Following three years of development and over five thousand miles of testing, KEEN unveils the WK400, a revolutionary shoe designed specifically to make walking more enjoyable and fun. People are walking more than ever before, and the benefits are expansive. Walking heals. It builds relationships. It improves health and reduces stress. It encourages creativity. Above all, it is a catalyst for change and standing up for what is right.
Four years ago, KEEN’s Global Product Innovation Creative Director, Rory Fuerst Jr., suffered a traumatic skiing accident that left him unable to walk for several months. Along his road to recovery, he found himself depressed and in a deep fog. As an accomplished athlete he never considered walking important, but four months into his recovery he discovered walking was much more than a means to get around. Walking brought him out of his fog and saved his life. This experience inspired him to share the power of walking with the world and has served as the catalyst for KEEN’s latest innovation, one that is revolutionizing walking footwear.
With the help of a long-time friend, career footwear innovator and Ph.D. in Physics and Environmental Science, Ciro Fusco, Rory Jr. started digging into the science of walking. In biomechanical lab studies, KEEN discovered that the body and legs act as a pendulum which causes the foot to move in a constant arc when walking — a pattern that is uniquely different from a runner’s stride, which is more like a spring loading — and one that existing shoes fail to facilitate. To enhance this constant arc, KEEN created its patent-pending KEEN.CURVE™ technology. This technology combines constant curve geometry, underfoot plate technology, and a high-energy midsole to create a unique feeling of forward momentum that makes walking feel like rolling. Additionally, a generous 30mm toe spring gives an exceptionally smooth and easy transition from heel strike through to toe-off, making every step feel easier. A 10mm last drop between the heel and forefoot further promotes forward momentum in your gait, while also aiding stability.
