Customer Reviews KEEN Bern Baby Bern Boot

I bought these shoes a couple years ago -- I was looking for some really comfortable, durable waterproof shoes that would still look stylish (I live in NYC and do a lot of walking through wet winter streets). In the beginning they seemed great. But I was frustrated with how quickly the quality started to degrade. The material started to sag, especially around the ankle, which made them look more "chunky" and less sleek. Then as the material started to bunch around the ankle, the zippers got damaged would constantly get stuck. Then, the final nail in the coffin -- the soles started to crack, which made them functionally not waterproof anymore because the liquid would seep through from the bottom and make my feet wet. I took them to a shoe repair shop hoping they could fix the soles, but there wasn't anything to be done short of replacing the entire sole, which at that point was not worth the money and would alter the design of the shoe. So in the end, these lasted me less than year, which was pretty disappointing.

I bought these about 2 years ago and they were comfortable right out of the box. I had no trouble with it fitting my calves which can be a bit muscular. I bought them for their looks and that they were waterproof for my outdoors kind of lifestyle. The two issues that came up in my owning them were: A. Soles were too slick, you need to be careful on certain surfaces. B. The zipper went out at the ankle recently. It popped a tooth which was bad because I was traveling. These are great boots except for those two things. The zipper on both kind of always stuck a little at the ankle because of the creases. I just hope I can get them fixed!

I love these boots except the zipper is defective. The first time I wore them, on the right boot there was a three inch gap (opening) in the zipper. Then the zipper worked fine for a week or so, so I thought it was a fluke, but now the zipper is malfunctioning every single time I try to zip it. Sometimes it takes ten tries to get the zipper to stay together for the full zip. So I anticipate that eventually it will completely fail. So I have to return it.

I loved the foot bed of these boots - it was perfect...until I started to zip them up. I felt like my calf was getting squeezed in a juicer. Unfortunately, these are going back.

I bougth these boots two years ago and they are now falling apart...the zipper at the ankle is busted, and the Seams at the heals have been falling apart for a long time! I loved them while they lasted...and would replace them but this price is way too much for a boot that has been around so long and is the quality it is. I think I got them for less here on Zappos two years ago...so that's not cool! Guess I better look for something new!

Not for wide calves. I am average weight but have always had ample calves. I couldn't come close to zipping these up, unfortunately. FYI for those like me.

Seems like a nice boot, but although I measured my calf circumference a 15 inches and this is supposed to be a 15 inch calf, even with the stretchy insert I could not zip it more than half way. Otherwise it's a very good looking boot.

This shoe has a lot of depth to it, I wear a Birkenstock blue foot bed in mine as I felt they did not provide adequate arch support and I needed to take up some of the depth. If you have a high instep, this would be a great boot due to that. I actually have the low version of this boot, but it's no longer available so I'll just give my opinion on this one, they're pretty much the same aside from the shaft height. I like the little bit of adjustable in the calf, it makes it go from pants to leggings very easy without being either too tight or too gappy. The style is great, subtly Keen without the big ol' toe (which generally I like, but sometimes you want to look a little less utilitarian) I often get compliments on them, they're very easy to wear and generally I like them. But! Because there's always a but with these things I wish Keen would use a nice removable foot bed in their boots! I have this and the Clara high boot and both are this memory foam nonsense. If they were to put the same foot bed they have in the Presidio (and same sturdy, durable shank, I love that shoe) in all their shoes, I'd be one happy camper. And this sole is just terrible. Hard as a rock, so hey it's durable, but SO slippery. It's just...it's just stupid. I really can't understand why they'd use it. I guess I like the authoritative clack it has on hard floors, so there's that. You know how Scooby-Doo runs in place for a bit before he bolts from the bad guy? You kind of do that if you try to take off walking too quickly.

