A KEEN Ambassador's One-Shoe Quiver in Lake Tahoe

By KEEN Ambassador Nick Greece

I have a lot of shoes. There, I said it, and I feel better. This fact is not just because I am a KEEN Ambassador, but since I was a teenager, I coveted and cherished shoes of all sorts.

Where the rubber meets the road is an important item to consider, and I recently have found a shoe that tackles it all. It happened slowly, but eventually I realized that at the front door there is only one pair of shoes that get used on a daily basis: My KEEN Explore Vent hiking sneakers.

Anytime I leave the house in flip-flops, I throw the Explore Vents in the car and know I’m good for the day, whatever that may be. The shoe, for me, crosses the boundaries of hiking, running, passable city style, travel, and the gym with aplomb. I was sent a pair of Explore Vent hiking sneakers a few months ago, and it has become a one-shoe quiver that has sent all other options to the rack, and it continues to impress me with its application use.

I travel light, and when I can take only one shoe to usher me through airports, allow me to hike 10-15 miles, work out in the gym, and spend hours exploring cities, I have found a game changer.

The Explore Vent is a lightweight, supportive shoe that hits the sweet spot of weight, performance, and stability with near perfection. The highly breathable mesh creates one of the most desirable aspects of a shoe—venting. The gusset prevents debris and scree from getting into the shoe and keeps the tongue centered on the top of the foot, providing comfort on long days. Partner that with the KonnectFit lacing system that allows one to tighten the shoe effectively, making it more stable and connected by pulling the heel into the pocket of the shoe. I am also impressed with the upgraded insole that takes away any “break-in time,” as well as its stylish design that allows me to take one pair of sneakers that will serve numerous purposes.

On the Trail around Lake Tahoe

My local playground is Lake Tahoe, CA, and the Explore Vent is my go-to anytime I leave the house for a hike, the gym, or picking up groceries. Check out a few photos from great hikes I’ve recently discovered in the Lake Tahoe area:

Pacific Coast Trail: My wife Caroline and I honored “date day” a few weeks ago and spent a fantastic day wandering on a cool section of the Pacific Coast Trail from Sugar Bowl to Squaw Valley, a distance of about 15 miles. This is a great trail in mixed terrain that goes from soft dirt to hard rock to scree. It stays high and affords great views all day. We cherish the days we get to share in the mountains and, luckily, we live next door to them.

Shirley Lake Hike: I took another hike with a good, old friend, Bob Barry, who recently returned to Tahoe, after living in Southern California for many years. Hearing about the good ole days made me smile and provided a perspective on the lives we now live in the same place. We all stand on the shoulders of others who came before us in the mountains and cities alike. Bob and I shared one of his favorites, the Shirley Lake Hike, which meanders around Squaw and gently winds uphill for an hour or so until you reach the lake. On weekdays the trail is pretty quiet and the lake is serene.

Tahoe Rim Trail: The epic Tahoe Rim Trail winds around Big Blue Lake Tahoe. It is one of the coolest trails in the world.

I find I’m eager to be out and about in Tahoe before the snow arrives. And, luckily, I know the shoe sitting at my door that I’ll always slip on when I’m headed out the door. It’s the KEEN Explore Vent.