At the Active Traveller office we’re often looking for quality products from quality manufacturers built for pounding the pavements rather than the trails.
So, what do you do when you don’t want to look like you’ve just been climbing Kilimanjaro but do want footwear with the same kind of quality you’re used to from specialist outdoor brands?
You start by looking at those brands’ casual ranges – which is where we found the Reisen Chukka.
The Reisen’s outer is crafted from a soft full-grain leather, which looks great but is unfortunately not as good for repelling water. To be fair though, Keen does class these shoes as being ‘splash-proof’ but ‘not for puddles’!
As with any leather shoe, if you really want to go jumping in puddles you can always improve the shoe’s waterproofing qualities, by applying a leather waterproofing treatment such as Nikwax’s Waterproofing Wax for Leather.
The anatomically correct removable recycled foam footbed, along with the PU midsole, cradles, supports and cushions the foot well – you’re clearly getting some of Keen’s outdoor shoe expertise filtering through here.
The Reisen’s soles offer plenty of grip for the urban jungle but given their intended use, it would be unfair to subject them to more challenging trekking terrain.
The cost of the Reisen Chukka could be considered quite high for a casual shoe but the build quality and Keen’s background in walking and hiking boots is enough to reassure us that it will continue to be a worthy investment.
