When you work long hours on your feet, the footwear you choose can literally make or break your day.
KEEN Utility puts lots of thought into making our products supportive, comfortable, and safe – and the midsole technologies we develop are critical to that. Our boots, shoes, and sneakers use one of four different types of midsole cushioning: KEEN.ReGEN, KEEN.ReGEN+, LuftCell, or EVA. With so many options available, how can you know which is best for your workday? Let’s take a closer look.
Ever hear the phrase “don’t skimp on the products that separate you from the ground?” That applies to car tires, mattresses, and yes, shoe cushioning. We understand that every job places unique demands on work footwear, so we spend lots of time developing cushioning for different work needs. Whether your tasks are light duty, heavy duty, or somewhere in between, you’ll find your perfect cushioning match here.
KEEN.ReGEN Cushioning: Up to 50% Energy Return
KEEN.ReGEN is a lightweight, compression-resistant midsole that’s lighter than traditional EVA foam and provides up to 50% energy return with every step. Boots, shoes, and sneakers made with KEEN.ReGEN technology keep you feeling light on your feet and help reduce fatigue.
KEEN.ReGEN is built for the long haul. If your job has you clocking 10,000 steps before lunch, you’ll appreciate the support and cushioning KEEN.ReGEN provides. From double shifts at the warehouse to standing on an assembly line, KEEN.ReGEN fights foot fatigue and keeps more energy in your feet where it belongs. We recommend it for warehouse workers, delivery drivers, construction crews, and anyone else who walks or stands for long periods of time.
Here are a few styles that use KEEN.ReGEN cushioning:
Vista Energy: Our lightweight safety-toe work sneaker, Vista Energy, brings the athletic performance and energy-returning comfort of a KEEN.ReGEN midsole to long days on the job.
Reno: A lighter, faster work boot that combines the agility of a lightweight hiking boot with durability and safety options to match your jobsite. Reno is recommended for carpentry, framing, electricians, and landscaping.
Pittsburgh Energy: These boots offer a lighter-weight feel than the original Pittsburgh, plus the energy return of KEEN.ReGEN to help reduce fatigue. A KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane keeps your feet comfy on wet sites. Pittsburgh Energy is recommended for landscapers, mechanics, and home improvers who want the higher ankle protection of a boot but not the extra bulk or weight.
Evanston: Like wearing your favorite sport shoe to the jobsite with work boot-levels of safety and durability. With Evanston work boots, you’ll feel like you could run a race, but your feet will be protected and ready to face the toughest workday conditions.
KEEN.ReGEN+ Cushioning: 60%+ Energy Return
KEEN.ReGEN+ compares to KEEN.ReGEN in the same way that the track version of a sports car compares to its road-spec sibling. KEEN.ReGEN+ is lighter, more advanced, and more dynamic. Where KEEN.ReGEN provides up to 50% energy return, KEEN.ReGEN+ delivers over 60% energy return for a more responsive feel. That difference may not sound like much, but over the course of a day where you might take thousands of steps, it all adds up. Sneakers and boots made with KEEN.ReGEN+ are some of the most innovative we’ve ever made.
You’ll find it’s a great fit for many of the same jobs that KEEN.ReGEN is. But KEEN.ReGEN+ takes things a little further, a little lighter, a little faster, and a lot more energy-returning. We recommend it for warehouse tasks, delivery, light manufacturing, and any other job requiring athletic-level movement.
Here’s a closer look at several KEEN.ReGEN+ styles:
Speedworks: The lightest work sneaker we’ve ever made. Also one of the lightest, if not the lightest, on the market. The Speedworks sneaker delivers the protection your workday requires, but with a design that’s so lightweight, you’ll feel like you’re barely wearing a sneaker at all.
Synchro: The lightest waterproof work boot we’ve ever made. And also one of the lightest on the market. The Synchro boot maxes out the versatility with a full range of innovative features. It supports, it protects, it’s ready for your next workday.
Snapline: If you work on a jobsite that’s muddy or grimy, you understand the challenge of untying mucky laces at the end of your workday. The Snapline boot completely solves that issue. Featuring new KEEN.RATCHETFIT mechanical lacing technology, tightening or loosening your boots is now as easy as turning a dial.
Luftcell Cushioning: Airy & Resilient
Luftcell is a lightweight, air-infused midsole that offers weightless-feeling comfort for long days on your feet. Featuring nearly 100,000 air bubbles per cubic centimeter infused into the midsole, Luftcell makes every step lighter for less fatigue over the day. It’s found on our heavier-duty boots and in our American Built work boot collection.
Our Luftcell midsole technology is made to lighten the load of heavy-duty work boots. When your work requires rugged boots, KEEN Utility boots featuring a Luftcell midsole reduce boot weight without compromising on durability or safety to save you energy as you climb ladders and move across the worksite. We recommend it for carpentry, road work, warehouse jobs, and any job that requires a rugged boot.
Here’s a closer look at several KEEN Utility boots featuring a Luftcell midsole:
Cincinnati: If your work requires long hours moving across concrete slabs and sub floors, you can count on the lightweight feel of Cincinnati work boots with our Luftcell midsole to lighten the load. It’s a solid choice for carpentry, roofing, landscaping, road construction, and warehouse work.
Camden: Made for rugged work and the toughest conditions, the Camden boot is our heaviest-duty option. But as tough and hard-wearing as the Camden is, it’s lighter than it looks thanks to the lightweight feel and comfort of a KEEN LuftCell midsole. Recommended for road construction, excavation, and forestry.
San Jose: One of the lightest boots we make, the San Jose work boot combines a lightweight sneaker feel with a stable wedge or grippy 90° sole, plus cushioning you need to get you through the longest days. From concrete slabs to wooden subfloors and compact dirt, the Luftcell midsole keeps it light and comfortable.
Liberty: The American Built Liberty boot proves that innovation can bring new life to a jobsite-classic design. It’s got an extra-thick, premium leather upper, optional streamlined carbon toe, KEEN.DRY waterproofing, and oh-so-comfortable Luftcell cushioning.
EVA Cushioning: Soft & Flexible
EVA foam is a rubber-like compound that’s naturally soft, flexible, and stretchy. It’s so durable, lightweight, and good at providing cushioning that it’s commonly used in running and athletic shoes.
We use EVA for stability and consistency. It offers lightweight cushioning that’s ready to hold up to all-day wear. It’s also very resistant to temperature extremes and offers consistent comfort in all temperatures. We recommend it for all-season work and any job that requires extended time on your feet.
Here’s a closer look at a couple of KEEN Utility boots featuring EVA midsole technology:
Davenport: When you work outdoors through the cold and wet winter season, the Davenport work boots have a rugged design and are also one of the lightest-weight insulated boots we make. Recommended for construction, utility work, and delivery jobs.
Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh work boot combines the athletic feel of a hiking boot with the rugged durability and safety features of a work boot. EVA adds durable, lightweight cushioning that stands up to long-term wear and a wide temperature range.
No matter the demands of your workday or job type, KEEN Utility has a midsole built to match. From the energy return of KEEN.ReGEN and KEEN.ReGEN+ to the air-infused comfort of Luftcell to the tried-and-true dependability of EVA, there’s a cushioning technology available to support your unique needs. Try a pair for yourself and feel the difference.