I tested Keen’s new trail shoes — and they’re bouncy, breathable, and beyond comfortable

Keen continuously makes some super comfortable footwear, and the Seek, its new trail shoes, are no different. With Keen’s classic wide toe box and cushioned, energetic sole, I would happily wear these trail shoes for hours (and I have!).

But is supreme comfort enough to make the Keen Seek some of the best running shoes on the market? Well, it’s tricky because there’s no one “best” running shoe. Everyone has a different anatomy that requires different cushioning, height, and structure. Running shoes and hiking shoes are so personal. While I wouldn’t wear the Keen Seek for running again, I would definitely wear them for hiking… so the answer is both yes and no.

Want to find out more about these ultra-comfy trail running shoes? Of course you do. For the full story, keep reading this Keen Seek review.

Keen Seek review: Cheat sheet

• Who are they for? Casual trail runners (or extreme trail runners who live in dry places) and hikers
• What do they do well? They’re supremely comfortable
• What do they cost? $185 / £160
• What are the weaknesses? Not recommended for wet terrain due to the slippery sole

Keen Seek review: Specs

Keen Seek review: Price & availability

You’ll find the Keen Seek for $185 direct from Keen. In the U.K., the trail running shoes are £160 from Keen. The men’s and women’s styles are the same price and are also available on Amazon U.S. In the U.K., the Seek is weirdly expensive on Amazon — £234 — so I’d recommend buying directly from Keen U.K.

This is a middle-of-the-road price tag for trail running shoes, which usually go for $150-$200. My personal trail shoes, Hoka Speedgoat 6 GTX, cost $170. You’ve also got the Icebug Järv RB9X, $189, the Nike Pegasus Trail 5, $155, and the Merrell Agility Peak 6 Gore-Tex, $185.

Keen Seek review: Design

I’ll get this out there in the open first: the Keen Seek are not waterproof. The shoes have a breathable textile upper that lets in all kinds of liquids. Even when I was walking in dewy morning grass, my feet got wet. If you want waterproofed trail shoes, you’d need to get the Hoka Speedgoat GTX or the Saucony Peregrine 16 GTX ($180).

However, that’s not to say the Keen Seek are bad. If you care about sustainability, Keen is a fantastic brand. Keen shoes are all PFAS-free and use recycled materials.

Waterproofing and sustainability aside, the Keen Seek has a few more neat features. You’ve got the built-in padded tongue — so it will never bunch or on runs — and the loop on the heel means you can easily attach gaiters for muddy routes.

I obviously can’t test this firsthand — otherwise we’d be here for years — but Keen claims the Seek has a lifetime of 925 miles. You could run almost 36 marathons with just these shoes! According to Salomon, the average life of running shoes is 300-500 miles.

I’ve saved the best for last today — the roomy toe box. I love Keen shoes, and so do my toes. Every Keen shoe has a wide toe box. This is something I never knew I needed until I had it, and now I can never go back to regular shoes.

If you often find shoes like Hoka Speedgoat and Saucony Peregrine to be a bit pinchy up top, I’d recommend checking out how Keens fit.

The Keen Seek are super comfortable. I’ve worn them for hours and not had any issues with hot spots of rubbing.

Keen Seek review: Performance

Although the Keen Seek are mighty comfortable and energetic, the shoes are not grippy enough for wet environments. Other customers online have reported similar issues, so if you want some trail shoes for slippery terrain or rainy conditions, you’d be better off elsewhere.

In that case, I’d recommend the Hoka Speedgoat. Hoka’s Speedgoat line uses Vibram soles, which are tackier and sturdier than, well, non-Vibram soles. I also personally own the Hoka Speedgoat GTX, and I rarely slip while wearing them.

Even though the Seek are Keen’s most energetic and cushioned shoe, they’re not quite right for me while running. Hiking, yes, but running, no. Unfortunately, I have a hard heel strike, so I need shoes that can dampen my anatomy’s failures. If you have a normal heel strike, this will likely be a non-issue for you.

That being said, I found the Keen Seek much more comfortable for energetic, fast hikes rather than runs.

Hiking

I tested the Keen Seek both on runs and on hikes. I would definitely wear them again for hiking, but not for running.

When I was traversing tricky rocky terrain, the shoes were lightweight enough that I could switch direction or inch backwards without feeling bogged down. The upper is also breathable enough for hot days — I love my Keen Jasper Zionic approach shoes, but they are a little claggy on super hot days.

The bouncy sole helped me stay energized even on a four-hour steep, rocky hike. My feet didn’t ache at all, so I would wholeheartedly recommend the Keen Seek for hiking.

Running

Even though I personally wouldn’t wear these shoes again for running, they’re not bad shoes at all. There’s no one “best” running shoe, because everyone’s anatomy is different. What suits me suits me, and what suits you suits you.

When I was running on dry, uneven ground — protruding rocks and knotty grassland — I was comfortable and able to pick my route easily. I didn’t feel weighed down by the shoes, like I couldn’t rapidly switch angles or paths.

The bouncy sole also helped me keep momentum when running uphill, which is what you want if you’re tackling long distances.

However, when I was running on wet ground… well, I had to stop running. I was doing a familiar route — a steep hill right by my house — and I almost fell multiple times. The stony path was slick with rain. When I abruptly righted myself to stop from faceplanting, I twinged my knee and ankle.

I touched on this briefly earlier, but remember the Seeks are also not waterproof! The rubber sole and 4mm lugs are also mostly useless on wet terrain. As a result, I wouldn’t recommend the Keen Seek for wet environments.

Keen Seek review: Verdict

I thoroughly enjoyed my time testing the Keen Seek. They’re comfortable enough to wear for hours on end, lightweight enough to dart across trails like a gazelle, and cushioned enough even for rugged terrain.

All that being said, though, I wouldn’t recommend them for wet environments. Due to the lack of waterproofing and slippery sole, if you live in a rainy place or are continuously tackling damp mountain paths, you’d be better off with something like the Saucony Peregrine or Hoka Speedgoat.

But the breathable textile upper craves hot, dry places, so if that sounds like a bit of you, I’d definitely recommend checking out the Keen Seek. They’re some of the comfiest shoes I’ve ever worn.