REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
Comfortable out of the box
Roomy toe box
Solid traction
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited support
Minimal padding
Questionable durability
Not waterproof
Floppy lacing system
Keen Zionic Speed - Women's Review
Similar to a modern trail running shoe, this hiking shoe features a super lightweight design, a very flexible performance mesh upper, and sufficient traction for groomer trail systems
Credit: Trish Matheny
RELATED: Best Hiking Shoes for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
The Keen Zionic Speed is a modern hiking shoe designed to focus on light and fast missions through a minimalist and lightweight construction. It requires no extended break-in period and offers comfort for both wide and narrow feet. Though the support is limited due to a very flexible performance mesh upper and nominal padding to reduce weight, the Zionic is perfect for hikes on well-maintained trail systems. The lack of waterproof performance can also be used to your advantage, especially for those desert hikes during the heat of summer, as the shoe offers a breathable textile lining. Sufficient traction is a plus, but we question the durability of the lightweight and soft rubber that makes up most of the outsole. If you're focused on speed and don't plan on carrying a heavy pack or getting wet, this shoe could be a great niche option for your quiver.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Keen Zionic Speed - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Versatile Performance | Most Comfortable |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best Hiking Shoe Below $100 | |
| Price | $97.17 at Amazon Compare at 4 sellers | $149.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $180.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $109.95 at Backcountry Compare at 4 sellers | $52.50 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This lightweight and affordable hiking shoe is designed to maximize speed through a stripped down and simple construction | A comfortable, high-performing hiking shoe that's versatile enough to tackle everything from well-maintained trails to technical and steep terrain | Prioritizing comfort above all else, this thoughtfully-designed hiking shoe is ready for any trail | This affordable hiking shoe offers great support for those with high arches | The lightweight design and sneaker-like feel provide ample comfort under foot |
| Rating Categories | Keen Zionic Speed -... | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | Hoka Anacapa 2 Low... | Merrell Moab 3 - Wo... | Columbia Crestwood... |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Keen Zionic Speed -... | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | Hoka Anacapa 2 Low... | Merrell Moab 3 - Wo... | Columbia Crestwood... |
| Measured Weight (per pair, size 8.5) | 1.20 lbs | 1.54 lbs | 1.52 lbs (size 8) | 1.70 lbs | 1.50 lbs |
| Upper | Performance mesh | Synthetic textile | Recycled mesh | Pigskin leather, mesh | Leather, mesh, and webbing |
| Lining | Breathable textile | Gore-Tex | GORE-TEX Invisible Fit waterproof/breathable membranes | Recycled mesh | Omni-Tech |
| Midsole | Compression-molded EVA | EVA | EVA (30% sugarcane) | Super rebound compound | Techlite |
| Outsole | Nonmarking rubber | Rubber Contagrip | Vibram Megagrip rubber | Vibram TC5 | Omni-Grip |
| Width Options | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular, wide | Regular, wide |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Keen Zionic Speed is a super light and minimalist hiker designed with speed in mind. These shoes offer comfort right out of the box, but unfortunately, the flexible upper doesn't provide a ton of support for those demanding off-trail missions. The traction of the TPU outsole is sufficient, but these shoes aren't waterproof. That said, if you're looking for a lightweight hiking shoe for lower-elevation hikes on well-maintained trails, this could be a good option for your consideration.
Performance Comparison
The Zionic Speed is a great option for those seeking a lightweight structure for well-maintained trails.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Comfort
The Zionic Speed offers immediate comfort for both narrow and wide feet. The design is similar to a minimalist trail running shoe with a roomy toe box and very limited padding around the ankle and tongue. Quick-drying linings and an odor-control treatment also help this non-waterproof shoe to be more comfortable by shedding excess moisture, making it a great option for hikes during the heat of summer at lower elevations. Keen also included their Luftcell technology, which includes a cushioned midsole with micro air pockets to help with shock absorption and rebound with every stride.
