Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

Keen really hit the ball out of the park with this one. Unlike their commuter sandals and previous cycling shoes (which are excruciatingly narrow), the Austin Pedal has the traditional Keen fit - nice and wide. The sole is stiff enough for efficient cycling, but doesn't effect walking at all. The cleat recesses are the perfect depth for SPD cleats: there's almost no "clicking and clacking" when walking, but clipping in on the bike is a piece of cake. Keen's web site claims that the leather is waterproof and that the wicking liner is breathable. I haven't had a chance to test the waterproof part (and the shoes look so nice I'll probably wear something else when the weather threatens) but initial impressions are pretty good on the wicking (I'd stick with wool socks, e.g. SmartWool to be safe).

Only minor nit I can think of is that they lack a loop under which to tuck the laces once they're tied. The laces aren't excessively long, though, so it's probably fine to live dangerously and leave them loose. Alternatively, you could tuck them into the shoes themselves.

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

I'm not going to repeat in detail the positives of the other reviews, but I largely agree with them: a solid shoe, the leather has been waterproof so far, the soles have the right amount of stiffness, and probably best of all the cleat is well-recessed. All aspects of the materials and construction seem very durable.

The one problem with these shoes is a consequence of the deep cleat recess: the bolt holes for the cleats go right through the entire sole to the foam insert. So, if you step in a puddle your shoe will flood immediately. (I think most sport shoes suffer from this.)

Worse, the bolts protrude far enough into the foam insert that on my shoes (~1.5mos old, using crank bros cleats with no shims) I can already feel the tops of the bolts poking through the foam with my fingers. I expect that the foam will continue wearing and the bolts will soon poke my feet.
I am using bolts that are the exact same length as the phillips-head ones which came with the shoe.

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

I use this product to commute to work on my bike & then as Business casual wear in my office. I no longer have to put shoes in my back or in my office. Not well ventilated so they are only good for short commutes (10 miles or less).

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

I've been a bicycle commuter for years, but I often turn my short 6 mile round-trip commute into a longer 15 or 20 mile ride for some exercise. I don't race anymore and I ride a touring bike as a commuter. I don't need racing shoes, but I do like to be clipped in for longer rides. I have worn Keen Austin shoes for a couple of years, and when I saw these (basically an SPD compatible Austin) I bought a pair immediately. I already had a pair of Shimano mountain bike shoes with SPD cleats, but decided to give the Keens a try as a more casual option.

The most obvious plus for this shoe is that it doesn't look like a bike shoe. It just looks like you're wearing a pair of Keen Austins - which are kind of the default casual shoe here in the Pacific Northwest. If you own a pair of Austins, don't expect the cycling version to feel exactly the same. The main difference is that the cycling version has a stiffer sole, which is a good thing for cycling. That makes it less ideal for walking than the pedestrian Austin, but you can still walk in these very easily. The SPD cleats are recessed enough that they don't contact most surfaces while walking, but they still engage the pedals easily. There is just enough flex to make walking easy, but the stiffness seems to make the heels slip a little on me. It's hardly noticeable, but it might depend on how well they fit you. As with all Keens the extra rubber over the toe helps keep your feet dry on wet days. This is especially true when it comes to spray from the front tire (even with fenders and flaps my toes still get some).

One potential downside to these cycling shoes is that they are a bit warm and do not breathe as much as most cycling-specific shoes. This is actually a plus for most of the year where I live, but I noticed my feet getting quite warm and sweaty on long rides on hot Summer days. My Shimano mountain biking shoes keep my feet cooler, and the Shimanos also have better soles for walking your bike up steep trails when you can't ride them. The soles on the Keens are nice and thick, but not really designed for steep trails.

So great for commuting if you like to wear normal clothes while being clipped in, but not the best choice for strictly cycling on the road or trail. I would give them 3.5 stars if it were an option, because I think they are 3-star cycling shoes, but 4-star (or even 5-star) commuter cycling shoes. I'm glad I bought them and I wear them almost every day on my commute.

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

I took my shoes in to REI because the cleat screws on both sides were starting to poke up through the insole. They weren't able to find shorter screws, so they machined down the ones I had (at no charge).
So with that fix, I have no complaints about these shoes, they are solid winter commuters. I will probably treat the leather to make it more water-resistant.

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

I owned a pair of Keen Springwaters in 9.5. They were too narrow, and I had to limit the distance and intensity of my rides because of foot pain. I would frequently finish long rides in no pain, aside from my feet. I have a wide foot, and was worried that I would have to buy a Specialized or Sidi shoe for a lot more money, and have a less walkable shoe.

These fit much better than the Springwaters: I was able to get them in size 9, they are so much wider. They fit my foot as well as, if not better than my New Balances, which are very comfortable in their own way. They walk as well as the New Balances, too. They are stiff enough for me. They resist water well. They are not the most stylish shoe, but they look good enough that they are the shoe I typically wear with a polo and slacks for informal outings, like going to bars and restaurant. The added benefit is that I can bike there, if I so desire. They are also very well made.

The shoe's only downside is the insole. I have no idea why Keen advertises this as a feature. It is the same cheap foam, piece of junk, insole that every other shoe company uses. But, I am spoiled by Superfeet, so maybe I should cut them some slack on this. On all of my shoes, by default, including this one, I throw away the stock insoles and put in Superfeet Green.

I have made two modifications. They probably make the shoe less stylish, but they have definitely made it more practical and comfortable. First, I treated the shoe with macadamia oil, to condition, soften and water proof the leather. The macadamia made the shoe much darker, which is fine by me. Then, as I do with all of my shoes and boots, I threw away the laces and laced them with black 550 cord.

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

I bought my Keen shoes almost 2 years ago prior to my touring 1/2 way across the US. I could not have been happier touring through Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, 90 degree or 30 degree weather, these shoes kept me comfortable. Since that time I have been commuting to work every day and the have become indispensable. I am usually not inclined to hyperbole but these shoes are fantastic.

BTW, replacement laces are 58 inches long - I tried to find it anywhere but even the Keen site doesn't say.

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

I am an avid cyclists. These are the shoes I wear when using my touring bicycle. Last year, I rode across country (3100 miles) and bought these shoes specifically for that ride. They worked wonderfully. Not too hot, comfortable, looked good with regular clothes. CONS: Laces are too long, so either tie the laces on the right shoe short or cut them so they're shorter. Two times, the lace on the right shoe caught in my triple chain ring. Not cool. Today, after just over one year's use, the sole tore open where the cleat connects to the sole. PRO? Keen is providing me with a coupon to buy a replacement pair from their website. GREAT customer service. RECOMMEND? Absolutely. Great shoe and worth the price.

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

As a shoe, this product is good especially for rainy weather. But the metal insert that the cleat screws into is flimsy and on my pair, the left one would not hold the cleat in place. After many attempts to find a replacement part from Keen or REI with no success at all, I'm returning this product. It's pointless to have a bike shoe that doesn't connect to the cleat well.

Comments about Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes - Men's:

I was looking for a solution for cold feet during my bike commute. I've been really happy with these so far. They are plenty wide so there's room for a thick pair of socks. I've ridden in light drizzle and snow and they shed the moisture well. They are really easy to walk in. The soles are thick and the cleats are inset deeply enough that there's no contact with the pavement.