Keen Isabella Slide : Slippers You Won’t Want to Waste on Your PJs

The Keen Isabella Slide feels like a slipper, but I wouldn’t waste it on my pajamas. This is a shoe I can wear day or night, with shorts, pants, or a skirt. I also think it’s a particularly good shoe to pack on my next adventure to Italy.

Traction and Comfort 

The most notable feature of this sandal is comfort. Keen's thick foam footbed is densely cushioned, which near as I can tell translates into a cloud-like walking surface. Just padding around my house, I was surprised at how comfortable my soles felt. Of course, I needed to put my Keens to a tougher test.

As luck would have it, March brought snow to Minnesota. With foot-deep snow everywhere I knew my Isabella Slides didn’t stand a chance (after all, they're shoes meant to be seen, not trekking boots). So I assaulted the most hostile winter walking environment I could find:  the mall.

The rubber sole was not only tough enough to cushion my feet, it gave great traction (a necessity indoors because of all the snow that gets tracked in). I liked the huarache weave; it prevented my feet from getting too hot. I also like the Keens signature rubber tip. It gives me a closed-toe shoe that can survive light rain and crossing puddles in the parking lot.

Travel Light 

I'm off to Italy in May, and my slides will be the only shoes I'll pack, along with a pair of hiking boots. I know they'll keep my feet happy during the long hours of walking. An added bonus: they'll thin and light, so won’t weigh down my feet or my suitcase. I could even slip them in my overnight carry-on for a weekend jaunt.

I usually buy shoes for travel a few weeks early. Then I suffer through a few rounds of blisters before my shoes are just right for wandering. Not so with my Keens. I was able to take my Isabella Slides right out of the box and put them to work. No break-in time necessary.

Sizing and Stylin’ 

I love that Isabella Slide comes in colors that I would only buy because they look great – like purple and lime green. I have the garnet, which I like, but if I got a second pair I’d go for the green. I found these shoes to run about a 1/2 size small.

Bottom Line: Comfortable enough to be a wardrobe staple. Light enough to travel well. And what’s not to like about six color choices (black, green, purple, garnet, syrup, carmelite)?--M.B. (April '06)

Price: $84.00-$95.95 depending on color selection

Manufacturer's Site: www.keenfootwear.com

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