“For the Carpenter: Most steel-toe caps cover the front fifth of a foot. But the asymmetrical safety toe on the KEEN Tacoma is full-size over the big toe and slimmer over the smaller ones, shedding weight and maximizing mobility.” – Popular Mechanics, Supreme Work Boots (February 2012)
“Re-shoring is a new word being tossed around for bringing jobs back to America. Some companies are making a real effort to keep maunfacturing local.” – KGW Channel 8 News
What do you do when it’s cold outside and you still want to take a break for recess at the office? Apparently, KEEN Japan took their 15-minute break and made mini-KEEN shoes.
Last fall we sent 25 pair of assorted KEEN hiking boots and shoes to the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). These were sent over with KEEN Ambassador Christian Santelices and 5 people who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Here’s what Christian had to say:
You and the KEEN team have made a big impact here in Tanzania. I delivered the shoes to the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) here in Moshi, Tanzania, at the base of Kilimanjaro. The shoes will be put into the gear borrowing program that they have set up. Porters can come in and borrow equipment and clothing to be able to do their jobs better on the mountain and help them earn a more sustainable living. KPAP also works with local outfitters to provide better working conditions for porters including making sure they are fed and paid appropriately. I met the staff as well as some of the porters. Really great folks working hard to make the lives of people working on the mountain better.
KEEN Ambassador Program:
At KEEN we are always looking for people in every community who are stewards of the outdoors and bring a new perspective to the idea of living a Hybrid.Life. At KEEN we strive to bring you closer to the outdoors by empowering our ambassadors to do the same for us! Learn more here.
“The After-Party: the rules-and wardroke–for post-ski posturing” features the KEEN Howser in the January issue of Outside Magazine.
“We are a group of biologists who conduct surveys for a living. We love our KEENs!”
“Necessary before hiking down to civilization,” comments Paul Colangelo. Paul was in remote northwestern British Columbia for 62 days within Tahltan First Nation traditional territory and part of the Sacred Headwaters region called Todagin Mountain, a plateau that is home to what is considered to be the world’s largest herd of Stone’s sheep. He was part of a team of researchers and journalists who spent six months living with the herd to map the herd’s spring, summer and fall habitat use patterns and tell the story of the herd and its changing environment.
The KEEN Pyrenees boots are featured on Outside TV as part of the its Winter 2012 retro-designer fashions.
Hello nice people at KEEN,
Just wanted to share a photo of a far away place that I thought fit the image of the KEEN Voyageur shoes I was wearing that day.
I found a remote jungle waterfall on the island of Pohnpei (in the south pacific) while hiking.
Just thought it was cool to share the adventure.
Thanks for making such great shoes!
Best Regards,
Randy R.
“Keen was founded in 2003 to make shoes, bags, and socks, with a focus on outdoor activity; their first product was a sandal with a distinctive rubber toe-protector that quickly found a market among sailors, kayakers and hikers. The company makes social responsibility a major focus of its work, donating its entire marketing budget to relief efforts after the 2004 Asian tsunami and partnering with environmental groups and other NGOs around the world through its HybridLife program. Keen is working to increase the responsibility of its supply chain and has even opened a factory in Portland to make shoes in the United States, a counterintuitive move when its cheaper to manufacture shoes abroad (other Keen products are made in China and North Carolina).” – Tim Fernholz, GOOD Business editor
Facebook
Twitter
Flickr
YouTube