Hi folks, here’s another cool product from KEEN geared toward mountain bikers: The Coronado Cruiser ($80 MSRP). Although it’s not really a technical riding shoe, this is one of  those products that is great to just kick around in. As its name implies, this shoe is for cruising (stylin’ while ridin’) and it kinda brings me back to the days before complicated, high tech bike equipment.

The Coronado Cruiser combines breathable canvas, soft leather, and recycled rubber to make a relaxed summer shoe. The sole is made up of two different compounds: the outer sole is harder, longer-wearing, and non-marking while the inner sole hides a panel of soft rubber under the ball of the foot to help your foot grip the pedals.

One of the coolest things about the Coronado shoes is that they’re made from recycled materials. With an eye toward the environment, Keen has chosen to use recycled rubber in the soles and recycled aluminum in the hardware. Even the packaging material is recycled. How’s that for corporate responsibility?

Taking these to the street on both my mountain and DJ bikes I found these shoes to be pretty grippy on flat pedals. Now these are not a shoe to hit the slopes with, but on those lazy days when you’re just riding around for fun, these fit the bill nicely. Still, there’s a bit of added room in the protected toe box and the area under foot is reinforced for stiffness which translates into greater pedaling efficiency.

Check out KEEN and their expanded Spring/Summer 2010 Pedal Shoe Collection. These shoes meet the basic needs of cyclists with stylish, comfortable shoes, socks, and bags that are ready to roll. The Pedal Collection includes KEEN cycling favorites, as well new styles that will enhance the biking lifestyle and should be available in stores now.

Features

- 3/4 length plate for increased energy return and support
- Non-marking rubber outsole
- Soft rubber forefoot pod for pedal grip
- Vulcanized eco-friendly construction

Thanks to the folks at KEEN for providing the Coronado Cruiser shoe for review.

Since some of us use our mountain bikes for more that just hitting the trails so I thought I’d talk about a great accessory I found for the morning commute. The Keen Commuter Bag is a bike courier-style side bag with a few tweaks to make it even more stylish and versatile for the workday rider.

One of the things that makes the Commuter Bag (MSRP $100) unique is its green design and manufacturing process. Using recycled aluminum for the clips and recycled rubber for the base, Keen is working hard to make a positive impact on the environment with this bag and many other products in their line.

The Commuter features a water resistant main compartment and a padded sleeve which is suspended to keep your laptop comfy (fits notebooks up to 15.4″). The bag also sports water bottle pockets on both sides, each large enough for a 20 ounce bottle. Inside the main compartment there are several pockets for organizing pens, pencils, business cards, etc. Even with all these pockets and compartments, the bag isn’t too bulky – 16.1″ x 16.5″ x 5.1″ – which is just barely wider than a laptop itself.

The strap system is great and holds the bag neatly to either side of your body without slipping. Adjusting the bag is pretty easy: just set up the sternum strap on either side (right or left), place the shoulder pad in the correct position and away you go! There’s even a dedicated pocket to store the strap when it’s not in use.

Riding around town with my laptop, a small camera, and some snacks I found the bag gave me the freedom to move about without slapping the bag with my knees when pedaling. The bag stayed securely on my shoulder and didn’t try to sneak around front like other shoulder bags I’ve tried. Best part about this bag is that when I got crud on it from my rear tire I just used a bit of soap and water and most of the stains came off with a brush and a little elbow grease.

If your day includes a mixed bag of biking and doing business around town, the Commuter Bag from Keen may be a nice addition. Save the earth by commuting and buying this bag made from recycled materials!

Thanks to the folks at KEEN for providing the Commuter bag for review.