Keen Howser Slide: first impressions
Finding a good pair of slippers to wear around around the camp can be a tough ask. As well as providing comfort and warmth, the right pair should be able to withstand unpredictable country terrain.
Keen claims its latest effort, the Howser Slides, hit the sweet spot, blending comfort and durability to provide a cozy experience around the camp and in the wilderness.
Designed with comfort in mind, the slip-on Howser Slides boast a fleece inner lining to cushion your feet and insulate from the outdoors. A sizeable toe box allows plenty of room for your forefoot while a simple bungee lock system tightens and loosens the slippers to your liking.
• List price: $79 / £65
• Weight: 9.5oz/ 269g
• Materials: Recycled P.E.T plastic / polyester
• Colors: Felt Gray/Black, Black/Black Recycled, Triple Black/Black, Ponderosa Pine/Ponderosa Pine
• Compatibility: Camping
For the past few months, I've been putting Keen’s premier camping slippers to the test. I've worn the Howser Slides outdoors in chilly temperatures, and over all manner of terrain to see how this premium pair fares.
I wore the Felt Gray/Black pair.
Keen Howser Slide: in the outdoors
Fit and comfort
There’s little worse than an uncomfortable pair of camping slippers. Ill-fitting, lacking support, or just generally painful, uncomfortable camping slippers can be a chore to wear, inducing thoughts of the indoors.
Thankfully, this was not the case with the Howser Slides.
Whether relaxing outdoors or strolling around the countryside, I found these luxury camping slippers to be exceedingly comfortable.
True to size, this pair fit exceptionally well. Slipping on with ease, the polyester body hugged my heels to keep me firmly in place without ever feeling too tight, while a generous toe box accommodated my wide feet with plenty of breathing room.
Inside the slides, a soft fleece inner lining cushioned the bridge and toes of my feet while an abrasive polyurethane insole supported the arch and heel.
Polyurethane insoles are often used in hiking and running shoes thanks to their effective cushioning and abrasion resistance. This was apparent in the Howser Slides, which proved consistently comfortable over fields, roads and steep rocky paths.
Ease of use
Although they’re a touch heavier than standard indoor slippers, the Howser Slides can still be considered lightweight camping gear. Weighing roughly 9.5oz/ 269g, they’re easily light enough to chuck in a backpack without adding much additional heft.
The bungee lock system is simple and effective, tightening your slides with the simple pull of a cord, which brings the collar together.
I rarely used the lock system in testing due to how well the Howser Slides fit. When I did, it provided a touch more stability, further securing my feet.
Taking on the elements
In addition to providing a snug and comfortable wearing experience, a good pair of camping slippers must be able to thrive on the adverse terrain you’re likely to encounter around the camp.
Keen meets this challenge head-on, with a sizeable recycled P.E.T plastic outsole, which wraps around each slipper's sides and front to shield the polyester body from damp grass and muddy fields.
For the most part, this protective outsole was very effective. Although it picked up the odd blade of grass, mud rarely made it onto the soft polyester body, which remained dry in damp grass.
Designed for walking around the camp, the outsole doesn’t feature lugs or any stability-enhancing tech. While this made slippery terrain a little trickier to navigate, the flat, flexible outsole picked up very little mud, so could easily be washed or worn inside.
The polyester body is not waterproof or water-resistant, so offers little protection from rainfall. This is a design decision rather than any defect with the product, however several camping slippers at a similar price offer far more protection from the rain.
Insulation
Tested in the daytime and at night, in temperatures ranging from freezing to 50°F / 10°C, the Howser Slides kept my feet consistently warm. Alongside their polyester body and cozy fleece lining, these slippers can keep warmth from escaping and cold wind from coming in with their adjustable bungee lock.
Price
At $79 / £65, the Keen Howser Slides are a high-end option for shuffling around the camp, comparable to top-of-the-range slippers like the ThermoBall Winter Mules from The North Face.
While they perform excellently in several areas, Keen's flagship camping slippers would be improved with the water-repellent outers of their competitors.
The Keen Howser Slides are available on the WildBounds website.
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