KEEN Utility Goes to Work this Spring with Athletic-Inspired Safety Shoes Featuring New Comfort Technologies

Portland, Ore. (January 16, 2019) – Safety footwear preferences for today’s skilled trade professionals embody comfort and versatility above all else. KEEN Utility, a safety footwear
industry innovator with company roots in recreational footwear, meets these preferences feet-first with its latest collection of athletic-inspired safety styles for the Spring season.
This season’s standouts include athletic-inspired silhouettes that fit like a sneaker and protect like a work boot while meeting the demand for exceptional comfort and performance. These styles can be paired with industries including indoor manufacturing, framing and finishing and general construction where comfort and flexibility are critical on-the-job factors.
“Fit and comfort are such huge factors in footwear, and for men and women facing unique challenges and taxing work environments, it’s critical that their safety footwear is comfortable, fits
well and delivers the versatility they need to take them from work to weekend,” said Todd Lewis Product Director for KEEN Utility. “This season our goal was to curate a collection that did just that.”
For Spring 2019, the KEEN Utility Sparta safety toe work shoe is an example of athletic styling with its low-top sneaker silhouette and is available in men’s and women’s styles. The lightweight work sneaker is crafted with an incredibly durable, non-mutilating knit upper that offers excellent breathability and reduces the chance of marking or scratching surfaces, which is an ideal attribute for finishing work and manufacturing environments.
Left and right-specific asymmetrical aluminum safety toes offer ASTM-rated protection from crush and impact injuries and help to create a roomier toe box for an unobtrusive and comfortable fit. The Sparta work shoe features a new comfort innovation for Spring 2019: a unique blend of midsole compounds that create extreme underfoot cushioning, support and shock absorption along with compression resistance to “bounce” back, offering all-day comfort every day. A removable PU footbed offers excellent underfoot support while a Cleansport NXT lining incorporates natural odor protection free of chemicals and perfumes for the wearer. The Sparta shoe features an oil- and slip-resistant non-marking rubber outsole that offers water diverting channels and meets Satra non-slip testing standards, helping to provide sure footing on slick surfaces. The Sparta is available in several color ways for men and women and also features ESD-rated versions.

In warehouse settings , safety footwear should be able to move with the wearer while offering the utmost protection. Breathable and malleable like a sneaker with the trusted KEEN Utility aluminum toe protection like a traditional work boot, the new San Antonio Low is prepared for it all. Crafted with a lightweight synthetic and knit upper, the San Antonio features Cleansport NXT lining for natural odor protection and a removable, custom PU footbed delivering excellent underfoot cushioning that won’t compact over time. Left and right asymmetrical aluminum toe caps deliver a roomy, unobtrusive fit while an oil- and slip-resistant non-marking rubber outsole provides excellent surface area contact meeting Mark II and Satra non-slip testing standards.

The new men’s Sparta series and San Antonio Low will be available online and at participating KEEN Utility retailers in the Spring of 2019. For more information or to find a retailer, visit
keenutility.com.

About KEEN Utility
KEEN Utility, a leading industrial and service footwear brand, successfully exceeds footwear safety standards while combining advanced durability and innovation with the same comfort and unparalleled classic fit offered by KEEN outdoor, lifestyle and kids footwear. KEEN Utility footwear is grounded in protection with the goal to make boots to fit you better. The whole you. Discover more about KEEN Utility at http://www.keenutility.com /, Facebook: fb.com/keenutility , Twitter: twitter.com/keenutility and Instagram: Instagram.com/keenutility .

About KEEN, Inc.
KEEN is a values-led, independently owned outdoor footwear brand from Portland, Ore. with a mission to responsibly create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN ignited a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport® sandal, launching the concept of Hybrid footwear into the market and setting KEEN on a path of driving consistent product innovation that exists today. KEEN strives to live by its values, from its products to its actions, and by activating communities and individuals to protect and preserve the places where we work and play. KEEN employees passionately endeavor to live fulfilling lives, challenge the status quo, do good, give back, and inspire others. Learn more at: http://www.keenfootwear.com.