Customer Reviews KEEN Clearwater CNX

These are Keen's version of a minimalist/barefoot shoe. If you are one of those that is into the minimal padding, low heel to toe drop, barefoot style of shoe in a Keen, this is your shoe. If you prefer the standard feel of a Keen, cushioned, supportive, with a wide base for your feet you probably would not like these. These are narrower and a little shorter than my other Keens in the same size but still fit my feet well. My standard Keens, H2O, Venice, etc., have always been quite roomy in my actual size. If your feet are at the limits of a standard Keen then you would probably want a half to a whole size larger in these. I use these for walking my dog in my neighborhood and strolling around in the area. For other uses trails, uneven terrain, I prefer my other Keens. These are quite light so your feet don't feel weighed down. I really love my Venice sandals which have been discontinued but was told by a Keen rep that the Kanyon model was similar, lighter and less bulky than other versions. If I were to buy another pair that would be the version I would get. As always buying through Zappos was seamless and very quick.

Very nice sandal - well made and looks great. Be aware, however, that the CNX line is much lighter and less cushioned than the Newports. So walking any distance is stiffer, louder (click, click, click) and less padded than Newport or Newport H2's.

I really wanted to like my new Keen Clearwater sandals. I have worn Newport H2 for years and always felt they were a little heavy and bulky. The Clearwater sandals are much lighter and more flexible without sacrificing quality. However my feet are a bit wider than normal and these sandals were too narrow for me. I thought about sizing up but they would have been way too long. I sent them back since I knew I wouldn't be able to wear these comfortably for any great length of time. If you have normal or narrow feet go for it

I typically focus on my special needs for shoes, a narrow heel, a wide forefoot, and high arches. This satisfied these, as well as had a heel band low enough to not bother my ankles. Love the look and fit - partially because it has a bungee lace that tightens very well - so much that I bought a second pair in Black.

Narrower, smaller and lighter than all my husband's other Keen Sandals. He had to go up a half size. Nice addition is the clip that hold the end of the tightening laces and keeps it from flapping around. Previously had to tuck that into the lacing.

These shoes are great. This is my third pair of Keens, and by far my favorite. The CNX design is light and gives a great barefoot feel with all of the protection the big Keens. I much prefer the light feel of the CNX, they are like wearing flip flops, but your toes are safe.

They run long and narrow. My feet are 12E on the Brannock Device and size 12 fits me fine. They are slightly narrower than I'd like but it's not bothering me. I have plenty of length. I disagree with the reviewers that recommend sizing up. They are designed to fit snugly and they are somewhat hard to get on. I think that people are noticing that and mistakenly thinking that the sandals are too small. I like the barefoot feel of these sandals. They are exactly what I was looking for.

As usual my order arrived very quickly after it was placed! I ordered my boyfriend Keen sandals last year, size 12 and they fit great. So I ordered him another pair this year but they no longer had Venice so I got him Clearwater CNX and they were so much smaller and narrower he could not get his foot into it. Ordering the next size up. Wish me luck.

For years I was an H2 wearer, replacing pairs as they wore out. I used it mostly as a water shoe but also as casual summer footwear. This year I was shut out of my size and decided to try the Clearwater. They look like the same footbed, same construction only with a thinner, lighter but still rigid footbed. So far I kind of like them. I always found the H2s kind of clunky, especially as my preference started moving toward lighter shoes. I don't have the history with these that I've had with the H2 style, so the jury is still somewhat out, but I'm slowly learning to expect the same performance from these and gladly give up some of the weight.

I have been wearing Keen Clearwater CNX for over 10 years in size 14. When my old pair wore out, I ordered another pair in size 14. When they arrived, the sandal was so short I could not even get my foot in the sandal so I had to return them. When Keen recently started offering the Clearwater CNX in size 15, I ordered a pair. When I received the sandals and tried them on, they fit okay. So beware if you order a pair of these sandals, they run at least one half to one full size small.

If you have high insteps and arches like me, you're hosed. Comfy enough once I got them on, but again, my feet are odd-shaped, so it took enormous effort just to get them on.

