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KEEN has been continuing to update and expand their line of bike specific shoes. The KEEN Springwater II Biking Shoe is no exception. At home on the trail or the commute, the Springwater will give you year-round performance.
KEEN Springwater II Biking Shoe Features
- Upper: Leather, synthetic and mesh
- Hook-and-loop closure
- Full-length SPD compatible plate
- Removable insole
- Midsole: EVA
- TPU cleat cap plate
- Removable metatomical footbed
- Use: Cycling
- Outsole: Non-marking rubber
- Fit Tip: Keen advises this style runs about a 1/2 size small
- Weight: 18.72 oz
- Price: $99.95
KEEN Springwater II Biking Shoe Review
The KEEN Springwater II Biking Shoe is a versatile shoe at a great price point. It provides good performance for the money and has held up well over a summer of daily bike commutes and other rides.
On the performance side the Springwater II does well. The combination of the stiff, EVA midsole and triple velcro straps provides good power transfer to the pedals. It’s not going to be all-star performance, but then again it’s not made to be an all-star shoe. As a bike commuting shoe or a recreational MTB shoe, it performs well.
I’ve found conflicting info on sizing. A little bit of research found that KEEN advises to size up a half size but this wasn’t the case for me. I typically wear an 11 and the size 11 fit me perfectly.
The lugged sole provided good traction in the dirt and sand for the times when pedaling wasn’t an option.
Riding comfort was high. The shoe has some nice padding in the upper. This does make the shoe “warmer” on hot days but is great on cool mornings. I also think it’s going to do well on dry, winter commute days.
My big complaint is with the velcro enclosures. I have a “normal” volume foot. To get a snug fit, I had to cinch the straps down so tight and practically ran out of velcro. The two lower straps are held on by maybe a half-inch. This has led to considerable fraying of the end of the closure with the rest of the strap practically brand new (see pic to the right).
My other complaint is the shoe is very bulky. It’s a very wide shoe. I couldn’t find a performance disadvantage to this but it’s worth noting.
The Good
- Great shoe for the price
- Comfortable
- Sole is long-lasting and provides good traction
The Bad
- Straps are too long and velcro is too short
- Bulky
Bottom Line:
For the money, the KEEN Springwater II Biking Shoe is a strong performer and a great buy.
Buy Now: Pick up the KEEN Springwater II Biking Shoe
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