KEEN  Seek Trail-Running Shoes - Men's

I am footwear guy and I am training to walk the Camino. I walked last week with a different leading brand and, after a brisk 5-6 mile walk, I developed for the first time in my life Plantar fasciitis. It felt like someone had taken a knife across the bottom of my foot. After discussing my injury with a leading sports medicine doctor in Boston, she prescribed heel cups, achilles exercises etc. . . But she didn't know, I had just purchased a pair of KEEN Seek's. The minute I put them on my feet, the pain subsided. It was amazing. Thanks to these shoes I can continue my training.

Just tested these out this morning on a 10-mile trail run over various terrain and conditions, including a half mile stretch on pavement. I have been trail running for 25 years so I have worn all kinds of shoes but usually always gravitate to Asics because I overpronate and have low arches. These shoes are the closest thing I have worn that provides stability like my Asics. They were comfortable the whole time and were like running on air. The traction was great and the snug sock liner is really nice. These will have a place in my shoe rotation as my everyday go to trail runners. If they were a little lighter and a little more responsive, I would wear them on race days. I do wish there were different color options. While watching a video on their development, I saw someone wearing a blue pair and those were really nice looking shoes.

I usually have 3 pair of running shoes--road running shoes, more radical trail shoes for rocky, steep, snowy, wet mountains, and one pair of trail shoes for tamer trails. I bought these Keens for that third category. I fell in love with them out of the box! I took them for a weekend of trail running right after buying them with no break in period. Run 1 was short but very steep and very rocky. They were fine. I didn't feel any rock bites. Next two runs were longer on the Appalachian Trail. They were exactly what I was looking for. Since then I have run on the road with them and once on a treadmill. At this point I think I could have them as my only running shoe. (That is really weird for me to say!). I think I will keep a pair of trail shoes with deeper cleats and a board. But I will use these Keens for the vast majority of my running. Fit was perfect out of the box. The liner hugs my ankles and will protect from gravel, sand, debris. And, they look cool.

This shoe has great cushion for sidewalk and stability for trails. The only downside is the shoe slips on wet pavement. These are my dry day shoes.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]