The Hood River is a good shoe, really pretty similar to the H2. I think the
H2 looks a lot less dorky when you're wearing it around.. the H2 looks good
enough to wear around as a casual shoe. The Hood River looks like a water
shoe. Both are really going to perform the same when you get them soaked.
My money is definitely on the H2.

OK.... thanks for the advice. I agree in that it "looks" like the
Hood River is dorkier looking. Hard to really tell just from looking
at pics on the Net. And I live in a small town with no where to see
them in the flesh

Closest place is St Louis and that's a two hr drive for me.

FWIW, the regular Newport is really just as amphibious as the H2. Keen's
leather has a good treatment that makes it highly water resistant.. they'll
require a little more care, but the bonus is that they're quite classy
looking and will probably last longer.


You think?

The Keen web site says that the reg Newport more likely to absorb
"some" water..... whereas the H2 shouldn't absorb any.

Apparently the Nubuck leather will get some water absorption..... and
also something abt its sole that will absorb some water

Whereas they say the H2 has neither "problem"

So would you still get the H2..... over say the reg Newport and the
Hood River as well?