The Keen Utility Camden work boots dropped with quite a bit of fanfare, but is it just hype? We’ve been wearing them to see what kind of fit and comfort you should expect, along with what work environments they’re going to thrive in.
Looking for more options? Check out our best work boot recommendations of the year!
Keen Utility Camden Work Boot Design
The Camden sticks with Keen’s popular 90° heel hiker style design with 5 varieties available. All of them are waterproof with a carbon fiber toe, they’re EH/ESR certified, and you have the choice of a 6-inch or 8-inch height. Keen’s carbon fiber toes are left/right specific and weigh 15% less than its steel toes. Here are all the models:
- 6-inch waterproof with carbon fiber toe (tested in this review)
- CSA 6-inch waterproof with carbon fiber toe
- 6-inch waterproof with carbon fiber toe and internal met guard
- 8-inch waterproof with carbon fiber toe
- 8-inch waterproof insulated with carbon fiber toe
The upper is full grain leather that’s barnyard chemical resistant and comes from an LWG-certified tannery. It gets a PFC-free durable water repelling treatment to help prevent water intrusion.
Moving to the midsole, it’s Keen’s Luftcell are-infused design. If you haven’t tried a boot with this midsole yet, you should. It adds a level of comfort to the boot that we don’t see from other manufacturers. The older I get, the more my knees and back appreciate the cushioning.
The KEEN.TOUGHSOLE outsole features oil and slip resistance with an aggressive lug pattern that’s great for traction on bare ground. There’s also a nylon shank built in to improve your stability.
A welted connection keeps the boot together.
Moving inside, Keen includes its standard polyurethane dual-density removable footbed. A KEEN.DRY membrane helps keep the boot waterproof while promoting breathability that lets moisture escape.
Certifications
- Meets ASTM F3445-21 and F2413-18 M I/75 C/75 EH standards
- Meets ASTM SATRA TM31 material abrasion testing standards
- Outsole and midsole meets ASTM D471-06 903# oil and isooctane chemical resistance standards
Wearing the Keen Utility Camden Work Boot
These boots have a generous toe box (something we’re used to seeing from Keen), and fit true to size. I normally wear a 13 from Keen, and I got the exact fit I was expecting.
As usual, the Luftcell midsole makes the Camden a comfortable boot to wear on nearly any surface. The heeled design and aggressive lugs make it an instant fit for bare ground, including both rocky and sandy environments. But that midsole offers so much cushioning that it’s right at home on asphalt and concrete as well. For those of you who avoid wedge soles and have to work on hard surfaces, it’s a win.
As a heavy-duty boot, we expect it to run on the heavy side. At nearly 36 ounces, we’ve worn lighter models. However, the midsole design sheds some weight, as does the carbon fiber toe. Combined with trimming down some of the bulk, the Camdon ends up lighter than many of its heavy-duty competitors and some of the other designs from Keen.
One thing worth noting is that the upper lacing hardware is a combination eye and hook. While I prefer to use them as hooks, you have the option to run eyes all the way up.
Keen Utility Camden Work Boot Price
Sizes run 7 – 15 with 1/2 sizes up to 12. The base model we tested comes in either brown or black, and is $215. Other versions are only available in brown, run as high as $230.
The Bottom Line
The Keen Utility Camden work boot’s comfort and cushioning make it an excellent choice across a wide range of work environments. At the same time, Its heavy-duty construction and quality materials ensure that they can stand up to the daily abuse of the toughest jobsites. If you’re on the hunt for a versatile heeled work boot that’s in it for the long haul, the Camden gets two enthusiastic thumbs up from our team.