While our testing team can appreciate the limited padding within this simple design, the material used around the ankle would often grab our sock as we put on the shoe and create unnecessary friction. Though the Zionic is comfortable and doesn't require any break-in period, we found the flexible performance mesh upper to demand more from our feet — the design led to early fatigue and discomfort during our days on the trail.
Though the minimalist design showcases limited padding in exchange for a lighter weight, the toebox is big enough to support those with wider feet.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Support
Though Keen advertises the super lightweight and athletic design of the Zionic Speed as stable and supportive, our testing team found the support to be minimal and singularly focused. The removable PU insoles offer limited arch support, especially for those with high arches, and the Keen Contoured Fit technology that hugs the natural shape of the foot provides minimal support, especially for those with narrow feet.
While our testing team appreciated the stability shanks that Keen included to improve mobility and rebound on uneven surfaces, ultimately, it wasn't enough support to inspire confidence on technical terrain. The upper is simply too soft (even when including the extra runner's loop eyelet) and flexible to lock your heel in place and offer the stability needed to confidently push the pace or carry a heavy pack.
The support is limited within this flexible upper, however, we found that utilizing the additional runner's eyelet helped to lock our heel into place.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Traction
The Zionic Speed design features nimble traction complete with a 4mm multi-directional lug pattern that performs better on uniform surfaces such as slippery rock slabs versus trail debris and decomposing granite. Though the outsole offers ample performance, our testing team prefers the high-performing Vibram outsoles in the lineup that maximize stability on a variety of terrains.
Though the unique outsole performed well in most terrain, our testing team prefers a design that offers a deeper lug pattern for better control underfoot.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Water Resistance
Though the Zionic Speed does not offer a waterproof membrane nor a waterproof upper, this can be used to your advantage. For those who live at lower elevations and warmer climates, this could be the perfect hiking shoe to maintain comfort on the trails, thanks to the shoe's quick-drying liners and simple design. However, if waterproof performance is a key metric for your hiking shoe selection, the Zionic will certainly disappoint.
This shoe failed our water resistance testing when submerged, however, we found that the upper was indeed waterproof as long as the stream was shallow and didn't run over the tongue.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Weight
The Zionic Speed received the highest marks in this metric due to its incredibly lightweight design. Weighing in at only 1.2 pounds for a US women's size 8.5, this is an incredibly light hiking shoe. Unfortunately, in shedding extra ounces in the minimalist design, you also sacrifice versatility, support, waterproof performance, and optimal durability for rugged trail systems.
This shoe features one of the lightest designs that we tested.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Durability
The Zionic Speed is constructed from a combination of mesh and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) overlays that help to reduce the weight of the design but limit the shoe's ability to perform on technical trails. The toe cap is tiny, and the soft rubber that combines with the TPU rubber outsole left our team questioning how long the shoe will last on the trail.
During our extensive testing period, we noted the impact of sharp rocks on the soft rubber in addition to the low-performing toe cap that simply doesn't get the job done on demanding trails. These minimalist shoes are designed for speed; however, we're not confident in how long they will last.
The soft rubber and nominal toe cap caused long-term durability concerns amongst our testing team due to their lightweight and minimal construction.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Should You Buy the Keen Zionic Speed?
If you're interested in an affordable and lightweight hiking shoe that features a minimalist design, the Keen Zionic Speed should definitely be on your shortlist. This comfortable hiking shoe offers ample traction, out-of-the-box comfort for multiple foot shapes, and enough durability for well-maintained trail systems. That being said, it will certainly disappoint those who are seeking structure, stability, waterproof performance, and a higher-quality design that's built to last.
The Keen Zionic Speed is a good option for those looking for a lightweight and minimal design that can easily navigate well-maintained trails without the weight of a pack.
Credit: Trish Matheny
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
If you're interested in other hiking shoes that feature a lightweight, simple design, check out the Altra LP Alpine, which is similar to the Zionic Speed in terms of limited support and waterproof protection.
Though it is available at a more affordable price, our testing team favored other options that offer more in terms of waterproof performance, support, and durability.
Credit: Trish Matheny
—
Trish Matheny
You Might Also Like
