Overall rating: 3.28 / 5 from 25 reviews.
Review topics: ["fit","durability","weight","boots","outsole","pair"].
"Not waterproof above the ankle. Tongue doesn’t extend to top of boot. Deeper water or water running off raingear pants WILL get in. That’s an oversight when selling boots as waterproof. Other than that, lighter weight and durability is fair."
"I’ve been wearing Keens for probably close to 20 years. I have one pair of hiking boots that are 15 years old and I still wear them today. Keens have always been the most comfortable boots I’ve ever worn. The Stronglite boots are no exception. It’s like wearing a high-end pair of tennis shoes. That’s the good. Now for the bad. The durability of Keen work boots has gone down significantly over the past number of years. I consider myself lucky to get a year of use out of them anymore. These stronglite boots are less than a year old and I already have to replace them. The souls still have good life left in them, but a lot of stitching is wearing out and the mesh and eyelets on each side of the foot are shredded. I expect a lot more life out of a pair of boots that cost $250!"
"I have had these boots since February and the stiching is coming apart my job is not a hard job i just walk alot and the seems are already coming apart and i dont even wear them every day i thought american made stood for something guess ill stick with danner"
"Bought from Zappos -- to work at Amazon Warehouse. The "too much tongue" digs into my ankle and causes pain when digging in to the ankle all day. The skin on my heels also ripped off from just walking in them. Also, I was wearing thick hiking socks. This never happened wearing the Keen "Independence" for over a year. You can see in the photos the waterproofing attached to the tongue is cut too long, making excess thick material dig into the ankle."
"I was impressed with what they seems to be when I got them. The tongue was just "wrong" and caused me to take a break from them after 1 day. I've broken in a lot of boots in my life, so I'm patient when things are new. . . Wore them for another 4 or 5 days before firmly deciding they had to go. Small in every dimension, even though I ordered ½ size larger than my last pair of Keens and the size I usually wear. Stiff and ill-fitting in many places. Poor lacing pattern and laces. . hard to tie quickly and hard to get tied snug because of lace type. Sent them back."
"I’ve been wearing keens for years. Probably gone through 10 pairs or so. These started to show signs of falling apart inside of 2 months. Mind you I don’t do “heavy duty” work. I’m a property manager. So some days I’m doing things like digging trenches. But most days I’m walking around or mowing grass. I don’t feel like these were worth the 250 dollar price tag. Mind you I’ve already applied for the warranty credit. And keen is always good about approving warranty credits. Ive applied for the keen warranty more often than not when I’ve bought their boots. I want to love their boots. They’re comfortable. They do everything I need between being “EH” rated to waterproof and carbon fiber toe. Everything except last more than a year. Bring back your bellows flex boots. Those uppers at least out lasted the soles. Now the opposite is starting to happen with the uppers falling apart before the sole wore through."
"It seems like a well made boot. I had to not use the bottom hook because it made the top hurt my leg. Also the insole and the top need more cushioning. Aside from that the boot is comfortable and hopefully will last. ( I tried on one of their overseas made boots, it had plenty of cushioning on the top and the insole. I can't figure that one out)"
"The only problem i had with these boots was that there was a small separation at the seams on one boot, and after breaking them in they were too big. I was sized at a redwing boot store and was told i am a 7-7. 5. I got size sevens and they were a little too long. The store may have gotten my size wrong or these run big Im not sure. If keen could make a 6. 5 i would definitely buy these again in the future."
"I usually don't do reviews but, I Purchased these boots Aug. 5, 2025, lasted less than a month before they started falling apart. Seems the quality of a 50 dollar boot and not a 250 dollar boot."
"I purchased these boots for the summer and slowly started to have problems with my feet . The soles of these boots are like flip flops. I really need to buy a new pair of boots to be able to walk properly."
