Keen Utility Boots and Shoes

Which Keen Utility Pair Is Right for You? 

Keen Utility produces work boots and shoes for different situations and purposes. As such, we can’t choose the best pair of Keen Utility boots for men or women. You can find anything from all-around Keen Utility footwear to specialized work boots for specific conditions. Think about where you will wear them before you make a purchase.

The Features You Want in Your Keen Utility Footwear 

To make your choice easier, we have selected 4 main features that you should focus on when buying Keen Utility boots. Decide on what you need from your footwear and find the right combination of features that will get you there. Anything else is a bonus, but these 4 base features must suit your needs.

Comfort 

Never discount the comfort of your boots. You have the option, so why not go for athletic comfort instead of just bearable? You need boots that will allow you to feel comfortable at the end of a long workday. Keen Utility uses the latest technologies and the best materials to make their boots and shoes, so even their boots often have sneaker-like comfort.

However, Keen Utility can run a bit small. If your experience is that all of your work boots fit a bit too tight, consider getting your Keen Utility’s ½ a size bigger. On the other hand, Keen Utility will mold to your feet with wear, so even if they are a little snug to begin with, they should fit perfectly over time and provide reliable comfort.

Style 

Even if you don’t care too much about the style in general, you should get a pair of boots that you like. After all, what’s the point of getting new work boots if you’re not going to wear them? As far as work boots go, Keen Utility is one of the most fashionable brands.  They’re still work boots so you’re not going to wear them to suit and tie events, but they can easily function as casual office wear.

Keen utility work shoes are even more diverse in their design – you can find anything from a traditional work shoe to pairs that you couldn’t tell aren’t running sneakers unless you wore them. As a newer company, Keen has put emphasis on style to separate them from the crowd, so most of their boots and shoes have a modern look or a traditional look with a  modern twist.

Protective Toe 

Safety toe work boots come in three types – with a steel or composite toe, and without a safety toe. Keen Utility comes in all three types. Each serves a different purpose, so you should make your choice based on what you need them for.

Steel Toe – Keen Utility work boots with a steel toe provide the most impact protection of the 3 types. However, steel also adds the most weight to the boots and has high thermal conductivity – this means that it will transfer either heat or cold, so it is not a good choice for extreme temperature environments. In addition, you can’t stretch steel, so your boots need to fit perfectly straight away.

Composite Toe – boots with a composite toe try to find the middle group between a steel toe and no toe. The composite toe doesn’t provide as much impact protection as a steel toe, but it is lighter and doesn’t conduct heat. It is a better choice if you work in extreme temperatures but still want protection.

No Toe – boots with no safety toe offer no impact protection, obviously. However, this does not make them worse. They simply serve a different purpose. Keen boots with no safety toe are lighter than the other types and often more comfortable. They are the best choice if you value durability and comfort above all. If you plan to walk long miles, such as during hiking or hunting, boots with no safety toe are the right choice for you.

Insulation and Water-Resistance

The aim of insulation and water-resistance is to keep your feet warm and dry. However, like with all other boots’ features, it is important what you need them for. If you plan to wear them outside during rain or snow, then you should opt for a leather water-resistant or waterproof pair with higher degrees of insulation. On the other hand, waterproof boots with high insulation can make your feet sweat if you wear them in warm weather.

200G of insulation is good for cooler evenings in early summer and can be used as all-around footwear, while anything upward of 1000G will get you through a snowstorm, but you should never wear them when temperatures are high. After all, sweaty feet decrease your comfort level. The different Keen Utility models have many degrees on insulation, so make your choice based on what you need.

Are Keen Work Boots Good? 

The short answer is – yes. They are well made, durable, and comfortable, and, unlike many other work boots, Keen Utility boots can be worn on a construction site to an office without standing out. What’s more, they are middle-of-the-pack as far as the price goes, so you are getting value for your dollar.