Customer Reviews KEEN Austin

Well, too bad I got 2 different size shoes! The box reads 10.5. That’s what I ordered, but received one shoe size 10.5 and one shoe 9.5.

i have worn through about 10 pair of these shoes over the years. i always had to size up about one and a half sizes to get a fit, but i loved them. i had horrible plantar fasciitis and they were the only shoes (with good insoles) that got me through the day. the quality of the shoe has declined with the years. first it was the heal wearing out way to fast. recently i ordered a new pair, same 10.5 size US, that i couldn't even get my foot into. so now what? go up to an 11 or 11.5 when i really measure at a 9? and way narrow too. i'm hoping this was someone drunk on the job mislabeling the shoe. i have contacted Keen CS also to see if this is a bad batch or something.

I've been wearing Keens since 2005 or so, not long after they started making them. I don't know how many pairs I've owned, but my current pair, bought in 2013, is finally starting to fall apart. So I bought a new pair, and I could not be unhappier. They feel very stiff and my feet were half in pain and half numb within 30 minutes of putting them on. It's clear that they're using different materials, which I guess is how they can still be selling them for the same price I paid six years ago. I'd happily pay more for better quality.

Welcome to another episode of "Rate These Shoes!" Tell us about your Keen Austins Mr. G.! "Well, I have two pairs. One squeaked badly from day one out of the box. If you don't like being the guy in the supermarket with the cart that has the noisy, wobbly wheel don't get these shoes. You'll see other reviews that say the same. For style I give them a one. These are the shoes you wear when you have a big red nose and a squirting flower on your lapel. Why do I have two pair you ask? The magnificent big toe box; my salvation! But her's why I won't buy them again: Look at the top view. They lace down quite far. Do you know what a gusseted tongue is? It is the cloth or leather that attaches to the side of the tongue and back to the shoe. These don't have one. If you only wear these in an office, you might be okay. Where them outdoors and I suggest you order a size larger because your shoe are going to fill up with all manner of debris. Even when your walking on the sidewalk. It's like Keen Austins have become a portal. Your socks will turn brown, crud will build up on the insole. There's no escaping it. Do not use for yard work. Do Not use when scraping paint. You get the picture. Why do they do this? To cut costs. Instead you get the little loop on the tongue sand your lace pass through and that should help keep things in their place. Additionally they don't hold up well. The soles like so many now are glued to the leather and separates after six months. This is typical of many other shoes though. The leather they use is very good quality and I think if you treat it with something to keep it soft you may postpone the separation for quite awhile. Mine were repeatedly wet and dry which stiffened the leather and I believe less flexibility put a strain on the bond. Anyway, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it. I have become disappointed in Keen and Altra offers big toe boxes as well and has a few with gusseted tongues. I ordered some and I think we'll be seeing them expand their line. Carry on lads! Our feet will persevere!" P.S. I am using my girlfriend's account so hate mailers and industry hitmen should take note.

These Keen Austin are comfortable. The quality is bad. I have had them three months and both pairs the soles are peeling off. The soles are glued onto shoe. For the $110.00 per pair you pay I would expect better. Stay away from them.

The tongue of this shoe was so much too long that it dug into the front of my ankle.

Very disappointing. I've been a big fan of Keens for years, but something must have happened. The first pair of Austins had were wonderful, but finally fell apart. I ended up returning the pair I just bought, they were extremely uncomfortable. I'm now down to only being able to wear Birkenstocks.

Keen has gone gradually and steadily downhill. I will not buy again. When Keen first came out they were great for someone who wants a box toe with plenty of toe room. The soles were great, good arch support. Have owned about 15 pairs. Last 5 years the materials have gradually gotten cheaper and cheaper, the soles have come apart from the shoe, and now, finally, this last pair, which i have returned, is super cheap materials, made in India, not even China, and is narrow in the toe and VERY comfortable. So long Keen. Now i have to go to the shoe store and find something that fits....

This shoe was without a doubt the most uncomfortable shoe I have ever worn. Difficult to get on because the foot opening is so restricted. The toe area is so large it felt like putting on a clown shoe. I appreciate a well fitted shoe that hugs and supports my foot, and this pair did neither. The tongue of the shoe was stiff and fit so snuggly against the front of my ankle that every time I bent my foot upward to take a step it dug into my skin. I tried wearing these shoes for a couple of hours and they were so uncomfortable I couldn't stand it, my ankle is now bruised from the tongue digging into my flesh with each step. I suppose instead of water boarding terrorists you could make them wear a pair of these Keen's and they will be talking in no time! I'm sending these back ASAP.

