Embracing the less is more movement, KEEN has officially taken their innovative approach to footwear and applied it to the minimalist frontier. With the introduction of the new KEEN CNX collection, KEEN brings their unique style and fresh thinking to lightweight footwear while never losing sight of the traditional KEEN fit and protection. Think of it as minimalist footwear with a KEEN flare.
Whether it’s freedom of movement, or a pair of shoes to keep stowed for when bare isn’t possible, consider the Tunari your getaway from ordinary shoe. Lightweight with a low heel drop and light internal support, the Tunari puts your foot in a more natural position and eliminates the bulky feeling caused by traditional, heavily cushioned hikers or trail running shoes. The result? A durable and versatile minimalist multi-sport shoe ready to help tackle all of your Spring and Summer adventures.
On Performance and Design…
So what makes this new minimalist shoe from KEEN a happy home for adventurous feet? Think of the Tunari’s design as a multi-layered cake, composed of thoughtful design leading to a comfortable fit.
The foundation of the Tunari is a 4mm heel-toe offset placing the foot in a more natural position while still providing the cushioning, protection and traction naked feet can’t offer. That traction is courtesy of KEEN’s multi-directional flex grooves with razor siping to provide freedom of motion and solid grip contact with the ground.
The next layer is the tried and true KEEN fit with a metatarsal ridge, contoured arch, secured heel and underfoot structure that provides more protection and support than other minimalist shoes in this category.
And what’s a cake without buttery smooth icing? In the same way the KEEN design team topped off the Tunari CNX is topped off with sturdy synthetic textile uppers bonded to soft, seamless microfiber linings to provide the user with a close, comfortable fit with or without socks.
All the while, toes are protected by the legendary KEEN toe guard. After all, just because you’re feet are closer to the ground doesn’t mean that you should sacrifice feet and toes to trail troublemakers.
What Our Testers Love…
For those who have fully embraced the “back to basics” revolution, it can be an odd sensation to go from a zero-drop gym shoe, to a bulky hiking boot that borders on a pair of 1970’s platform shoes. The KEEN Tunari CNX is a quality alternative that let’s you take on the terrain in the minimalist styled footwear your body has come to crave. This is one shoe that you’ll appreciate having doorside ready and willing to tackle the outside world.
It should be noted that the Tunari CNX has a stiffer sole than some minimalist trail running shoes, and even other “multi-sport” minimalist shoes (for example the Altra Samson/Delilah). The flip side is that the Tunari offers more underfoot protection while still remaining light and agile. In fact, we found that the Tunari CNX protects the foot from rocks and underfoot debris more than some trail runners with an internal rockplate that our team has tested. All told, the result is a solid performer for light day hiking or urban traversing all while providing an enhanced connection to the terrain underfoot.
Bottom Line…
The more you wear it, the more you’ll love it. The Tunari CNX offers durable multi-sport versatility for all of your off, and on trail adventures without sacrificing your connection to the world underfoot.
*Gumption Gear Review received the product sample featured in this review from KEEN. The item featured was provided solely in exchange for testing the product and providing our honest views and opinions. We received no other form of compensation for this or any related review.