November, 2016: The Alamosa WP is Discontinued
REASONS TO BUY
More stylish look than other Keen shoes
Protective toe bumper
Lightweight and comfortable
More durable sole than other Keens
REASONS TO AVOID
Runs a little short for their size
Keen Alamosa WP- Women's Review
Keen Alamosa - Women's
Credit: Keen
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
A lightweight hiking shoe with a roomy toe box and a waterproof lining, the Alamosa are comfortable and protective.
Performance Comparison
Sarah Hegg wearing the Keen Alamosa around camp. These shoes are very light (1.59 lbs/pair) and immediately comfortable.
Credit: McKenzie Long
Weight
At 1.59 lbs per pair, the Alamosas are the next lightest hiking shoes to the Salomon X-Overs and the Merrell Siren Sport 2 - Women's.
Comfort
A lightweight shoe that holds your foot securely, the Alamosa feels great to wear. They run a little short in length compared to other shoes of their size, which is not ideal for hiking, but if you try them on first you can ensure to get a proper fit. They are narrower and have less room in the toe box than the Keen Voyageur, so would be better for women with narrow feet.
Support
With a torsion stability shank, these shoes provide great support for such a light shoe.
Traction
The soles on the Alamosas have 4mm lugs, which is pretty deep, and provides great traction. As an added benefit, the outside center of the sole under the bridge of the foot has extra hard plastic covering the exposed EVA of the sole. The Voyageurs and Targhee II's do not have this feature, and that part of the sole wears out first. This extra piece looks as if it will extend the life of the sole somewhat.
Durability
Like all Keen shoes, the Alamosas have a protective toe bumper, which adds life to the shoe and keeps you from nailing your toe on a rock. The problem is that it is not the most attractive look. Our female reviewers are not a huge fan of the looks of the Keen Voyageur - Women's. The great thing about the Alamosas is that the toe bumper, while still adding protection and durability, is slimmed down and looks much more stylish. One of our female testers had owned numerous pairs of Keen hiking shoes and boots previously, and she loved the look and feel of the Alamosas.
Water Resistance / Breathability
The Alamosas are lined with the Keen Dry waterproof membrane, which works well to keep out water and moisture.
Best Application
Lightweight, stylish, durable, and supportive, these shoes could do just about anything. They excel on longer day hikes, but would work well for light backpacking too.
Value
For $120, these are slightly below average in cost, making them a good deal for a light hiking and camping shoe. This model is now frequently found on closeout, which makes them an even better deal. If you can't find these shoes, consider either the similarly styled Keen Voyageur or another waterproof hiking shoe like the Salomon Ellipse - Women's.
—
McKenzie Long
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