Keen Hightrail EXP Waterproof Hiking Shoes review: grippy, slipper-comfy hiking hooves for 3-season saunters on the wildside

Having tested umpteen iterations of the brand’s best walking shoes, high-performing hiking boots, signature sandals and water shoes over the last two decades, I have typically been massively impressed with Keen footwear. For aesthetic (I assume) reasons, the brand has moved away from the chunky toe-caps that used to define their hooves, which I kind of miss, but this has allowed Keen to reduce the weight of their shoes and make them look a bit sleeker – elements that are both in evidence on the Hightrails.

Keen Hightrail EXP Waterproof Hiking Shoes review

Price and availability

Available now for men and women, in a wide of sensible and more funky colours (roasted pecan and chipmunk anyone?) and a comprehensive range of sizes, the waterproof version of the Keen Hightrail hiking shoe has a recommended retail price of £125 in the UK, €140 across the EU and $145 in the United States (or $150 for the EXP iteration). The Hightrail is also available as a mid-height hiking boot for £135/$155/€140, and there is a vented (non-waterproof) version in the US for a $135.

Specifications

• Gender availability: Men’s and women’s versions available
• Weight per shoe (size UK 10.5): 460g
• Upper: Leather and ripstop mesh
• Membrane: KEEN.DRY
• Midsole: Foam, supported by KEEN.TERRAIN SHIELD
• Outsole: KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber
• Lug size: 4mm
• Stack: 32mm
• Drop: 12mm
• Sizes (UK): Men’s 6–14; Women’s: 2.5–9.5
• Best for: Hiking and walking various distances in all kinds of conditions (excluding winter) and on a range of terrain

Design and materials

I have been testing the EXP version of the Keen Hightrail hiking shoes (although the only discernible difference between these ones and the standard waterproof version of the shoe that I can make out is in the extra funky colourways).

The chassis on the Keen Hightrail is built around a super soft and flexible leather frame (sourced, they say, as ethically as possible), with extremely lightweight ripstop mesh extending across the top of the foot. The heel is relatively rigid, and the leather supplies protection along the lateral edges of the shoe, where there is a mud shield, before rising to cover the toes.

The tongue is padded and integrated to the main upper (to keep grit out), and the whole ensemble is covered with a Keen.Dry membrane to make the boots waterproof but breathable.

One of the more innovative and interesting features of this shoe are the two cord loops placed at the top of the standard lace eyelets; the laces feed through these loops, which are connected to a band that extends down each side of the shoe, angled towards the heel. When you pull this system tight you get a really secure connection and your heel feels properly locked in.

Another unique feature is the Keen Terrain Shield, which extends up from the rubber outsole and covers the foam midsole to offer protection in the same way that a rand would traditionally do.

There’s plenty of underfoot cushioning going on in these shoes, with a foam strobel board, a removable foam insole and a substantial stack (especially deep at the heel end, where it’s over 3cm tall) made from high-rebound foam. There is a 12mm heel-to-toe drop, but the shoe has a gentle rocker profile overall. The outsole is armed with numerous lugs, chevrons and shapes designed to offer both grip and control.

Performance and comfort

I have been testing the Keen Hightrails for several months, while walking across a wide variety of terrain, and in all sorts of conditions. It’s worth noting that I haven’t taken them on any properly high trails – as in technical alpine routes – because, despite their name, this is not what they’ve been designed for, nor is it an environment where they would excel.

Where they are absolutely brilliant, however, is on coastal paths and hilltop trails at the kind of elevation you get in the UK, which is the kind of walking the vast majority of us do for the vast majority of the time. Here, they are pretty hard to fault. I have found them to be incredibly comfortable even at the end of long hiking days, not least because of the really secure hold that’s facilitated by the heel lock system described above. My feet didn’t move a millimetre while I was wearing the Hightrails, which meant I never had to worry about blisters or sore toes.

As mentioned, Keen have moved away from the gigantic toe bumpers that used to be their USP, and the leather cap here is a far cry from the kind of bulletproof toe protection you used to get with the brand’s older models, but it’s still perfectly sufficient for the kind of hiking these shoes are designed for. I found that the rubber Terrain Shield combined with the leather mud shield worked well together to protect and support the sides of my feet.

In my experience, Keen’s own waterproof membrane works as well in footwear as Gore-Tex does, and I have also found it to be reasonably breathable. If you tend to trek in warm and dry conditions, it would make sense to go for the vented version of the shoe, which isn't waterproof but does allow your feet to breathe a lot better.

Conversely, if you do a lot of hiking during the chilly months, definitely opt for the waterproof version. Even with a membrane, these aren’t the warmest shoes in the world, but paired with the right hiking socks they are absolutely fine for three seasons of the year – I just wouldn’t reach for them in mid winter.

The outsole is also decent for the kind of hiking these boots have been designed for, supplying good grip, traction and control on terrain including paths that cross wet rocks and slippery tree roots. One thing to bear in mind, though, is that the tread pattern does tend to collect mud in mucky conditions.

Verdict

For three-season walking and hiking escapades, it’s hard to fault the Keen Hightrails. If I were to be picky, I’d point out that they’re poorly named (these shoes are ace for ambling in most conditions, but they’re really not designed for tackling high alpine routes or trails in the depths of mid-winter). But besides this minor pedantic pick-up, they’re great for weekend walks: comfortable, supportive, waterproof, robustly made, grippy and good-looking.

Some alternatives

The Hightrails are comparatively (and impressively) cheap for what they offer, but if they don’t float your boat and you’re looking for a solidly practical waterproof hiking shoe that’s is both accessibly priced and environmentally friendly, the Berghaus Revolute Active – made with entirely recycled materials – is a great choice.

The Hightrails are also lightweight, but an alternative svelte shoe for the gram counters is Columbia Facet 75 walking shoes, perfect for speed hiking and fastpacking.

For hardier hooves, capable of actually taking you along some proper high hiking trails, check out the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 and the Arc'teryx Aerios FLs, which boast a bit ankle support than you’d usually find in a trekking shoe.