Keen, a leading footwear brand, has unveiled its latest innovation, the WK400 walking shoe. Designed specifically to make walking more enjoyable and fun, the WK400 has been in development for over three years and has undergone over five thousand miles of testing. The shoe is set to revolutionize the walking footwear market and encourage people to walk more.
According to Keen, people are walking more than ever before, and the benefits are numerous. Walking is known to heal, build relationships, improve health, reduce stress, encourage creativity, and act as a catalyst for change and standing up for what is right.
Keen’s Global Product Innovation Creative Director, Rory Fuerst Jr., suffered a traumatic skiing accident four years ago that left him unable to walk for several months. During his recovery, he found walking to be much more than a means of getting around. It brought him out of his fog and saved his life. This experience inspired him to share the power of walking with the world, which has served as the catalyst for Keen’s latest innovation.
To develop the WK400, Keen enlisted the help of Ciro Fusco, a long-time friend and career footwear innovator with a Ph.D. in Physics and Environmental Science. In biomechanical lab studies, Keen discovered that the body and legs act as a pendulum when walking, causing the foot to move in a constant arc. Existing shoes fail to facilitate this pattern, which led to Keen’s creation of the 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, the shoe features a generous 30mm toe spring, which provides 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.
The WK400 shoe is available for $165 and comes in four colors across men’s- and women’s-specific fits. To coincide with the launch of the WK400 shoe, Keen is on a mission to establish walking as a movement, raising awareness around walking clubs, charities, and launching its own walking-focused podcast.
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