KEEN

TAOS

INITIAL REPORT

BY RAMI BENHAMEDA

28 MAY 2005

http://www.keenfootwear.com

Tester Information

Backpacking Background

Additional Pertinent Information:

Within the last year or so, I have become more interested in paddle sports.  My specific interest lies mainly towards kayaks of the touring class and canoe of similar purpose, but really any water and any boat will do. I am scheduled to learn white water kayaking from a friend over the course of this summer.

In addition to my growing interest in paddle sports, I have also gained an appreciation for running. Specifically, my interest in cross-country or trail running is one of the main reasons I became interested in testing the Taos sandals.

With my interest in lightening my pack weight, water sports, trail running, and with my existing affinity for my Keen Newport H2's, I was quite excited to see this test call and look forward eagerly to thoroughly exploring all that the Taos sandals have to offer.

Product Description

Manufacturer:

The Taos elevates performance footwear to the next level.  It combines all of 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.

Features and Benefits

1. Waterproof Leather, Mesh and Webbing upper; Encapsulates the foot, functioning as a sandal.
2. Patent-pending Dual-density EVA Midsole/ Shank; Provides balanced support and toe off.
3. Non-marking, deep Lug Carbon Rubber Outsole; Excellent traction in loose dirt, scree, or rock.
4. Secure-fit Lace Capture System; Integrates lacing with foot to prevent heel slip.
5. Metatomical, Removable Footbed; Cushioning under foot, accommodates orthotics.

From Me:

The Taos I am testing are size 10.5 (U.S.) and are in color combination Red/Bison.

Initial Impressions

The overall appearance of the Taos is of an aggressive, performance trail shoe.  The lug pattern of the outsole gives me the impression that this shoe can help me claw and scramble my way up any trail no matter how nasty.  The shoes have an appearance which seems to me to be cool and functional.  They appear to be made to move through terrain ranging from wet to dry and from smooth pavement to rocky back country trails.

The Fit:

The Taos seem to wrap around my feet very securely and snugly but without being too tight or uncomfortable.  The combinations of mesh and leather combined with the elastic and webbing used to bind the shoe to my foot seem to be a good combination.  When I first put the Taos on my feet, they were quite comfortable and fit in a similar fashion to tennis shoes.  This was slightly different than my expectation though;  I had expected the fit of the Taos to be similar to my Keen Newport H2's which are wider and fit more loosely than the Taos.   

I am slightly skeptical about the ability of the bungee style elastic cord to snugly hold the shoe around my foot over the course of several long trail runs or a week of backpacking, but I'll let the proof be in the testing.

  The Outsole:

  The big chunky lugs of the outsole, combined with the stiffness of the midsole shank makes the Taos very comfortable to wear in off trail conditions and over a variety of activities.  I have run mulch covered trails in the woods, scrambled off trail in the rain, ridden my mountain bike in cool and dry conditions, run on pavement, and worked in the Taos.  I have found the stiffness of the midsole to be cradling to my heels even though the shoes are flexible enough to allow me to crouch down and balance on the balls of my feet in comfort as well.

The Insole:

The removable 'Metatomical' footbed provides a nice sized arch and metatarsal ridge to help keep the foot comfortably in place inside the shoe.  The yellow perforated material on the underside of the footbed is noticeably less rigid than the black material the majority of the footbed is made from.  The top of the footbed, the part that touches my foot, is covered with a thin fleece-like layer which is quite comfortable when wearing the shoes without socks.

Fit of the Shoe:

Two final notes about the fit of the Taos before I move on to my testing plan; When I first wore the Taos I was slightly disappointed that the strap that wraps around the heel (pictured above left) doesn't provide more active adjustability in locking my heel into the shoe.  This was easy enough to compensate for by kicking my heel down firmly into the heel cup and then cinching the bungee tight to hold my foot in place.

Also, when I wore the Taos without socks one afternoon, I got a small blister on the outside of my small toe.  The stitching which can be seen in the picture above right is the culprit.  My small toe hits a part of the shoe where the stitching holds the edge covering in place.  The slight movement of my toe across this stitching rubbed the blister into life.

Testing Plan

I have two week-long trips planned this summer;  One is the first full week of June and I will be putting the Taos through their paces in a week's backpacking trip.  I'll be going with my family and therefore will have more on my back than I normally do.  The second will be later in the summer and will be a combined backcountry/ visits with friends trip.  The time out in the woods will be mostly day hiking for the second trip, but may also involve an overnight or two.  In addition, I have several overnight and weekend trip opportunities which I will be taking advantage of before the end of this test. 

My focus for the testing process will be geared towards two main focus areas;  first is general use and second is technical performance.

In both areas, I will be paying attention to the following areas:

• how much wear is showing? (outsole, leather, bungee, etc.)
• how is the removable footbed holding up to constant use? 
• Is the stitching/ construction holding?

In the general use area, I will be paying attention to the following areas specifically:

• hotspots/ blisters
• heel slip
• bungee performance
• COMFORT!
• overall appearance

In technical tasks, I will be paying attention to the following areas specifically:

• when canoeing and kayaking, do the Taos shed water adequately or do they absorb an excessive amount of water?
• when hiking/ running in wet conditions do the Taos adequately release water from the interior of the shoe?
• When backpacking on rough conditions, is there enough support provided by the bungee style closure system to provide a secure fit?
• does the blister causing seam affect my backpacking even though I'm wearing socks?

Finally, I will be observing and reporting on any other aspect of the Keen Taos I discover or become aware of along the way.

Thank you Keen Footwear and Backpack Gear Test for the opportunity to participate in this test series.

Rami Benhameda