An Outdoor Icon Made a New Balance Challenger No One Saw Coming

Keen’s KM2 Jogger blends trail-born durability with everyday comfort—and does it with U.S.-assembled credibility.

Brown and white sneaker with suede and fabric upper and thick white sole against beige background.

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By Ben Bowers

Published May 1, 2026

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There are brands you associate with sneakers—and then there’s Keen.

For most people, Keen means trail sandals, rugged hikers and work-ready footwear. Not exactly the kind of résumé that suggests a serious entry into the premium lifestyle sneaker market.

But the KM2 Jogger and its premium leather counterpart could change that.

Classic sneaker vibes, assembled in the U.S.

Black and navy KEEN sneakers with white soles worn with mustard yellow socks and gray pinstriped pants. — Not only does the KM2 mimic the classic sneaker look of New Balance, but it’s also assembled in America, making it an even more direct challenger to New Balance’s own premium Made in the USA collection.

Instead of chasing hype, Keen has built a genuinely practical everyday sneaker from its own DNA: comfort, durability and real-world usability.

It’s also assembled in the U.S. using globally sourced materials, meaning the KM2 Jogger is American-built, but not fully made in America, putting it at least partially in position as a close alternative to New Balance’s own premium Made in the U.S.A collection.

At its core, the KM2 is less about reinventing the sneaker and more about refining it—and now Keen is offering two distinct versions of that idea.

Beige and light gray sneaker with a thick white sole and tan heel accent, shown from the side. — The standard KM2 Jogger leans athletic. It uses a breathable upper and sits squarely in that “do-everything” lane.

The standard KM2 Jogger leans athletic. It uses a breathable upper and sits squarely in that “do-everything” lane: light workouts, travel days, errands, whatever. Underfoot, both versions share Keen’s three-layer “Trampoleen” cushioning system, built around a high-rebound foam core designed to feel soft without drifting into max-stack territory.

It’s not a performance runner. It’s better than that for most people—it’s stable, comfortable and versatile.

Light green and beige sneakers with white soles placed on a white metal box with text. — The women’s version of the KM2 comes in a unique Iceberg Green / Desert Sage variant.

Long-term durability is the one clear area where Keen’s outdoor background shows up most.

Instead of relying solely on adhesives, the brand uses heat-fusion construction to bond the upper to the sole—a detail that typically translates into longer wear and fewer failure points over time.

The leather KM2 Jogger doesn’t reinvent the formula—it refines it.

Keen

Then there’s the premium version featuring an upper in Nappa leather, which gives the shoe a more structured, elevated look while maintaining the same cushioning and construction underneath.

In practice, that shifts the KM2 from a gym-adjacent sneaker into something that works just as easily with denim, chinos or more relaxed office fits.

Availability and pricing

White sneakers with beige and black accents worn with white ribbed socks and dark green cuffed pants on pavement. — The KM2 Jogger is available now for $170 in both men’s and women’s variants. The leather version costs just $10 more.

The KM2 Jogger is available now in multiple colorway, including Black/Birch, Chipmunk/Birch, and Birch/Safari for $170 in both men’s and women’s variants.

Leather versions, including the Birch/Naval Academy colorway, come in slightly higher at $180, reflecting a small premium for the upgraded materials and more refined finish.

In other words, both versions sit squarely in premium sneaker territory.

But that’s also the point.

Because at this price, Keen isn’t trying to undercut the market—it’s trying to reframe it. You’re getting the same core benefits across both versions: real comfort, real durability and a manufacturing story that’s increasingly rare. The choice just comes down to how you want it to show up—more athletic, or more elevated.

Either way, this feels like more than just Keen trying out a new sneaker strategy. Remarkably, it’s already built one of the more convincing new Balance alternatives in the category, thanks to both its style and its assembled-at-home manufacturing backstory.

Pair of brown and white KEEN sneakers with white laces and thick white soles.

Keen KM2 Jogger

Pair of off-white Keen sneakers with suede and fabric panels, lace-up design, and thick rubber soles.

Keen KM2 Jogger (Birch/Safari)

Pair of off-white suede and fabric sneakers with cream soles and navy heel accents.

Keen KM2 Leather Jogger (Birch / Naval Academy)

Pair of black low-top sneakers with leather and suede panels and black laces on a white background.

Keen KM2 Leather Jogger (Black/Black)

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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