Keen Alamosa WP- Women's Review

Name: Keen Alamosa WP- Women's
Brand: Keen

keen alamosa wp- women's hiking shoes review — Keen Alamosa - Women's
Credit: Keen

View at Keen

Price: $120 List

Manufacturer: Keen

By McKenzie Long ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Sep 8, 2014

Our Verdict

November, 2016: The Alamosa WP is Discontinued

REASONS TO BUY

More stylish look than other Keen shoes

Protective toe bumper

Lightweight and comfortable

More durable sole than other Keens

REASONS TO AVOID

Runs a little short for their size

A slightly more narrow and stylish version of Keen hiking shoes, the Alamosa is a comfy, lightweight shoe for hiking. Waterproof and less meshy, and therefore less breathable, than the otherwise similar Keen Voyageur - Women's, the Alamosas also seem to have a more durable sole as well. These are one of the lightest hiking shoes we evaluated, so they are an excellent choice if you are trying to shed pounds from your hiking kit.

Our Analysis and Test Results

A lightweight hiking shoe with a roomy toe box and a waterproof lining, the Alamosa are comfortable and protective.

Performance Comparison

keen alamosa wp- women's hiking shoes review - sarah hegg wearing the keen alamosa around camp. these shoes are... — Sarah Hegg wearing the Keen Alamosa around camp. These shoes are very light (1.59 lbs/pair) and immediately comfortable.
Credit: McKenzie Long

Weight

At 1.59 lbs per pair, the Alamosas are the next lightest hiking shoes to the Salomon X-Overs and the Merrell Siren Sport 2 - Women's.

Comfort

A lightweight shoe that holds your foot securely, the Alamosa feels great to wear. They run a little short in length compared to other shoes of their size, which is not ideal for hiking, but if you try them on first you can ensure to get a proper fit. They are narrower and have less room in the toe box than the Keen Voyageur, so would be better for women with narrow feet.

Support

With a torsion stability shank, these shoes provide great support for such a light shoe.

Traction

The soles on the Alamosas have 4mm lugs, which is pretty deep, and provides great traction. As an added benefit, the outside center of the sole under the bridge of the foot has extra hard plastic covering the exposed EVA of the sole. The Voyageurs and Targhee II's do not have this feature, and that part of the sole wears out first. This extra piece looks as if it will extend the life of the sole somewhat.

Durability

Like all Keen shoes, the Alamosas have a protective toe bumper, which adds life to the shoe and keeps you from nailing your toe on a rock. The problem is that it is not the most attractive look. Our female reviewers are not a huge fan of the looks of the Keen Voyageur - Women's. The great thing about the Alamosas is that the toe bumper, while still adding protection and durability, is slimmed down and looks much more stylish. One of our female testers had owned numerous pairs of Keen hiking shoes and boots previously, and she loved the look and feel of the Alamosas.

Water Resistance / Breathability

The Alamosas are lined with the Keen Dry waterproof membrane, which works well to keep out water and moisture.

Best Application

Lightweight, stylish, durable, and supportive, these shoes could do just about anything. They excel on longer day hikes, but would work well for light backpacking too.

Value

For $120, these are slightly below average in cost, making them a good deal for a light hiking and camping shoe. This model is now frequently found on closeout, which makes them an even better deal. If you can't find these shoes, consider either the similarly styled Keen Voyageur or another waterproof hiking shoe like the Salomon Ellipse - Women's.

— McKenzie Long