Keen Calistoga--More Like Conestogas on My Feet

Would you believe in over a year of blogging about cute and comfy shoes, I've never before worn a pair of Keens? Heavens, in a pick-up game of word association, I say "comfortable shoe," you say, "Keen," right? Well, I broke my Keenfast this morning when I buckled on the Calistoga mary jane with a pair of groovy new Hue socks.

I really want to like these shoes--the color is such a beautiful muted blue called Orion (not onion, as I first thought). But alas, they are just too wide for my feet. In fact, I've renamed them the Keen Conestoga as that's exactly what they look like on my feet--big fat covered wagons. You can see the gap between foot and shoe in the picture below. Did I order the wrong size? I don't think so, the length is fine. The Calistoga is just made to fit a wider foot.

Despite the width problems, the best feature on the Keen Calistoga is the toe box. My bunions can settle right in without being squished. I also like the soft footbed and flexible sole. I could use a little more arch support, so I took out the insole and put in my Walking Company orthotics which fit in perfectly thanks to the adjustable buckle. 

I look forward to hearing from other Keen owners. Do you own this style? How does it fit your foot? If you don't have the Calistoga, what model do you wear and why? 

Where to buy the Keen Calistoga:

• Amazon: prices range from $47-$85.
• Altrec: prices range from $65-$73, free shipping.
• PlanetShoes: $69, free shipping and returns.
• TheShoeMart: $76.50, free shipping (good selection of colors and sizes).
• Zappos: $84.95, free shipping and returns.

Comments

[Monica]

Oi...those do look rather fugly and clown-shoe-like on your lovely feet. I don't have that style but I have a pair of the Keen Barcelona mary janes and I love those because they're leaner looking than the normal Keens. Don't discount Keens based on this one unfortunate experience...just look for a slimmer style and I think you'll love them.

[chez shoes]

Hee, Conestoga! That's too bad. The blue is really nice.

I have wide feet, so the Calistogas fit me *really* well. But for a narrower foot I'd recommend Keen's Sienna mary janes - they don't have as much support, but are still incredibly comfy.

[puglyfeet]

Oh, that's too bad, K. Great color on you, though. I agree with Chez Shoes -- the Sienna MJ's would probably suit you better.

[Beth]

Good pun! Unfortunate about the shoes. I have three pairs of Keens and LOVE them all (Saratoga II, Monterey and Bali.) I think any of them would be a more flattering fit for you, though the styles are more summery. I especially dig my Montereys, which are miraculously versatile. I have worn them with a casual skirt to work, on the hiking trail, and everywhere in between. Keep trying -- once you find the right style you'll love them.

[J]

I love & own 2 pairs of Keen Calistoga's (black & beige) http://zeta.zappos.com/search/keen+calistoga

I agree they do look chunky, but these were the first and only sandals or mary-jane shoes that would FIT MY ORTHOTICS without the orthotic showing (I have a full length, big orthotic to extra-support my bad feet). I also like the ROOMY TOEBOX (which is slightly wider than similar Keen's Sydney or Amsterdam which are slightly narrower). And I like the ADJUSTABLE STRAP keeps my foot in the shoe (the back part of my foot is more narrow than the front, so other brands' "wide" sizes didn't work for me). I also like the durable, cushioned & SUPPORTIVE SOLE.

My Keen Calistoga's have really been life-savers because my feet are so bad that I can NEVER walk comfortably without my orthotics, so until a few years ago I had to wear sneakers with my skirts or work clothes.

Besides the foot comfort/support & broader clothing options it's given me, I've also gotten over it's chunky look because tons of people have commented on how cute they look and I like the semi-sporty/rugged feel to it.

If you have WIDE FOREFEET or BUNIONS or just want a COMFY TOEBOX (e.g. stand on feet all day at work), I highly recommend the Keen Calistoga's. A similar-shaped lace-up shoe is the Keen Briggs http://zeta.zappos.com/search/keen+briggs

If you don't want a shoe that is so wide at the front, Keen makes plenty of OTHER STYLES that is more normal-width in the front. I like to use www.Zappos.com website because if you click on "ADDITIONAL VIEWS" it gives you an overhead/birds-eye view of each shoe to give you an idea of the shape of the toebox, sole, and other parts of the shoe.

[Kirsten at BarkingDogShoes]

Thank you all for sharing your insight on Keen footwear. I really appreciate reader feedback. I'll have to try a more narrow style and J, I'm so glad they fit your orthotics--all that extra room can be helpful. I remember the days before foot surgery when I couldn't WALK without my custom orthotics (thanks rheumatoid arthritis). I don't believe Keen existed at the time, but would have saved me from shoving them in shoes that didn't quite accommodate the orthotic.

[Andrea]

I find that most Keens are wider and shorter than equivalents in other brands. But so comfy and so cute!

[Kate]

I'd definitely give a narrower style a try. My favorite Keens are my Ventura suede sneakers, which have great support, fit well (my foot is a little narrow), and look great. I also own some Chamonix clogs, but for some reason the arch support isn't nearly as good as it is in the Venturas. And I love the special toe protection all the Keen shoes have, because I stub my toes ALL. THE. TIME.

[Gillian]

Great comments here - what a perfect run down of the women's line!

In case you are interested, KEEN now has a brand new shoe this Spring season called the Whisper (http://www.keenfootwear.com/product.aspx?p=710&pc=1941). It's the first KEEN shoe made from a women's specific last (aka foot mold) meaning that it's specifically built for a female foot. I have narrow, skinny feet and this sandal finally fits my foot snugly - a really nice change for KEEN!

Gillian K.
KEEN Footwear