KEEN WK400 review

In our opinion, you won't be able to get enough of the KEEN WK400 if you want:

• a rocker-bottom walking shoe that pushes you to clock up those steps
• a mind-blowing amount of underfoot cushioning and support
• a durable pair with a hard-wearing outsole that can go from concrete to trail

If you find the shoe's design too exotic but want to experience the benefits of a max-cushioned, rockered shoe, we recommend the Nike Motiva as an alternative. 

Another highly cushioned, stable, and supportive alternative for all-day wear is the Hoka Clifton LS. This one has a non-rockered traditional sole shape.

At first, the mesh upper on the KW400 looked very promising. But we quickly came to realize that all those ventilation holes on the upper don't do much for the shoe's breathability.

Just look at how little smoke is passing through this KEEN shoe's upper in our breathability test below.

Assessing its ventilation capacity on a 1-5 scale, we gave it a moderate score of 3. While it's not stuffy, we think that the WK400 feels best in moderately warm weather.

A closer look at the mesh helped us understand why the shoe lacks aeration.

That's because the shoe's upper fabric is made of two layers! It surely detracts from the shoe's performance in hot weather but in return makes it more versatile for those transition periods between summer and winter.

KEEN is a long-standing outdoor brand that sure knows how to make durable footwear.

Thus, we were not surprised to see a barely visible yet highly protective translucent layer on the WK400. Covering the shoe's toebox, it guards the fabric from bumps and tears.

Equipped with a Dremel, we went full force drilling this sensitive part of the shoe. Maintaining consistent speed (5K RPM) and pressure (3.2N), we held the tool's sandpaper tip for 12 seconds.

And we must say, without that overlay, the KEEN WK400 would've ended up with the same glaring hole as the shoe on the right. But luckily, it earned an average score of 3 for toebox durability.

But to our disappointment, the shoe's inner lining didn't perform as well for a $160 shoe.

It took our Dremel as little as 4 seconds to blow through the mesh fabric on the shoe's heel padding. Even a $100 cheaper Skechers shoe (on the right) stood up to the test!

Rating the shoe's heel padding durability from 1 to 5, we couldn't give it higher than 2.

KEEN WK400 vs. Skechers Summits

But the good news is that it is one of the few areas that could be improved in the KEEN WK400.

KEEN must've used its best practices from hiking shoes to make the WK400's outsole.

When we pressed our durometer against the rubber, the tool returned a high reading of 85.4 HC. This is 13% harder than the average of walking shoes and is a good indicator of durability.

We've got to say, the outsole of the WK400 exceeded our expectations in the Dremel test!

Even though we had set the tool's speed to the relentless 10K RPM and held its sandpaper tip for a very long 22 seconds, the rubber refused to give in!

According to our tread gauge measurement, the dent ended up as shallow as 0.3 mm. It is nothing more than a scuff!

Like that wasn't enough, KEEN also used a very thick layer of rubber for the outsole.

Measuring it with a caliper, we got a whopping 5.0 mm. That's 50% thicker than the average walking shoe!

All things considered, we can guarantee that the KEEN WK400 is going to have a longer and happier life than many shoes out there. Even if you take it beyond roads and manicured paths.

To afford its copious amount of cushioning and rubber outsole, the WK400 has to pay with weight.

Tipping the scale at 13.4 oz (381g) in a men's US size 9, this KEEN shoe is among the heaviest walking shoes we've tested. It is not your featherweight Skechers shoe.

But we must also point out that we didn't feel the shoe's heft thanks to its rocker-bottom design. The forward-rolling sensation it created made the heft less noticeable.

Just when we think that footwear cushioning can't get any thicker, we get an ever higher-stacked shoe in our lab.

The WK400 beats our previous heel stack record of 40.0 mm with a scandalous 45.7 mm measurement!

The amount of cushioning and shock absorption offered by this KEEN shoe is incredible. We could walk all day without a hint of discomfort or foot fatigue!

Because of that, we can even recommend the WK400 as a recovery shoe for someone whose feet and legs get beaten up by sports and training.

But don't worry, the shoe's forefoot feels much more down to earth.

With a caliper measurement of 24.3 mm, it is only a couple of millimeters thicker than average. It helped us get in touch with the surface beneath our feet, making the ride stable even when the terrain was bumpy and hilly.

The KEEN WK400 has a humongous drop of 21.4 mm. This number is never-before-seen in our lab but so is the shoe's midsole shape.

What's the benefit of this setup? Significantly less pressure on your feet and Achilles.

When the heel is elevated above the toes, it activates a different biomechanics compared to low-drop, or flat shoes. Your own foot muscles are less activated but in return, high drop shoes give you plenty of all-day comfort and support.

The WK400 also treated our feet to a comfortably soft cushioning. We could feel a sweet compression even through the stiff nylon plate.

