Our verdict

Despite its polarizing appearance, the KEEN Uneek has garnered hundreds of positive reviews in well over a decade of its presence on the market. We can subscribe to the favorable feedback as we found it to be a great option for spending summers by the water. The sandal's pliability and airiness made it feel like an extension of our foot and, we must say, a very snazzy one. However, this KEEN sandal is not ready for any serious adventures on the trail and we can think of much better cushioned and supportive options at a cheaper price point.

Pros

  • Head-turning cord design
  • Ultra flexible construction
  • Impressively durable outsole
  • Intimate contact with the ground
  • Grippy on wet and smooth surfaces
  • Feels light and airy on the foot
  • Cords made of recycled materials

Cons

  • Not much support
  • Little protection from debris

Audience verdict

91
Superb!

Who should buy

The KEEN Uneek is a great option to consider if:

  • you want to elevate your style for summertime
  • you need sandals for casual use on hard-packed terrain, beach and riverside, or around town
  • you prefer minimal sandals with thinner soles

KEEN Uneek review

Who should NOT buy

If you are planning to hit the trails, we highly recommend choosing more protective and supportive sandals like the KEEN Newport H2.

And if you prefer open-toe designs, have a look at the Teva Hurricane XLT2.

KEEN Uneek lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

Measuring the Uneek's heel stack at 20.5 mm, we found it to be very close to the promised 21 mm.

This heel rise is lower than the category average and it is reflected in the sandal's very grounded feel. It offers decent impact protection for light and short walks on groomed terrain but don't expect much underfoot support for all-day wear.

KEEN Uneek Heel stack
Test results
Uneek 20.5 mm
Average 25.9 mm
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
15.9 mm
Heel stack
30.9 mm

Forefoot stack

The forefoot stack of this KEEN sandal also proved to be below the average at 12.9 mm.

This is a very thin buffer between the ball of the foot and the ground so you better be careful not to step on stones, roots, and other sharp objects.

The protection is minimal here but you get a very intimate ground contact in return. This makes the sandal even more appropriate for water activities like paddle boarding where you rely on that connection to maintain balance.

KEEN Uneek Forefoot stack
Test results
Uneek 12.9 mm
Average 18.1 mm
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
12.9 mm
Forefoot stack
23.0 mm

Drop

Based on our caliper measurements above, the KEEN Uneek has a heel-to-toe drop of 7.6 mm. This is not exactly 9 mm as stated in the product description but you can hardly feel that 1.4 mm difference.

In this setup, the heel receives more underfoot material for shock absorption while the forefoot remains thin for flexibility and proprioception.

KEEN Uneek Drop
Test results
Uneek 7.6 mm
Average 7.8 mm
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
2.1 mm
Drop
11.9 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The sandal's platform is made of a single-density foam which hits a sweet spot between firmness and softness. That, in turn, makes the Uneek feel decently comfortable yet stable and protective.

Pressing our Shore A durometer against its half-cut midsole returned a middle-of-the-road reading of 24.5 HA. It falls right into the center of the cushioning softness spectrum.

The blue lining on top of the sandal's black foam is made of microfiber. It feels soft to the touch and helps to prevent the foot from slipping around.

KEEN Uneek Midsole softness
Test results
Uneek 24.5 HA
Average 27.3 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
18.9 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.1 HA

Size and fit

Size

KEEN Uneek is true to size (11 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 10 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Width / Fit

New

It's tricky to assess the fit of this KEEN sandal considering that its upper is made of 'free-moving' cords that stretch and adapt to your foot on the go. But the good news is that our medium-width feet felt right at home in our regular men's US size 9.

KEEN Uneek fit

It does take some time to get used to the 'uneek' construction of this sandal and you will likely need to go back and forth adjusting its lace lock in the beginning. However, its ankle strap is not adjustable which could be a problem for people with narrower feet and skinnier ankles.

This KEEN sandal doesn't skimp on vertical space which means no pressure on top of your toes.

Traction / Grip

Outsole design

New

The KEEN Uneek's smooth outsole is not your best friend on technical or even moderately challenging terrain. It belongs in the manicured and hard-packed trails, beaches, and riverside.

KEEN Uneek outsole

If you look at it more closely, you can see two thin razor-siped lines (one in the forefoot and one in the heel). They enhance the sandal's grip on smooth and wet surfaces like boulders by channeling water away from the contact area.

If you need a more capable sandal for trails and hiking, consider the KEEN Newport H2 or the HOKA Hopara 2.

KEEN Uneek Outsole design

Stability

Lateral stability test

Its low-stack platform is the only source of stability in the KEEN Uneek because you can't expect much support from its floating cord upper.

But luckily, some arch support is provided by the sandal's Contour Arch design. It comes in the shape of a moderate curve on the inner side of the foot.

