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Keen Taos Sandals
Initial
Report
May 23, 2005 |
| Biographical Information |
| Name |
Jennifer Pope |
| Age |
24 |
| Gender |
Female |
| Height |
5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) |
| Weight |
140 lb (64 kg) |
| Shoe size |
8.5 US |
| Email
address |
Jennifer dot Pope at gmail dot
com |
| Location |
Los Angeles, CA |
Backpacking
Background
Newbie. I’ve been a car-camper as long as I can remember and
started backpacking in Northern California when I was 16. I'm starting to
get back into backpacking after a hiatus during college. I recently moved
to Southern California and so far I've only backpacked in the Angeles
National Forest but I'm planning on branching out to other Southern California
mountain areas; the California desert; and the Sierra in the summer
months. I'm a tent camper leaning towards lightweight; but I am a fan of
gadgets and I like being comfortable. I also do a mix of short and long
day hikes in and around Los Angeles. |
| Product Information (back to top) |
| Manufacturer |
Keen |
| Manufacturer
URL |
www.keensandals.com |
| Year of
Manufacture |
2005 |
Listed
Weight
(presumably per sandal) |
11 oz (310 g) |
Actual Weight
(size women's 8.5 US, both sandals) |
23 oz (650 g) |
| Upper material |
synthetic, webbing, mesh |
| Lining material |
nylon, stretch mesh |
| Rubber material |
carbon, non-marking |
| Color |
Fuzz/Loden
also available in bison/red rock (dark gray/red) and midnight/royal (dark gray/blue) |
| MSRP |
$99.99 US |
Product
Description
(from website) |
The Taos elevates performance footwear to the next
level. It combines the support and function one would expect from a functional trail shoe with the open breathability
of a sandal and Keen's patented toe protection. This redefines the meaning of hybrid.
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When I first pulled the Taos sandals out of the box I knew I would like them. They actually seem more like tennis shoes or trail runners more than sandals. The vents on each side of the shoe are actually smaller than I thought they would be. I'm hoping this means that pebbles and sticks will be less likely to creep in through them. And I love the little "K" logos that are in several places on the sandals.
After I put them on I immediately liked them too. The mesh interior is very comfortable against my feet. It definitely doesn't feel like a regular tennis shoe without socks; it feels comfortable and almost soft. The lacing system is also different than a regular shoe. The "laces" are actually connected to each other on the ends with a plastic connector, so it's actually one long lace (like a circle). The lace itself is a bungee and instead of tying it there's another plastic piece (cord lock) that tightens so I won't have to worry about laces coming untied (I like that!). Both are shown in the picture to the left. The lace is also connected on each side of the sandal to a "strap" that goes around the heel of the sandal. So far I can't seem to get this to tighten at all. When I pull it tighter it just tightens the bungee and not the back of the shoe. I'll see if I can figure that out during the test period. Right now the shoe feels a little loose in my heel, so it would be nice if I could get it to tighten up a little.
After wearing the shoes for a few hours my first complaint is that they seem to be a little hot. It was warm at the time and my feet were warm when I put the shoes on, but I thought the vents would cool my feet down. In my initial experience this wasn't the case, but I will definitely keep an eye out for this as the test period continues. The only other problem I've run into so far is a little bit of rubbing on my left pinky toe. Although this could be because my toe was already a little red and irritated before I put the sandals on. I didn't notice the same problem with my right foot. I will watch for this over the rest of the testing timeframe.
Right now, I'd say the problems mentioned are just nitpicks. I don't have enough information yet to call them actual problems. I'll watch them over the next several months and report again.
One positive I noticed right away is that there's a lot of cushion in the heel. I can definitely feel my heel depress into the insole when I'm walking. I've found this to be quite comfortable and I like it a lot.
According to the website, taking care of the Taos sandals is very easy. They are machine washable in the gentle cycle with regular detergent. And they only require a few hours to air dry. They are also made with an antimicrobial barrier to keep them free of germies. This antimicrobial barrier to supposed to keep them smelling fresh and looking like new also.
Over the next six months I plan on taking several trips into the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests as well as a couple trips to the Sierras. Elevations will range from sea level to 10,000 ft (3,000 m) plus. Temperatures should range from the 30s F (0 C) to 90 F (30 C). If I’m lucky, any precipitation will be mild. I also have a possible multi-night backpack planned for Lassen National Park in early July (as long as my husband's schedule cooperates!).
I will, of course, report on anything that arises as the test unfolds, but I will specifically look for the following:
Comfort:
- The biggest issue for me with any shoe is comfort. How comfortable are these shoes in “easy” conditions like walking on a flat, paved surface for moderate distances (lets say a day at the mall)?
- How comfortable are these shoes when wet?
- Do they dry quickly?
- How comfortable are these shoes on rocky trails?
- Do rocks and pebbles creep in through the “vents” on the sides?
- Is it easy to get rocks out of the sandals, or do I have to take them off?
- Do the sandals rub my feet anywhere?
- Are the sandals comfortable with and without socks?
- The laces seem interesting in that it looks like they attach to a strap across the back of the heel. How well does this system work for keeping my foot snug inside the sandal?
Durability
- Do any seams fray or come undone during the test period?
- Do the sandals hold up to washing well?
- Do the sandals clean up and retain their color well?
- How well does the tread hold up?
- I don’t think I have particularly smelly feet, but will these sandals accumulate foot odor or stay smelling fresh?
Functionality
- How well do the sandals work as a trail shoe?
- How well do the sandals work in rocky, wet, sandy, or dusty trail conditions?
- Do the sandals have good traction on different surfaces?
- The sandals claim to have non-marking outsoles. I will test out this claim on the white deck of a sailboat where scuffmarks are a big no-no.
- Fit snuggly and comfortably on my feet.
- Inner mesh is soft and comfy.
- They look cool!
The Bad
- Make my feet too warm.
- Can't tighten heel strap.
I want to thank BackpackGearTest.org and Keen for giving me the opportunity to test this item.
Read more reviews of Keen gear
Read more gear reviews by Jennifer Pope
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