Keen is a relatively young shoe manufacturing company based in Oregon, having only been established since 2003. Yet, during this short stint, they have grown to be one of the most respected company out there, with a lot of excellent products available in the market. Today, we will do a review of a pair of Keen steel toe shoes product, namely the Milwaukee MP.
The Keen steel toe shoes Milwaukee MP is a 6", therefore, a mid-height steel toe boot. Regarding looks, the Milwaukee MP sports a classic Doc Marten looks with more rugged, aggressive touches.
So, how will we approach the review? Because the Milwaukee MP is a steel toe shoes with protection as its purpose, it will be one of the main criteria. Comfort and performance, of course, are also important points of discussion. Below, we will discuss each of those several aspects along with additional ones. However, let us begin by discussing the key features and technical specifications of the Milwaukee MP Keen steel toe shoes.
Image Credit: Keen
This technology allows the Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes to be waterproof, yet still lets breathability.
The toe protection on the Milwaukee not only comes from the steel toe, but also from the outsoles itself. The outsoles will wrap over the toes for further protection.
The problem with most steel toe shoes available in the market is that the left and right steel toe protections are not ergonomically correct. In Keen steel toe shoes, the toe protections are asymmetrical and ergonomics. This feature not only allows better protection but provides a more spacious toe box and better comfort. Not to mention, the steel toe protections met all the industry standards.
The upper protection of the Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes is a fully waterproof, full-grain leather. The rubber outsoles are both oil and slip resistant, and the lining is tempered with Keen's hydrophobic/hydrophilic 2-zone comfort technology.
After we have understood the key features of the Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes, let us review each aspect of the Milwaukee.
Image Credit:Keen
As discussed, for steel toe shoe products, the most important factor we should discuss is the protection features. The steel toe protection of all Keen steel toe shoes meets the ASTM standard, which means they met the industry standard for impact and crush protection. The heels of the Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes are also protected with a tough and abrasion-resistant material.
The soles also met the ASTM standards for puncture resistant, and last but not least, although the Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes are fully waterproof, they are still breathable and can let the vapors out.
Our verdict? Excellent protections on all fronts.
Image Credit: Keen
The Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes are extremely comfortable on the first try. The asymmetric toe boxes feature plays a big part for its comfort because they are more ergonomics compared to other steel toe boots out there. Although the toe boxes seem bulky, the bigger space means your toes will not meet the outside edges, which often causes discomfort. Yet, although it is roomy and spacious, it doesn't feel loose.
The footbed utilize a dual-density technology so that it is soft but does not feel fragile and squishy. Again, it is designed to be ergonomic to your feet, adding further comfort. In most steel toe boots, you will need to use thick socks to compensate the comfort of fit, but you won't need that with the Milwaukee.
The heel is relatively low with very nice midfoot support, so overall, the comfort experience of the Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes is again, excellent.
The rubber sole is designed to be oil and slip resistant, so the Milwaukee can still offer great traction on hard, wet, and even oily surfaces. The locking feature of the speed laces is also great, keeping the laces from being loose. One minor downside is that the Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes are relatively on the heavier side, which might be an issue for some.
As with most Keen steel toe shoes, the Milwaukee is not exactly the cheapest. However, considering most high-end work boots offering similar value in protection and comfort can be over $200 in the price range, the Milwaukee provides great overall value.
Conclusion and Final Verdict
On a scale of 5 stars being the best possible rating we can give, here are how we rate each aspect of the Milwaukee Keen steel toe shoes.
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Protection:: 5 out of 5
Price/Value: 4 out of 5
Durability: 5 out of 5
Final score: 4.6 out of 5
The Milwaukee Keen Steel toe shoes is an excellent pair both in terms of protection and comfort. For its price, it offers great value in durability and features comparable, or even better compared with more expensive steel toe shoes available in the market today.
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