Customer Reviews KEEN Austin

Good fit, good style

I am just now looking to replace these, two and a half years after purchasing. They have been daily wears for that time and have held up great. expect to replace the laces, but otherwise, they are/were fantastic shoes.

I’ve owned at least 4 pairs of these… In my opinion, the Keen Austin *was* the ultimate all-purpose shoe. They go well with both jeans and casual dress pants (which alone is quite an achievement). I remember the first pair I tried on immediately felt like they were custom made for my semi-wide feet. The materials were rugged, but still flexible enough that they needed zero break-in. On top of that amazing comfort, I think they’re pretty stylish… They’re definitely casual — but not nearly as casual as a sneaker. They’re not trying to look “outdoorsy,” “athletic,” or “urban” either. Just a clean and simple design that *was* well made and built to last. But that was then. About 3-4 years ago, Keen started downgrading the quality of the Austin. As others have mentioned, they switched to using more glue and less stitching. They now also use MUCH stiffer materials for the upper, which means they require significant break-in time before they can even come close to the plush feel of the originals. The rubber sole also seems to wear out a lot faster. Lately, they stopped making the more stylish color variants… So it’s now black, brown, or nothing. They’re still decent shoes that, after months of frequent wear, can feel similarly comfortable to the old version. However, they’re just not amazing anymore, so I’ve been on the hunt for something else… But what I really want is for Keen to restore the Austin’s to their former glory.

I wore these for 2 years. Going to buy a new set now, still wearing them but time for new.