Keen’s ‘Curved’ Walking Shoes Are a Delight for Feet

Not-so-fun fact: You’re probably wearing the wrong walking shoes. While more than half of Americans walk between one and five miles more each day than they did before the pandemic (thanks, Hot Girl Walks!), roughly 70 percent They do this while wearing ill-fitting shoes, apparently. It’s Not Perfect: Whether it’s the wrong size or the wrong support, hiking in the wrong sneak can cause a litany of foot health issues. Plus, it can feel really uncomfortable.

Which is why we’re so keen on Keen’s new hiking shoes, the vibrant WK400 Walking Shoes ($165). The vintage podiatrist-recommended outdoor shoe brand for hiking and recreation debuted in the Walking Shoes – Get This – category. good for your feet. It took three years, more than 10,000 hours of research and development, and 5,000 miles, but the Keen WK400 sneakers are here and we’re already big fans. So do podiatrists, thanks to the shoes’ unique, curved design that propels you forward with every step, making walking more like rolling.

“The curved design can act as a rocking bottom to aid in strolling,” he explains. Bruce Pinker, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon in Nanuet, New York. Looking at the WK400 walking shoe, he says the rounded outsole helps propel the foot, making it easier to walk forward. This curved design is reminiscent of MBT Shoeswhich was published more than a decade ago, and which had many healing qualities.”

shoe design

As Dr. Pinker mentions, this “rocking outsole” has been around for over a decade and has recently been adopted into several walking designs recently (think: Hoka Bondi 8 and Asics’ Walkride FF) thanks to its effect on walking motion. Keen technology—called Keen.Curve™—follows the natural curve of the foot mid-walk, swapping a flat outsole for an arched one. Combined with a high-rebound midsole, y-cushion and propulsion-based plate, WK400 walking shoes give the wearer momentum as they walk, taking stress off the foot and joints (aka, what a proper walking shoe should do). “This can be beneficial for many walkers, especially for those suffering from common foot ailments, such as plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and metatarsalgia,” says Dr. Pinker.

The MK400s is packed with other features that podiatrists say they look for in a supportive walking shoe. Samantha LandauDPM, MPH, Clinical Trainer and Physician New York College of PodiatryKeen sneakers have an impressive outsole, he says, which is made of high-traction, all-terrain rubber to grip on all types of surfaces. The athletic fit is supportive and contoured, and is stabilized by the addition of offset lacing (which takes pressure off the top of your foot as well).

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“In general, a good walking shoe should have a stiff counter around the heel, minimal torque, and flex only at the forefoot,” says Dr. Landau. “I avoid ‘soft’ shoes and shoes that curve at the midfoot as opposed to the forefoot, because this provides less stability for the shoe.

It’s clear that Keen has poured their blood, sweat, and tears into creating a functional hiking boot – but will it hold up? After testing the MK400s for over two months, a resounding “yes” was coming from me.

My experience wearing the Keen WK400s

Ken was kind enough to send my own pair of WK400s for testing, and at first glance, I had major doubts. Out of the four ladies’ colored ways, I received a bright yellow/black combo that I was hesitant to pair with laces. yellow high. Much louder than the soft black whip fawn/peach (light pink) and vapor/sky blue (white) color options.

Regardless of the color, I can say this stuff will give me a boost. This was the first hiking-specific shoe up my sleeve, and comparing it to other flat-soled sneakers—most of which are designed for running and gym workouts—I could tell the curved fit, rocker bottom, and thicker-like outsole would be a welcome upgrade.

On my feet, Keen.Curve™ does a great job huge different in maintaining momentum. Whether I’m walking around my neighborhood, around the lake, or on nearby trails, the energy return is significant, and compared to other sneaks, it makes walking so much easier. These shoes literally put a spring in my step, simulating the feel of a fluid roll against a staggered, disjointed step. I love how comfortable the soles are, especially against hard surfaces like sidewalks and sidewalks. I also love how grippy the outsole is. I live in Lake Placid, NY which is often covered in snow and ice. The high-traction sole is stable in slippery and slippery conditions (yes, even the black ice, which I walked very gingerly on after freezing all night). These days, I wear a thicker sock. (WK400 walking shoes are not insulated).

As for the upper, I find the Athletic Fit to be comfortable and flattering on my feet. The offset lacing (a shoe feature I never came across as a trade editor) seemed to give my narrow feet better support than traditional laces. I also like the two-finger pull loop at the back of the heel because it’s a little narrower and requires more gravity to get.

I find stacked heels Can He is very much on time, especially when walking up or down steep slopes. I never run in them – that’s probably a recipe for disaster. You shouldn’t either – Dr. Landau states that passive heeling can cause instability, especially if the heel strike is imprecise. “The higher off the ground the surface is, the harder it can fall if there is instability or an uneven surface,” she says. “Rocking exercises in the forefoot are great for arthritis or ligament injuries. A negative heel or posterior rib can lead to instability.” In addition, the lower ankle is also thought to be a bit simple. As someone who overpronates severely, I like my shoes to have a high collar and strong ankle. The WK400s is definitely on the low side, which is something to consider if you also prefer something a little more supportive.

But as my first ever pair of walking shoes, I understood why walking shoes—the right shoes—are such a thing now. (And I totally own up to being 70 percent rambunctious in the wrong pair’s set the whole time.) The return of energy and vigor of these sneaks make walking so much fun and less tiring than any of my other shoes. It takes me a bit to get used to the bright yellow, but other than that, the Keen WK400 walking shoes make walking fun, the way it should be.