Customer Reviews KEEN Austin

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.

These were much stiffer than previous versions of this same shoe. They instantly hurt where previous versions were instantly very comfortable. Not sure what changed but am returning these.

Fit and size were fantastic. They felt broken in as soon as I put them on. Arch support, not so much. But that's okay because I usually use orthotic inserts anyway. On Amazon, this shoe is described as waterproof. I ordered on Zappos and hadn't noticed that the shoe is described as water resistant. Pretty crappy information in either case. The shoe is definitely not waterproof, and water resistant can be interpreted in different ways. I finally gave it a test last night by walking my dog in dewy grass. The uppers were soaked through almost immediately. This was not rain-soaked grass. It was not raining. It was dewy grass. And my feet were soaked within a few minutes. I noticed it particularly because I wasn't wearing socks. Very disappointed, especially since my goal was to buy a pair of waterproof shoes. So, if you're looking for a comfortable, well-fitting shoe with the look and feel described, then you really can't go wrong. However, don't expect it to be waterproof or water resistant.

I've ordered 3 pairs of this shoe during the past couple of years. The first pair was size 11 and it was very comfortable from the first time I put them on. Because I wore them every day, they eventually started looking tacky so I ordered a second pair a few months later. The second pair wasn't nearly as comfortable as the first and eventually started making the ends of my toes sore. So I ordered yet another pair 1/2 size larger (12 M). The 3rd pair was comfortable for the first few months but soon they also started hurting the ends of my toes. I checked the inside of the shoes and discovered there is a seam in the inside lining that protrudes and hits my toe next to my big toe. That was the source of my discomfort. All 3 pair of shoes have the same seam and same problem so I’m looking for a different brand and style. I was initially very pleased with this shoe but after owning several pair over a period of time, I’m very disappointed with them.

I have high arches, so I always wind up replacing the insoles with Dr. Schols within the first few weeks. The Austin specifically has an issue with metal eyelets. I have had them for 10 months and been through 3 pairs of laces already. I am a fan of the brand and bought replacement shoes of the same style before, but don't see that happening with the Austin.

I want to love these shoes; however, they are not right for my feet. I'm a big guy with big, wide feet with low arches. These shoes definitely have good arch support, too much in fact for me. The width and size are great. I have a pair of Targhee II Mid's that I love and used to select my size when ordering these. The other thing about these that bothers me is that the tongues are too long, cutting into and irritating my legs where they meet my feet. Other than that, they look great and seem to be made out of good, strong materials. I'll return them and probably get a pair of Targhee II Low's.

I want to like these but they are really stiff. It's possible they might loosen up as they break in but I'm not willing to risk $100 on it.

This is the third pair of Austin's I have had. They have been my favorite all season walking shoe. This is my first pair in the "full grain" leather and they will take a little longer break-in than previous. The previous pairs were made in China, this pair is from India. The biggest difference I find is the insole. The insole in my 2 1/2 year old pair is a top quality one that still offers excellent support. This pair comes with flimsy no support insoles that I will have to replace immediately. It is a shame as with the nonstandard shape of these shoes, it will be impossible to find a perfect fit. Keen had maintained the same price for over 2 years by lowering the quality. I also notice that the material that lines the footbed is not as durable looking as before. Only time will tell if this pair will hold up as well as other Keens.

I'm not sure why everyone says these shoes are so comfortable. They are stylish. I am a camp director and these shoes seemed like they'd be durable and tough. They have turned out to be quite durable; however, they have no cushioning. My rainbow flip flops have more protection between my foot and the rocky/uneven terrain I have to walk on. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they are fine on pavement. It's just the dirt roads I walk on that these shoes aren't meant for. My feet feel like they've been beaten with a sack of rocks.

Very comfortable shoe, light weight with toe protection, but it is advertised as Anti-Slip, but the Anti-Slip is terrible. I wear these shoes in a workshop, on tiled floor, and when wet, I am lucky to stay on my feet. These are very slippery, unlike safety shoes with Anti-Slip and oil resistant grading. Very disappointed .