Was truly disappointed at the quality of leather that is now used with this shoe. Have been a huge Keen fan and had ordered the same Austin on Nov 8, 2010. I still have them, but this new pair of Austin creates a white resin that builds up on the shoe at the sign of any moisture. It literally makes the shoe look like white mold is forming on the shoe. At a higher price with a lower quality of leather. So sad to see the quality of the Keen go in this direction. Will not be buying any Keens for a while.

Probably because of the style the toe area looks even more bulbous than a shoe like the Targhee. These actually fit and look like clown shoes but I can't say they were uncomfortable.

Comfort wise the shoes are good, unfortunately Keen uses inferior materials and does not stand behind their product. In just a few years the soles have hardened to the point they are DANGEROUS to wear, I can literally slide across my kitchen floor like I'm on ice! I contacted Keen to see about getting the shoes fixed and was told there is nothing they would do - I should buy a new pair. I own 3 pairs of Keen's but after this interaction I will no longer be a Keen customer. Buyer Beware!

I am heartbroken. I have purchased Keens for years, and rave about them to anyone with wide front feet - they are the most comfortable shoes that I have ever owned, and so durable! I am 210 pounds and on my feet all day, and they stayed wearable for over a year! But now that all appears to have changed. The last two pairs that I have owned, an Austin and a Utility, both immediately began to separate between the uppers and the soles. My Austins only lasted five months! I am not sure why - perhaps cheap glue, less stitching, or maybe they thought less durable shoes would be good for their bottom line. I am going to give Keens a third try before casting around again for something that holds up better.

This shoe is horrible. The leather rubbed so much on the top of my big toe that it opened up the skin and m toe got infected.

Disappointing, twice. I ordered a pair of these and the right upper had a fold in the layered fabric that pushed down into my foot after 4 days of wearing them. I got a replacement with the same problem. The color is all dark green, their is no light grey so the shoes don't look anything like the picture. I loved my old Keen's but they have lowered quality rather than raise prices. Will not buy again.

This was my 4th pair of Keen Austins. These ones felt significantly larger than the previous 3 pairs I wore out. Last week, upon my 3rd time wearing these, the sole completely fell off. Inexcusable, and I will never buy Keens again, as each generation seems worse (most notable when the soles started to be glued, rather than stitched when I bought my second pair). Their quality has gone down significantly the past few years. This is the 4th time I've had to return Keens, and this issue was a major inconvenience.

Liked the color combo. At first all was fine. Then became apparent that these shoes 1) did not breathe, and 2) this pair squeaked, a lot! Have never had this issue with Keens before. Getting a refund on this pair.

Keen used to be my husband's favorite brand. Great shoe that lasted, well-made, comfortable, could wear with anything. However, the last pair we bought, they fell apart within 6 months. They sole came apart. They stopped sewing the sole to the upper part of the shoe and they are using inferior glue. So we switched to Lowa shoes. They seem good. We will see.

Second pair of Keens where the sole started to separate from the shoe after 4 months of moderate use. No excuse for such shoddy workmanship that is supposed to be a shoe for rugged use.

Great fit, nice style, but absolutely the worst sole traction I've ever had on a shoe. I own two Keen sandals with great traction. The Austin's are horrible on ice, and bad on wet pavement. I've nearly died 3 different times while wearing these shoes. Very slippery soles. I only write this hoping to save a life. Good luck!

These shoes seem like they would be comfortable but I won't wear them long enough to know since they are huge at the toes. My 9 year old daughter told me that I could keep them and become a clown. They literally look like clown shoes with the huge rounded toe. The front of the shoe is about 50% larger than the rest of the shoe.

My first experience with these was okay. But after about 8 months I discovered that my feet had continued to get longer, so I had to give this pair to the Salvation Army, and buy one size larger. That was in mid February. We immediately left the country for a couple of weeks, and I left them at home. At the beginning of June I noticed that my left foot felt wet after being out in the rain. When I examined the left shoe, I saw that the outersole had completely worn through, and that a sort of foam substance was soaking up the water like a sponge. I contacted Keen, and followed their instructions submitting photographs of both shoes where the uneven wear was quite obvious. The right shoe exhibited about the same amount of wear as there had been with the pair I gave away. Lots of miles left. Keen refused to accept this as a manufacturing defect, even though the shoes had only been worn for a little more than 3 months. Thereby implying that this was acceptable performance. I had purchased the original pair of Austins from Zappos, and their level of service was excellent.