KEEN

Rose Sandal

Women's

I own literally dozens of Keens in every style. I have never been as disappointed in a shoe as I am in this one. I have very high arches, which is why Keens have always been so comfortable. I was looking for a sandal with a toe bumper that I could wear to walk comfortably during our hot summers. Apparently Keen no longer believes arch support is important. Do not believe the reviews that claim this shoe has moderate arch support. The footbed is completely flat. No more Keen sandals for me I guess.

I looked high and low for a sport sandal that didn't look too bulky and frumpy and this one seems like a winner. I tried the Keen Whisper and Newport Eco. Both too bulky and unattractive (in my opinion). I loved the Keen Bali Strap -- I liked that the straps were nylon on the Bali Strap (instead of a faux leather on the Rose). Nylon would be better for getting wet. But the Rose has much better treads on the bottom than the Bali strap. Basically, I preferred the styling and nylon straps of the Bali Strap but needed the treads, so the Rose was the winner. I tried the shiitake color first, but I found it to be a little too dark, so I returned for aluminum. It's a better neutral for me. Photos are bali strap vs. shiitake rose and aluminum rose vs. shiitake rose.

This sandal is very cute, I have wide feet and it fit perfectly. Unfortunately, the ankle strap is not completely adjustable, it has a fixed nylon strap underneath the adjustable part that was too tight for my high instep. I had to return them.

It is very difficult for me to find shoes that I can wear due to arthritic feet. But these shoes are so comfortable! The insole is cushy, it gives as you walk. The toe box is roomy. The only negative is that under the Velcro ankle strap there is another strap that is not adjustable. I took these sandals to a cobbler and had them cut the strap underneath to make them truly adjustable. The picture I included is after I had them modified.

Excellent shoes! The Keen Rose sandals are my first ever "trekking" shoe and I was impressed with the rugged yet lightweight construction of this style. The straps held my feet in place and were comfortable and no chafing or blisters and the foot bed is supportive. It's soft and flexible but I definitely felt the shoe beneath my feet - in other words, the foot bed didn't compress under my weight. I wore these during a week-long sightseeing trip in Asia and spent many hours walking through city streets and up and down stairs, no fatigue! I was actually surprised that my feet and legs felt great after so much walking! My only complaint is that the ankle strap isn't very adjustable. There is a stretchy fabric collar of sorts under the velcro strap, the collar is a fixed size and, for me, was a bit snug. The velcro strap is adjustable but there's not much to adjust when the collar is already snug.