How Keen’s Non-Dorky Hiking Shoes Became My Favorite Everyday Kicks

I discovered Keen by way of the shoe brand’s ugly-but-comfy Uneek sandals—the perfect solution for anyone who, like me, believes that a man’s feet should feel a breeze, but never see the sunlight. Today, though, I’m here to sing the praises of the brand’s newer Jasper Zionic, a banger everyday sneaker from an unlikely source.

If you’re only vaguely aware of Keen, it’s because you’ve seen the cultishly-beloved brand’s signature chunky rubber toe cap on some of the crunchiest people you know. Founded in 2003 in Portland (Oregon), Keen broke big among the outdoor set with the Newport sandal, which looked like a hiking boot that someone went to town on with an Xacto knife. But the Jasper Zionic’s bloodline starts later, with the original Jasper, which arrived in 2008 as Keen’s first attempt at a shoe that could go from crag to corner store with ease. I grabbed a pair of the O.G. Jaspers two years ago, but I’m here to tell you that the Jasper Zionic is Keen’s big leap forward for menswear-kind.

Released late in 2024, the Zionic takes what I loved about the original—a simple shape, sturdy suede, and lockdown lacing for a snug fit—while swapping the low-profile climbing sole for off-road hiking mode. The new shoe gets a literal leg up thanks to high-traction rubber wearing sharp lugs and a stability shank to keep rocks and roots from bruising your instep. (The Zionic is also a bit more snug than the regular Jasper; I sized down to a 9.5, and could’ve gone with a 9, but was swapping in my own, thicker insole.)

Courtesy of Leon Hedgepeth

Courtesy of Leon Hedgepeth

Here’s the thing, though: I don’t plan to use the Zionic to thru-hike the Pacific Coast Trail. I’m interested in getting fits off. Much as Keen’s clay-red collab with Brooklyn-based Pilgrim Surf Supply caught my eye, I opted for the gray-over-black (technically “magnet/vapor”) colorway from the standard earth-tone-inspired offerings. I’ve been proven right, in that the gray works with just about everything in my closet.

From a piqué polo over nylon hiking shorts to more casual date-night wear, the Zionic’s anchored a solid variety of fits. And just the other night I eagerly wore them on a trail with my young son—they understandably held up like champs stomping through brush, rocks, and water. Even if most days the closest I get to “granola” is sprinkling it over my yogurt, it’s nice to know my sneakers aren’t as soft as my hands.