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Reviews > Footwear > Sandals > Keen Newport H2 > Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd > Initial Report
Description The sandals are secured to the foot with a single shock cord threaded
through the sandal straps like a shoe lace. In order to tighten the
sandal I tug on the cord at the top until it is tightened to my desired
fit and slide the clip down to secure it in place. From my initial
observations I have found that it is extremely easy to tighten and loosen
the sandals even as I walk - there are no Velcro straps, clips,
buckles, or knots to untie. When the cord is tightened the straps
wrap around and hug the foot, as demontrated in the picture to the
right. Between the foot and the webbing is a neoprene lining. This
lining is a soft and cushiony surface against the skin, and it also
is flexible enough to move with my foot as I walk. The EVA
midsole is also soft and cushiony, absorbing a good amount of impact
when I walk on a paved surface. Fit I am very pleased with the fit of the Newport H2s. For the
women's sizes, the Keen Footwear website states, "They run fairly true to
size, but some find them a little short and go up half a size." The
site also states that they are built on a B width last. For my feet
this description is very accurate. I tried these sandals on in shops
before receiving them through Keen and my experience was exactly what they
described. On average, I wear a size 9 narrow. I have some
shoes that are smaller, and some that are larger. I found the
Keen size 9 to be a little too short; my big toe bumped into the top of
the toe guard. If I were purchasing these as a non-hiking shoe I
would have been happy with the size 9 fit, but since I knew I would be
using them primarily for hiking I tried a size larger. The 9.5s fit
perfectly. They are slightly too wide and a little too long, but
this should be great when my feet swell on the trail.
The adjustability that the shock cord provides helps cinch them tighter
around my foot, so the width issue isn't noticable. The Newport H2s are remarkably comfortable. I have already hiked
over 15 miles in them (these hikes will be reported on in detail in my
Field Report) and am very, very happy with how they feel on my
feet. They feel more like a trail runner than a sandal when it
comes to comfort and traction, but they still provide the benefits of
sandals - waterproof, quick drying, airy, and lightweight. I am
really looking forward to many more miles in these sandals! Attractiveness The Newport H2s are not terribly pleasing to my eye, but this is easily
overlooked when I put them on. They are rather bulky and the
sole and toe are wide. Test Plan My test plan is simple - I want to wear the sandals while hiking as
much as possible. I believe they are robust enough to be my primary
hiking shoe this summer. I am accustomed to two different types of footwear during the summer
hiking and backpacking season. My primary footwear is a lightweight
trail runner, and my secondary footwear is a pair of Chaco Z2 Terreno
sandals (as my tan lines in the picture show). To me, the
Keen Newport H2s seem almost a hybrid between these two favorite shoes of
mine. They have the openness and flexibility of a waterproof sandal
while giving the foot more protection and support than traditional outdoor
sandals. I very much enjoy hiking and backpacking in sandals but I know there
are certain sacrifices I must make in order to enjoy the freedom.
Mostly, I tend to damage my feet easier (stubs, scratches, etc) with
sandals than with trail runners. I am interested in the ability of
the Keen Newport H2s to protect my feet, especially with the rubber
toe guard. Another sacrifice is the constant struggle to not get
tiny rocks, dirt, and twigs caught underneath my foot. Since the
Keens are open I expect this to be an issue (and an expected one - it
comes along with all sandals), but what is more important is how easy it
is to shake out the nasties. Can I do it without taking the sandal
off? Of course, a very important question - do they stink? I
don't care if sandals are exposed to the air - they can still stink up
pretty bad. One visit to the Chaco shelf in my shoe closet proves
it. Keen has added an antimicrobial footbed to these sandals -
I wonder if I'll notice? How well do the sandals perform on the dusty granite terrain of the
High Sierra? Rock hopping is a common trail phenomenon and I like to
be confident in my footwear's ability to provide traction. Of course the main consideration, above all others, is how comfortable
the sandals are. They could be the least stinky, grippiest, coolest
looking sandal out there, but if they don't feel good on my feet I'm not
happy! How do they feel after miles on a tough
trail? Does the shock cord come loose? It
is secure when I take a bad step and twist my foot or ankle funny?
Preliminary testing shows that these sandals will excel in all of
these areas and I can't wait to put more miles on them! Read more reviews of Keen gear Read more gear reviews by Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd Reviews > Footwear > Sandals > Keen Newport H2 > Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd > Initial Report | |||||||||||||
The Keen Newport H2s are robust sandals designed for use
with many activities. The sandal is completely waterproof with a
hydrophobic foam lining and polyester webbing upper, an EVA midsole, and
rubber outsole and toeguard. What sets these sandals apart from many others I have
used and seen is the amount of protection they provide for my
foot. When I first put them on they felt more like a shoe than a
sandal. 
The rubber sole of the H2 has lugs
reminiscent of a hiking shoe instead of a sandal. From
what I have observed so far they are incredibly grippy and provide
excellent traction. There are 'teeth' built the length of the toe
and heel that grab on when on an incline.
They don't feel light and airy like a sandal, but they are
definitely not as bulky and suffocating as a shoe. The picture
demonstrates my normal bare foot next to a foot with the Newport H2.
This picture demonstrates just how bulky these sandals are. I
frequently hike in sandals and the tan lines from my previous hiking
sandals are quite obvious!