Keen McKenzie

Must check these. I love the look of the Keens and their wide toebox- I have a long foot with wide toes. But the Keen shoes I have tried always have the instep part in the wrong place for me, even when there is a women's size available that is long enough!
Margaret

This comes from a lifelong backpacker (Cascades and Sierra Nevadas, Pacific NW). I have never posted about this issue, but now it seems important. I started the Haute Route in my equally cool looking new Keen boots and rolled over and broke my ankle at the end of Day One. Unbelievably traumatic incident, but after surgery and pins, I am 100% myself again 3 years later. I thought a lot about Keens, and this is my conclusion (won't apply to sandals): the sole is thick (tall). My foot was not firmly and widely planted, and the foot roll-- completely unknown to me, walking on every surface with 35-40 lbs-- was partly due to the fact that my actual foot was on a platform--I am sure of that (yes, in an intuitive way), but certain nonetheless. I think part of Keen's popularity is that they make you an inch or more taller- sure, looks good, but a serious, serious hazard for the hiker. Think twice before buying Keen boots. Hopefully, I'm an anomaly. Susie

susiekerr said:

Trolled over and broke my ankle at the end of Day One. Unbelievably traumatic incident, but after surgery and pins, I am 100% myself again 3 years later. I thought a lot about Keens, and this is my conclusion (won't apply to sandals): the sole is thick (tall).

Click to expand...

One inch heels are consider "normal". Not high.

If you rolled your ankle why wasn't it the fault of the lack of ankle support.

Low shoes are never going to have the same ankle support of boots. It also sounds like you had a heavy pack increasing the need for boots.

susiekerr does say that she was wearing Keen boots...