So my Keens, that I have had for around 4 yrs, have had their 1st problem. I pulled them out of the closet this year and the bottom rubber molded sole is just coming right off. Its like the glue just let loose. I am thinking about trying some Shoe Goo to put them back together but I will never be able to seal them up tight and am worried that water will keep getting inbetween the two rubber main soles.

With having them for 4 years, not sure it is worth filling out the warrenty thing on Keens site but i might as well, cant hurt anything.

Has anyone else had this problem?

I guess it might just be time for a new pair but they are just fine in all other ways and for $99, i would rather get another couple years out of them.

Try the Shoe Goo. Either it works and you are happy or it doesn't and you are not wearing the sandals.

Better chance of wearing them than you have now. Do nothing and a 100 percent chance of not wearing them.

In general, shoes are not made the way they used to be, and yes I have had straps pull out of Keen soles after a few years.

Not the same problem but mine have small cracks/tears just in front of the heel where the strap meets the base. Also one of the pull loops ripped out. I might try to do the warranty thing considering I don't wear them much and they should hold up better.

I had the exact same problem after three years. I purchased mine at REI originally. Took them back to REI and they replaced them free of charge.

I never had the chance to try so I don't know if Keen would do anything under their warranty.

Alternatively, I have repaired the same problem on work boots, and hiking boots, with Gorilla glue with very good results. they've held up for a couple of years, now.

Had the same problem with mine after 4-5 years. Glued it back together and they lasted about another year. Definitely got my use out off them.

I had some vibrams that were coming apart. I used gorilla glue and they seem to be holding ok. I have not given them any rough treatment since the repair, though.

These will fail completely 20 miles from your EP.

quote Beemer01: "These will fail completely 20 miles from your EP."

LMAO cause that seems to be the truth. You can test them after the repair for weeks around the house, but get into a trip and the repair fails

Ok, so i did fill out the warrenty info and sent them a picture.

They got back to me VERY quickly, 2 days.

Since I have had them so long they can not issue a new pair BUT they did give me a 30% off code to use on their website.

Not bad, atleast it is something...now i will use the Shoe Goo stuff to try to put them back together. Who knows how this will work but it is worth a shot and now i need to order my new pair, for $70 instead of $100.

I still think they should last longer for $100, i took good care of them, other than walking through the mud, water, rocks and such on BWaters portages...but that is what they are for right?

Now the real question is do i take my old ones "glued" together on the trip starting June 10th (and risk them coming apart) or do i use the new pair that wont be broken in yet (blisters), but the water might be so cold that i just use boots anyway this year.

Oh the issues. All part of the planning part of the trip that I also enjoy VERY much.

-Matt

i had a pair of the Keen shoes, they lasted 2 years and the same problem. purchased at REI and returned no problem, the guy told me it was a consistent problem with the keens. not sure id buy another pair if its something thats just going to repeat itself in a few years. i did purchase some Pantagonia shoes and love them.

Probably caused by all those rocks that accumulate in the toe box.

Old thread but wanted to reassurect in case anyone is looking for Keen reviews.

I'm at the end of a series of Keene issues. First this summer ordered Clearwater CNX for our week long trip in the BW. Stitching came apart half way through trip. Thankfully the stayed together enough to last the week but I returned and ordered a second pair. 2nd pair had the glue come off and the sole fell in half within 2 weeks. Mild day use and a hiking trip in Canada and they were toast. Returned those and figured Clearwater weren't worth it. Tried their Newport H2 which has been their staple for years. Now only 2 weeks later with a day trip into the BW and casual daily use around town the glue again falling apart.

End result: never trusting Keens again. What an absolute mess of a company.

Mine separated too but I tend to kick them off at the heel so I feel I'm to blame..

I purchased a pair of Keen Newport H2O's last year. They lasted about 5 months before half of the stitching pulled out and the foot bed's cracked. They were comfortable so I decided to try another pair. I purchased a pair this summer. I didn't even get around to taking them out of the box until about 5 weeks ago. I wore them a couple times then took them on a 4 day trip into the BWCA 3 weeks ago. I would say that 40 - 50% of the stitching came undone. They look like a brand new pair of shoes, except half the stitching is hanging off them. I would expect more than 2 weeks of use out of a $90.00 pair of shoes.

I love my Keen Durand hiking boots. Not so much love for my Keen sandals, whatever the model is. The two are night and day in comfort.