FOr a fatter foot.was long enough,but couldn’t cinch down enough over top of foot. I do have slender feet but it wasn’t a problem with other Keen sandals. Rip cord used for laces is super thin!! I can’t imagine that old style(much thicker) would increase the profit margin! Not good quality!!

I’m replacing a pair of Keens that are perhaps 6-7 years old and I was surprised in the drop in overall quality.

This is a somewhat lighter weight than the pair I have just worn out. This model runs a little large in length and a little narrow on width. I therefore wound up with a size 14 instead of 15, and the width is closer to a B than a D -- which I very much like. These shoes are very comfortable and now that I have used them to walk around Asheville for a week I recommend them highly. I wore my previous pair as boat shoes and will use these for that as well. Unlike open-toe sandals, they are perfect as deck shoes because the toe cap is strong.

These Keen sandals were exactly what I was looking for. Given Zappos extremely convenient return policy, I ordered 3 different pairs of Keen sandals. Kept these and sent the others back. I spend a lot of time in salt water sounds & estuaries as well as the near-shore ocean. Lots of abrasive sand and sharp shells. I need something durable to protect my feet, yet let the water, sand & shells all wash easily out. Need to minimize the debris when getting back into the boat. These seem to work perfectly. They are lighter with larger openings than the other two styles I tried. They rinse out well. Hope they hold up in these conditions.

Careful, It's true! Get a half size larger, my second order was perfect at 12. First order at 11.5 was to short and I got bunched up in the toe. Really a great looking pair of shoes though. Going to the Caribbean in May will follow up with how they do on the road.

I purchased these to replace a 20 year old pair of Keens that finally died. They were old friends. I'm breaking these in but so far, so good. I'm a half-size larger on one foot, but they adjusted nicely and I feel no difference left or right, something I don't often see when buying shoes. Definitely recommended.

We have been buying Keen shoes now for years. These were a bit more pricey than what we usually pay but my son is so happy he able to do everything he wants to do so far this summer and his feet are cool. I'm happy knowing these will last all summer and into the start of the school year!

If I had my druthers, I would live in Keen Newports. Recently bought Clearwater CNX - they are excellent but do not provide as much cushioning as the Newports. Otherwise, they're great, and lighter. Almost like wearing nothing but foot protection.

I am a female and have a wide forefoot caused by bunions. Women's Keen shoes are noted for a wide toe box, but women's C width are much too tight for my feet. I usually wear a women's 9.5 W. Ordered a Men's 7.5 and 8 D to get a wider toe. I liked the style of these shoes, they are not to clunky looking for a woman. The inner stretchy layer conforms to your foot for a secure fit. Unfortunately, the 7.5 D recommended by Zappos was too short, and even the 8 D was too tight across the toes to be comfortable for extended wear. Thanks to Zappos return policy I will keep trying to find something that fits my unusual feet.

I really like this shoe, but I am returning it because it is just too hard to get on. I am a woman with a wide foot, I like the that the sole is not too thick and chunky. I wish it had an adjustable strap.

Had a previous version of these for years. This version feels tight and not of the same quality. Sole is noticeably thinner than my last pair.

I really wanted to like these, they're nice looking and perfect for what I needed, and machine washable. Unfortunately, the fit is really awful. My first try was my size (8 1/2), and I could barely slide my feet into them. The soles are nearly a full inch shorter than a normal pair of shoes, and they were really tight around the ankle. I replaced the 8 1/2 with 9 1/2, and they were still tight around the ankle. I could slide my feet in more easily, but they were a bit loose on the inside, and still uncomfortable. The soles of the 9 1/2 were closer to the length of a standard 8 1/2. Size 9 would probably fit perfectly, but still be rough on the ankles, so I'm going to give up and go with something else.

I order a lot of Keen shoes and this one was just slightly to small. I wear a size 12, and have the other version of the Keen sandals in a size 12 but this one could have been a bit larger. Sorry to say that I had to return it.

Minimal support -- neither good or bad, depending on your preference. Don't expect good support for long-walking days. Low-profile. My big toe nails tended to catch the inside-top of the forefoot area, which was annoying and a deal-breaker.