Keen Karraig Women’s boot review

Amanda Travis tests Keen's new, more technical women's trekking boots...

The Karraigs are Keen’s ‘most technical backpacking boot yet’. While this solid backpacking boot does contain some mesh, the majority of the boot is leather and the Karraigs feel as though they were made to last.

Adding to the waterproofness is Keen’s own KEEN.Dry membrane which is both waterproof and breathable. The sole is also Keen’s own ‘All-Terrain’ rubber, and we found it to be a good performer in a variety of terrain, including more rocky areas where it gave a good amount of grip. The 5mm lugs gave good traction and braking, and the full-length last gave us enough stability and support even when carrying a heavy pack over long distances. The higher ankle cuff gave loads of support without being too restrictive.

IN USE

We found the Karraigs comfortable all day; they cushioned the foot nicely and we experienced no heel lift. The locking lace hook also worked really well in keeping them tensioned perfectly all day (though one of our testers did find the lacing of the forefoot slightly fiddly initially). Keen suggest that they run half a size small, but we found the fit just fine, so trying them on before buying would be best. All in all, we were impressed with how well the Karraigs performed, and would happily use it for multi-day treks in a variety of conditions and terrain.

And coming in much cheaper than many comparable female boots, it would be an obvious choice for those on a budget – only if the fit is right of course!