Keen Harvest MJ II Review
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MJ Harvest II in Plaid
The Harvest MJ II adds a bit of pep to your step thanks to its’ bright colors and eye catching patterns. The Harvest MJ II is a Mary Jane style (as its’ name implies) and is made by Keen. The Harvest MJ II’s are available in 5 different patterns and colors to add a bit of life to your footwear this late summer/fall. The shoe is available in Polka Dot, Pink Stripe, Fall Plaid, Plaid, and Country Stripe-each pattern utilizes a two-three color combo for its’ base and other pops of color for more fun and style. For instance, I tested out the Plaid pattern (photo above), which features teal, black, and white as its’ main colors. The Fall Plaid utilizes a nice red and brown combo, while the Pink Stripe combines yellow with other pastels, including pink. I have included a photo of each color/pattern so that you can get a feel for what I mean. Each shoe looks completely different from the next due to the pattern/color change. There may also be slight variations between the same pattern of shoe as the canvas upper is made from re-purposed fabric scraps. Yet another up-cycled product!
The Harvest MJ II is not only fun to look at, they are also extremely comfortable as they feature Keen’s metatomical footbed design that offers just enough arch support for those with average arches. The metatomical PU footbed is also removable; a nice feature for those that may need to add their own inserts for additional support and comfort. The inside of the shoe features natural canvas lining; I found that with time the lining did soften and conform to my feet. In the beginning, I got some blisters at my heel and around the opening of the shoe as I was wearing these with bare feet. Within a week or so, these shoes were broken in and I have had no issues with blisters since. The cross strap on the Harvest MJ II combines canvas with thick elastic band on the outside of the shoe for easy on and off, while also giving you a secure fit once the shoe is on. The band gives a little with each step, but just enough to keep you comfortable without giving the shoe a sloppy feel. After about 4 months of use, the band remains nice and tight without unwanted stretching.
Country Stripe
As far as sizing goes, Keen states that they run about 1/2 size big. I would tend to agree with this as I found the heel and midfoot sections a bit to roomy in my size 9s. The problem was easily fixed when I swapped out the footbed for a more voluminous footbed that I could cut to the specific size of the shoe. I typically don’t modify shoes in this way, but I liked the looks and the performance of the Harvest MJ II but just needed a bit of tweaking with the fit. Perhaps an additional 1/2 size down would have been a better bet? To make a long story short, simply head on over to your local shop to get the right size.
The Harvest MJ II’s also feature a natural rubber non-marking sole. The sole provides plenty of traction for your daily activities. In the photo above, you can see how the rubber comes up on top of the foot to offer a bit of a toe bumper, which are often featured in trail shoes. This feature is nice for those of us that are accident prone and also serves as a protector of the canvas in the area that gets’ lots of wear and tear.
If you love the style of the Harvest MJ II, but are not entirely in love with the fun patterns and colors, then check out some of Keen’s other Mary Jane styles at www.keenfootwear.comor www.amazon.com/keen.
