Keen Austin Pedal shoe

Keen's Austin Pedal shoe might have a look best described as geography teacheresque, but that estimable body of men and women have long known a thing or two about the benefits of practical footwear for both the classroom and the great outdoors so if you are after a pair of really well thought out and comfortable all day wear urban cycling shoes look no further because these are the kitties.

The Keen's sturdy appearance may not be the most fashionable but the Austin Pedal shoe's sensible and considered design will pay back dividends in comfort and practicality and this in my opinion is what this shoe is all about. You could learn to love them believe me.

Designed to be "ready for urban adventure on and off the bike" the shoes are made from a waterproof leather upper like you find on hiking boots and have a chunky sole like you find on a fell walking shoe. In fact, they are similar to trail shoes but these have a recessed SPD compatible plate in the sole. There aren't that many clip-in shoes that work well when off the bike but these have enough give in the rubber heel and sole that you don't notice that you are standing on a cleat. In fact they are​ so comfortable you could wear them all day and without even clipping yourself to your bike.

Despite having waterproof uppers and no air vents I didn't find these shoes too sweaty, the moisture wicking lining working very well, even with thick socks. In really soppy weather I found that the water run-off from my 3/4 length trousers deposited in my shoes turning them into slosh buckets. This wasn't a problem with long trousers like the Rapha soft shells or you could go for the full on hiking look and wear some gaiters. ​

It took a while for me to get used to the he large rubber toe's guppy fish like appearance but it makes perfect sense after splashing through a few puddles or kicking your way through long wet grass. They also keep your toes protected from any wind chill, you won't need a pair of over socks/shoes if your shod with these during the cold months. ​

Ok, the heel cup might not be the deepest and with effort you could probably pull your foot out of the shoe with it still on the pedal and the soles aren't the stiffest but these aren't made for sprinting, they are for leisurely tours and commutes. That thick rubber sole isn't light either, which goes al long way to explaining the positively portly 1050g weight for the pair but it is grippy, non-marking and gives a nice bit of cushioning. I don't really know what 'Metatomical' is but it is in footbed and must have something to do with making this shoe so comfortable, Keen says that "the internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support and cradle the natural contours of the foot", that's probably it then. A lot of SPD shoes give you hot spots, especially if you are plodding about in them all day without turning any pedals but I didn't experience that with these. ​

At first I wasn't turned on by the Keen's rambler aesthetic, they don't go with narrow trousers either, but that aside, they are so super comfy, sturdy and weather proof that I find myself picking them off the shoe rack even to go into the garden and they have become my favourite commute footwear in bad weather. At a penny under 100 quid they are quite expensive but given the level of quality and materials used in their construction, they should last you a few years and prove worthy of the outlay.

Verdict

A sturdy, weatherproof leisure and commute SPD compatible cycling shoes that are genuinely comfortable both on and off the bike.