Having recently had a good experience with the hiking boots, I was keen (sorry) to try the brand's new water/beach shoes, as my favorite outdoor pursuits are mainly water-based. The Hyperport H2 is a revamped, lighter version of the Keen Newport H2 shandal, with more sole cushioning and a touch of extra heel protection from the poly-knit lining, to save you from scraping your ankles on rock pools, stones and shingle. So how did the Keen Hyperport H2s measure up to the ? Here’s how they performed on test: I first put these shoes through their paces in north Devon, hiking easy trails between beaches along the coastline, stomping across the sand in them, and wandering between rock pools.
Previously I’ve worn more traditional hiking sandals for these kinds of adventures, but have found them not quite up to the task, due to the lack of toe protection, heel slippage, and of course the incursion of trail debris. By contrast, the Hyperport design, with its enclosed toe and chunky bumper, did a fine job of saving me from painful stubs. The upper is made from webbing straps, stitched onto a stretch polyester lining, with a foam inner sole that Keen says is shock-absorbing.
The lining does not enclose the foot fully so there's still the risk of trail debris getting in, but the gaps in the lining are fairly small and it didn't prove to be in issue when wearing them on rocky trails. The midsole is injected foam, which provides a lot of shock absorption and a fairly bouncy ride. Betwee.
