Keen’s ‘Curved’ Strolling Sneakers Are a Delight for Feet

Not-so-fun fact: You are probably donning the wrong walking shoes. Although around 50 % of Us citizens are strolling involving 1-5 miles more each day than they had been pre-pandemic (many thanks, Warm Lady Walks!), nearly 70 per cent are carrying out so when wearing unwell-fitting footwear, apparently. This isn’t really suitable: be it from incorrect sizing or improper help, strolling in the improper sneaks can result in a litany of foot wellbeing problems. Additionally, it can just sense actually not comfortable.

Which is why we are *eager* on Keen’s new strolling sneakers, the vibrant WK400 Strolling Shoes ($165). The legacy out of doors footwear model that podiatrists suggest for mountaineering and recreation just built its debut in the strolling category with sneakers that are—get this— good for your feet. It took 3 several years, 10,000+ hrs of R&D, and 5,000 miles, but the Keen WK400 sneakers are right here and we’re by now huge admirers. So are podiatrists, many thanks to the shoes’ distinctive, curved style that propels you forward with every phase, earning strolling sense additional like rolling.

“The curved style can act as a rocker-base which assists in ambulation,” points out Bruce Pinker, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon in Nanuet, New York. Looking at the WK400 Walking Shoes, he claims the rounded outsole assists propel the foot, generating it easier to wander ahead. “This curved style and design is reminiscent of the MBT footwear, popularized more than a decade ago, which had several therapeutic attributes.”

Shoe design

As Dr. Pinker mentions, this “rocker outsole” has been all around for a lot more than a ten years and has not too long ago been adopted in quite a few latest walking-certain types (think: Hoka’s Bondi 8 and Asics’ Walkride FF) thanks to its outcomes on the walking motion. Keen’s technology—aptly named the Eager.Curve™—follows the pure curve of the foot mid-stroll, swapping a flattened outsole for an arced just one. Put together with a large-rebound, cushion-y midsole and a propulsion-based plate, the WK400 walking shoes give wearers momentum as they stroll, using tension off the foot and joints (aka, what a good walking shoe really should do). “This can potentially be helpful for numerous walkers, especially for all those who encounter popular foot ailments, such as plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and metatarsalgia,” says Dr. Pinker.

The MK400s are chock total of other attributes podiatrists say to seem for in a supportive strolling shoe. Samantha Landau, DPM, MPH, scientific instructor and medical professional and the New York College or university of Podiatric Medication, claims that the Keen’s sneakers have an spectacular outsole, which is produced from a higher-traction, all-terrain rubber for grip on all kinds of surfaces. The athletic in good shape is supportive and contoured, stabilized by the addition of offset lacing (which also requires stress off the top of your foot).

“Normally, a fantastic walking shoe ought to have a rigid counter all-around the heel, minimal torque, and bend only at the forefoot,” Dr. Landau suggests. “I would keep away from ‘soft’ sneakers and shoes that bend at the midfoot as opposed to the forefoot, as this supplies significantly less stability to the shoe.

It is really obvious that Keen has poured their blood, sweat, and tears into making a functional strolling shoe—but does it keep up? After tests the MK400s for more than two months, it’s a resounding “certainly” from me.

My expertise wearing the Eager WK400s

Keen was kind more than enough to deliver me a my own pair of WK400s for tests, and at 1st look, I experienced major doubts. Out of the 4 women’s colorways, I received the vibrant yellow/black combo which I was hesitant to lace up. The yellow is loud. A great deal louder than the black, soft fawn/peach whip (a light-weight pink) and crisp vapor/azure blue (white) coloration selections.

Coloration aside, I could convey to these were being likely to give me severe elevate. This was the to start with going for walks-unique shoe I had in my quiver, and in comparison to my other flat-soled sneakers—most of which were being intended for working and doing the job out at the gym—I could explain to the curved, rocker bottom and thick, mattress-like outsole was heading to be a welcomed upgrade.

On my ft, the Eager.Curve™ tends to make a huge different in preserving momentum. Whether I am going for walks all over my neighborhood, around the lake, or on close by trails, the strength return is considerable and, in contrast to my other sneaks, will make walking substantially much easier. These footwear virtually set a spring in my step, simulating the sensation of a fluid roll opposed to a staggered, disjointed action. I adore the how cushy the soles are, especially from tricky surfaces like pavement and sidewalk. I also love how grippy the outsoles are. I live in Lake Placid, NY which is usually included in snow and ice. The high-traction soles are stable in slick, slippery ailments (yes, even black ice, which I’ve gingerly strolled over soon after an right away freeze). On these times, I just have on a thicker sock. (The WK400 Strolling Shoes aren’t insulated.)

As for the upper, I discover the “athletic in good shape” to be comfy and contoured to my toes. The offset lacing (which is a footwear attribute I have never appear throughout as a commerce editor) would seem to give my slender feet improved assistance than classic laces.  I also enjoy the two-finger loop pull at the back of the heel since they are a bit tighter and need a little bit a lot more oomph to get on.

I do come across the stacked heel can be a little a lot at time, particularly when strolling up or down steep inclines. I don’t at any time run in them—that’s almost certainly a recipe for disaster. You shouldn’t either—Dr. Landau mentions that the negative heel could potentially cause instability, particularly if heel strike is not specific. “The better 1 is off the floor, the more challenging one particular can fall if there is unsteadiness or an uneven area,” she states. “Forefoot rockers are good for arthritis or ligamentous injuries. The unfavorable heel, or rearfoot rocker, can most likely guide to unsteadiness.” Additionally, the very low ankle is believed to be a bit minimalistic, far too. As a person who severely more than-pronates, I like my shoes to have a large, durable ankle collar. The WK400s are undoubtedly on the very low aspect, which is anything to preserve in thoughts if you also choose one thing far more supportive.

But as my very first-at any time pair of going for walks sneakers, I get why going for walks-unique shoes—the ideal types, at that—are these a factor now. (And totally own that I’ve been in the 70 % strolling in the incorrect pair group this whole time.) The bouncy, electrical power-return of these sneaks tends to make walking so fun and significantly less tiring than any of my other sneakers. It is using me a little bit to get utilized to the bright, bumblebee yellow, but usually, the Keen WK400 Strolling Footwear make strolling a delight, the way it ought to be.