Keen Men’s Durand Boot Review
Sometimes you live in a place where you need a good winter boot to keep your feet warm and dry, even if you’re just running errands around town. I live in Denver, Colorado and take frequent trips to the mountains on weekends to enjoy our favorite sports, many of which we cover here at Single Geared.
A year ago when we moved to Denver from Northern California, I realized that none of my boots were going to cut it. I have my Asolo Fugitive Gtx hiking boots, but when heading into the Rockies into a lot of snow, or when we get snow in Denver, they’re not the best option.
So last winter I invested in a pair of Keen Men’s Durand Winter Hiking Boots. I purchased them at REI on a 25% discount in December 2016, just as large cold snap came through Denver and we had temperatures below 20F for about a week, with approximately a foot of snow on the ground.
Here is my review.
Overview
Make no bones about it – this is a winter boot. I work at a desk running my company, so I’m not outside in freezing cold temperatures for hours every day. But when I am heading up to the mountains for the weekend or even for a day heading to one of the various resorts we access through the Rocky Mountain Super Pass, this is my go-to boot.
Why?
Because it’s warm. Keen rates it down to -40F (which is the same as -40C. Now you know!), though I’ve only had it down to around 0F. Paired with a warm pair of Smartwool hiking socks while running around in approximately a foot of snow with my dog, my feet stayed nice and warm.
The Durand’s are definitely more meant for winter hiking and cold days out, as they are quite bulky. They’re not a light boot, so if there’s not deep snow you’re probably better with a light hiking book like the previously mentioned Asolo’s.
Seeing as they are bulky, sometimes I do not love them when I’ve come off the mountain and removed my ski boots. If you’re a skier then you know that one of the joys of life is taking off your ski boots and putting your foot into light shoes. Seeing as the Durands are not super light (~2.5lb per boot), these are not refreshing to return to.
Thus, I love these boots on their own, when at a cabin for the weekend, or when out winter hiking or snowshoeing. Your personal preference will come into play whether or not you want to wear them after a day of skiing.
Construction
The Durand Polar boot has a combination leather and textile upper, which means you have to break it in a bit but it also is made a bit lighter by the textiles used. The boot also has a dual climate non-marking rubber outsole, which means you can wear it inside and not scuff up your floors (remember your middle school dress shoes that did that? Yeah….). They also have a direct attach PU midsole, which further reduces some weight while allowing the boot to be a bit more flexible. Finally the boot has a temovable thermal heat shield footbed, which is great for removing after a wet and cold day outside in order to dry them by the fire.
Sizing
On Keen’s website, they say “Fit Tip: This style is running a 1/2 size small. We suggest ordering a 1/2 size larger than your usual size!” However, I wear a size 10.5 in almost all shoes and 10.5 fits me well. I am glad I did not buy the 11, which I tried on in store but felt too large for me.
Price
Keen says that the Durand boot’s MSRP is $200 on their site. You can normally expect to pay at least $170 and above. I believe I bought mine for ~$150 on sale.
Technical Specs
Here are some of the features, as marketed by KEEN:
- 400g KEEN.Warm™ insulation
- Integrated PU heel cushion
- KEEN.Dry® waterproof breathable membrane
- Not compatible with aftermarket insoles or orthotics
- TPU stability shank
- AMERICAN BUILT with materials from all over the world
Images
Here are the official images:
And our images:
