Keen Venture WP Waterproof Hiking Shoes: Gear Review

New this spring 2019 is the pair of KEEN Venture WP Waterproof Hiking Shoes. I’ve been using my personal pair for the best part of three months and wanted to put together a comprehensive guide about how I’ve got on with them.

I love to travel light, and I like to stick with one solid pair of shoes for my trips. This allows me to save space compared to having to pack multiple pairs that I simply don’t need.

This means I’m always on the lookout for a well-built and multi-use outdoor shoe that can put up with my rugged travel plans with constant daily use on the road.

I’ve found it a challenge in the past to find a good pair that suits my specific needs, and I’m sure others out there are also looking for shoes for a similar purpose. I hope this helps explain why I’m happy to review footwear.

My travelling style is a mixture of urban city visits blended with outdoor adventure. I demand a diverse shoe that can put up with both elements.

Key features I look for in footwear are both comfort and lightweight, which, when combined, can withstand the test of time.

It’s important that I don’t end up with a bulky shoe that will weigh me down but at the same time, I don’t cut corners to sacrifice on comfort.

The KEEN Venture WP Waterproof Hiking Shoe is a new model launched this year which finds a perfect balance between comfort and lightweight without having to drop any important features.

When it comes to performance, they deliver, and I’ll go through each point now.

The KEEN Venture shoe is waterproof

I understand why many would say that you don’t need waterproofing in a low-cut shoe because it’s simply not needed for everyday use.

For me, however, waterproofing is important for terrains where it constantly snows and rains in the wintertime, such as in Finland.

With waterproofing technology, I avoid being buried deep in puddles. When walking through low-level slush, snow and puddles, this feature helps to avoid ending up with wet and soggy socks. No one likes soggy socks.

The KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane feature is important for me to use on a daily basis so I can tackle puddles without any fear as I know my KEEN Venture shoes have me covered.

KEEN Venture have awesome grip and protection

KEEN Venture offers an all-terrain rubber outsole for higher-traction grip with
4mm multi-directional lugs for additional traction and support for when you’re hiking on rugged terrain and the stability shank delivers lightweight support.

This pair also works well on ice terrain, but I’d still remain cautious and aware of your surroundings in these conditions. However, they’re for sure better on ice than a flat shoe and of course, you have that added toe protection that KEEN is most famous for if you happen to bump into a rock.

I’ve found the grip to be great in both city and mountain settings. Especially when you’re walking along rugged rocks you can feel protected with the great fit and support.

Well designed and look great too

Get ready to go full blast on your next adventure. With a lightweight upper, breathable, locked-in fit and higher-traction outsole, this KEEN Venture hiking shoe is faster, lighter, and sleeker, and it’s purposely built to perform on the trail. The shoes also look good and stylish and are easy to match with both outdoor and urban clothing.

After three months, they still smell great

A funny feature to mention, but with CLEANSPORT NXT technology, the KEEN Venture shoe offers natural odour control. When battling the elements each and every day, I find that my other shoes usually start to smell terrible after some time. With KEEN Venture, I’ve yet to find the shoes in a terrible smelling state. They remain fresh and are ready to go when I need to use them again.

Comfortable to wear, even after long use

The shoes are also rather comfortable to wear, and I haven’t noticed any signs of caving in yet. I’ve found that the dual-density PU insoles with arch support offer long-lasting comfort, and the pair is still going well after three months of use.

With the KonnectFit heel-capture system for a locked-in fit, you feel the comfort the moment you get your feet in, which creates a wonderful walking experience and is perfect for hiking.

You can also opt to look at the KEEN MID Venture model if you’re looking for more stable ankle support with a focus on solely hiking. If you’re looking for a shoe that is the perfect mixture for both urban and hiking conditions, then the WP model works wonders to tick those boxes.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my gear review

Thank you for reading and I hope you found my gear review of the KEEN Venture WP Waterproof Hiking Shoe useful. If you’re looking for an all-around perfect shoe for multiple types of travel and you want to invest in only one pair, then this one has my vote for sure and I will continue to wear them for the rest of the year. If you have any further questions, please feel free to send me an email and I will be more than happy to help.

Have fun on your next adventure with the awesome KEEN Venture hiking shoes.