The Current Model of the Voyageur vs. the Older Model
Since our original review, the Women's Voyageur is donning a few cosmetic tweaks. We contacted Keen, and they let us know that the updates are solely cosmetic and shouldn't affect the performance of the product. New and fresh colors are available.
Check out the side-by-side comparison below, with the latest version of the Voyageur Women's pictured on the left and the older version shown on the right.
Here's a summary of the key differences between the latest model and the previous version:
- Outsole — The outsole of the new model is more streamlined and less bulky than the original version of this shoe.
- Color Options — The soft green color of the model we originally tested is no longer available, but you can currently buy this shoe in the following earthy color options: Brindle/Alaskan Blue, Raven/Rose Dawn, and Neutral Gray/Lime Green.
Hands-on Review of the Original Women's Keen Voyageur
The Keen Voyageur has a "water resistant" leather and mesh upper, a dual density EVA midsole, and a non-marking rubber sole with 4 mm lugs. While the length of these shoes ran true to size, the cut was on the wide side compared to the other models in this review.
This classic hiking shoe has some great features, like a breathable mesh liner and great traction.
Comfort
Keen's footwear has a reputation for being cut on the wide side, and these hiking shoes were true to their style. While that is a bonus for the wide-footed ladies out there, they don't work so well for the narrow-footed hikers. While we couldn't knock off any points for that (because what is not comfortable for us could be the best fit ever for someone else), we did find a lack of cushion under the forefoot to be a bit of a problem by the end of a five-mile hike. We could feet every pebble and cobble and wished there was a little more cushion underfoot. Keen's Targhee III offers more cushioning than the Voyageur, as does our Top Pick for Comfort, the Hoka One One Sky Arkali.
We also experienced some hot spot issues under our big toes with this pair. Our feet were sliding around so much in the very wide toe box that we started to get some irritation underfoot. Again, we can't fault the shoe too much, because it's just not cut for our foot, but it is something to keep in mind when sizing a pair. Too wide and you'll have friction issues from your foot sliding around, and too narrow and you'll have friction issues from your feet rubbing against the sides. You can check out our Buying Advice guide, where we break down the things to look for when sizing a shoe, and also make recommendations for different brands and models to look for depending on the width of your foot.
There's not a lot of cushioning in the forefoot of this shoe, which affected its comfort score. Our feet were also sliding around quite a bit in the front due to the wider cut, which caused some hot spots underfoot.
Support
This shoe feels flat under the arch. Perhaps this is due to its wider cut overall, but we don't feel much support in that area, which then decreases the lateral stability of the shoe. While this model still works well as a light day-hiker, if you are looking for something that you can also carry a heavier backpack with, check out the Editor's Choice Oboz Sawtooth II, which has a stiffer sole and provides more support overall.
Even hiking on flat trails we didn't feel much support from this shoe.
Traction
The 4 mm multi-directional lugs on the sole provide good traction on moderately technical terrain. They aren't the "stickiest" shoe in the bunch but work well for a variety of loose dirt trails and even some low angle scrambling.
We were able to hike up and down moderate slabs in these shoes with ease.
Weight
At 1 lb 10.5 oz in a women's size 7, this pair is in the middle of the pack weight wise. You can shave a few ounces off each foot with The North Face Safien GTX, but you'll sacrifice some support and durability in the process.
Water Resistance
Keen states that the Voyageur has a "water resistant" upper, which means that if there's a light rain or you're walking through dew-coated grass, your feet might still stay dry. But once submerged in water, either on purpose (like we did in our bucket test) or by accident (say your foot slips while crossing a stream), you have about 30 seconds until the shoe is soaked through. While this is probably a deal breaker for someone in the Pacific Northwest, if you are mostly hiking in dry climates, then a non-waterproof shoe is a great option as they tend to be more breathable than a pair with a waterproof lining. Note that Keen does not make a waterproof version of this model.
Durability
Overall, these shoes seem sturdy and durable. The extra rubber on the toe gives the shoe a "function over fashion" look, but holds up to as much toe-stubbing as the sloppiest hiker can manage. However, the first thing to wear out is the exposed EVA foam on the sole, which is fragile compared to the bottom rubber.
The rubber toe cap on the Voyageur (right) provides a lot more protection than some other models, like the Ahnu Sugarpine (left).
We polled other outdoorsy women to see if they had opinions of the boots in this review, and one female Forest Service employee showed us her pair that she wore in the backcountry for one season. The sole was deteriorating, having been banged up by rough terrain. If you know you'll be hiking in rocky conditions, look for a pair like the Oboz Sawtooth II, which has rubber around the entire shoe.
This shoe has a large swath of exposed softer EVA midsole, which can't withstand the same abuse as the rubber toe cap.
Best Applications
The Keen Voyageur is ideal for day-hiking in hot, dry conditions, thanks to its breathable mesh construction. The gusseted tongue keeps sand and pebbles out from under the laces, and the toe bumper protects the foot in uneven and variable terrain.
If your looking for a light hiker for desert conditions, this pair is a good bet.
Value
If they fit your feet well, then it's worth paying more to get a good fit.
Conclusion
The Keen Voyageur did not score very high overall in our tests, but that doesn't mean it's not a good shoe for certain applications. In fact, if you live in the desert and have wide feet, these might be your perfect pair. As the saying goes, if the shoe fits, wear it!
