Like most people, I have a lot of athletic shoes, from running to water shoes.  I use a simple water shoe that I picked up at Sports Chalet for working out on my elliptical and rowing machines.

But I often walk several miles to the various shopping areas in my town and wanted something durable, neutral in color and sturdy while being completely comfortable. My daughter and her husband both have the Keen open back Newport shoe and swear they are the best shoes they have ever worn.  My son-in-law says he forgets he has shoes on when he is wearing his Keens.

I wanted a neutral color walking shoe - particularly in grey and they are so hard to find.  When I studied the large number of Keens available on Amazon, I was delighted to discover that the style I liked and the color (grey with fine purple accenting) was available in my size, Prime delivery, and on sale for half price.  Bingo!  I bought them without a second thought, hoping they would fit.

They arrived literally overnight and I love them!  You just loosen the lanyard and they pull on with the front tab, then you adjust the lanyard to make them snug.

Once on, even though my left foot is ever so slightly longer than my right foot, which is slightly wider, both shoes felt as if they had been designed especially for me.  I have small feet (5.5/6.0), but I got the 6.5 just to be safe, since I wear these with thin socks in summer and thicker ones in fall and winter.  Then I took them out on the road and have now logged about 30 miles in them -- no break-in period, no chafing, no tightness -- just comfort.  My Keens are like a part of my foot.

They are pretty, the black rubber front keeps the grey from soiling and scuffing, the contoured tread elevates them from shallow water and with the flick of a lanyard they are off and on in seconds.

I will probably get another pair in the McKenzie, so I can have one for warm tone outfits.  Clearly the McKenzie is not just a water shoe and like all Keens, is designed to wear well and long.

Hurrah for Keen and Amazon, both - a flawless experience this time.