Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Keen Humboldt > Lynne Durham > Field Report

Keen Humboldt

FIELD REPORT

by Lynne Durham
July 30, 2006

REVIEWER BIO

BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE

NAVIGATE THIS REPORT

 PRODUCT INFORMATION

 FIELD ACTIVITIES

• Trail running on well-worn, rooty, rocky trails at my local nature preserve and on the North Country Trail
• Trail running and dayhiking on sandy, dune trails
• Backpacking with a packweight of approximately 32 lb (14.5 kg) on the Manistee River Pathway and the North Country Trail
• Trail maintenance in a heavy growth area with briars and wild roses dominant on the North Country Trail
• Walking on suburban streets
• Mountain bicycling on forested trails in southwest Michigan
• Spinning classes
• Treadmill running and walking

 FIELD CONDITIONS

• Cool (50+ F [10+ C]), rainy conditions, including one full day of light, persistent rain and other bouts of short, torrential downpours
• Hot (85+ F [29+ C]), humid conditions
• Warm (< 80 F[< 27 C]), relatively dry conditions
  

 IMPRESSIONS

• How do the shoes work with my OTC insole?
• I have not yet tested this question, as I have been quite pleased with the Humboldt's original insole thus far. This question will be tested during the long-term phase of testing.

• Would I want to wear these with the manufacturer's insole? Do these shoes provide adequate arch support for backpacking? Dayhiking? Trail running?
• During this phase of testing, I have used the manufacturer's insole exclusively and have been pleasantly surprised at the comfort. I found the insole to be supportive enough for all of the uses I have outlined in the Field Activities section of this report.
• Do the shoes cause any hot spots?
• The only hot spots and blistering I experienced during this phase of testing occurred while hiking through heavily sanded areas. My feet are very susceptible to blisters when in sand, so I wouldn't consider this to be the fault of the shoes.
• Are they comfortable enough to run in for hours at a time?
• Circumstances have cut back my running time tremendously. The longest period of time these shoes were run in during the testing period about an hour and a half. The shoes remained comfortable during that entire run. I hope to further test this question during the long-term phase of testing.
• Is the cushioning adequate for my needs?
• The Humboldt's cushioning is relatively light, but seemed to be adequate for my needs.
• How comfortable are the shoes when wet? Does dampness increase the possibility of hot spots?
• The shoes drains water quickly. The only time I experienced blistering in the shoe, both sand and water were involved. However, dampness alone did not cause discomfort while hiking in the shoe.

• Can the mesh design adequately protect the foot during extended travel?
• The mesh design let in a bit more trail grit than I would prefer. Additionally, I could easily feel thorns poking through the mesh when I worked in thorny areas.
• Does the mesh lining really keep grit and trail debris away from my foot?
• The mesh lining did not, in my opinion, adequately keep trail debris and grit from my shoe. I even tried wearing the shoes with shortie gaiters, assuming that grit was entering over the top of the shoe. However, small pieces of trail debris and grit still entered the shoe. I would not say the mesh lining was any more or less protective than other shoes.
• How does the shoes perform in sand dunes? It seems like the open design would allow the sand to sift out easily...does this help me avoid the black toenails I inevitably experience when hiking or running in sand? Does the mesh bootie keep the sand away from my feet?
• The mesh bootie did not keep sand away from my feet. It was easily shaken out, however, and the mesh did not "hold onto" the sand the way that some shoe fabric does.
• Does the outsole adequately grip a variety of surfaces? Does it offer better performance on one terrain versus another?
• I found the outsole to be good and sticky -- it offered plenty of grip for my needs.
• Is the rubber outsole really non-marking? I have a pair of mid-top trail runners by a different company that I can't even wear in my house because of how they mark up the floors.
• I have worn the Humboldts on floors made of wood, ceramic tile, vinyl tile and linoleum. The outsoles did not mark up any of the surfaces.
• How do the shoes handle perspiration? Is the airflow such that perspiration dries very quickly? Or will it feel like a slimy mess?
• In my opinion, the mesh bootie is extremely efficient for handling perspiration. Airflow is excellent and my feet never felt wet for long -- even in rain or after water crossings.
• How is the overall durability of the shoes?
• Thus far, the shoes are holding up well. There is some light wear of the outsole that reflects my gait. No compression of the cushioning is evident. There are no frayed or worn areas.
• How do the shoes handle bushwhack situations? Is it better suited for maintained trails?
• For my needs, the Humboldt seems better suited to maintained trails. I could feel thorns invade the body of the shoe when off-trail in some bramble-filled areas.
• How do my feet feel after using the shoes for long distances?
• The longest distance covered at one time in the shoes thus far was approximately 21 miles. My feet did not feel any more or less fatigued than they usually do when covering that type of distance.
• Does the Aegis Microbe Shield prevent smelly shoes?
• These shoes have been used for miles and have been subjected to scummy pools of water, mud, heat and sweat. I've taken no special precautions with them other than to let them dry after each use. They have not been laundered at all. I am unable to detect any odor whatsoever! It may sound disgusting, but I actually sniffed the shoe. All I smell is shoe rubber. I find that pretty impressive!

THIS IS COOL

• I love the reflective stitching
• The color is great
• This is a very lightweight shoe compared to some of my trail runners
• The lack of offensive odor is a major bonus!

THIS COULD BE IMPROVED

• Customer service should be easy to reach via the Web site
• It would be great if product information was included with the product

Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Keen Humboldt > Lynne Durham > Field Report