Comfortable, easy walking, and fairly stylish but the heel and sole wore out in about 6 months.

Toe Collapse! I returned two pair of these shoes because the toe collapsed/separated on both pairs. I don't know why, but it happened the same way on both. I now have a pair of the Ventura, and the Briggs (to replace my Bronx). Whatever went wrong with the new toe design, I'm steering clear of it.

These run hot - This is a fairly comfortable shoe that is casual and works well with other clothes. But I find my feet getting hot in these shoes, and, although still new, the shoes smell like I've had them for a while. This is partially my fault—I have hot feet—but the shoe doesn't vent heat at all.

Very stiff! Nice toeroom though.

The seam in the back of the shoe rubbed against my heel and was very annoying.

I really wanted to like these shoes, but they ended up causing me a decent amount of foot and leg pain. This may be unique to me, but the arch support felt like it was too far back. At first I thought this was just the shoes needing to be broken in, so I wore them for a few weeks in hopes that they would get more comfortable, but that never happened. I decided to keep them to wear as a pair of beater sneakers around the house, but now I can't even wear them for an hour before I regret it. Style wise they were great and they seemed like they would be a rugged pair of shoes, so I'm pretty bummed that they won't work out for me.

Wore these for a month or so, the right shoe developed problems (and I'm easy going on shoes). The interior toe area (lining/leather) separated and fell into the shoe rubbing the tops of my toes (painful). I've owned Keens prior and have not had any trouble. I don't think I will try the Austin (or similar) style again.

I feel like I need to chime in here with my opinion about the Keen Austin. These are great looking shoes, and they fit comfortable right out of the box, as others have pointed out. However, as another reviewer mentioned, the sole from my shoes began to separate significantly from the leather after owning these shoes for only a couple of months. It happened a few days after I went for a hike and was caught in a moderate rainstorm. I kept hiking. The shoes got wet. No big deal. But a couple days after that, I noticed that the glue holding the sole to the shoe (on both shoes) had failed at the point where my foot bends. I was bummed and perturbed to say the least. I mean, after spending a hundred bucks on shoes, you expect them to last more than a couple of months. Now, I have owned the shoes for about six months, and I continue to wear them. They still feel great, and I still love the way they look. Thankfully, the sole has not continued to separate to the point where it disconnects entirely from the shoe. In other words, they are still wearable. But my point is that a "high quality" leather shoe at this price point should have some longevity and durability to it, and that is just not the case with these shoes. This is not my first pair of Keens. I like them, and despite my grumblings, I may decide to purchase from them again in the future. I just feel like I have to let others know that these shoes (specifically my pair and those of the other reviewer) seem to have a manufacturing defect according to the design and materials used.

Buyer beware - the current incarnation of Keen Austin's is different from the same shoe as sold about 2 years ago. The primary difference is in the way toebox/front part of the shoe is designed. Where the old shoe was slick, just the right size and very elegant, the current design is larger and somewhat shapeless. This results in a very unattractive, cheap looking shoe that also does not fit well (too much space for the forefoot, letting it slide around). If Zappos allowed it, I would have posted a photo of new and old Austin's side by side - the difference is obvious.

Overall I do like these shoes, but I do have a couple comlaints. 1. The included laces don't stay tied very well at all, I have to retie them several times during the day. 2. They stain my white socks black. 3. After wearing them 4 out of 5 days for 9 months, the sole on one of them is starting to separate.

I purchased these shoes and took them on a two week vacation. There was a leather binding defect next to the toe of the right shoe. Many miles of toe pain due to rubbing from this on my toe.

OK I said I'd update on the durability, Well the sole lower is coming apart. I received the shoes on the 25 of August; so these shoes look like they won't last me as long as expected. Shame on you Keen.

In my experience with KEEN shoes they always run small; but, these KEEN Austins were ordered as 10.5. They were tagged as 10.5. I doubt that they were larger than 9.0!

I bought these shoes for my husband in December (Christmas) and they already fell completely apart! The outsole has come off from the rest of the shoe. These used to be great shoes, but the last 2 pairs (in 1 year) have been of a much lower quality.