I hiked 7 miles in the Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof — and these are the boots I’d recommend for most terrains

One of the advantages of living in the south of the U.K. while also frequenting the north is that there are plenty of hills to hike and woodland areas to walk in — and I just tested a pair of hiking boots that have become my go-to.

The Keen Zionic Mid Waterproofs are fantastic for all terrains, thanks to their grippy outsole, cushioned and bouncy insole, and breathable mesh lining.

Having hiked seven miles in the Zionic Mids, I find them extremely comfortable for long durations, and their lovely design makes them ideal for everyday use. They’re quick to dry, so walking through streams of water and puddles is a piece of cake — but they don’t use Gore-Tex for waterproofing.

Are these the best hiking boots for you? Read my full Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof review to find out.

Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A pair of cool-looking hiking boots for most terrains
• Who is it for? Anyone who wants a pair of comfy shoes for long walks and rugged terrain
• How much does it cost? $170 / £160
• What do we like? They’re extremely comfortable, dry quickly and provide great grip on most surfaces
• What don’t we like? They’re waterproof but not Gore-Tex waterproof

Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof review: Specs

Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof review: Price & availability

The Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof hiking boots for women are available for $170 / £160 direct from Keen. You can buy them at Amazon, too, but they may cost you more depending on the size. For example, size 6 boots will cost you nearly £30 more in the U.K. But at Amazon U.S., they cost nearly as much as directly from Keen — dealer’s choice.

Women can get the Zionic Mids in one of four lovely colors: Steel Grey, Nostalgia Rose, Dark Forest and Warm Taupe. There’s also a range of sizes available. In the U.S., the boots are available from sizes 5-12, and this includes a few half sizes, so no one feels left out. Meanwhile, in the U.K., sizes range from 2.5 to 9.5.

The boots are similarly priced for men: $170 / £160. Men have more choices in terms of colors in the U.S., with three available: Brindle/Bright Marigold, Dark Olive/Scarlet Ibis and Black/Steel Grey. In the U.K., men’s boots are available in Dark Olive/Scarlet Ibis only. Men’s Zionic Mids come in U.S. sizes 7-15 and U.K. sizes 6-14. Half sizes are also available here.

These boots can be best described as mid-range, sitting between cheaper models, like the Columbia Konos ($130) and pricier pairs, like the Scarpa Rush 2 Mid GTX ($219). They’re also priced similarly to their sibling, the Keen Targhee IV ($169).

Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof review: Design

Full disclosure: I’m an emo kid at heart, and you’ll usually always find me wearing my black Doc Martens. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love how the Keen Zionic Mids look. They are a ruggedly handsome pair of boots, striking a fantastic balance between form and functionality.

Like I mentioned, the Zionic Mids are available in four colorways for women and three for men, so there’s something for everyone. Green is one of my favorite colors, so I’m very pleased that my review unit came in the Dark Forest colorway. I like that the shades of green aren’t too bright to draw unnecessary attention to your feet.

Looks aside, how comfortable are these boots, really? Having hiked seven miles in them, I can confidently say that they’re extremely comfortable. The Zionic Mids can be worn straight out of the box; I didn’t need to break them in at all. They sport what Keen calls a ‘Contoured Fit,’ which is more streamlined than a straight or wide fit, ensuring the boots fit snugly around your feet.

The Zionic Mids are made of recycled P.E.T. plastic and ripstop, breathable mesh — the latter is resistant to ripping and tearing, offering more peace of mind while hiking in rocky terrain. They also feel soft and are flexible, allowing your feet to move and bend naturally. This, in turn, helps you find and keep footing on uneven or jagged terrain.

The Zionic Mids’ soles have a good level of bounciness thanks to the high-rebound foam cushioning. I love my Salomon Super Cross 4 shoes, which have moderate cushioning, but I much prefer how comfortable the Zionic Mids feel.

There are two hooks for quick lace adjustment, and each boot has a loop on the heel for easy pull-on, which I used every time. The built-in arch support is fantastic too, as it helps maintain proper foot posture. All of these features combined meant I didn’t feel any pain or get any blisters, which I’ll discuss in the performance section soon.

I also appreciate Keen’s commitment to minimizing its products’ environmental impact. Just like the Targhee IVs, no glue has been used in the Zionic Mids' construction. Instead, heat and pressure have been applied to fuse the boots with the soles. Pesticide-free materials have also been used for the boots’ applied deodorizer.

Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof review: Performance

Rain or shine, the Keen Zionic Mid is a reliable, sturdy pair of hiking boots. I wore them religiously for nine days to work, social events and on walks and hikes. Regardless of what I threw at them, the Zionic Mids walked away unscathed. The boots feel bouncy yet tactile, and are comfy for long periods.

Hiking

The Zionic Mids’ soles are extremely grippy, which makes them ideal for hiking. I hiked seven miles in the Peak District National Park in northern England, and not once did I lose my grip on the ground — even while jumping from boulder to boulder or making my way over jagged rocks. After hours of walking, I felt no discomfort or pain and my feet were blister-free.

I also noticed that I wasn’t dragging my feet as much as I usually do when wearing my Salomon Super Cross 4s. Like I said, the Zionic Mids are bouncy but also very light, weighing just 8.11 ounces per shoe. This made lifting my feet far easier and more intuitive. These boots are even lighter than the 9.2-ounce Keen Hyperport H2 sandals ($120) and half the weight of the Targhee IVs, which weigh 16.58 ounces.

The breathable mesh works as intended. I hiked on a sunny day with temperatures reaching 25ºC / 77ºF, and I never felt like my feet were too hot.

Water

The Zionic Mids have 4mm multi-directional lugs. These raised rubber projectors on the outsole are present on most hiking or trail shoes and directly impact traction and grip. Deeper lugs provide better grip in the wet and mud, while shallow lugs are better for dry surfaces.

I found the 4mm lugs fantastic in both wet and dry conditions. These boots made trudging through streams of water a walk in the park, and I had a solid grip on soft, muddy ground, too.

Similar to the Hyperport H2 sandals, the Zionic Mids use Keen’s proprietary waterproofing rather than Gore-Tex. My Salomons utilize Gore-Tex waterproofing, so I was slightly skeptical when I put the Zionic Mids on — but I was quickly proven wrong. As I walked across streams, no water leaked to my feet and my socks remained bone dry. However, the boots themselves weren’t as quick to dry as my Salomons, which is the difference between having Gore-Tex and not having it.

Everyday

The Zionic Mids aren’t just great for hiking, but they’re also fantastic for everyday use — and that’s also thanks to them looking über cool. I wore them to work, the grocery store, on short walks and even for a concert. Going to a concert involves standing for hours, dancing, regaining balance when pushed in a mosh pit and contending with very sticky floors.

Through it all, the Zionic Mids fared extremely well. Jumping and dancing around felt like walking on clouds because of how bouncy the soles are. They have strong traction, as I didn’t slip or skid even once on the wet floor.

Keen Zionic Mid Waterproof review: Verdict

It has been nine days since I last wore my beloved Doc Martens (at the time of writing); surprisingly, I’m not itching to go back. That’s because the Keen Zionic Mids have given me very good reasons to stick with them.

These boots are extremely comfortable regardless of the activity you’re doing, thanks to the bouncy insoles. They’re great for short walks, long hikes, wading through puddles and streams and everyday use. They look cool, and I received a bunch of compliments from my family and coworkers. The Zionic Mids dry quickly and are very grippy for traversing tricky terrain.

I’d highly recommend the Zionic Mids for anyone who wants a pair of boots that won’t let them down regardless of the weather.