KEEN Summit County review

Who should buy KEEN Summit County

This winter hiking boot is ideal for day hiking on snowy trails. Purchase this mid-range waterproof boot if:

• Insulation is necessary
• A combination of leather and mesh is preferred
• The user needs warmth and support from a high-cut boot

KEEN Summit County's proprietary outsole

What grants wearers grip over snowy ground is the Summit County’s dual-climate rubber outsole. Also known as KEEN.DCR, this rubber layer stiffens in cold weather to provide grip over hard snow. Its low-profile, V-shaped lugs have toothy angles to bite into soft surfaces. Lugs are also seen along the sides of the sole for extra traction when performing lateral maneuvers. In addition, this outsole has ridged heel and forefoot zones to assist wearers in their ascents and descents. 

Extended protection

The footwear’s toe guard is the outsole’s extension called KEEN.Protect. Marked with the eye-catching exclamation point logo, this rubber bumper shields wearers from bumpy hazards as much as it protects them from frontal impacts. 

Midsole for insulation, shock absorption, and support

Ensuring wearers remain protected over treacherous terrain is the boot’s hefty midsole. This rubber-like platform is made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) to which the midsole owes its lasting durability, weight resilience, and not to mention, low-temperature resistance. 

For additional underfoot comfort and thermal insulation, KEEN engineers gave the boot a removable thermal heat shield footbed. It is made up of three layers—a wooly top for cushioning, a supportive middle, and a heat-harnessing bottom barrier. This insulating insole is designed to keep the warmness of the boot’s interior inside while the biting cold outside. 

Durable upper materials

The KEEN Summit County’s above-the-ankle upper is a combination of synthetic fabric and waterproof nubuck leather. The protective band (the boot’s version of rubber rand) located at the base of the upper and the shellback heel support are both synthetic, with the latter closely resembling rubber plastic. 

KEEN's upper technologies

When it comes to protecting users from wet elements, this shoe is imbued with a waterproofing technology exclusively by KEEN called KEEN.Dry. It is a membrane within the bootie of the footwear that also wicks away moisture from the inside. What keeps feet all nice and warm, on the other hand, is the internal component referred to as KEEN.Warm. This insulation technology is made of charcoal bamboo. 

The Summit County’s lockdown system is comprised of synthetic round laces, lace tunnels, and open hooks. Its pair of lace loops located just above the instep is part of the boot’s ankle-hugging overlay. Stitched to the mid-center of the tongue is a lace keeper which is made of the same synthetic material as the ankle lace loops. 

The KEEN Summit County's insulating feature

Charcoal bamboo, more commonly known as bamboo charcoal, is made up of pieces of oven-burnt bamboo. Treating fabric with charcoal bamboo gives it thermal insulation of up to 10 degrees Celsius.