandals?  Will the sandals breathe well and prevent hotspots as the manufacturer claims?  Will they have running shoe comfort as claimed on Keen’s website?  Do the “Dual Density EVA midsoles provide balanced support” as stated by the manufacturer?  Is the padded arch brace comfortable and does it help advance stability?  Will the webbing constantly rub against my skin and if so will prolonged exposure cause discomfort?  If I wear socks for warmth, will the sandals comfortably accommodate them?

When hiking or backpacking I frequently come across stream crossings and even small water pockets in canyon country.  A good percentage of these are too deep for my gaiters to effectively keep water out of my footwear so I end up changing into and out of my camp shoes in these situations.  This constant footwear change tends to slow down my hiking speed as I always end up taking off my pack, finding my camp shoes, changing shoes, storing my hiking footwear, putting the pack back on, curse myself for packing too much weight and then repeating a similar process upon crossing the water obstacle.  Testing the Keen Sandals would provide me with the ability to simply cross the water barrier with no delay and slightly less profanity.  Additionally, the sandals will double as camp and hiking shoes allowing me to leave an extra pair of footwear and potentially socks at home, thereby reducing my pack weight.  This again reduces backcountry profanity.  Soaking the sandals in water will allow me to answer even more questions about their performance.  How long do they take to dry out after they have been soaked?  If I’m wearing socks can the sandals be quickly and easily taken on and off through use of the drawstring closure?  After spending time in the water, will the sandals allow my heel or any other part of my foot to slip?  After being submerged in water are the comfort and stability reduced in any way?

One of trips planned this year includes backpacking along the Escalante River.  This trip involves spending a substantial amount time wading in the river itself.  This trip will give me the opportunity to test how the sandals perform in the water. Will the sandals “deep lug carbon rubber outsole” provide adequate traction while hiking in the river?  Are the comfort and support compromised in any way while in the river?  Do the toe guards adequately protect my toes from underwater debris?  Will the webbing provide decent support while submerged?  Will the EVA removable footbed absorb any water?  Are the sandals really functional as water shoes?

The durability of the sandals will be evaluated throughout the course of the testing period.  Will the removable footbed need to be replaced after prolonged use?  Will the arch brace or midsoles lose any of their support over the six-month test?  Will the webbing rip, tear or be damaged in any other way after seeing multiple miles on the trail?  Will odor build up quickly on the sandals and have them walking around on their own?  Will the traction wear down swiftly?  The cleaning instructions say the sandals can be tossed in the washing machine and air-dried.  Will this be enough to clean them and prevent fungus from growing on the sandals?  Will washing them discolor the sandals or cause deterioration in any way?  Can they be washed on the trail?

I would like to thank Keen Footwear and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to participate in this test.