Priced at £145 for the Mid we tested the NXIS has some very interesting features.  A distinctive new split toe designed to reduce weight and provide additional flexibility and the eco side gets ticks for a PFC-free water repellant coating. With a heel capture system, speed lacing, and 4mm lugs on the sole the NXIS is designed to give both stability and traction.

What Keen Say:

What we love most about hiking fast is experiencing more things. More sunrises from the overlook, more high fives at the summit, more post-hike tea with friends back at the parking lot. And more terrain — tarmac to trail to scree to stone steps. So we took the room-for-your-toes comfort, protection, and stability of our iconic hiker and gave it a running shoe feel with a waterproof, engineered knit upper and all-terrain tread.

Features:

• 4mm multi-directional lugs for traction
• KonnectFit heel-capture system for a locked-in feel
• Speed-lace webbing system with top collar hooks for comfortably snug fit
• KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane
• Eco Anti-odour for natural odour control
• 8mm heel-to-toe drop
• PFC-free, durable water repellent
• KEEN Comfort Heel Control for Achilles padding and a more secure fit
• TPU reinforcement for added durability in key zones
• Original Fit–Iconic KEEN fit with generous space across forefoot for toes to spread out

Keen NXIS reviewed:

The KEEN NXIS waterproof boots have been an enjoyable, hardwearing, lightweight hiking boot that has successfully seen me through weeks of training and assessments to join my local Mountain Rescue team on Dartmoor, during some incredible wet and fairly miserable weather over the 2021 winter season.

One thing I particularly find refreshing with KEEN’s boots in general is the wider toe box and accommodating a more natural foot shape, that is akin to minimalist, barefoot style of shoes. As someone who wears both minimalist shoes and mountaineering/hiking boots, the Keen NXIS were a happy medium.

The freedom and room of a minimalist shoe, accommodating with a wider toe box and lighter weight materials used throughout, but with all the tough exterior and support of an all round hiking shoe.

As a whole, the KEEN NXIS hiking boots have plenty of flex in the sole and body of the boot, wrapping nicely around the ankle, if using the mid-length boots, or a shallow design with a standard hiking shoe, more suitable for warmer temperatures. The exterior of the NXIS boot is woven with a waterproof layer below, allowing for that natural movement of the foot, but providing the waterproof layer to keep your feet dry when bounding through the environment.

The KEEN ALL-Terrain rubber outsole has provided amble grip along the mixed terrain whilst out training. This being hard packed gravel, loose gravel, soft mud and hard rock. Some care is needed on some hard rock, these are after all hiking boots, not climbing boots. So, when the sole was a little wet from the walking conditions, scrambling up the side of some of Dartmoor’s Tors required a little due care to ensure my feet stayed put. The 4mm lugs which feature on the hiking boot have copied really well in the soft mud, and whilst walking out, mud wasn’t lifted and remained in the sole of the boots. As they cut through the mud nicely and preventing build up.

However, at no point have I fallen and have continued to use throughout winter regardless of the conditions.

The NXIS EVO hiking boots feature KEEN’s waterproof membrane which has been thoroughly put to the test with a very wet and bleak winter on my local National Park. With swathes of ground which was once dry, now left as swollen pools of water from the surface water and rainfall.

Time and time again, after each outing without reproofing or cleaning the KEEN hiking boots. My feet and socks remained dry despite pushing further and further in to the undergrowth and bogs.
With the exterior of the NXIS EVO boots being thinner with the webbing and fabric, you can feel the cold of the surface water a little more. It’s an odd feeling, and did initially make me concerned about KEEN.DRY membrane, but knowing my feet were remaining dry was enough to settle any worries.

The KonnectFit Heel capture system which features on the NXIS EVO boots has ensured my ankle and foot doesn’t move and straight out of the box provided a great fit and feeling on long distances, with no time needed to break them in. In fact, when first using the Keen hiking boots, they had a lovely spring in the step and cushioning. Personally I would have liked to have seen a Zero-Heel drop featured, but this is purely a personal taste a minimalist footwear user.

The NXIS EVO boots may not be the lightest boot on the market at 417g, but having tried the lightest boots on the market. My feet did not get on with them! It’s good that KEEN have considered the end-user rather than chasing titles of “Lightest Boot” and factored in comfort, cushioning and vital features that make hitting the trail and hiking all day enjoyable in the first place. No on likes blisters and sore feet, so don’t remove the features that prevent this from happening.

“No Terrain is the same”.
KEEN have clearly put some thought and kept the end-user at the forefront of this latest edition, taking their bestselling hiking boot and making it lighter and faster.
Comfort with a wider foot box, allowing your toes to spread out naturally.
KonnectFit Heel capture locks your heel in place and prevents slipping, whilst the interior of the boot is padded to keep your foot cushioned from the work of hiking on mixed terrain.
Finally, the KEEN.Dry waterproof membrane, providing that reassurance and quality once again and keeping your feet dry as you wade through wet long grass, bogs, mud and puddles on the journey ahead.

These have been wholeheartedly a joy to use and certainly a boot I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a solid all-rounder for your hiking needs.

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