Your Keens lasted four years????!!!???? Wow!

quote missmolly: "Your Keens lasted four years????!!!???? Wow! "

Depends...some people only use them on the BWCAW trips so that is 5-10 days year, so could be only 40 days of actual use. That isn't much to fall apart. But yea I agree if it was Day to day heavy use and lasted 4 years that's pretty good.

My observations are that Keen has let their quality slip a little, comparing my old sandals to newer ones. The old ones were almost indestructible. I still have my first pair from the 10-12 years ago and all the tread has worn off from heavy use, but they are still going strong.

T

Mine are falling apart after just two years, and maybe 6 BWCA trips. Made in China?

quote timatkn: "

quote missmolly: "Your Keens lasted four years????!!!???? Wow! "

Depends...some people only use them on the BWCAW trips so that is 5-10 days year, so could be only 40 days of actual use. That isn't much to fall apart. But yea I agree if it was Day to day heavy use and lasted 4 years that's pretty good.


My observations are that Keen has let their quality slip a little, comparing my old sandals to newer ones. The old ones were almost indestructible. I still have my first pair from the 10-12 years ago and all the tread has worn off from heavy use, but they are still going strong.


T"

Ah, I see. I wear mine from March through December.

quote timatkn: "

quote missmolly: "Your Keens lasted four years????!!!???? Wow! "

.... The old ones were almost indestructible. I still have my first pair from the 10-12 years ago and all the tread has worn off from heavy use, but they are still going strong.


T"

+1. Bought my first pair approximately 10 years ago and have worn them in the water, on trails, and as my "casual" shoes on trips all over North America. Tread is gone, the leather looks like crap, but they're still structurally sound. Wife bought a pair at the same time, a back-up pair shortly after, and hers have also held up. But it wouldn't surprise me if success has brought some corner-cutting.

I thought they were so cool when they came out. Mine are still good after hard use and many trips. I just don't like the way the small rocks get in the shoe. I use another brand of water shoe and they sit in my closet.

I've had mine 3-4 years. I use gorilla glue to repair seams and splits. Works great and really extends life. It helps to clamp the glue.

Super glue works for me.

Super glue works for me.

I bought a pair of the H2O's when they were relatively new on the market. One was "lost" for nearly a year and found in weeds the following spring. I live on a greenbelt and figured some animal took one shoe from my porch. That pair still has good stitching but the sole is so worn it is slick and I don' wear them. H2O's purchased in recent years seem to give out on the stitching and have sole separation problems. I have separated from buying them.
And I worked hard in that first set doing gardening as well as tripping many times over at least 4-5 years. I never liked the rocks under the arch or in the toes, but they were still good sandals.

I'm thinking of getting a pair of Keen sandals to bring on Camino with me next year as my 'evening shoes'. I can't wear Crocs and I want a pair if shoes I could, if necessary, walk in if for some reason my hiking footwear wasn't cutting it.
So my questions are:

1) if you have Keens which style do you have? And how do you like them?

2) do they dry relatively fast if you wear them in the shower? (Don't want to also bring flip-flops)

3) do they run true to size? Small? Large? I wear a women's size 10 US in sneakers and my Keen shoe/boots are a 10 (these will not be my hiking boots), but in other footwear I wear 9/9.5. The sandals I have now are a 9.

Not Keen related, but has anyone brought a pair of those pedicure sandals to wear in the shower? You know the really thin, cheap ones they give you at the nail salon if you don't bring your own flip-flops. It's just a thought that's been popping in my head from time to time when thinking about Camino gear. R Programming Online Training | SAS Online Training | Android Online Training | Weblogic Online Training | MongoDB Online Training MongoDB Admin Online Training | SQL Online Training

quote old_salt: "I've had mine 3-4 years. I use gorilla glue to repair seams and splits. Works great and really extends life."

OS are you using them as just a camp shoe with the repair?

I used some Gorilla Glue on a seam and after a week with hard wet booting use the glue was no where to be seen. It left me wondering if the stuff is water soluble?

Stick with something that covers your feet completely or the mosquitoes will eat your feet up. Been there, done that.

I bought Keen Rialto sandals this spring and they've been more durable than any of the Newport H2Os that I've bought in recent years for myself or my family. All of the Newports within weeks or months have issues with the straps pulling out of the footbed, tread separation, or blown stitching around the ankles.

