An Esteemed Outdoor Brand’s Revered Gorpcore Sneaker Has Never Looked Better than This

Founded over 20 years ago, Keen has solidified its place in the annals of outdoor gear history. Often divisive but also beloved, the brand’s quirky footwear is practically synonymous with the term “gorpcore.”

However, the tides have shifted over the years, and people have come to admire the brand’s penchant for offering highly capable oddities.

But this isn’t a story about a weird-looking sneaker. Quite the opposite, in fact. The outdoor footwear outfit has just teamed up with another brand to launch what very well may be the best-looking take on its best overall trail shoe, the Keen x 18 East Jasper Zionic TX.

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Refined styling, outdoor soul

The Keen Jasper Zionic is actually a combination of two of the brand’s other shoes, the Jasper and the Zionic, which are both fan favorites.

The former, the Jasper, is the closest thing that Keen has to a city-going shoe. Of course, it still had an outdoor vibe, but it was pretty toned down with a more minimalist upper and a less aggressive outsole.

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The Zionic, in contrast, is a much more rugged and capable hiking sneaker with deep treads and rugged styling. And when Keen combined them, you bet they got the best of both worlds: a sleek, styled-up sneaker with exceptionally rugged capabilities.

Even in its base form, this sneaker has proven to be loved by intrepid outdoor-going folks and streetwear enthusiasts alike. And yet, the brand’s team-up on this new edition is even better than ever before.

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West meets east

NYC-based 18 East has brought quite a bit to the table with this new edition. That starts with the most obvious bit: the specialized upper.

Instead of a suede upper, as is typical on the Jasper Zionic, this one gets a lighter canvas option. But this isn’t your standard canvas. It has a subtle textured design reminiscent of the American Southwest.

That canvas upper is offset by fuzzy suede detailing on the toe, heel and tongue, adding some extra depth and texture and helping to tie this special edition to the original shoe.

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Of course, it also has the same high-traction rubber outsole with its grippy 4-millimeter multidirectional lugs. And inside, it has a stability shank offering even more balance and underfoot protection, as well as a removable foam insert with built-in arch support for all-day, all-trail comfort.

And just to seal the deal even further, the shoe has anti-odor properties, meaning you won’t have to worry about stank if you do choose to wear these out on a tough hike or even out and about in the city.

Huckberry

Availability and pricing

The Keen x 18 East Jasper Zionic TX is now available at Huckberry for $150. That said, this shoe is sure to be pretty popular and could sell out quickly. In fact, it’s already sold out in one size (men’s 9) as of the time this article was written.

Huckberry

Keen x 18 East Jasper Zionic TX

• $150 at Huckberry

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