KEEN Astoria West Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Comfortable, rubber bumper for toe protection, quick-dry material
Cons: Bulky, lacks versatility and style
Manufacturer: Keen Footwear
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
KEEN Astoria West | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | |  |  | |
| Price | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $105 List Check Price at REI | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $77.81 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Comfortable, rubber bumper for toe protection, quick-dry material | Comfortable, versatile, lightweight, fits many foot types | Stable and supportive, stylish, durable | Comfortable, good traction, stylish | Comfortable, good water performance, low bulk |
| Cons | Bulky, lacks versatility and style | Not as cushioned as other models, can't be worn with socks | Annoying to adjust, uncomfortable for the flat-footed, heavy | Very floppy sole, not suitable for rugged use | Does not fit wider foot types well, lacks ankle adjustment |
| Bottom Line | A comfortable shoe good for light outdoor activities but falls short in versatility and style | This is a minimalist workhorse sandal that can take on nearly anything | Whether you're hiking or rafting or hanging out, this classic design plays well for the long haul | This classic option can't hack it on super rugged terrain, but it's a great value pick for casual outdoor use | This sandal blew away our testers as a well-rounded option for adventure travel |
| Rating Categories | KEEN Astoria West | Bedrock Cairn Adven... | Chaco Z/Cloud 2 | Teva Original Unive... | KEEN Clearwater CNX |
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Adjustability (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Versatility (15%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Specs | KEEN Astoria West | Bedrock Cairn Adven... | Chaco Z/Cloud 2 | Teva Original Unive... | KEEN Clearwater CNX |
| Weight (pounds per pair) | 1.34 lbs (size 8.5) | 1.06 lbs (size 9/10) | 1.44 lbs (size 9) | 0.73 lbs (size 10) | 1.18 lbs (size 11) |
| Footbed Material | EVA | Granite Grip | LUVSEAT PU with textured grooves | EVA | Polyurethane |
| Midsole Material | EVA | Cairn Vibram | Women's specific LUVSEAT dual-density PU | EVA | Proprietary lightweight PU with stability shank |
| Sole Material | Aquagrip nonmarking rubber | Vibram XS Trek Regolith | Non-marking ChacoGrip | Rubber | Non-marking rubber |
| Upper Material | Recycled PET | Polyester and nylon webbing | Polyester jacquard webbing | REPREVE recycled polyester webbing | Washable polyester webbing |
| Width Options | Medium | Medium | Medium, Wide | Medium | Medium |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Astoria West tries to be a feminine yet functional adventure sandal but falls flat in both areas. While the shoe does well in the metrics of comfort, stability, and traction, its heel lift and closed-toe design makes it hardly a versatile shoe, the style leaves a lot to be desired, and it has little adjustability compared to sandals with multiple straps.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The main discerning feature of this hybrid sandal is its chunky, cushiony heel that is supposed to add extra comfort as well as feminine flair to the shoe. Slip the Astoria West on, and the contoured and cushioned midsole will feel soft and comfortable on a narrow foot. If you have wide feet, however, look elsewhere, as these shoes are definitely geared towards the narrow-footed folk with their small toe-box and slim fit. Although Keen is known for its shoes having wider toe-boxes, so if you've wanted a shoe that fits snugger, this is the Keen sandal for you. The thick, cushioned heel will add an extra bounce in your step, and if you are someone who likes extra support, you might appreciate this feature.
Traction
This hybrid sandal was made with wet environments in mind, and it sports a grippy outsole with decent traction. The rubber is sticky enough to feel secure on slick river stones, but our gripe is with the cushioned heel — because we can't feel surfaces as well through our feet due to the extra material underfoot, we don't feel as able to really trust the traction of the shoe on steep or wet surfaces. We prefer other Keen models for this purpose, where we can walk around with much more confidence on slippery or uneven surfaces.
Adjustability
These shoes forgo adjustable straps for a simple bungee lace system with a hook and loop closure. You simply pull the shoe on and cinch the cord tight around your foot. This type of system is not as adjustable as having multiple straps to customize a sandal's fit, but since the Astoria West is a closed-toe model, more adjustability is not completely necessary for comfort and stability.
Stability
Closed-toe sandals offer better stability on average than open-toe models because there is no room for the foot to slide forward uncomfortably, and the webbing that surrounds the foot is much like a shoe acting to keep the foot in place. The Astoria West sandals do this job well, especially since the fit is designed by women, for women, and therefore built for a slimmer foot.
The fit feels stable, but our gripe again is with the cushioned heel, which makes walking quickly on a trail that has the occasional obstacle and uneven surface feel insecure. Our testers preferred sandals where you could feel the ground beneath your feet for more comfortable and stable travel over varying terrain.
Versatility
While this shoe can serve many purposes, from day hikes to water activities to bike rides around town, its cushioned heel makes more intense outings that require quick movement a no-go, and it is definitely not our first choice for looking stylish around town.
Style
Keen isn't exactly the brand we turn to when we want a "stylish" adventure shoe. While the Astoria West tried to elevate their older models into a new, feminine shoe for trail-to-town, we just can't quite get behind this look as something we'd love to flaunt. The closed-toe, rubber bumper, webbing sandal is hard for anyone to get right, and though the added heel lift is an attempt to add comfort as well as flair, it can't compare to the more attractive open-toed models that we would actually wear around town in a sundress like those from Chaco or Teva.
Value
Because this shoe lacks the versatility, stability, and traction of other Keen models, we don't think it's a great value for the cost. Other models cost a bit less and perform a bit better.
Conclusion
If you appreciate some extra cushion and support from an adventure sandal that can go on a day hike and perform well in light-duty water activities, the Keen Astoria West may be the sandal for you. But it doesn't perform great in many of our metrics, and we wouldn't turn to it as our top choice for a versatile shoe that can truly take you from trail-to-town.
— Miya Tsudome