Keen WK400 II walking shoe: your stride redesigned

With many options available, the Keen WK400 II in its winter moss and evening primrose colours gives an understated and earthy vibe, despite the vibrant green writing and stripe contrasting the darker green upper. It's light by walking shoe standards but heavy compared to regular trainers, with a wide shape at the front that slims down towards the heel. Clearly all design decisions regarding aesthetics have been made with comfort and functionality considered first and foremost. This is most evident when you notice the the sole and its prominent curve. The 'Keen Curve' is there to promote a healthy stride, particularly useful for elder individuals with deteriorating foot health. The longer spent using this shoe will make you realise how the aforementioned market has been targeted with every decision made.

Starting at the rear, you've got a loop at the top of the heel large enough to fit your finger through which makes sliding your foot in easier. The heel itself is stiffer and made from a more durable fabric to the rest of the upper. It will typically take on more wear and tear as the first point of impact with the ground during a walking stride. It is this reason why the cushioning at the rear is significantly thicker than the toe of the shoe. These properties are a common theme with most walking shoes and boots. Keen has not reinvented the wheel here and opted for properties that are tried and tested in the walking shoe market.

The previously mentioned 'Keen Curve' is a standout feature. Keen claims it gives non-stop propulsion from heel to toe, and it certainly brings to light how many shoes are designed without actually considering the motion of walking. The foam is at its thickest (approximately two inches) in the bridge of the foot and curves upwards in the natural shape of a stride. After the bridge area, it decreases in thickness, towards the toes where it is at its thinnest. This trademarked design is what what separates this shoe from other options, currently retailing for £140.

The fluid stride it forces you to walk with will make you wonder why all shoes are not designed with this considered. This shoe was tested during a brisk, but long, walk on a generally flat and dry terrain. The shoes held up more than adequately and gave the impression that it could have for many more miles without any bother.

The breathable upper makes you realise how you important that quality is in a shoe, and how much we take it for granted. It is a huge contributing factor to the distance an individual can cover in one effort and something that is often not thought of. The area of the upper that is most heavily affected during prolonged use, the toe area, has its own additional layer of protection, too. Although thinner, it is made from the same material protecting the heel.

Last but not least, you've got a black outsole that does everything you would expect. The style of which means the rubber is not only aesthetically pleasing but cut in a multi-directional pattern for added traction. While the shoe was tested in the uncharacteristically dry conditions the British springtime, I got the impression a walk in any season with harsh weather would be drama free in terms of slipping and sliding. The durability of the outsole must be noted, too, maintaining a virtually brand-new appearance after one walk to test that included a wooded area.

The WK400 II by Keen has nailed the two essential requirements a customer might look for in a walking shoe. They are incredibly comfortable and function exactly as would be expected from a walking shoe. The wide toe area and Keen Curve sole are what separates this shoe from its competitors but we must not forget how breathable the upper is, too, and how beneficial that can be.

The WK400 II is by no means an unappealing shoe visually; however, the younger market may be put off this shoe by its overall aesthetics. By comparison to other options on the market by better known brands, the WK400 II is lacking aesthetically, a quality that the younger market will likely consider first. However, as a shoe that targets a typically older market who want to make a conscious effort to improve their stride, it has an ideal blend of function before aesthetics that will appeal to that demographic. 

Similarly, branding often puts people off a shoe initially. The Keen logo just below the laces might be in a light green shade, but is actually quite understated due to how noticeable the white Keen Curve is just below, something that I believe will appeal to the market who still want shoes with a 'youthful' touch.