Keen Borrows a Philosophy from Gravel Biking
A first look at the new Keen Roam trail runner. As a cyclist, its "gravel bike-inspired" outsole and versatile, "jack-of-all-trades" approach caught my eye.
Keen is following up its first-ever trail runner (the Seek) with a new shoe called the Roam, and one detail immediately caught my attention. They’re describing the outsole as "gravel bike-inspired." As a gravel cyclist, my interest was piqued. It suggests a design built for the real world, prioritizing versatility over a single, specialized purpose. It’s the "jack-of-all-trades" philosophy: a tread that can grip loose dirt and gravel but doesn't feel painfully slow or clunky on the paved sections that get you to the trail.
This seems far more practical for the kind of cross-training runs most of us actually do. They’ve paired this outsole with what they call "QuantumFoam" adaptive cushioning and a wider forefoot, which sounds promising for comfort. The most impressive stat, though, is the claimed 925-mile lifespan on that outsole. My initial take? If it delivers on that "gravel" versatility and durability, the Roam could be the perfect practical trainer for the cyclist who runs—or really, for anyone whose runs aren't confined to one single, perfect surface.
KEEN
