How KEEN's New Trail Running Shoes Were Born From Hiking Boot DNA

Author

Tanner Bowden

Photographer

Field Mag & KEEN

With two new trail runners named Seek & Roam, the Portland-based brand builds on two decades of footwear design to evolve how it shows up on trail

Published: 12-03-2025

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For as long as there have been trails there have been innovations in what humans wear on them. From plant matter to animal hides to the hulking, heavy leather hiking boots of Cheryl Strayed fame, and now, the evolution has perhaps culminated in the trail shoe. Today, everyone’s a runner. Even the thru-hikers. And we’re all wearing trail runners (according to the Pacific Crest Trail’s 2024 thru-hiker survey, 95% of respondents wore low-top trail shoes). Built on the backbone of generations of hiking boot R&D, modern, lightweight trail shoes deliver stability, traction, and adaptability. Take Seek and Roam for example, two new trail running shoes recently released by Portland, Oregon’s own KEEN. The brand’s first foray into trail running didn’t come out of nowhere. Instead, from 20 years of on-trail experience.

Best known for its lovably ugly—and functional and PFAS-free—sandals and hiking boots, KEEN is no stranger to trails. So it's no shocker that the brand's first trail running shoes have been met with encouraging initial reviews. Including from our own Field Mag testers. “Testing on a range of road conditions, I was impressed with how adaptive the Roam seemed to be early on,” shares FM run contributor Katalina Aurora. “In New York, a regular run can take you through street traffic to asphalt tracks and dirt trails, requiring weaving and bobbing to avoid tourists and other runners. The Roam handled all of it—steady and grounded.”

The Seek and Roam both feature sleek modern styling built upon all the cult brand’s design team has learned about creating trail icons like the Targhee and Newport. Fittingly, some of the features found in the new running shoes are drawn directly from the DNA of other KEEN models; like super-grippy outsoles with multi-directional lugs made of KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN Traction rubber, and the company's Original Fit toebox, which is shaped to allow room for toe splay.

New features, like KEEN's lightweight and responsive QuantumFoam midsole cushioning, were developed through a rigorous development process. Over a period of two years KEEN worked with trail runners across the US to dial in the new running shoes' fit and performance. The Seek went through 12 prototype models before KEEN's designers and testers—who put hundreds of miles on various iterations—gave the shoe the final stamp of approval.

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These ingredients of experience and commitment to the development process have turned out debut models that aren't only up to par with an increasingly impressive class of trail running shoes, but also meet a growing group of trail-goers looking for more versatility out of their gear. People who hike, fast-pack, and set out on fast-and-light excursions increasingly want shoes that bridge hiking-boot protection and trail-running agility. Responsive and nimble, the Seek is made to move quickly on technical trails while the Roam is designed to handle roads, trails, and the gravel in between, because KEEN knows that not all adventures happen above treeline.

“While training for the New York marathon, I tested the Roam all around the city,” continues Aurora. “Throughout, the midsole provided cushion without eliminating ground feel, and the breathable mesh kept my dogs from barking even on proper long days."

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We've been putting miles on both models for the past few months from Field Mag's home base in NYC, where (despite the concrete jungle reputation) a single run can traverse sidewalk, bike line, gravel path, and true-to-form trail without the miles climbing into double digits. From Central Park to Van Cortlandt uptown and the aptly named Forest Park in Queens, we found the Roam to deliver comfort and a precise fit right out of the box, making the transition from subway platform and sidewalk to gravel and dirt seamlessly.

Both shoes firmly adhere to KEEN's vision of sustainability, too. The materials used to make the Seek and Roam have been ethically sourced, neither contain PFAS or other forever chemicals, and even the anti-odor finish was made eco-friendly by avoiding the use of pesticides. On top of all that, the new running shoes follow KEEN's philosophy that sustainability is achieved through durability—the KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN Traction outsoles on both models are rated up to 925 miles until worn smoothly. If you put that many miles on them, you deserve a medal.

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We're big fans of KEEN over here at FM; peep our other stories like this feature on the Hightrail hiking shoe