Wan·der·lust [won-der-luhst] noun a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.
The sound of mountain streams recently revived with melting snow thunder in the distance. Trees with fresh blossoms transform your favorite trails, and slender blades of green begin breaking through the ground. It’s Spring, and the great outdoors is beckoning… so it’s time to gear up and head out to meet her head on. Before you head out and tackle the trail, make sure you’re prepared with quality equipment. Luckily for you, KEEN is making it easy to check off three of the essential pieces on your day hiking checklist.
KEEN Equipped…
We abide by the 10 essentials for every excursion into the outdoors. That being said, what the 10 essentials list doesn’t cover is three of the foundational pieces for any day hike: 1) Quality hiking boots; 2) Durable and comfortable socks, and 3) A backpack to bring in everything else you’ll need for your day of exploration. Towards those ends, KEEN sent out their Verdi Mid hiking boots, Ellwood daypack and Olympus socks. Our mission… put them through the paces in the great outdoors.
The KEEN Verdi Mid…
When it comes to footwear for your Spring and Summer adventures, KEEN has got you covered. The new Verdi Mid Waterproof hiking boot (available in men‘s and women‘s) is a rugged and versatile go-anywhere hiker that proves you can have a durable day hiker without lugging around a bunch of unnecessary weight.
A rugged mesh upper with leather overlays resists abrasion while encouraging ventilation to keep you light on your feet. Since you’ll be moving as quick as the breeze through the trees, you can rely upon the Verdi’s bomb-proof sole to take on all obstacles underfoot making this a multi-season shoe that weathers the use and abuse of an active lifestyle.
Because the KEEN design team crafted this hiker to mimic the way people play outside, they didn’t sacrifice comfort when endowing this boot with mountain-ready toughness. Compression molded dual-density EVA midsole relieves joint pressure throughout the stride cycle while internal torsion stability heel and TPU arch shank provides excellent support during activity. As you’re out breaking new ground, free to stomp a few puddles too, since this boot comes equipped with a proprietary KEEN.DRY waterproofing system.
The Indestructible KEEN Olympus Sock…
Here’s the important part – just because you’ve got a stellar pair of boots doesn’t mean you can ignore the interface between your foot and the boot you slip on. Towards those ends your old cotton socks are about to become very envious of all the time you spend with your new KEEN Olympus socks.
After spending several weeks with these new KEEN hiking socks, we could rave about the seamless construction or brag about the stellar asymmetrical right and left fit. Our team could even testify to the added comfort provided by the under toe Wundersteam that eliminates bunching and irritation or the ventilated mesh panels that keep your feet cool under pressure. But at the end of the day, none of those features are what make these socks worthy of being worn by deities on Mount Olympus (that’s a greek mythology reference people… keep up now).
The secret to the Olympus socks is KEEN Dura-Zone, a thread that is 15x stronger than steel (on a weight to weight basis). The result is a sock that perfectly blends comfort and durability and is ready to hike through this season, and the next, and… well, you get the point. Simply put, you can just refer to it as the toughest damn socks to ever come off an assembly line. Keen is so serious about its claims of indestructability, the Olympus will come with a lifetime guarantee.
The KEEN Ellwood Backpack…
Whether your plans involve an assault of the trail or the urban jungle, the Ellwood doesn’t discriminate. This do-it-all daypack offers 35 liters of carrying capacity so there’s ample room to stash away your jacket, food and even an extra pair of sandals for the base of the falls you’ve been scouting.
With comfort underfoot and big storage on your back, you’re going to get thirsty, which is why the Ellwood also has an additional sleeve to house any of your favorite 3L reservoirs. For your more urban-centric adventures, the sleeve is padded to accommodate a 15 inch laptop. 5 internal organizer pockets ensure that your maps, first aid, sun protection, multi-tools all have a little place to call home. This pack also has a few extra features you’ll love. Specifically our team enjoyed the stash-and-go weatherproof back pocket and we were impressed with how often the exterior grab handles proved to be extremely useful.
When the weather warms up, the KEEN Topo Foam backpanel allows air to move, keeping the you cool and comfortable. While we’re on the topic of comfort, you’ll appreciate the wishbone yoke straps that evenly distribute the load across the shoulders for added comfort. While the pack feels slightly stiff out of the box, the Ellwood will surprise you with just how comfortable it can be.
Notes from the Trail…
Despite the array of positive features offered by the Ellwood, there are a few drawbacks worth pointing out. While 2.5 pounds isn’t extraordinarily heavy, this pack is bulkier and stiffer than most daypacks, and we image most mountainistas will be better off opting for one of the smaller KEEN daypacks. Additionally, while the Ellwood is hydration compatible, KEEN didn’t include a dedicated port for the hydration hose . Considering those points, the Ellwood isn’t our first choice for stricly outdoor adventures. However, what we did love about the Ellwood is that it’s the perfect blend of urban functionality and outdoors revelry. Towards those ends, it’s become our daily commuter ready to move seamlessly from work to the woods and back again.
Bottom Line…
When it comes to your outdoor excursions, carrying the Ten Essentials is a smart move. When it comes to the gear you need to get you into the outdoors, check out what KEEN has to offer and satisfy your wanderlust with comfortable gear that’s built to last. You won’t be disappointed, and your adventures will be well served.
*Gumption Gear Review received the product samples featured in this review from KEEN. The items featured were provided solely in exchange for testing the products and providing our honest views and opinions. We received no other form of compensation for this or any related review.