KEEN Akita Ankle Booties

This year KEEN moved in an wonderful new direction with wedge boots and booties.  The three new Akita style boots all give you a couple of extra inches of height and add some fashion to your look without compromising KEEN quality and comfort.  I'm so excited about the Akitas, I hope KEEN will carry on with offering options like these for those of us who refuse to wear uncomfortable (unbearable?) high heels but still want to be feminine and gain some height and sexiness.

The tall boots are fabulous, but sometimes it's too hot for a taller boot.  Enter the Akita Ankle Bootie.  They are so cute and dress up a pair of skinny jeans while still being super easy to walk in and almost as comfortable as one of their trail boots.  There is not a lot of ankle support but they still feel just fine to me.  With KEEN, you typically need to size up a half size.  My normal size is 8.5, so in KEENs I get 9's.  They're one of my favorite brands, the quality is excellent, and they keep coming up with wonderful designs. The Akitas would be a fun holiday gift, and if you bought them on Zappos, you'd still have plenty of time to get them before the 25th. 

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KEEN's Sexy New Fall Boots

Fall is here and it's time for new boots.  Keen has something exciting this year, the AKITA HIGH BOOT which gives you some height with a stylish wedge heel.  It's made with cork for increased  comfort, and adds some sexiness while still keeping up with Keen function.  The side zip makes for easy on and off and there's a cute little accent on the back of the heel. 

The Akita is great for skirts, dresses and skinny jeans.  This boot runs true to Keen sizing, a standard 8.5 would typically size up to a 9.  Normally, I shy away from heels, but these are doable, I and was so excited to see KEEN sass it up a bit.  These are great for those of us who insist on being comfortable but still want to look good.  I needed an insole for this to feel right on my arch (I always do with any sort of heel), so don't give up right away if it doesn't feel right, try insoles to make it work for you. The brown is rustic and the black is sleek, perfect for Autumn adventures.  Find them HERE. 

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KEEN Newport H2

I'm a huge fan of KEEN, and have been wearing them for what, about eight years now.  They are one of my top favorite brands because one--I can't wear a pair out, and two--they're as cute as they are comfortable.  Having said that, I have never tried their flagship shoe--the Newport Sandal.  Honestly, I never thought they were KEEN's best looking style.

But, last year I got my son a pair and after seeing them on him every day they really started to grow on me, they really are very cute!  This year I discovered that KEEN has a washable version--the leather free NEWPORT H2.  You can just throw them in the wash, fabulous!  How perfect for all the Summer activities like wading around in water, kayaking, frog catching, puddle stomping, etc.

They're perfect for in between weather too, when flip flops are too little, but a shoe is overkill. These are the perfect Summer hybrid of sandal-shoe-hiking boot. The soles are beefy and shock absorbing and you can hit the trails in these (light trails).  They're versatility lends itself to travel.  Really great Summer shoe, find it HERE. Remember to order up a half size with most KEEN shoes.

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KEEN Alameda Bag

The Keen Alameda Bag is an awesome laptop messenger bag perfect for school and travel and daily activities.  I've been using this as an alternative to my backpack and I love it.  It holds a ton of stuff without being unwieldy.

My laptop fits great in the soft padded computer pocket, it holds my food--like a full lunch and emergency snacks, there's a place for a water bottle, and there's plenty of space for a sweater or jacket.  There's a toggle for your keys, padded compartments for electronics like a camera or mp3 player, and I  love the little pocket on the strap which holds my cell phone at close reach.

It's well made and durable and super cute.  There are a lot of details that I really appreciate, such as a recycled rubber bottom, nice for when you're on the bus and set the bag down on the floor.  I like the recycled metal clasp which allows you to adjust the length of the lightly padded strap.   And the outer zippered compartment makes for quick access to necessities like sunglasses or wallet.  The magnetic closure is also a nice touch.  The only thing I'm not wild about is the U-shaped inner zipper because I have to take off the bag to open it.  Not a big deal though since there's that outer zipper pocket for important stuff.

I love the messenger bag look and I love Keen, so I'm very fond of the Alameda bag.  It's a good looking, multi purpose, high functioning bag that should last forever.  Find it HERE.

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