Keen Humboldt Trail Runner : Stands Up On and Off Trail

I am a Keen fanatic through and through. June through September, I wear my Keen Newport sandals 90 percent of the time. In October I slide into my Keen Bronx shoes almost every day, until May. As an avid runner, I was very excited to discover that my favorite hybrid footwear company had released a new shoe designed with trail runners in mind.

Living in Portland, OR, I am fortunate to be able to access trails within the city limits. And while I never have to travel more than a few miles to get to Mount Tabor or Forest Park, getting from my house to these fabulous trail systems requires running on the road. Luckily Keen’s new trail running shoes are as comfortable on the pavement as they are on the dirt. After testing them out during the shoulder season on both Portland’s soggy trails and Salt Lake City’s drier paths, I was pleased with the Humboldt’s performance, comfort and durability. They look pretty good, too.

Keen footwear’s wide toe box is a dream come true. Their clog-like fit prevents my wide feet from feeling pain and provides a comfortable fit straight from the box. Keen’s other signature feature is their patented rubber toe shield, which keeps my toes sheltered from rocks and other painful objects. The Humboldt has the same design as the webbed Newport sandals but with a mesh lining that provides adequate ventilation and protections against rocks and other debris. The mesh stretches to fit my feet – another bonus for people with wide feet. The mesh design also makes this shoe lightweight – only 357 grams. So are there any drawback to this design? The mesh lets water in on rainy days, which is not ideal for running during Portland’s wet winters. This shoe is best on dry days.

I'm happy with the shoe’s cushoined footbed; it provides adequate cushion and comfort without being too bulky or heavy. It absorbs the shock caused by running on pavement and is even cushier on trails. The sole’s tread is aggressive enough to handle the well-used trails in Portland and Salt Lake City. However, having tested many trail running shoes, the Humboldt did not feel quite as stable as some others I’ve tried. I attribute that to the fact that I usually run in Gore-Tex trail running shoes that are designed for pretty hard-core trails. The drawback to those other shoes is that they are heavier and usually not as comfortable on the road.

The Humboldt is available in both men’s and women’s sizes (size 5-11 for women and 7-14 for men) and styles (three different colors). Keen also makes other trail running/hiking shoes for non-runners. See their web site for descriptions.

Bottom Line: The Humboldt, which stretches to fit your feet lets them breathe, fares well both on and off the trail.--B.B. (April 06)

Price: $111

Manufacturer's Site: www.keenfootwear.com

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