KEEN TERRADORA FLEX HIKING BOOTS | GEAR REVIEW

The latest iteration of the KEEN Terradora hiking boot is the new Terradora Flex. Designed to be a versatile, women’s specific hiker that combines the comfort of a trainer-like hiking boot with the flexibility of KEEN’s award-winning BELLOWS.FLEX technology. I’ve been wearing mine on walks and hikes for a couple of months, so it’s time to share my thoughts.

I am happy to say I’ve been a fan of KEEN for a good while. Back in 2012 (all those years ago…) I won their Playtime Tester competition, which entitled me to four pairs of my choice, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with them a number of times since then.

Latest Terradora Iteration

In this post I am talking about their latest version in their women’s specific Terradora range, the Flex. I’ve previously tested and reviewed the original Terradora (which I literally wore for everything until they fell off my feet), the Terradora Leather, the Terradora Evo Mids, and the spin-off Terradora II Hiking Sandals and the Terradora Ethos Hiking Shoes (which. have become my kayaking shoes) of choice. That’s a lot of Terradora!

The idea behind the KEEN Terradora range is to break the cycle of hiking boots usually being designed for men first, then size-adjusted for women. Since women’s feet tend to be shaped differently than men’s, KEEN started with a women’s last, added a comfy midsole, and included features inspired by the specific biomechanics of a woman’s foot; things like a grippy lug outsole, comfy arch support, and heel notches to alleviate pressure on the Achilles tendon.

The Short Review

The thing I love about the KEEN Terradora Flex – and the whole Terradora range – is how they are hiking boots that feel like trainers.

They are light, nicely cushioned both on the sole and around the ankle, and are comfortable to wear both on the trail and in town. The bellows technology (I’ll expand on this below), means there is no friction or pressure point across the forefoot, which can be the case in hiking boots, gives me a lighter-feeling movement when I’m picking my way along a path.

And while they might look and feel like trainers, the outsole is aggressive enough to be useful on steep and rough terrain, the support provided around the ankle and for the sole of the foot is practical, and they are waterproof.

My only gripe? I don’t like the laces. They are too long, flop all over the place when I tie them up, and are difficult to untie. I’m sure there is a reason they are designed as they are, but I will eventually give in and get a more ordinary set of laces to replace the intended ones.

Let me say more…

KEEN Terradora Flex

KEEN boast three key features for their latest Terradora Flex hiking boots (mine are the waterproof boots – shoes are also available) – the new bellows flex in the forefoot, the women’s specific fit, and the redesigned outsole. Let me briefly take each in turn.

KEEN Bellows Flex

KEEN claim that the plastic-looking bellows across the forefoot mean you use less energy to bend your foot with the boot on, which makes every step easier, and means you can walk further.

I’ve clearly not done any scientific research here (although KEEN have, suggesting that you save up to 60% energy with each step, which is quite something). However, I do know that it is not uncommon to find this part of a shoe an annoying pressure point, causing friction on the top of the foot, especially over long distances. It’s also the point where trainers and hiking boots can fail first due to wear, probably caused by the same friction, being forced to bend in that specific spot. Dare I say that my first pair of Terradora boots failed there? That was a sad day.  

While I can’t tell you after a couple of months (ish) whether that has long term gain, I can say that the boots do feel comfortable over long distances, and at no point have I felt pressure or friction across the forefoot when wearing these.

Women’s Specific Fit

As mentioned at the top of this post, most hiking boots are made for men, then sized for women. I’m not going to talk about the whole shrink it and pink it problem here, but one of the reasons I like KEEN is that they stood up and made a truly women’s specific last from scratch (and because they have excellent ethics and do work in the social and environmental justice space – read more about that on the KEEN website).

What this means, is that the fit of a Terradora hiking boot starts from a last that follows the contours of a woman’s foot properly. These are still average biomechanics, of course (always try on boots with the socks you want to wear, and traipse about inside for a bit to ensure the fit is right for you), but at least they are women’s averages.

The low ankle height is also said to be more ideal for women, providing freedom of movement, and the cushioned collar helps reduce pressure on the Achilles.

Stability and Support

Trainer-style hiking boots and shoes can sometimes lack in the stability side of things. I mean, that’s the point of trainers – light, flexible, nimble. But the Terradora are definitely a hiker, rather than a runner.

I wouldn’t for a minute suggest that the KEEN Terradora Flex is as stable and secure as a B2 boot, or can even compare to a full grade leather hiker with solid ankle support and stiffened midsole. Please buy what you need for the hiking you are doing. But this boot does have a couple of features which makes them a very good choice for all kinds of terrain – they’ll get you up any of the Wainwrights in normal conditions if that’s your bag.

The sole has 4mm multi directional lugs for traction, which are attached to a rugged outsole that has been designed to help resist twisting – I’ve found the grip to be very good. Air-injected foam in the midsole supports and cushions so you get some feedback from the ground, but you won’t feel all the sharp stones on your chosen path.

There’s also a reliable waterproof and breathable membrane (I’ve always found KEEN Dry to be pretty decent), a hook-based lacing system which keeps the boots from moving around when you walk, and there’s a stability shank in the sole to protect your foot from too much wobble when moving quickly.

In Real Life

Comfortable straight from the box, I’ve worn these on a bunch of hikes since they arrived. I reckon I can say I’ve put them through their paces as much as I’ve been able to – a bunch of day and half-day walks on various terrain, getting them thoroughly muddy several times, dipping them in the sea, and even going on a couple of hilly walks on snow-covered ground in the Cotswolds.

I really like how light they are, that they look and feel like trainers, the wide toe box giving my toes space, the cushioned sole, and the grippy lugs underneath. And I think I do like the bellows thing across the forefoot, too – it does seem to mean the boot bends easily and in the right place.

As I mentioned in my short review at the top, the only thing I don’t like about these boots are the laces. I can’t seem to tie them properly because they’re just too floppy, especially when I’m wearing gloves, and then can’t untie them quickly because they work their way to overtight while I walk. I’m sure they’ve been designed like this for a sensible reason, but I can’t work them out. I much preferred the laces on my old Terradora boots, and will likely swap these over to something I like better when I next get to an outdoors shop.

Personally, the KEEN Terradora Flex is a boot I will actively choose to wear on a low level or hill walk in reasonable weather, where I don’t feel I need the stompy support of my Meindl Bhutans. They are an ideal everyday hiker, and have a firm place on the shoe rack by the front door as a result.

KEEN Terradora Flex

KEEN Terradora Flex waterproof hiking boots are available direct from KEEN with an RRP of £140 in three colourways and a wide range of sizes. I haven’t seen them for sale anywhere else.

With thanks to KEEN for sending me their Terradora Flex boots to test and review. As always, while the product was a gift, the review is an honest opinion of the boots based on my own real-life testing.