HIKING | Walking On Air In The Keen WK400 Walking Shoe – Review

October 24, 2023 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

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Trainers designed specifically for walking with a rugged high traction sole and a fun KEEN.CURVE™ rocker deisgn makes the Keen WK400 a great lightweight choice for fair-weather hikes. Read on for our full review…

Portree, Skye Keen WK400 Walking Shoe — *Portree, Skye*

What we tested

Keen Women’s WK400 Walking Shoe €160,00

Stockists

Camping with Style overall rating (4.5 / 5)

Features

Higher-traction rubber outsole
Multi-directional lug pattern provides superior traction
KEEN.CURVE provides a constant curve from toe to heel for nonstop propulsion
Two-finger webbing loop on the heel for easy pull-on
Full-length nylon plate for added stability
Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
Contoured Fit–Follows foot’s contours for a more secure fit
Offset lacing relieves pressure on top of your foot
Breathable mesh lining

KEEN Women's Wk400 Hiking Shoe — KEEN Women’s Wk400 Hiking Shoe

KEEN WK400 Leather Women’s Walking Shoes – SS24

What I Thought

The first thing I noticed was the rocker design of these shoes, increasingly seen in high-end running shoes, this is the first time I’ve come across the technology in a dedicated walking shoe.

It feels a little strange initially, but I soon got used to it. The KEEN.CURVE™ rocker design is intended to make heel to toe transitions seamless, requiring less energy to propel you forward.

Looks

Looks-wise, the chunky soles are very similar to my Hoka running shoes, a look (and feel) that I really love. I also really like the asymmetric lacing, which not only looks pretty funky, but the offset also helps to relieve pressure on top of the foot.

I’m a sucker for bright or pretty colours, so naturally chose pink, but there are several other colour options to choose from including yellow/black, black and azure blue.

Shoe Fit

I usually find the Keen fit quite generous, but that’s as someone with normal to slightly narrow feet. I did find my usual size 6 quite snug on my right foot (which is a tiny bit wider than my left) and on my initial wear, I did find a bit of a pressure point.

I’m not usually a fan of having to break in shoes before they are comfortable, but actually, the more I wore the WK400 shoes, the more comfortable they became, and after my first walk, they were then completely comfortable.

On a recent road trip up to the Inner and Outer Hebrides of Scotland, I wore the trainers a lot. I found them comfy to drive in and ideal for the many stops we made on our journey. They were also the perfect choice for exploring the numerous areas we visited.

Whilst I do like the snug contoured fit, I would say that if you have wide feet, you probably won’t find the fit of these shoes suitable and choosing my normal size meant there’s not really enough room to wear my usual highly padded hiking socks with them so I choose thinner, less padded socks when I’m wearing these.

Comfort & Practicality

I hate getting hot and sweaty and can’t abide footwear that doesn’t allow my feet to breathe. The Keen WK400 performs really well in terms of breathability, and whilst the late August weather in the UK wasn’t particularly warm, the first week we spent in Scotland during September was absolutely boiling and I’ve found that the mesh upper has done a good job avoiding sweaty feet.

Final Verdict

Our Rating

Fit 4.5/5

Performance 4/5

Looks 4.5/5

Value 4/5

Overall Rating (4.5 / 5)

I love the chunky look of these trainers and the offset lacing is cool too. They do lose half a point on looks for me however, as the large logo across the toe box looks a bit like a cheap sticker and might have been better placed at the side of the shoe.

I’d also love to see a greater range of interesting colours, as the peach whip/fawn colourway is the only option that goes with my usual style of dressing.

Had these walking shoes also been waterproof and they might well have gained top marks, but despite my minor personal gripes, these are a brilliant and super comfortable pair of walking shoes.

They really do make walking feel more fun, they are super padded and I found my feet didn’t get as fatigued as they sometimes can do in hiking boots.

For summer hiking, these are perfect and you can safely get a good 3-seasons of use from them. The KEEN.CURVE™ technology really is great, making these an excellent choice for those seeking comfort beyond all else.

Also available, is the Keen Men’s WK400 Walking Shoe €160,00.

DISCLOSURE | Thank you to Keen for providing us with the above product to test. We were not required or paid to write this review.

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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