Keen für Herren

Island. In 2003, the first Keen sandals and shoes, with a black protective toe cap, went into production. Keen initially found a niche market in sailing and other outdoor and aquatic activities, and offered products for many outdoor activities as well as lifestyle footwear. It later expanded into a variety of styles, casual and cold weather footwear, bags and apparel, including safety work shoes, such as Keen Utility Tacoma work boots.

Designers were inspired to create a sandal that would also protect the toes. The answer was the Newport, which was Keen Inc's first shoe: "From Newport, created a Keen company based on hybrid innovation, redefining nature and giving back to the community."

In response to the 2004 Asian tsunami, Keen joined the relief effort by withdrawing its $1 million advertising budget and diverting it to disaster relief. This has evolved into the long-term Hybrid.Care programme, where the company partners with like-minded organisations including The Conservation Alliance, 1 KG More, Leave No Trace and Big City Mountaineers. Keen Utility, through its non-profit partnerships in the Project Build programme, has helped veterans, provided protective footwear to people in need and supported the work of conservation corps across the country.