KEEN Astoria West Review

The Astoria West tries to be a feminine yet functional adventure sandal but falls flat in both areas. While the shoe does well in the comfort, stability, and traction metrics, its heel lift and closed-toe design make it hardly a versatile shoe. The style leaves a lot to be desired, and it has little adjustability compared to sandals with multiple straps.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The main discerning feature of this hybrid sandal is its chunky, cushiony heel that adds extra comfort and feminine flair to the shoe. Slip the Astoria West on, and the contoured and cushioned midsole will feel soft and comfortable on a narrow foot. However, if you have wide feet, look elsewhere, as these shoes are definitely geared towards the narrow-footed folk with their small toe-box and slim fit. Although Keen is known for its shoes having wider toe-boxes, this is the Keen sandal for you if you've wanted a shoe that fits snugger. The thick, cushioned heel will add an extra bounce to your step, and if you are someone who likes extra support, you might appreciate this feature.

Traction

This hybrid sandal was made with wet environments in mind, and it sports a grippy outsole with decent traction. The rubber is sticky enough to feel secure on slick river stones, but our gripe is with the cushioned heel. Because we can't feel surfaces through our feet due to the extra material, we don't feel able to really trust the traction on steep or wet surfaces. We prefer other Keen models for this purpose, where we can walk around with much more confidence on slippery or uneven surfaces.

Adjustability

These shoes forgo adjustable straps for a simple bungee lace system with a hook and loop closure. You simply pull the shoe on and cinch the cord tight around your foot. This system is not as adjustable as having multiple straps to customize a sandal's fit. Still, since the Astoria West is a closed-toe model, more adjustability is not completely necessary for comfort and stability.

Stability

Closed-toe sandals offer better stability on average than open-toe models because there is no room for the foot to slide forward uncomfortably, and the webbing surrounding the foot is much like a shoe acting to keep the foot in place. Designed by women, the Astoria West sandals are built for a slimmer foot.

The fit feels stable, but our gripe again is with the cushioned heel, making walking quickly on a trail with occasional obstacles and uneven surfaces feel insecure. Our testers preferred sandals where you could feel the ground beneath your feet for more comfortable and stable travel over varying terrain.

Versatility

While this shoe can serve many purposes, from day hikes to water activities to bike rides around town, its cushioned heel makes more intense outings that require quick movement a no-go. It is definitely not our first choice for looking stylish around town.

Style

Keen isn't exactly the brand we turn to when we want a “stylish” adventure shoe. While the Astoria West tried to elevate their older models into a new, feminine shoe for trail-to-town, we can't quite get behind this look as something we'd love to flaunt. The closed-toe, rubber bumper, webbing sandal is hard for anyone to get right. Though the added heel lift is an attempt to add comfort and flair, it can't compare to the more attractive open-toed models that we would actually wear around town in a sundress like those from Chaco or Teva.

Should You Buy the Astoria West?

If you appreciate some extra cushion and support from an adventure sandal that can go on a day hike and perform well in light-duty water activities, the Keen Astoria West may be the sandal for you. But it doesn't perform great in many of our metrics, and we wouldn't turn to it as our top choice for a versatile shoe that can truly take you from trail-to-town. Because this shoe lacks the versatility, stability, and traction of other Keen models, we don't think it's a great value for the cost. Other models cost a bit less and perform a bit better.

What Other Sandal Should You Consider?

If you love the security and protection of a closed toe-box on your adventures, we see the appeal of the Astoria West. However, our highest performing shoe of this style is the KEEN Clearwater CNX. The Clearwater is just as comfortable as the Astoria. Still, it offers better traction and stability, two components you probably want if you're looking for more foot protection in an adventure sandal. It has more adjustability and versatility, making it the option we'd choose between the two. If you aren't married to the closed-toe design, we love the Bedrock Cairn Adventure - Women's with its minimal straps and open feel, this sandal has great comfort and traction, but it lacks the toe protection some prefer on the trails or wading in water. If your budget has you “strapped” (see what we did there?), we love the Teva Original Universal - Women's, which is a lightweight sandal good for various adventures with great traction and a lower price.