Keen Newport H2 - Women's Review

We reached for the Keen Newport H2s on a long sandy hike in the Grand Canyon where we worried about comfort over traction and warmth. While you could wear neoprene socks or a drysuit with these river sandals, you'd be better off looking toward a river shoe for warmth. Yet the H2s were excellent for our desert wanderings and wading, we just hesitated to trust them on slick surfaces.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Keen Newport H2s scored high in comfort due to their conforming footbed and solid cinch mechanism that seemingly molded to the form of our feet. They had nice arch support despite being a sandal, and a protective toe covering to avoid a bashed in big toe on all the plethora of sharp and dense things you might bring on a river trip or boulders you might encounter on a hike.

The H2s were incredibly comfortable lounging on the raft and walking around camp. We loved the durable cinch mechanism, which kept them from slipping off of our skinny heels, and the straps, which kept out rocks while hiking.

Traction

The Keen Newport H2s struggle with traction on hard, wet surfaces like rocks, boulders, and sticks. However, their outsole has adequate lug depth to power through sandy beaches without walking in place.

While the H2s did pretty well in sand, they were somewhat like skis when it came to navigating a cold Colorado stream where we scrambled over wet rocks of various sizes. We also found the rubber not tacky enough to make us feel confident while navigating a large gear raft.

Warmth

The Keen Newport H2s scored pretty low when it comes to warmth, but if you buy a river sandal, that's probably not what you're concerned about.

The H2s kept our feet cool in the desert and allowed water to flow in and out without pooling, but our toes were pretty frigid in a cold Colorado stream. They offer nice protection from the sun as opposed to a more open sandal, but you probably won't be wearing these shoes with socks or a drysuit on a colder day. These are hot day and desert sandals for sure.

Versatility

The H2s are middle of the road when it comes to versatility. Their sandal design makes them great for chilling at camp on an overnight trip or cruising around town, and their lug depth makes them suitable for side hikes on soft, dry surfaces.

Sensitivity

The H2s scored low in sensitivity due to a lack of flexibility and a rather thick outsole. They were unable to fold around a raft tube or large rocks very well, making us feel unstable when navigating terrain that required more proprioception.

We took the H2s creek walking in southwestern Colorado and found it difficult for us to trust our feet below us while on slippery underwater rocks. They weren't flexible enough to fold with one hand, one of our tests for assessing sensitivity.

Durability

Despite being a river sandal, the straps on the Keen Newport H2s performed admirably when it came to durability. The straps are thick enough to avoid abrasion or breakage from extended use. The outsoles are really thick, which is a boon for durability but compromises their sensitivity and flexibility.

The H2s performed well across sharp sticks and rocks and showed only a tiny bit of fraying after extended use in a sandy environment on the Colorado River. We stepped on pointy rocks and sticks and found the thick outsole to hold up well against the elements.

Should You Buy the Keen Newport H2s?

We found these river shoes/hiking sandal hybrids to be a great option to bring along on your multiday when you really need to get your feet out of those damp river sneakers for a side hike or have a day of flat water on a warm day. If you prefer a sandal, head on over to our women's sandals article and pick out a good pair.

What Other Women's Water Shoes Should You Consider?

For something with a lot more tackiness on hard, wet surfaces with the ability to layer for all sort of weather conditions, we prefer a proper river shoe like the NRS Kicker Wetshoe or the Astral Brewess 2.0.