In a world of beige and brown boots the Durand is instantly distinctive with its bold orange and its almost plastic boot like appearance, The classic Keen toe bumper is there and a whole host of features including Keen's own, well respected, waterproof and breathable membrane. The midsole is where the million steps claim comes from with tests showing just a 3% reduction in compression after a million steps compared to up to 50% compression in a standard EVA midsole. The lower compression means it stays comfortable for longer. Just to make it all more durable Keen have used a "direct-inject construction" which bonds the leather upper and breathable membrane directly to the midsole to form a single unit. The sole itself is again distinctive with a black outer surrounding an orange centre. The colours, however, are not just about style but signify different compounds with the black outer optimised for grip and the orange centre optimised for durability.
What all this technical stuff means is that, providing the last suits your foot, wearing the Durand feels a bit like walking on carpet underlay in your socks. The well padded ankle, spacious but not over voluminous forefoot, and well positioned lace hooks combined mean fot movement inside the boot is minimal, even on a steep descent. The boot is flexible enough for trail walking yet rigid enough to combine with the grippier black sole compound to give the wearer confidence balancing on the eges for scrambling. In testing on the South Wales Coast it coped with everything from grass to sand and short road sections to woodland tracks and stone littered trails, while in the Peaks and Lakes the Durand was a delight on rockier terrain.
Of course fit is subjective but after close on a decade using Patagonia boots by default and Merrell shoes (they used the same last) The Keen Durand now takes pride of place in the ever present boot bag in the back of the car. It's early days so we can't judge the durability yet but in terms of stability, grip and comfort we can't fault them for all year round use below the snowline. They're not the lightest boot on the market but as with a really well designed rucksack there are times when the actual weight and perceived weight can be poles apart and that's the case with the Durand. The luxurious comfort more than counterbalances the weight difference between the Durand and ultra-lightweights and the combination of fit, comfort and lacing system means you may forget you're still wearing them when you get behind the sterring wheel for the drive home at the end of your trip.
Features
- American Built
- Direct attach PU midsole
- Dual compound rubber outsole
- Integrated PU heel cushion
- KEEN.DRY ® waterproof breathable membrane
- Removable metatomical dual density EVA footbed
- TPU stability shank
- Waterproof nubuck leather & breathable mesh upper
METATOMICAL FOOTBED DESIGN
This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support and cradle the natural contours of the foot.
Weight: 569 g
Lining: KEEN.DRY waterproof breathable membrane
Upper: Nubuck and textile upper
Rubber: Direct-attach Construction
Fit Tip: This style is running a 1/2 small. We suggest ordering a 1/2 size larger than your usual size!
Measurement Note: Our measurements were taken using a Men’s size 42.