Testing out Keen’s new, all-American made Durand mid WP boots, £140, which they promise are good for a million steps. Sounds like a challenge. Read my Keen Durand hiking boot review to see if they went the distance.

Keen Durand hiking boot review

Product description: “The Durand WP Mid offers outdoor athletes KEEN reliability, durability and comfort in a fully featured performance hiker. Constructed in KEEN’s very own ‘backyard’ at its Portland, Oregon factory, the Durand features a unique direct-inject construction technique that attaches a premium nubuck leather and breathable mesh upper directly to the midsole giving rugged durability. A PU blended midsole offers incredible underfoot shock absorption, cushioning and protection on long hikes, rebounding step after step, whilst an integrated heel cushion locks directly into the insole to support the foot where most needed.”

Hiking: The Durands are as waterproof as you’d expect from Keen, and will keep your feet bone dry even if you’re splashing around up to the eyelets in puddles and approaching waves. They’re also very warm without making you sweat, using KEEN.Dry technology to stay waterproof yet breathable. They aren’t the lightest of hiking boots, though, weighing in at 16.5 oz. Keen claim the bouncy, cushioned inner soles are good for a million steps, which I haven’t quite managed in them yet, but so far they’ve been very comfy indeed from the word go.

When it comes to design, the Durand’s nubuck upper and high rubber outer sole look great and are easy to clean and care for. The laces are tough and take a bit of hauling and hitching into place, but once adjusted the boots feel very supportive around the ankle. The only issue I had with the Durands when out on long walks is that they’re quite slippery on wet rocks.

Verdict: Waterproof, warm, comfortable and tough, the Durand ticks all the boxes for an all-weather, rugged hiking boot. You might want to pick a lighter boot for summer rambles but if you’re looking for an all-rounder that’ll deal with changing British seasons whilst keeping your feet very happy then these are a great choice.

Shots by the ever-wonderful Jacob Little. Find more great hiking boots on my kit pages.