I have been a big fan of KEEN boots, shoes and sandals for many years so I’m happy to share their recent launch of the KEEN NXIS EVO and share my experience wearing them!
KEEN cater to all hike and activity types with their extensive range of boots, shoes and sandals and one of the things I love most about KEEN, apart from the comfort, is how they design their footwear to suit many types of terrain and usage which is precisely what the NXIS EVO is here to do too!
The NXIS EVO is a versatile fast and light hiker available in a mid-cut boot and low-cut shoe for men and women.
KEEN NXIS EVO Review
My personal experience with NXIS EVO
I have the Women’s NXIS EVO Waterproof boot which is the mid-cut style in the colour Vapor / Porcelain.
I was in need of some summer hiking boots since my go-to hiking boots are my KEEN Terradorra’s from a few years ago but they are much more suited for cold weather and winter hiking.
As I travel a lot, I do love having hiking boots that can be worn around a city but also when climbing a mountain meaning I can pack less footwear and save on space which fits with the ethos of NXIS EVO because they were designed to be worn from tarmac to trail and for an all-terrain adventure!
Comfort is what is most important to me and KEEN really prioritises comfort. I have to say that their boots and sandals are the comfiest I have ever owned (I’m a big fan of the Elle Backstrap Sandals if you are looking for the comfiest sandals ever that are still stylish and practical!).
The NXIS EVO has KEEN’s trademark ‘comfort fit’ and additional padding around the Achilles.
I found that the first time I wore them they rubbed the bottom of my ankle a bit but after another 2 wears they were fine. On my first outing, I didn’t wear proper hiking socks and although my socks did go over the top of the boot, they weren’t the thickest so this is probably why and I would recommend doing a ‘wear-in’ walk to wear them in before going on a serious hike and be sure to wear good hiking socks too.
These days it is so important for us to buy quality products that last and KEEN makes this really easy to do. In my experience of wearing a range of KEEN boots, shoes and sandals over the last few years, I can honestly say that their quality is excellent and well worth the money.
I have worn their footwear for months on end travelling and year after year hiking and they are still in great condition so buying KEEN footwear really is a long-lasting investment.
And don’t just take my word for it, hop onto Instagram and check out these hashtags to see what everyone else has been doing in their NXIS EVO: #ThisIsMyTime #NXIS #NoTerrainIsTheSame
Features of the NXIS EVO Waterproof Boot
The NXIS EVO has been designed to give best-in-class support, comfort and stability. It has all the stability and comfort of the multi-award-winning hiker – the Targhee with flexibility, lightness and support of a trail runner, hence why it is so ideal for outdoor fitness and active travel and will adapt to different terrains.
Other features and benefits of the NXIS EVO are the KonnectFit interlocking heel capture system for lockdown and stability on unpredictable terrain, and the durable all-terrain outsole for grip. KEEN’s patented toe protection system and KEEN.DRY waterproof material and breathable membrane.
KEEN has a real focus on sustainability in their products which is another reason I am a big fan of them.
For example, the NXIS EVO are PFC-free and consciously constructed with KEEN’s planet-friendly Eco Anti-Odor system to stay dry and fresh.
I haven’t had the boots long enough to test this out but I wore their Elle Backstrap’s all last summer in the heat which also has KEEN’s planet-friendly Eco Anti-Odor system. These did not smell one bit after last summer and are in perfect condition after storage for this summer too!
What NXIS EVO is best for you
The NXIS EVO comes in 2 different styles for both men and women – Mid Cut and Low Cut.
The benefits of the low cut are that they are more like trainers and therefore really adaptable and suitable for different terrains, activities, and outfits! I love that you can wear these with a summer dress or jeans to brunch followed by a hike.
They suit fast hiking much better than regular trainers though because of the toe protection, speed lace webbing system, padded tongue and collar, TPU reinforcement for added durability in key zones, the breathable material and KEEN.DRY technology.
The benefits of the mid-cut are that they have ankle support because of the stability shank which delivers lightweight support and they look more like typical hiking boots over trainers if this is something that is important to you or needed because of ankle issues.
They also benefit from the toe protection, speed lace webbing system, padded tongue and collar, TPU reinforcement for added durability in key zones and the breathable material and KEEN.DRY technology too.
Both the mid-cut and low-cut come in a range of colours for men and women which you can view here.
Sizing of the NXIS EVO
To help you work out the correct size for you in the NXIS EVO so you get it right the first time around, I am a UK size 4.5-5, some of my KEEN shoes are a 4.5 and fit well and some are a 5. I have the EVO NXIS mid-cut in a 5 and there isn’t much extra room. A 4.5 would be too small for me even though it’s ok in other KEEN products.
My husband is a size 10 and has another pair of KEEN boots in a size 10 however the NXIS EVO in size 10 was too big for him. He now has a size 9.5 which fits well.
KEEN does offer free and easy returns which is really helpful.
Thank you for reading my NXIS EVO boot review, I hope it has helped you.
This post is in collaboration with KEEN. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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