As the brainchild of Rory Fuerst and Martin Keen, Keen shoes came into being in response to a question: “Can a sandal protect your toes?” The duo set out to answer that question and came up with a solution. Founded in 2003, the brand is popular in many areas of the world today. Part of the appeal is the way the shoes are ideal for all sorts of outdoor activities. Here are five of the qualities that make them such a hit with customers.

Plenty of Support

Many outdoor sports and other activities call for spending a lot of time on your feet. It makes sense that you would want footwear designed to provide lots of support. Like Naturalizer shoes, Keen designs offer what it takes to ensure your feet do not begin to ache as the day wears on, even when you are involved in strenuous outdoor activities.

Support for your arches and other parts of the feet play a significant role in how your lower legs feel throughout the day. By reducing stress on your feet, you minimize the possibility of cramped muscles or pains that keep you awake at night. Who wants to spend the day enjoying a camping trip only to be up all night with aching legs?

Remember that your goal is to enjoy your outdoor activities and possibly use them to keep fit. Taking proper care of your feet now will reduce the potential for problems in later years. By choosing a brand that provides plenty of arch and other forms of support, you will spend less time with a podiatrist in the decades to come.

Comfortable Fit

Next to support, comfort is often one of the most important factors in choosing a shoe brand and design. With this one, you can rest assured that the ideal combination of protection and comfort is included. Your feet will feel as if someone is gently massaging them as you walk or run. Even if you are attempting to scale a hill, the shoes will still conform to your feet and make you almost forget that you are wearing any type of footwear.

Think of what this means when you are enjoying outdoor activities like a run in the morning or evening. The shoes have enough cushioning to absorb the shock of running on pavement. If you happen to run in a local park or are in a wooded area for your run, they will also provide the cushioning needed to absorb the shock of running across densely packed earth.

Allowing the Feet to Breathe

One of the reasons the shoes feel so comfortable is that they do not restrict air circulation around your feet. That can be important when you are enjoying some sort of outdoor activity. Instead of the feet feeling overheated, they will remain at a comfortable temperature.

Have you ever been in the middle of doing something fun and found that you hated the moist sensation that seemed to be trapped in your shoes? The degree of air circulation that the Keen designs allow also minimizes perspiration. That’s important since it helps to reduce the amount of foot odor. You’ll find that this feature is much like the circulation benefits that come with brands like Hunter shoes. At the end of the day when you pull off your shoes, the fact that you don’t have to set them outside to air out will be a plus.

Sturdy Construction

No one likes to buy new shoes for outdoor workouts and other activities every few months. You need footwear that is constructed using materials that hold up well to a lot of use. The fact that the shoes also provide protection because of the sturdy materials is also a plus.

Consider what you need with a pair of hiking boots. The soles must be capable of providing support and protection as you move over rocky terrain. The upper part of the shoe must be strong enough to protect your feet from brambles and other types of flora in the area. You also want a design and construction that will protect your feet from changes in the temperature. With KEEN, you get all of these qualities and more.

The same is true if you are looking for a quality pair of walking or running shoes. You need the construction to hold up well in all sorts of weather conditions. Whether it’s the middle of summer or in the dead of winter, the footwear must protect your feet, provide the traction necessary to avoid slipping, and allow your feet to move naturally. Shoes that provide all of these qualities will allow you to get more from that walk or run and eliminate the need to buy replacements every few months.

An Affordable Cost

You don’t mind paying a little more for footwear that is easy to clean and holds up well to a lot of use. While there are brands out there that provide what you need, some of them come with higher prices. Wouldn’t you like to invest in a pair that offers the same high quality but happens to come with a more affordable price tag?

With Keen, you can purchase shoes that will last for a long time and will not break the bank. You actually benefit financially in two different ways. The first is the initial purchase price. Since it is so reasonable, you save money on the front end. You also get the benefit of having footwear that outlasts many of the other brands on the market. When you get to wear the same pair twice as long as some of those competing brands and the cost is more affordable, you certainly get your money’s worth, plus a little more.

Never settle for a lesser brand when you can have quality paired with a great price. Take the time to learn more about Keen shoes today and compare the different styles they offer. You will have no problem finding shoes that are perfect for whatever outdoor activities you enjoy on a regular basis.