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Long Term
Report: Keen
Venice Sandals
Jennifer Koles
September 19, 2006
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Reviewer
Information
| Name: Jennifer
Koles |
| Age:
31 |
| Gender: Female |
| Height: 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight: 140 lb (64 kg) |
| Email address: jennksnowy at yahoo dot com |
| City, State, and
Country: Salt Lake
City, Utah, United States |
Backpacking
Background
I started taking overnight
backpacking trips last year in the Uinta Mountain Range in Utah. I
found myself taking entirely too much gear. I am finding out slowly how
to minimize my needs and not require extra luxuries. My previous
outdoor experiences consisted of 4-wheel-drive camping in primitive
areas and day hiking. I use a four season convertible tent or
a three season tent for my shelter. I plan to take more trips,
increase my duration, and reduce my two to three day pack weight (food
and water included) from 26 lb (12 kg).
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Product
Information
The Keen Venice is a
waterproof performance sport sandal with an open strapping system.
Manufacturer: Keen
Footwear
Year of Manufacture:
2006
Manufacturer’s
Website: www.keenfootwear.com
Listed Weight: 11 oz
(312 g) This is the listed weight per sandal.
Weight as Delivered:
10.40 oz (women's size 8) (295 g) This is the weight of each
sandal.
MSRP:
$94.99 US currency (obtained from manufacturer via email)
Size Tested:
Women's 8
Color Tested: Mint
Dimensions: 10 1/4 in
x 4 3/8 in (26 cm x 11 cm)
Sizes and
Colors Available:
| Gender |
Size |
Color |
| Men's |
7-14 (1/2 sizes through size 12) |
Bison (brown), Black, Olive |
| Women's |
5-11 (1/2 sizes through size 11) |
Mint (green), Powder (light blue), Spectra (pink) |
Wearing the
Keen Venice while backpacking at Yellowstone National Park. I got
lovely sandal tan lines on my feet during this trip.
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Product
Description
Manufacturer Description
(obtained from the manufacturer website):
"Inspired by its sibling the Newport, the Venice takes the concept of a
performance sport sandal one step further. Providing exceptional
traction on mixed terrain, the Venice adds an open strapping system,
pairing outstanding ventilation with a streamlined outsole for a
lighter ride."
Specs:
- Upper: Waterproof Leather
- Lining: Hydrophobic SBR
- Rubber: Carbon Non Marking
Features:
- AEGIS Microbe Shield Treated SBR Lining
- Washable Waterproof Leather Upper
- V-Strap Forefoot Capture Design
On the care instructions included
with the shoes the manufacturer states that the shoes are machine
washable with a small amount of detergent on the gentle cycle.
On the inside of the sandals the care instructions state:
Washable Footwear
Cold Water Wash Separately
Gentle Cycle Liquid Or Dry Soap
Air Dry Only Do Not Bleach
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Initial
Impression and My Product Description
Please see my Initial Report for the details of
my initial impression and product description.
Continued
Field Usage
Please see my Field
Report for the details of my field testing from
May 22, 2006 to July 22, 2006.
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Uinta and Wasatch Mountain Ranges Utah,
United States: This
item was primarily
tested in the
mountainous region of
northern Utah. Most elevation ranges in
the Utah Wasatch and
Uinta Mountain Ranges are between 6,000-10,000 ft (1,829-3,000 m). The average daytime
temperature in these
mountain ranges at 9,000 ft (2,700 m) during the summer months is 75 F
(24 C). The yearly average amount of snowfall is 500 in (13 m) in the
Wasatch
Mountain
Range. I
used the
Keen Venice on many short day hikes and backpacking trips in this geographic
location. I did have the opportunity to wear the sandals in the snow in
the Wasatch Mountains. The temperature was 32 F (0 C) and the elevation
was 8,755 ft (2,669 m).
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States elevation of 4,322 ft (1,317 m):
The sandals have
been worn almost daily in this geographic area. The primary use of the
sandals in this area was to run errands, walking a dog, and riding a
bicycle a short distance. Over the course of the test period the Keen
Venice Sandals have been exposed to dry conditions, rain, and hail. The
daytime temperatures have reached over 100 F (38 C).
Willard Bay, Utah, United States elevation of 4,250 ft (1,295 m): The
sandals were worn in this geographic location on dry land and while sea
kayaking. At this location the sandals were exposed to mud, gravel,
water, and the wet surface of the sea kayak. The daytime temperature was
89 F (32 C). I was unable to record the water temperature.
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Wearing the Keen Venice while walking on a log in the snow.
City of Rocks
National Reserve, Idaho, United States elevation of 6,183
ft (1,995 m). The daytime high temperature was 97 F (36 C) and the
evening low temperature was recorded at 59 F (15 C). The weather at
this location was partly cloudy with rain sprinkles and clear in the
nighttime. The sandals were used in this location as approach shoes for
rock climbing. They were exposed to dirt, vegetation, and granite rock
surfaces.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States elevation of 6,772 ft
(2,064 m): In this geographic location the sandals were worn at the
base campsite. The weather was sunny and dry during the daytime when
the sandals were worn. They were exposed to gravel, small rocks, and
dirt at this location.