KEEN Uneek contoured arch

However, if you have severe overpronation or rely on more stable footwear in general, you may not find enough support in this very minimal KEEN sandal.

Torsional rigidity

Nothing in its construction holds the KEEN Uneek back from flexing and bending in every direction. This sandal feels like an extension of the foot, allowing natural biomechanics to take charge of the movement.

Our manual twisting test revealed no rigidity in the sandal's midfoot so we instantly rated its torsional stiffness with the lowest score of 1/5.

Test results
Uneek 1
Average 2.6
Compared to 9 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Most hiking sandals are built on very broad platforms to provide as much contact area with the ground as possible. However, KEEN chose to keep the Uneek slimmer and gave it a more streamlined silhouette compared to other sandals we've tested (think HOKA).

That's why we weren't surprised to see a caliper reading of only 112.8 mm in the widest part of its midsole.

KEEN Uneek Midsole width - forefoot
Test results
Uneek 112.8 mm
Average 118.9 mm
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
112.6 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
125.1 mm

Midsole width - heel

The heel of this KEEN sandal also proved to be notably narrower than average at 82.6 mm in its widest area. For reference, its midsole dimensions are close to those of the Teva Original Universal.

KEEN Uneek Midsole width - heel
Test results
Uneek 82.6 mm
Average 91.1 mm
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
81.6 mm
Midsole width - heel
100.5 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

The Uneek's woven cord upper and thin sole allow for the most unhindered foot bending imaginable in a sandal. It barely takes any force to bend it as our shoe flexibility tester recorded a minuscule reading of 4.6N.

That makes it the most flexible sandal in our roster along with the KEEN Targhee III Sandal.

KEEN Uneek Flexibility / Stiffness
New test (recommended)
Old test
Test results
Uneek 4.6N
Average 9.0N
Compared to 7 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
4.5N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
14.8N

Weight

Considering the Uneek's very minimal construction, we were utterly surprised by its weight!

Our scale showed 11.1 oz (315g) which is the average weight of hiking sandals in our lab. We expected the number to be lower because, on foot, this KEEN sandal feels much lighter than its static weight suggests. 

KEEN Uneek Weight
Test results
Uneek 11.1 oz (315g)
Average 11.1 oz (316g)
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
6.3 oz (179g)
Weight
14.6 oz (414g)

Durability

Outsole durability

We were amazed to see how firmly the Uneek's outsole stood against sandpaper in our Dremel test. After 18 seconds of drilling its rubber at a high 10K RPM speed, we were amazed to see that the dent was only 0.7 mm deep!

That's a fantastic result for a hiking sandal as these aren't always packed with hard-wearing rubber outsoles.

Test results
Uneek 0.7 mm
Average 1.6 mm
Compared to 9 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

That wear resistance and the Uneek's above-average outsole thickness (2.9 mm) promise great long-term durability in this KEEN sandal.

KEEN Uneek Outsole thickness
Test results
Uneek 2.9 mm
Average 2.6 mm
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
3.6 mm

Misc

Lug depth

'Lugs' is not the most fitting word for the Uneek's flat and shallow treading but at least they give the sandal some texture by protruding 2.2 mm above the sole.

KEEN Uneek Lug depth
Test results
Uneek 2.2 mm
Average 2.9 mm
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Lug depth
4.1 mm

Price

As the most expensive hiking sandal in our catalog, many people can be taken aback by the KEEN Uneek's price point. Given the absence of advanced materials or technologies, you are paying for the sandal's peculiar cord design above anything else in this case.

KEEN Uneek Price
Test results
Uneek $140
Average $106
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
$45
Price
$140

Reflective elements

None of the sandal's components are made of reflective materials as our dark room test showed.

KEEN Uneek Reflective elements
Test results
Uneek No

Upper material thickness

The Uneek features soft suede-like material on top of the instep to keep the integrity of its whole cord setup. Acting as an essential buffer between bare skin and bungee laces, we measured the thickness of this piece at 1.5 mm.

KEEN Uneek Tongue padding
Test results
Uneek 1.5 mm
Average 4.3 mm
Compared to 11 hiking sandals
Number of shoes
1.5 mm
Tongue padding
8.2 mm

Heel tab

A pull tab wouldn't make the on-and-off easier even if this KEEN sandal had one. So if you're having trouble slipping inside, some people decided to fold the ankle strap down and turn the Uneek into a slipper.

KEEN Uneek Heel tab
Test results
Uneek None

Laces

The Easy-On Bungee Cinch indeed makes it quick and easy to adjust the tightness of this sandal. You can also hide excess cords under the bottom loop.

KEEN Uneek Lace lock

Sustainable materials

According to KEEN, the Uneek's bungee cords are all made of recycled P.E.T. plastic. However, it's not specified whether any other parts of this sandal are made of sustainable materials.

KEEN Uneek Sustainable materials