To measure the shoe's foam softness, we pressed a durometer against its half-cut midsole. It returned a reading of 22.0 HA which is indeed on the soft side of walking shoes (15% softer than average).

Aside from being plush, this foam also has a pleasant rebound. We assume that the hollows throughout the midsole play a part in that bounce.

Another magical aspect of this foam is that it doesn't seem to be subject to cold. If you choose to wear the shoe on a colder day, the plushness will still be there!

After keeping the WK400 in the freezer for 20 minutes, we repeated the durometer measurement and found that the foam only got 6.8% firmer!

This is impressive considering that on average walking shoe foams get 33.2% harder. 

The comfort is further amplified by a generously padded insole. Measuring its thickness with a caliper, we got an impressive 7.5 mm which is thicker than average.

But the most striking feature of the KEEN WK400 is, of course, its rocker-bottom sole. Called the KEEN.CURVE, this rounded shape works as an actual rocking chair for your feet!

Even though it felt a little wonky at first, it took us minutes to get comfortable with the shoe's odd shape. But once we were there, we couldn't stop going!

This KEEN shoe brilliantly accommodated the biomechanics of walking, helping our feet roll smoothly and effortlessly through the gait cycle. It encouraged us to walk longer distances!

But be prepared that standing in the KEEN WK400 feels rather funky. You cannot really stand still in the shoe and slight rocking is the only option.

Like we said, the shoe wants you to keep going.

Just by looking at it, we would never think that the KEEN WK400 is a stable shoe. But to our great surprise, it is!

Sure, its lateral stability is not very reliable because of the rocker and we certainly don't recommend making forceful side-to-side steps in it. But if you stick to forward movements (as expected in walking), you will be treated to a very stable ride.

The shoe comes with a very stiff full-length nylon plate that sits right beneath the insole. It made us feel more stable on our feet without losing the benefits of soft cushioning.

It also adds a great deal of torsional rigidity to the WK400. Twisting the shoe in our manual test, we rated its stiffness with the highest score of 5. 

We also felt that the shoe held our heels and ankles firmly in place, preventing inward rolling and heel slippage.

Assessing the shoe's heel counter stiffness on a 1-5 scale, we felt a lot of resistance and rated it with a high score of 4. You can expect a great deal of support not only from the shoe's midsole but also from its upper.

To make the WK400 as stable as it can be, KEEN granted it one of the widest platforms we've seen in walking shoes.

Measuring the widest part of the shoe's midsole in the forefoot, our caliper showed 115.5 mm. That's a few millimeters wider than average.

If the shoe's rockered sole still makes you feel unsure about stability, take a look at the width of its heel!

With 97.0 mm in the widest part, it is among the widest platforms you can find in walking shoes.

The stiff plate we mentioned earlier is an essential component of the shoe's rockered design. It helps to maintain the sole's curved shape as our feet roll from heels to toes.

To measure the level of stiffness in this KEEN shoe, we bent it to a 90-degree angle using a force gauge. The tool showed that it took as much as 32.8N to do that. That's 60% more than it takes an average walking shoe!

Most walking shoes trade rubber outsoles for exposed foam to keep the weight down. That often leads to compromises in durability and grip.

But the KEEN WK400 turns that around with a sturdy and lugged outsole. Having wear-tested the shoe on various surfaces (from concrete to singletrack), we can confirm that it is indeed an all-terrain type of shoe.

It is not a dedicated off-road shoe by any means but it can handle light-to-moderate trails well. 

What the brand calls a "Contoured Fit," we refer to as a normal medium-width fit. We haven't experienced any discomfort or issues with the fit.

Measuring the shoe's toebox in the widest area, our caliper showed 100.5 mm. This is on par with the other walking shoes we've tested in a men's US 9.

Repeating the caliper measurement near the big toe, we got 75.4 mm. This indicates a slight tapering but nothing critical for a medium-width foot.

The tongue of the WK400 is partially attached to the upper on both sides.

This creates a more secure midfoot hold while also preventing the tongue from bunching and sliding.

You might as well be surprised by the shoe's offset lacing design.

Like the rest of this KEEN shoe, it felt alien at first but we got used to it within the first hour. Although we cannot pinpoint any outstanding benefits of this setup, it didn't cause any pressure points either.

The interiors of the WK400 are lavishly padded in both the tongue and the collar.

Measuring the tongue thickness with a caliper, we got 9.0 mm which is a few good millimeters thicker than average.

Combined with the shoe's thick insole and cushy midsole, this KEEN shoe provides an exceptionally cozy step-in feel.

A small but thoughtful detail is the shoe's two-finger webbing loop. It is an unusual design that comes super handy when getting the shoe on.

There is an option to replace the shoe's stock insole with your own. But we don't think it would be necessary given its extra plush padding and contoured shape.

Better be home before dark! This KEEN shoe doesn't have any reflective elements to make you visible in low-light conditions.