Ahnu Reyes Sandals
Ahnu Reyes Sandals - A decent Keen Alternitive.
As I have said many times in the past, I am not a huge fan of Keen shoes r sandals. That isn’t to say they are bad by any means. I am just more of a Chaco sandals kind of guy. Having said that, there are a few things that I don’t like about the Keen sandals designs, as well as other similar design shoe/sandal hybrids. Oddly enough, many of the features I dislike in these sort of shoes have been addressed in the Ahnu Reyes Sandals. I don’t know if these features are enough to make me give up my Chacos, but they are enough to get me to buy them over a pair of Keens for sure.
One of the things I always disliked about the Keen sandals was their lacing system. The cord that fed through the lace holes is a semi-bungee like. In my experience, this bungee lace gets stretched out over time. Eventually it looses its stretchyness and defeats the purpose of it being there almost completely. The Ahnu Reyes Sandals on the other hand has got rid of the bungee lace idea all together. In stead, they use piece of webbing and a locking mechanism similar to that found on Chacos. Assuming that the eyelets that this webbing feeds through are tough, I think this is the ultimate solution for lacing systems on these sorts of shoes/sandals.
The other thing that I really hated about Keen sandals was that they always smelled bad. As a raft guide, my feet would constantly be submerged in river water. Combine this with sweating feet and you get all kinds of funky smells down there. For whatever reason, Keens seem to hold in these smalls. The pay no attention to the crappy ass header graphic. Had to design around it on the other hand use a different type of lining and antimicrobial materials that seem to work better.
The quick & dirty:
Where you can get one:
Amazon.com: $71
Why they rock:
- QuiteLight construction principles throughout the shoes center on superior comfort and materials with exceptional strength-to-weight ratios
- Perforated, polyester mesh uppers with cross vents are highly breathable and dry quickly; nylon webbing and toe bumpers provide structure and protection
- Lined, stretch thermoplastic urethane heel structures cradle heels for a secure fit; heel and toe loops aid entry
- Single-pull QuiteLight lace system uses light but strong webbing to disperse load and alleviate pressure often found with conventional laces
- Webbing laces secure with an Ahnumatic positive-lock cam buckle for unique single-handed adjustability
- Tech-Dry linings are made of a recycled polyester and charred bamboo blend to offer naturally antimicrobial and moisture-wicking properties
- Lightweight, compression-molded EVA midsoles provide shock absorption and cushioning comfort
- Outsole-integrated thermoplastic urethane shanks and arch supports offer midfoot stability and torsional rigidity
- Nonmarking rubber outsoles with cross-directional lug pattern offer optimal traction in the forefeet and braking in the rear
- Self-cleaning 4mm outsole lugs provide a balanced ratio of surface contact to tread depth for both bite and non-slip traction
Seat-of-the-pants rating: 9 out of 10
Like I said, I really like the Ahnu Reyes Sandals way better than Keen sandals and similar designs. But, I’m not sure that I would ever buy them unless a certain trip called for it. Maybe I am an old school raft guide, but I’m just used to doing everything in a pair of Chacos. But for those of you who aren’t old school raft guides and want a sandal with more protection and features, I would highly suggest the Ahnu Reyes Sandals.
Looking to Buy? Check out these sites:
Amazon.com: $71