Kid’s Shoe Review: The KEEN Austin II

This blog certainly comes with its perks, though sometimes more so for the kids than for mom. Case in point: The new pair of KEEN shoes The Little Explorer has been testing out in the name of “blog research.”

Last year we shared with you our thoughts on the KEEN Jamison; this year we’re trying the KEEN Austin II. Where the Jamison was bright and flashy, the Austin II is a bit more subdued and soft spoken.

Which matches The Little Explorer’s reply when I asked him what he thought of them: “They’re good. They’d be even better if they were light up shoes, too.” I swear I don’t make this stuff up.

I think it falls to me to let you know the details, so you can decide if the KEEN Austin II might be a good option for your little explorer. Light up power or no.

KEEN Austin II features
The KEEN Austin II is a leather oxford that can easily go from the playground to the trail. A few specifics from the manufacturer:

• Leather upper with a moisture wicking insert designed to keep feet cool
• Smaller sizes feature a kid-friendly hook and loop strap closure
• Designed to handle light rain, but not puddle jumping
• Non-marking rubber outsole
• Available in dark earth/burnt orange (shown here) & black, in children’s size 8-13 and youth size 1-6
• Retails for $55

Our field test findings

• Easy for The Little Explorer (at 6 years old) to get on & off without help from a parent
• Great for hiking, bouldering, walking to school and playing with friends
• No complaints about sore feet, even after a full day of use
• Dust, dirt & scuffs give a worn-in look rather than looking destroyed
• Even after plenty of use, the tread still looks brand new
• Classic look that can easily be worn with dressy outfits or on special occasions
• Works as an everyday shoe that does equally well on our nature adventures

To buy or not to buy
For our family, spending $55 on a pair of shoes for one of the boys is tough to swallow. After all, their feet are constantly growing, so shoes rarely last more than a few months. I love KEEN for its quality, though, so we keep an eye out for sales.

That said, the KEEN Austin II is versatile and will certainly wear better than less expensive “light up” shoes. If you spend a lot of time on outdoor activities, this shoe will serve you well. And if you have a younger sibling to pass the outgrown shoes on to, you will get even more value for your money.

Note: We received a pair of KEEN Austin II shoes to field test in exchange for providing my honest review with you. Read my full disclosure policy for more information.