Keen Zionic Waterproof Mid Review

By using modern materials and construction, Keen has made one of their lightest and most comfortable pairs of hiking boots yet. With coated ripstop mesh, the upper is light, pliable, and comfortable straight out of the box. Underfoot, the Keen LuftCell midsole construction is soft and cushioned, absorbing trail impacts. However, we found deficits in support, water resistance, and durability to be directly tied with these weight savings.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

These are hands-down the most comfortable Keen boots we have slipped into, mainly due to the soft and malleable performance ripstop mesh upper, which easily conforms to the foot. It is simple to snug the laces up and get a customizable fit, though, as with many Keen boots, the Zionic Mid trends on the wide side. We also appreciate the additional padding surrounding the ankle area; the low-top version of this shoe does not have it and is nowhere near as comfortable.

Support

You can't always get what you want in a pair of hiking boots, and while we found the Zionic to offer above-average comfort and a marked improvement in this metric for their brand as a whole, these boots were a departure from the support we have long appreciated from Keen in their hiking footwear.

The LuftCell midsole is well-cushioned and provides good underfoot support when working down firm trail surfaces, although the midsole is soft and has very little torsional rigidity. Ankle stability in lighter-material boots is best achieved through compression, and with only one set of laces hooks that are positioned high on the ankle cuff, we were not able to find a secure fit that made us feel confident while in uneven or rough terrain, or with any significant pack weight. These will best serve the day hikers who desire a bit more ankle support than a normal shoe but who are not looking for a full-on hiking boot.

Traction

The Zionic features 4mm deep, multidirectional lugs that are made of a proprietary TPU compound that is meant to be non-marking. In dry conditions, we found them to be best, with enough bite to tear into loose slopes but also enough surface area contact and flex in the sole to conform to slabs or smooth surfaces. In wet terrain, this boot did fairly well, although there was some side-to-side slippage due to the orientation (or lack thereof) of the lugs towards the outsides of the foot. The outsole material is rather soft, so it will do better in situations requiring stickiness rather than offering stable, firm edging control.

Water Resistance

The Zionic Mid uses the standard KEEN.Dry waterproof liner to give these boots their water resistance. The liner itself works as advertised and kept our feet dry for up to 3 minutes when submersed while brand new. However, leakage occurred along the seam between the upper and outsole and only continued to get worse as the boot saw excessive wear in this area. Expect good short-term waterproofing and protection in quick submersions, as well as really fast drying times once they are inundated, but don't expect these to remain watertight for their entire lifespan.

Weight

While not the lightest boots in this review, the Zionic deserves an honorable mention for breaking the 2-pound barrier, one of only a handful to do so. These boots will not weigh you down and feel very light and airy on the feet at a measly 1.98 pounds in a men's US size 11. As usual, weight savings come at a cost, and we found the balance between weight and support to be less favorable than in other lightweight models.

Durability

The Keen Zionic Mid is made up of light and rather flimsy materials. Due to that and the way they are constructed overall, even use on mild terrain resulted in signs of wear and tear. Other users have complained about sole delamination and tearing of the ripstop mesh material. The biggest issue we found was the connection between the upper and outsole, which began to separate and allow water in after little use.

Should You Buy the Keen Zionic Waterproof Mid?

This is a pretty good-looking, lightweight hiking boot that feels more like a shoe thanks to its thin and flexible materials. It is the least expensive of the boots in our lineup that weighs under 2 pounds, though you can get a lot more support and durability for slightly more money.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?