Keen Drift Creek H2 sandals review: breathable, comfortable, robust and even (gasp) cool

Meet the reviewer

Keen Drift Creek H2: first impressions

Keen are the masters of making good, properly protective sandals for use on the trails and in the waves, and having used multiple models of the American brand’s footwear in the past – from hiking boots and walking shoes through to kayaking clogs – my expectations for the Keen Drift Creek H2s were pretty high.

Once I got my hands (sorry, feet) on them, I quickly realized that – as with many Keen products (and as heavily hinted at in the name) – the Drift Creek H2s naturally work both as hiking sandals for walks and treks in the summer months, and also as water shoes , for use on the beach and on rock-hopping coastal adventures, plus kayaking and standup paddling escapades.

Keen Drift Creek H2: design and materials

• List price: $100 (US) / £85 (UK) / €95 (EU)
• Gender specificity: Men’s and Women’s versions
• Weight: Men’s: 265g / 9.35oz; Women’s: 208g / 7.34oz
• Materials: Webbing upper (made with recycled plastic bottles); EVA insole, KEEN.FUSION rubber outsole
• Colors: Men’s: Black / Dark Olive & Black / Sky Captain & Magnet; Women’s: Black / Plaza Taupe & Tarragon / Vapor & Porcelain / Fawn & Brindle
• Compatibility: Summer hiking, trekking, coasteering, SUPing, kayaking, canoeing and rafting

The Keen Drift Creek H2 has a classic hiking sandal design – a look that was pretty much pioneered by Keen (along with Teva, to be fair) – with a substantial strappy upper that can be quickly and securely tightened with a bungee to provide good support, and a really good, grippy outsole (made with KEEN.FUSION rubber) that provides traction on even the most slippery, seaweed-covered rocks.

As always with Keen shoes, they also feature a highly protective toe bumper, although the buffer on these sandals is a little more lightweight and subtle than some of the chunky toecaps I’ve seen on earlier Keen hooves.

A slightly unusual feature on the Keen Drift Creek H2 is the mesh tongue that runs from the toecap to the top of the foot, where the bungee toggle fastens. This is essentially a floating tongue, and I think it’s there mainly to protect the top of your feet from sunburn.

Keen have long championed eco-conscious construction practices, and the webbing used on the upper of these sandals is constructed from a fabric made from recycled plastic bottles, which is great to see. The entire upper is waterproof, a claim that baffled me at first (how can sandals be waterproof?) until I realized it meant that the materials used are hydrophobic, so they don’t take on water and get sodden and heavy.

As they’re generally worn without walking socks (right? seriously…), sandals – as I’m sure many people will have experienced in the past – can get a bit funky, but these ones have been impregnated with Eco Anti-Odor to help stop the stink, and they are also totally washable.

Keen Drift Creek H2: look and feel

Not everyone is a fan of the sandals look – and I get that – but then again, not everyone has tried on a pair of Keen sandals, because this brand has pretty much redefined the genre, especially when it comes to sandals designed for outdoor pursuits and waterborne adventures.

Unlike myriad other sandals, which have a devastating ability to make anyone who dares to wear them instantly seem uncool, Keen’s Drift Creek H2s bestow most people with a proper adventurous look – you instantly feel like you’re some sort of rafting guide on the Colorado when you put them on. They’re comfortable too, with a highly supportive midsole that supports your foot on and off the water.

Keen Drift Creek H2: performance

I’ve been wearing the Keen Drift Creek H2 sandals for a variety of paddling, sea rowing, SUPing and shore-based coastal adventures over the summer, and it’s hard not to love them. They cradle your foot brilliantly, protect your toes from stubbing injuries during put-ins and take-outs, and the outsoles deliver all the underfoot protection and traction you could ask for.

Of course, they’re not perfect. The mesh tongue keeps some sand, grit and small pebbles out, but a degree of debris can and will get into these sandals in certain conditions, which can be uncomfortable. The open-heel design can leave the back of your feet exposed and open to rubbing on the deck of the boat (depending on your paddling position). And they’re not going to cut the mustard when it comes to keeping your feet warm during winter paddles.

But, overall, when it comes to balancing breathability, functionality, protection and style, Keen Drift Creek H2 sandals are really top performers.

• How Advnture tests products