October in Oregon has thus far given us better weather than much of the summer did. Mornings are cold and crisp, but by midday the temperature is in the 60s and the vivid presence of the Sun makes it feel warmer. These are days to take walks without necessarily having a destination, but when I snugged the laces on my KEEN Tabors yesterday, my journey included an eagerly anticipated arrival.

For a day like this, the KEEN Tabor is a great choice. Styled after rock climbing shoes with laces practically from toe to tongue and KEEN’s toe-saving rubber bumper, the Tabor uppers are a soft black suede, accented with yellow stitching that wraps the foot like a moccasin glove. The outsoles are slim, floored with non-marking rubber that enhances grip while not impeding the Tabor's slipper-like comfort.

Saturday’s destination was Portland Nursery’s annual Apple Tasting event. With 50+ varieties of apples and pears to try, nearly as many types of cider (both fermented and fresh)and the inevitable chance encounter with long lost friends, it’s easy to lose a whole day exploring the vibrant acres of Portland Nursery.

Even after a whole day of urban walking, KEEN’s wide toe box ensures that your toes will have room to wiggle, and the contrasting colored laces hold the Tabor fast to your foot, and whether you’re crossing the street or leaping tall hay bales in a single bound.

*The name of these shoes is probably not "Tabor," but they're discontinued, so a little creative license was required. We regret the inaccuracy.

Dudes.

You will not find a KEEN more kick-back cool than yours truly. My claim to awesomeness starts where the natural rubber meets the road. My track-grabbing substrate is dye, perfume, and preservative-free, and you my friend will be glad of that when you're hopping curbs down West Burnside on your Xootr and you land wrong in a crack.

Check this out: there we were, full speed down hill, Tom at the helm, Laika the G-shepherd-dog leashed around his waist, and of course us manning the ground effects, when we hopped up a curb, the front wheel face-planted into a crack, and next thing you know we - sans Xootr - are airborne.

We Venturas did what we do oh-so-well: we hit the ground running. After a dozen or so steps, big T hit the brakes and we cruised to a stop to count fingers, toes, dogs, and to assess if our ride was intact or whether we'd be hoofing it home.

Hoofing it across town would have posed no problem - in addition to having a kung fu grip on the road, our sidewalls and uppers are as cush and friendly as your favorite shirt when it's fresh out of the dryer.

Laika was fairly puzzled about the whole event, but kept stride all the while. Tom emerged wholly unscathed, the Xootr no worse for wear, and we - at least for now - get to sport the wicked battle scar you see in the above snap. Thing is, because of our favorite shirt-ness, we are also hip to taking a dip in your friendly neighborhood washing machine. Not only are we happy to roll with the Tide, but each time we're washed, our color scheme comes out looking a little bit more chill.

Anyway, we could talk about our blinding rad all day, but it would be for naught, as we are a limited-edition, members-only, exclusive-offer - or as they say in the trades, "discontinued" (whatever) - item.

You may have better luck with our little sib, the Coronado. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all, but if you want to know where it all started, look no further than the Ventura, yo.

Peace out.

I bought my Austins on September 28, 2008. Our first mission together was to be a quick trip to Anchorage, Alaska for a job interview. I chose the Austins because they are stylish, solid, comfortable, and different ... and also good in inclement weather. The forecast was ominous: lows in the 30s, showers likely.

The interview was after lunch, so my new Austins and I would have all morning to explore. As luck would have it, my evening flight touched down in a light snowfall, and there was 3” on the ground when I woke up in the hotel.

When faced with the idea of a walk on a morning like this, there are two response types: “Yahoo!” and “Hm, maybe I'll read a book instead.” In my case, it was a matter of seconds between first opening the curtains and me - and my KEENs - being out in it.

KEEN shoes are universally comfortable, and are frequently recommended by podiatrists because of their wide toe box, good support, and ergonomic heel. The outsole is a hard, grippy, non-marking rubber, and the leather upper is built to keep feet cool by wicking moisture away while repelling water from rain, the occasional puddle, or as I was about to find out, slush.

Tucked into Cook Inlet, a protected bay on the Gulf of Alaska, Anchorage is surrounded by the jagged, colossal peaks of the Denali Range. Simply turning in a circle as I emerged from my hotel left me awestruck as I took in the sunny, sparkling morning, the dry snow creaking like an old leather couch under my feet.

Like all KEENs, the Austins feature the rubber toe bumper that has become emblematic of the brand. Slightly more svelte than the toe found on KEEN water shoes, the resulting look is seen alternately as being stylish or, well, ugly. I used to subscribe to the conventional model of beauty - aerodynamic, sharp, a little menacing, but my first pair of pointy-toed cowboy boots and the resulting blisters and cramped arches they caused taught me to expand my concept of beauty to include function as well as form. I was entirely confident that my feet would be happy even at the end of a full day of walking in my brand new leather KEENs, and confident that the stylings of the Austins would similarly serve me well.

I walked west about 12 blocks toward Elderberry Park and the bay to take in the vista and maybe catch a glimpse Russia, Alaska’s next-door neighbor. The sightseeing did not disappoint: the pristine blue of the water giving way to the blinding white of the Denali, and while there was no sign of Russia’s east coast, watching the F-18s swarm the skies around the nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base was a different kind of awesome.

After a quick breakfast, I angled back toward the hotel in what was quickly becoming a much warmer day. The once airy snow was now slush, but I remained sure-footed and dry. My interview went well (I got the job on the spot!) and I felt comfortable attending a dressy dinner meeting with my new boss and his wife before catching my flight home.