Men's Targhee 4 Mid Height Waterproof Hiking Boots

KEEN continues to innovate some of the best boots and shoes in the industry from its US based design center, and builds with craftsmanship, durability, eco-friendly PFAS-free materials, and ethical sourcing. Some of their products are US made, but the Targhee series is designed in the US and expertly made first in Cambodia and now in Thailand. The Targhee line is backed by KEEN’s lifetime warranty against delamination and structural failure. I’ve never had to use their warranty personally but KEEN gets consistently good reviews from many customers for their service and for standing behind their products. In determining which Targhee boots I wanted to purchase, I ordered boots from the three available Targhee series II, III, and IV in regular and wide sizes. With regard to fitment, I found the three Targhee boots to run true to size. I’m 5’9” and 180lbs. I normally wear a 10.5R, and found that size the best fit for me after also trying 10W and 10.5W. I’m also not a true W, I just like a little more room. I usually wear lighter socks than many people do (Darn Tough Micro Crew Lite). The Targhee’s already have a bit more room in the toe box than average boots, so keep that in mind if you are between W and R. They all fit me much better than the more narrow European boots like LOWA or ASOLO do. While shopping for boots this year, I tried multiple styles and sizes of these European boots and none of them worked for me at all, they were all too narrow as well as tight and stiff. I also looked at MERELL’s MOAB series, which is a close competitor of the KEEN. The MOABs are comfortable but a bit more sneaker-like, and the quality and aesthetics wasn’t quite to the KEEN standards for a comparable price. Targhee II Second generation of a tried and tested comfortable all-around, multi-use boot with a roomy toe box and reliable KEEN.DRY waterproofing and a lug outsole that grips everything from muddy trail to rock. Not a true rock boot, nor designed for heavy load carrying over rough terrain, but better suited to most general use than a firmer, heavier, dedicated mountaineering boot. A good looking boot that can be worn casually and breaks in quickly and is comfortable immediately. Often available at a discount since there are two subsequent models now available. Cloth nylon lace eyelets and a plastic lace speed-hook. 590g weight each boot. Targhee III Leaned into a sleeker profile, almost 2 oz lighter than the II, or 3 oz lighter than the IV, with a streamlined outsole and midsole. Some synthetic where the II was leather, and leather where II was synthetic. It retains the same waterproofing and all‑terrain traction, yet offers a slightly more versatile profile for both trail and everyday wear. Has the most visible leather of the series. Leather lace eyelets and a metal lace speed-hook. 540g weight each boot, so the III is by far the lightest of the three. Targhee IV Combines the best of both worlds: the II’s supportive yet roomy fit with III’s updates but built taking into account all of what KEEN learned from the prior three iterations of Targhee. The main innovation of this boot is KEEN’s new FUSION construction, which fuses upper and sole without adhesive to prevent delamination, also includes a long‑lasting LuftCell midsole and a rugged outsole designed to outlast its predecessors. The new outsole is also a slightly translucent smoke color vs. the prior opaque black, which looks nice. Three-tone uppers and a lighter olive leather liven and lighten up the appearance. Back to nylon cloth lace eyelets and a metal lace speed-hook. They also gain the weight back the III series dropped. 620 weight each boot, heaviest of the three. While all three KEENs were comfortable right out of the box, I read several reviews about customers adding higher-end KEEN insoles. Subsequently, I bought the K-30, Medium Arch, Outdoor insoles in Large and found them superior to the original insoles. I found they fit precisely after easily trimming to my size along the marked 10.5 line, and provided additional cushion, arch support, and some added lateral stability. While expensive (at a quarter the cost of the boot!!!) the insoles were noticeably better, particularly with gel in the pad and heel. So, should KEEN include them in the first place and just increase the boot price? The original insoles are not bad, just not as good as the upgrades, so it’s hard to say. I’d definitely pay $20 more for the upgrade, but $40 additional as purchased really is a bit much! Also, they weigh the same 57g as the original insoles. In summary, I found things I liked about each of the Targhee models and, while I can appreciate the evolutionary improvements, I’d be happy with any of the three Targhee boots. The Targhee II is a seriously good value since it can often be found at a discount due to newer models being out. The III is noticeably lighter and has a more muted appearance, with more visible leather. However, I ended up keeping the more expensive and heavier IV because of liking the visual style and having an appreciation for the innovations KEEN has made building on their success, and learning from the prior generations. I buy boots very infrequently, so I also didn’t want to save a few bucks and wish I’d gotten the newer model for years after. If you just burn through boots with mileage, the II series is probably where you should look, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the three if something grabs you about one of them. They are all great boots!

Great boot! Very comfortable, true to size, and so far durable.

Really great boots a fantastic price. Use these in the southern Rockies and they take the rocks and elevation very well. Tough and pretty light weight for what they are. Big toe box and wide at the insole. Happy with the boot.

Very comfortable. Probably best pair of Keens I've ever owned. My only concern is a little missed stitch on the outside of the left boot where there seemed to be a little extra (not trimmed well) material. Just hoping it doesn't effect the waterproofing of the shoe. I've only had them a week, but will see how they break in. I will put better insoles in as the factory set just doesn't cut it for long.

Very satisfied very comfortable and durable absolutely great water proof no water gets In keeps feet warm as well light and great traction as well

Was wearing some old Doc Martens as hiking boots so these are a MAJOR upgrade for me. Perfect fit out the box (after I switched to wide) and super comfortable. Great traction and boots are light! Highly recommend

So far I'm disappointed. I really wanted to like these, I really did. I scoped these out for months before I dove in. The insole is unusually hard. I upgraded the insoles, so we'll see what happens. I've been playing around with some of my Merrill insoles and other Keen stuff as well as Ecco and insoles from various hikers. The right inside tongue is hurting the top of my foot a lot, so I'll have to customize with some specialized tape to make it smoother. I don't think one should have to go to these lengths to make a shoe/boot work. I paid $127, down from $167... way, and I mean way to high. I have another pair of Targhees that rock, but I liked the look and the five star reviews. Usually I look at the bad reviews first as I did this time, but talked myself into the five stars and went with them. So I took a chance on black Fri. At this point I probably can't return them and I'm not ready to give up on them yet. Nevertheless, I doubt if I will be giving Keen another chance. On a positive note though, they are nice and roomy in the toe box which is one of the main reasons I like Keens. I'll be back with an update after the insole and tape smoothing thing. Back for more: actually nothing I did helped, and what is with all the literature about recycling and material? a bit overkill. Some of us buy a shoe for quality, not to save the world.

Keen shoes are getting back to a better quality build after having been outsourcing for so many years. These boots are very comfortable and give me the ankle support that I need when I'm out there working in the world on uncertain terrain. They also help me feel like I'm stable as I move around throughout the day. It helps have a good pair of insoles that are comfortable with an arch support to help you stand upright and feel good all day long.