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Testing
Performance
Please see my Field
Report for the details of the testing
performance from May 22, 2006 to July 22, 2006.
Do I continue to experience blisters and hot spots on my heels when hiking and backpacking?
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The heel straps of the
sandals did continue to give me blisters and hot spots on my heels when
hiking with
a daypack and a 20 lb (9 kg) backpack. The blisters were prevented one
time by wearing light weight socks. I do not care for wearing socks
with sandals since they become extremely dirty and my feet get too hot.
There were no other pressure areas noted while
wearing the sandals. |
Traction: While rafting, sea kayaking, in snow, and scrambling rocks.
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The overall traction on wet
surfaces (raft, sea kayak, damp mud, and rock) is excellent. I find the
traction to be better on wet surfaces than on dry land. I lost traction
on thick mud, loose dirt, and gravel during the testing period. In the
thick mud the sandals were pulling away from my feet. I did continue to have issues
of sand, dirt, rocks, twigs, and other forms of
debris getting stuck in the toecap area and under the ball of my
foot. All my toes continued to be protected by the toe cap while
hiking, backpacking, and scrambling rocks. The toe cap is my favorite
component of the sandals. The sandals were worn with socks in 1.5 in
(46 cm) of wet, heavy snow. The traction was excellent. I was able to
walk up and down a slope, maneuver on stairs, and walk on a log. Some
snow did enter into the sandals through the heel area. I used the
sandals while scrambling dry rocks (granite, limestone, sandstone,
quartzite) and found the traction to be satisfactory. They performed
better while scrambling without my rock climbing pack on. |
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Durability: (stitching, sole, bungee cord, cord lock)
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There are no signs of rubber wear or cracking on the
toecap
or on the heel of the sole. No stones or sticks got lodged in the
rubber. However, goat head thorns got stuck in the rubber. The pull
cord and
cord lock have not broken and there is no fraying on the pull cord.
During the field testing stage some of the stitching became slightly
frayed on the anchored side straps. There has been no change to the
frayed stitching during the long term report. None of the straps have
broken. The toecap is intact with no separation
from the leather noted. |
| Performance after washing and controlling the odor from the sandals.
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The sandals have been washed an additional eight times
during the field reporting stage. There was no leather cracking,
shrinking, or
stretching after washing. The leather straps and the footbed still have
a soft feel to the touch. The leather and the footbed did not become
rough from becoming wet or from drying in the sun. The color of the
leather on the sandals have faded since I received them four months
ago. The color is more of an olive green shade now. I did notice that
the sandals have more of an odor after being exposed to lake and river
water.
However, I did find a way to eliminate the odor from the sandals. I
used a product called Mira Zyme Odor Eliminator from the McNett
Corporation. I washed the sandals in the washer in cold water with
detergent then I dipped them into the Mira Zyme solution. |
Things
I Like:
Things I Do Not Like:
- I get blisters and hot spots where the heel strap
touches my foot
- The odor from the sandals
- I can feel rocks and twigs though the sole of the sandals
- Dirt and rocks become lodged in the toecap area inside of the sandals
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Wearing the
sandals crossing a stream
Blister from heel
strap
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Summary
I like to wear the Keen Venice on short hikes with
minimal elevation gains, around town, crossing streams, rafting, and
sea kayaking.
I found the sandals to perform exceptionally well on wet surfaces. I
lost
my
traction several times on loose dirt, thick mud, and gravel. I got
blisters on my heels while backpacking and hiking with moderate
elevation gains. If I wear socks with the sandals I found that I could
eliminate hot spots and blisters on my heels. I found that the sandals
did not give me adequate support while backpacking. The soles seem thin
resulting in me feeling rocks and twigs though the soles. Twigs, rocks,
sand, dirt, and gravel do enter into the sandals and migrate to the toe
cap. This can be a nuisance since I either have to shake my foot or
remove the sandal completely to remove the debris. They are
comfortable,
durable, dry fairly quickly, and are easy to don and doff. The
pull cord secures the sandals in place on my foot and I never
encountered the pull cord loosening. The sandals do develop an
odor from foot sweat, river, and lake water. I believe that my feet
tend to sweat more in these sandals due to the having the distal end of
the shoe enclosed my the toe cap. I love the toe cap feature of these
sandals. I am able to trip, kick rocks, and be a total klutz while
wearing these without injuring my toes.
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Remarks
Thank you Keen
Footwear and Backpack
Gear Test for providing me with the opportunity to test the
Keen Venice.
Read more reviews of Keen gear
Read more gear reviews by Jennifer Estrella
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