REVIEWER BIO

Name	Lynne Durham
Gender	Female
Height	5' 10" (1.78 m)
Weight	157 lb (69 kg)
Age	44
Email	lynnedurham AT yahoo DOT com
Location	Benton Harbor, Michigan USA

BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE

I have hiked and car camped all of my life, mostly in the relative flatlands of the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan, but also in areas east of the Continental Divide, such as South Dakota, New England, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and more. I have been backpacking since 2002.  I keep my pack weight to 25% of bodyweight. However, I am always trying to lighten my load further to enhance my comfort and enjoyment as I like to hike big mileage. I also do trail running, mountain biking, adventure racing and more.

Footwear Experience
I usually do all of my trail work -- including backpacking, dayhiking, trail-adoption chores and trail running -- in a pair of trail runners. I usually replace the manufacturer's insole with an over-the-counter (OTC) insole of my choice. Some shoes, however, offer plenty of arch support for my needs. I virtually always wear socks with shoes which helps me prevent blisters.

NAVIGATE THIS REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION  

Item name	Humboldt
Manufacturer	Keen
Manufacturer's Web site	http://www.keenfootwear.com
MSRP	None given on Web site
Claimed Weight	10.5 oz (298 g) NOTE: no reference size is given for this weight on the Web site. Additionally, the site does not make it clear that weight is per shoe, not for a pair (although weights given are obviously per shoe).
Actual Weight	25.5 oz (720 g) per pair: left, 12.8 oz (363 g); right, 12.7 oz (360 g) for a women's size 10.5
Size	As tested, women's US10.5, available in women's US5-11 (half sizes available through 11)
Color	As tested, dark grey/light green; also available in grey/mango and grey/blue.
Care instructions	Machine washable. Treated with Aegis Microbe Shield® "that helps prevent odor." Air dry after machine washing with a small amount of detergent.
Country of Manufacture	Made in China
Materials	Synthetic, webbing, mesh, rubber outsole

Back to top

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The Humboldts are sold in a plain black box, simply adorned with the Keen logo. The only information available on the outside of the box is the shoe's model name, SKU, color, international sizes, a line-drawing of the shoe and an international size chart on the bottom of the shoe. No hang tags or other informational pieces are included on the shoe or in the box; no features and benefits are listed. Keen may be missing a great opportunity to talk to their audience about the shoes!

I headed back to the Web site to remember what I found so intriguing about these shoes. The Web site says they're trail runners, appropriate for trotting down the trail or scrambling over screen. The rubber outsole is non-marking -- a major bonus in my book, as one of my favorite pairs of trail runners must be put on outside due to the scuff marks it leaves all over my floors.

The manufacturer claims these are all-terrain shoes, that the stretch-mesh bootie keeps debris out, and that they are treated to help prevent odor. Additionally, the shoe is shown on the Web site with a "Secure-fit Lace Capture System" but the current version has plain laces (per the manufacturer) and that is what I am testing.

The shoes have a removable insole, great for anyone who uses an OTC insole or custom orthotic. When I first slipped the shoes on, they felt comfortable as is. I usually wear my shoes with an OTC insole, but I'll test these with both the original manufacturer's insole and my OTC insole.

From a color perspective, the shoes are attractive and have reflective stitching along the middle of the shoe and in the back of the heel area. I feel the shoes look like many performance trail runners. A more fashion-conscious (and less performance-oriented) friend felt they looked like "old lady shoes...not like the Keen shoes [she has]."

The rubber in the toe area seems well positioned and aggressively thick -- perfect for a constant toe-stubber like me.
Interestingly, the tongue is actually part of the upper, unlike many of the trail runners I own.
The soles do not look as aggressive as I've seen on some trail runners. However, the first use showed the rubber to be good and "sticky" -- helping me stay upright on rocky areas of the trail.

Size-wise, the shoe seems to fit true to size. The forefoot area is medium volume -- not too tight, but not as high volume as some runners I've used. There is adequate room for toe-wiggling, but not so much as to cause slippage.

Back to top

TEST PLAN: CONDITIONS

During the test period, I currently have several trips planned, almost exclusively in Michigan.

Conditions during the test period may range from:

• Mild (60s-70sF [16-26C]) to hot (85-95F [29-35C]), sunny conditions
• Both dry weather and rain
• Mostly level to mildly hilly trails, made of dirt and/or sand with some rocky and rooty areas
• Some beach and dune areas
• Shallow water crossings
• Short bushwhacks through undergrowth that may be heavy with ferns, may be thorny

Back to top

TEST PLAN: ACTIVITIES

Trips that are already planned for test period include a 7-night solo backpack on the North Country Trail and an overnight trip to the Jordan River Pathway. Additional trips may be added depending on my employment status. The shoes would also be used during trail running, dayhiking, and trail maintenance activities.

Back to top

TEST PLAN: QUESTIONS

During this test, I will explore the following questions.

Fit:

• How do the shoes work with my OTC insole?

Comfort:

• Would I want to wear these with the manufacturer's insole? Do these shoes provide adequate arch support for backpacking? Dayhiking? Trail running
• Do the shoes cause any hot spots?
• Are they comfortable enough to run in for hours at a time?
• Is the cushioning adequate for my needs?
• How comfortable is the shoe when wet? Does dampness increase the possibility of hot spots?

Performance:

• Can the mesh design adequately protect the foot during extended travel?
• Does the mesh lining really keep grit and trail debris away from my foot?
• How does the shoe 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?
• Does the outsole adequately grip a variety of surfaces? Does it offer better performance on one terrain versus another?
• 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.
• How does the shoe handle perspiration? Is the airflow such that perspiration dries very quickly? Or will it feel like a slimy mess?
• How is the overall durability of the shoes?
• How does the shoe handle bushwhack situations? Is it better suited for maintained trails?
• How do my feet feel after using the shoes for long distances?
• How do my legs feel after using the sandals for long distances?
• Does the Aegis Microbe Shield prevent smelly shoes?
  

Back to top

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

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

Thank you to Keen and BackpackGearTest.org for the chance to test these very cool shoes.