KEEN Men's Targhee II Mid Height Waterproof Hiking Boot

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 IISecond 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 IIILeaned 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 IVCombines 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!

I've been a fan of Keen for the last decade. I like the bigger toe box. I've bought Targhee 2, Targhee 3, and Targhee 4. I like the Targhee 2 better than the Targhee 3, and I returned the Targhee 4 and replaced it with another Targhee 3. It seemed like they found ways to make the shoe cheaper, at least to me.You should also know is that the Targhee boots are not the same as the Targhee shoes. With what I now know, I wish I had sent the shoes back. I thought they would look better with shorts. However, the shoes have a thinner midsole and you can feel the lugs on the bottoms of the shoes through the soles. Evidently, all brands do that, including Merrell's. The soles are lighter than the boots because of difference in the soles.

I bought these boots in February of 2016. I wore them for work for the last 3 years of my career there are 6,000 hours, after retirement I've worn them for dog walks, Yard work and according to my Alltrails app I've hiked 1,328 Miles. They are like the Energizer Bunny. They just keep going and going and going.

UPDATE: In the past, Keen was a good brand, with great durability. Now.... Keen is a worthless company when it comes to quality/durability, and warranty..........WARRANTY IS USELESS! Keen's warranty is so lopsided in favor of Keen, and you will never get anything from them under the warranty. My shoes literally fell apart within 4 months.... I contacted them about the warranty. Sent images, receipt images, screenshots of purchase info, and right from the start they throw up roadblocks. Went back and forth via email for a weeks.....pictures, and even video showing how badly the shoes fell apart..... they always have some excuse as to why the warranty won't cover it, EVERY time, a some point in an email or phone conversation this phrase came out..... "That is considered normal wear and tear, and is not covered under out warranty." WAY OVERPRICED SHOES, AND LESS THAN 6 MONHTS OF USABILITY BEFORE THEY HAVE FALLEN APART.....AND A WARRANTY THAT IS USELESS TO THE CUSTOMER! I don't know what happened to Keen, but they went from a good brand, to horrible in no time at all.If you buy Keen brand footwear, then make sure you buy a CASE of Shoe Goo, or similar product..... YOU WILL NEED IT! The lugs that wrap upward will be the first to start coming apart..... for me, it caused me to trip and fall! Even when you try to "glue" the lugs back in place, another one comes loose, and you spend more time trying to repair them then wear them! Shortly after the sole lugs start coming loose, the stitching starts coming out, and the soles tear away from the uppers. It's insane, trying to repair a shoe that for the high cost, should not be coming apart in the first place. Keen shoes/boots are without a doubt the most overpriced, poorest quality footwear I have ever seen! You'd be just about as well off to burn your money for warmth....because that's about how long these boots will last!UPDATED REVIEW: Less then 8 months with only wearing them about once a week, and the lugs have separated around the outside of BOTH soles! This is totally unacceptable for a shoe of this price! No way will I spend that kind of money for such lousy durability! NEVER AGAIN!THESE BOOTS ARE NOT TRUE TO SIZE! (They run small)I was looking at this boot through a local retailer, and glad I did. I tried on my normal size (11.5 W) and they were very small and tight. I asked to try on a 12W and it fit just right. They only had one pair of 12W at the store, and that pair had a defect that I wasn't willing to live with. I got home, looked on Amazon, and the same boots are $49 LESS! I ordered a pair of 12W, and they fit just right.This is day 1 with them on my feet, so we'll see how the comfort and durability holds up. If they start coming apart prematurely as others have stated in reviews, I will update my review/