Keds Sneaker Fan Blog

If you’re like me you like to keep your white Keds white and clean as long as possible. Here’s a tip to extend that brand new look.

With a brand new pair remove the laces and lightly spray the canvas with a quality spray starch. Let dry, re-lace, and wear. I have been told that there are other products like Scotch Guard will do the same but I’ve never tried.

Washing Keds has been hit and miss. Many times white Keds end up with ghastly yellow stains above the foxing after washing. I have have pretty good luck following the instructions below (works with colors as well).

1. Remove laces and either add to load or wash by hand.
2. Wash Keds either alone in a smaller load with extra water.
3. Use about 1/4 to 1/3 less laundry soap in load.
4. Wash for approximately 5 minutes then stop washer and use a soft nail brush to clean foxing and scrub any other soiled areas of the canvas.
5. Let load finish then wash again without soap.
6. Double spin making sure the canvas is pointing out to remove as much water as possible.
7. Place Keds in dryer on med heat for 5 to 10 minutes only remove and air dry for about 24 hours.

The key elements appear to be using less soap #3, thoroughly rinsing #5, thoroughly removing as much water #6 as possible before final drying.

If you have any tips or methods that have worked for you please comment.

Please Note These tips are for the basic canvas Champion and have not been tested on the other styles or materials. Be sure to follow the instructions provided for your specific Keds shoes provided by the manufacturer.

Sneakers need to be fashionable and comfortable. Two things which Keds have faithfully represented for over 90 years but perhaps no longer.

I recently purchased 2 new pairs of Champions which I tried on and was instantly pleased with the terry cloth inners and added padding of the tongue.

What I didn’t take notice of at the time was the new sole and after a couple hours of wear I started to regret my purchase. I found the insoles very quickly became lumpy and my feet were getting sore. I suspect the insole is glued to an uneven surface which is causing the discomfort. I have been wearing the older versions with the rubber soles for years and have always been very happy with the comfort up until now.

The 2008 Keds have a new ESO sole “ESO soles are a lightweight recycled material that is eco-friendly”. Since when is natural rubber not eco-friendly?

While I applaud Keds for trying to produce an eco-friendly product I think they have seriously missed the mark with this design. This new generation of product is horribly uncomfortable, the soles except for two rubber area’s are unreasonably hard, inflexible and have terrible traction. They also make an awful clacking sound on type of firm surface. A quick google landed me dozens of Eco-rubber sites and information which in my mind would have been a much better choice if they must change the sole.

Are Keds still a sneaker?

According to wikipedia.org

Keds is a brand of canvas shoe with rubber soles, introduced in 1916 by U.S. Rubber (later known as Uniroyal, then Uniroyal Goodrich, and finally acquired by Michelin), and now owned by the Stride Rite Corporation. When choosing a name, the initial choice was Peds, from the Latin meaning foot, but someone else held that trademark. Keds were first mass-marketed as canvas-top “sneakers” in 1917. They became known as “sneakers” because the rubber soles allowed sneaking around silently.

Based on the dictionary definition above I think Keds have fixed something that was not broken. The rubber sole seems to be the definitive attribute of a sneaker.

I took the initiative to write to Keds customer service to voice my concerns and received a response with an offer to return my shoes if they were defective in anyway. They did not however address the fact that my complaint was a comfort issue and thus did not qualify for a return.

Quote from Keds customer service:

The new Champions will have the ESO bottoms which is a lightweight recycled material that is eco-friendly. This type of sole helps flexibility by breaking the rubber. If you do not feel secure in your footing the product department suggested rubbing the bottom of the shoe against the cement sidewalk which would quickly remove the material and not compromise the integrity of the shoe.

Are they kidding?

What was wrong with the rubber sole that was comfortable, flexible, had great traction, and was quiet to walk in right from the box. If this new material removes that quickly should it be used for a sole at all?

One other thing bothers me about the new line. I guess one of the bean counters at Keds decided it was cheaper to use one size blue label (on the heal) then affixing a proportional sized label depending on sneaker size. This is just plain cheap and considering they just raised the price to 34.99 from 29.99 in my opinion is completely outlandish? Maybe they didn’t save enough on the label.

Say NO!

Take a stand and tell Keds NO this will not do. At the current online price from www.keds.com of $34.99 I simply refuse to purchase another pair.

If you are not happy (or even if you are) please take a moment and comment and on this topic. Perhaps with enough support we can ask Keds to rethink their design and give us once again a product worthy of the Keds name and our loyalty as consumers.

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Over the years Keds has had many many styles and variations to their sneaker line. The longest running basic style has been the Champion CVO which is still represented as Keds top seller.

The basic Champion came in a rainbow of colors and has had a needle toe, a tapered toe, a rounded toe, a square toe, and was even made as a hi-top at one time.

Other then the toe shape and whether or not the dark colors had white stitching used in the seams the style has not generally changed a great deal and remains a popular classic.

There have been some other great classic styles as well. The Keds Anchor (aka Cruise and Buster) was a favorite shoe of many and a nice alternative to the Sperry Topsider as pictured here (top sneaker).

The Anchor was also reputed to be Lauren Hutton’s favorite sneaker. While I have not been able to confirm this there are many photos floating around with her wearing the Anchor including her own website (look carefully).

If memory serves me the other sneaker pictured was called a Trophy which was Keds answer to a real sports tennis shoe.

Keds while used by athletes for many years up until to 70’s were never able to compete with the main sports shoe brands. Photos are scarce but I did fine one of a Keds sports style sneaker from the 90’s.

One other series of sneaker that seems to have been resurrected is the Rave. While not a favorite of mine the Rave had a good cult fan following and is back in the line now.

Additionally a view of keds.com will show dozens of new or revamped styles for any occasion like the Skimmer below.

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Keds stopped manufacturing men’s sneakers during the 90’s up until the reintroduction of the Keds Triumph in 2004. The Triumph was not a particularity comfortable sneaker and did not appear to sell all that well however it did offer men a casual basic sneaker once again.

With a lot of anticipation 2008 earmarked the return of the Mens’ Champion CVO. While I have not actually seen a pair in person the awful metal eyelets will keep many from spending the $50.00 for a pair. This cosmetic flaw really cheapens the look of the product. I’m told the sole is made of rubber with a tennis racket design. I wonder if that helps traction?

Personally I see no reason why the women’s Champion lace up and slip-ons are not simply marketed and sized as a unisex sneaker. All Keds would need to do extend the sizing of the womens to 15 on the core colors. Other brands have been doing it for years why not Keds.

I have a small update to this post. A new line of men’s Champions is rumored to be coming out and the rumored price is a whopping $95.00 US. All in all this writer finds them to be ghastly and way over priced.

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Keds had some great ads over the years. Here are a few I’ve collected.

What would a Keds fan site be without a Mischa Barton article.

I’ve never been convinced that celebrity endorsements really worked at marketing products but Keds does seem to have benefited from Mischa’s popularity. Sadly her recent bad press will probably bring and end (I’m speculating) to this relationship.

The Keds pictured were autographed by Mischa and sold on www.ebay.com for a charity fund raiser. They are really very cute and I’m surprised Keds never offered alternative laces to consumers.

Mischa Gallery

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I for one would like to see Keds redo the popular holiday themed sneakers. I really loved these for the 4th of July holiday and it would be nice to have Christmas and special sneakers for other important holidays.

Vote on our poll.

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