Keen, you broke my heart again! The style of this boot is fantastic. I purchased in Forest Night and it is a really great looking boot. The foot also fit great and was so comfortable. However, there is no way that these boots were gonna zip. I don't know where Keen thinks a woman's calf starts but its not three inches above the ankle, cause that's where these boots made it clear that no zipping was going to happen. My calf totally fit into the top of the boot, but the slope of the boot did not provide any where near enough room. I wish Keen would extend the elastic goring down the entire length of the boot so everyone could get a good fit.

I have three pairs of these boots. My first pair, in black, developed a nasty split on the foot sole on the bottom of the boot. I sent a picture of it to KEEN and they replaced the boots without any hassle. My second pair has developed the very same split, and I've seen other women with the same problem. I love these boots, they accommodate my insoles, they are stylish and comfy, but I won't be buying anymore due to the sole problem.

Just had to confirm what another review said. I have a pair of these boots (brown mid-calf version from 2011/2012 season) and it's almost like the sole is "anti-traction." They've been great for the cold of winter, but I never wear them if it's going to be slick. A slippery floor isn't safe either. I do like them well enough that I've logged on in hopes of finding a pair of black mid-calfs. The sole is getting roughed up pretty quickly so they main gain some traction.

I have loved these boots, and have worn them while sight-seeing and walking long distances. I liked them so much I bought a pair in black and brown. In one year, the soles on both pairs has cracked at the ball of my foot, all the way through. While I have put the brown pair through a lot of long walks, I haven't done that with both pairs, and I didn't wear them at all from May to September. I love the fit of Keens, but they need to start making durable soles!

I have to say that these are not my favorite boots. It is largely because of the fit around my foot. The shape of the foot area is almost square and it does not gently hug your foot. They are sort of "clunky" to walk in as a result. This is not really because of the length of the foot area but the odd shape of the width. I would have returned them but I wore them for a day and discovered the issues noted. They are also rather stiff.

Sadly, I had to return these. They were too narrow and much too small in the calf. I'm not a large woman, but couldn't even zip these up. Bummed because they're so cute!

Did not like these! Love the green color and the styling (though does have the "obnoxious Keen toe" another older review said it didn't have), but the bottoms feel like cheap synthetic material, plus are wobbly. I can't imagine how flat boots could be this unstable. Very uncomfortable (again, soles feel like some sort of plastic). I have worn Keen shoes many years back. I don't feel like these were equal in quality. True to size in a 9. I ended up liking both the Merrell Launch and the Born Sage instead.

I love these boots. However, the left boot fit perfectly, but the right boot had a really tight shaft which caused a pinching where the leather bunched above my ankle. I must return them. Maybe I will try another pair.

This is the second pair of these that I have ordered. Unfortunately, I have had to send both pairs back. The foot is just to narrow and going up a half size didn't change that. They are cute and I love the color. Too bad.

Sadly, these terrific-looking boots will have to be returned because the shaft doesn't fit my wider calf. I have a wide calf at 16" and ordered these boots because so many reviews mentioned that the calf ran really large (even though these aren't a wide calf style), so I figured they were a good bet to fit. Also, the item info lists that the 15" calf circumference is based on measurements for a size 6, so I expected the calf size to go up roughly at least an inch with my size 8. I am really disappointed because these boots are fantastic looking, with high quality leather and insulation. I only wish they fit!

I bought these in Forest Green, just for something different. When I tried them the green started to look like a drab, sort of army green, similar to a rubber boot. I have a very narrow heel which kept sliding up and down. I wore a thin sock and just barely got the zipper up. I returned them, still in search of the perfect boot.

I was so sorry to send these back but they just really hurt my feet. They're very low, once you slip into them. I'm sure they work on "normal" feet but not if you're having "problem feet." The foot bed is just okay.

Boot is too tight and too wide at the calf for people with narrower calves!

I love this boot, the color the look and immediately comfortable. The outside is of real nice looking leather. Very disappointed with the liner which is synthetic and of a stiff material which does not breathe. I imagine with the correct knee high sock this may alleviate the sweatiness but really question keeping them because in cold snowy climate I would prefer the liner to have some moisture wicking/breathable qualities. I will try with a moisture wicking knee hi sock.