By Paul Billedo & Kyra Lefferts
 

THE KEEN CIRCADIA

REVIEWED BY PAUL BILLEDO, SB BRYANT ST. STAFFER
 

 
When it comes to shoes, KEENs were not on my radar, but I needed new hiking shoes other than my trail runners. To be honest the looks of your average KEEN shoe is not entirely my style, but after I actually wore the KEEN Circadia that didn’t matter one bit. After work and grocery shopping, my partner and I took our dog Koko to Lands End to do a nice 3.4 miles loop hike during the sunset. It's the perfect place for a hike, and it's super close to home. The hike is a mixture of pavement, sand, gravel, little sections with small rocks, and many, many stairs!
 

 
I wouldn't have risked such a variety of terrain with new hiking shoes if it wasn't for the way the Circadia's felt when I first put them on. In the past when I've bought rigid hiking shoes for protection they'd feel super stiff out of the box, and I'd feel like I'd need ages to "break them in", but that's not at all the case with the Keen Circadia. They provide all the protection, but without that stiff and heavy feeling.
 

HOW DO THEY COMPARE?

 
So let's dive into more of the things I like best about this shoe. First, I really like how you can put these on and hike right away. They're a great last minute shoe to pick up for a trip. The second thing I really like is the way it fits my feet specifically. I am a big Altra fan; a shoe that has a big square toe box for toes to collapse. Although these shoes don't have a wide toe box, they have a squared off shape, feeling similar to my Altra Torins. Over 3.4 miles, 100+ stairs, sprints with Koko, and running errands afterwards, these shoes felt really comfortable and durable. Once you get the speed lace webbing system nice and snug, you instantly feel the heel lock system grab your foot. It provides a ton of support for your foot and ankle. I was able to run and do quick side cuts and I felt like I was wearing basketball shoes on the court. There is a ton of support and the laces did not come loose at all.
 

 
I also liked these shoes for their toe caps and their waterproofing options. The Circadia has a hard toe cap to protect against stubbed toes while you're clambering over rocks and trees on the trail, and I can confirm they work great. For waterproofing, you can get these shoes in both waterproof and non-waterproof versions. I got the Circadia Vented shoe (the non-waterproof version) for a bit more breathability, but it's important to note that it still has waterproof leather almost all around. That is definitely good enough for the types of hikes I do, where I'm not wading through creeks or hiking through a rain storm.
 

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE THE CIRCADIA?

 
Overall, I highly recommend these shoes for pretty much anyone, because they just work really well. If you want comfort, stability, and protection (who doesn't?), look no further. The KEEN Circadia is ready to go anywhere right out of the box, so all you have to do is enjoy the outdoors.
 

 
THE KEEN TERRADORA

REVIEWED BY KYRA LEFFERTS, SB SANTA ROSA STAFFER
 

 
Hey Basementeers! My name is Kyra and I’ve been living in Sonoma County for 8 years, working at SB Santa Rosa for over 4 years now. I enjoy camping, hiking, snowboarding, paddleboarding, and going to any place that welcomes my dogs, Maverick and Ziggy!

One of the many things I’ve learned at SB is how important footwear is. No matter the sport, the shoe is designed with every aspect of the activity's movement involved.

I usually wear Solomon Outlines or Nike Wildhorses and haven’t worn high-top hikers in a few years, so I was very excited to try out Keen’s Terradora Flex boot. The last pair of hiking boots I owned gave me gnarly blisters and were very heavy. I bought them for field work in college and when it was time for a new pair of hikers, I stayed away from high tops as I didn’t have the greatest experience in them.
 

 
I took the Terradoras on their first outing to Taylor Mountain Regional Park, just a few minutes behind our Santa Rosa store. This is one of my favorite places to walk because of the panoramic views, it’s dog friendly, and there are trails for every level of walker or runner. There is also a disc golf course at the park and cattle that graze year-round! I love taking my dogs Maverick and Ziggy up the mountain before work to tire them out before a long day at work with me.

It took me a few minutes to get used to wearing high-tops again, but the Keens are so lightweight and flexible that I almost forgot I was wearing them! The cushioned ankle/achilles area plus flexible footbed made the shoes feel pre-broken in.