The Rialtos are constructed in the USA and they so far have had no quality issues. I'm not particularly fond of the bungee laces especially in environments where footing is paramount, like in the BWCA, but until Teva resurrects the Dozer 2 circa 2008 the Keens are probably the best option.

quote Northwoodsman: "I purchased a pair of Keen Newport H2O's last year. They lasted about 5 months before half of the stitching pulled out and the foot bed's cracked. They were comfortable so I decided to try another pair. I purchased a pair this summer. I didn't even get around to taking them out of the box until about 5 weeks ago. I wore them a couple times then took them on a 4 day trip into the BWCA 3 weeks ago. I would say that 40 - 50% of the stitching came undone. They look like a brand new pair of shoes, except half the stitching is hanging off them. I would expect more than 2 weeks of use out of a $90.00 pair of shoes."

My H2Os have had all the stitching around the ankles re-sewn completely in the time I've had them. The warranty period is one year. I was one week away from the year when I contacted them. They gave me a credit to use for any other Keen footwear I wanted. I figured I could sew the H2Os up good as new and used the credit to get a pair of hiking boots. They loops for the laces only lasted about 12 months before they started to go and the soles didn't last 18 months before they started to go.

After sewing the H20s, they are ok and have lasted almost 6 years. I'll not buy another pair of Keens though. I shouldn't have to continually repair footwear that costs over $100 a pop.

By comparison, I have a pair of uninsulated rocky goretex boots that are 13 years old and still going strong even though the camo pattern is now white from all the wear & sun bleaching. Think I paid $70 for those and if the tread wasn't worn down so badly, they'd be good for another 5.

I see this thread is a few years old, but will respond anyway.
I've had my Keen Newports for, oh, maybe 7 yrs or so. ON my June trip to the Current River, I threw them in the pack to wear around camp. As I walked on the gravel bars, the soles completely separated, flopping around until I was better off just peeling them off the rest of the way. I was still able to wear them around camp, though there was obviously no tread.
When I got home I reattached the soles using Gorilla Glue. It seems to have worked very well. A little oozed out as it dried/expanded, but no big deal. Good stuff.

quote mastertangler: "

quote old_salt: "I've had mine 3-4 years. I use gorilla glue to repair seams and splits. Works great and really extends life."

OS are you using them as just a camp shoe with the repair?


I used some Gorilla Glue on a seam and after a week with hard wet booting use the glue was no where to be seen. It left me wondering if the stuff is water soluble? "

I use mine primarily around the house and yard. I also use them on canoe trips. Haven't decided if I would buy Keene or something else when it's time to trash them. I have found that after gluing them it helps to clamp the seam.

quote Northwoodsman: "I purchased a pair of Keen Newport H2O's last year. They lasted about 5 months before half of the stitching pulled out and the foot bed's cracked. They were comfortable so I decided to try another pair. I purchased a pair this summer. I didn't even get around to taking them out of the box until about 5 weeks ago. I wore them a couple times then took them on a 4 day trip into the BWCA 3 weeks ago. I would say that 40 - 50% of the stitching came undone. They look like a brand new pair of shoes, except half the stitching is hanging off them. I would expect more than 2 weeks of use out of a $90.00 pair of shoes."

UPDATE: Keen stood behind their product and sent me a credit towards any Keen product today. I have had several foot issues recently and need something very comfortable with a lot of support. The Newport H2's were very comfortable but I think I will try a pair of the Keen Durand's. I have looked several places and found excellent ratings on them. Since my Newport H2's are still basically new, I'll take them to a local repair shop and have them fixed.

First off, I'm making a couple statements I never thought I'd make? I never have worn sandals in the BWCAW, but started wearing them around the farm and the river here the last few years. One reason, feet swelling due to medical problems and I've found the sandals are so much more comfortable and adjustable with my variable foot size. I will probably wear them, something I've warned against, my next time I make it to the BWCAW?

Secondly, I bought the first (and only) pair from Walmart. They are leather and the stitching and soles have held up to lots of wading, water, mud, abuse from my heavyweight frame! They were cheap, yet have held up to all this abuse like a champ. Maybe the biggest problem with the "Stitching" problems many have are because of the material? Nylon and the other materials I've noted in other sandals is slicker. Possibly this sets them up to failure? Maybe the cheap leather allows for the thread to gain a better "Hold?"

Bottom line is against my better judgement I find myself happy with and recommending Walmart leather sandals. I'll probably take a backup pair just to be safe when I go up north? But that's still less weight and less baggage than I used to take. And even a good pair of Browning boots have failed me in the BWCAW, so what have I got to lose?