KEENMen's, Targhee III Waterproof Mid Hiking BootsLeather Working Group

I've been buying Keen's for 16 years now and have gone through dozens of pairs of their hiking shoes. Lately, I have toned down my hiking, but I still like the Keen shoes for daily wear. I am a loyal Keen enthusiast not only because they make a great shoe, but once, in 2012, I had a pair of Targhee II that had a faulty eyelet that broke the first time I wore it. Keen promptly replaced the boots with no questions asked. That action by them made me a Keen customer for life.These Targhee III's are replacing another pair of Targhee III's that will now be relegated to yardwork only. These hiking boots have a relaxed feel - they are light and nimble (not heavy or clunky). I feel comfortable doing anything in these boots and that is why they are what I wear 80% of the time. My wife wears a more, 'traditional', hiking boot and she only wears those on the trail because they do well on the trail, but aren't great anywhere else. These Keens are champs on the trail and perform well in most other situations as well.I love that they are waterproof and that the soles are grippy. I have never lost my footing because of my Keens. If you've never worn Keens before, the toe box is large and roomy. My feet are narrow near the heel and normal up front - these boots are snug on my heel and leave room for my toes.

This is my second pair. Word of caution, if you get them wet, the cheap plastic will disintegrate. It happened to my first pair and also to others that have them. Having said that. They are super comfortable, hence I ordered another pair.FWIW. I also tried on the new model, they are not as good. Too narrow, longer and look cheap.

These boots got used very lightly during the week, and extra heavy during most weekends for long hikes through Florida trails in sand, dirt, and mud.Good ankle support for versatile terrain, tread was never an issue, never slipped on wet rocks but I also didn’t test it often. Size I usually buy fit very well, 12w. A bit firm at first, but will break in.The pair lasted the 10 months with minimal care in cleaning (occasional brushing sand/dirt, keeping dry)Eventually the material started peeling and now the waterproofing’s compromised.Because of the waterproofing they run a little warm, but it’s worth the trade off on days after the rain not to have soaking wet feet.

3 issues: 1) Lugs - After just 5 months of use, there is a soft rubber covering on the outsole lugs that is peeling off. Not sure what their purpose is (stability for uneven surfaces?), but it was built into the design for some reason and it is failing. 2) Grip - Almost fell several times...These boots do not grip well on wet rocks. You will need to take small, deliberate steps, use hiking poles, etc. 3) Cushioning and support - These boots were comfortable when I first put them on, but my feet hurt after hiking in these boots on rocky and uneven terrain...even on just 6-9 mile day hikes. Would recommend looking to other hiking boots with stiffer outsole and more cushioning if you plan to hike on rocky trails.

I used these boots for about six months. I expected them to last at least a year.Pros:• Very lightweight.• Breathable — feet don’t sweat much.Cons:• Durability is disappointing, didn’t last long.• The laces are way too long, which is dangerous for construction boots — you can step on them and trip. Sometimes the metal lace hooks caught on each other while walking, also a risk of falling. This happens with all boots of this type.Overall: Comfortable and light, but not built for long-term heavy use.

I have been wearing Targhee II's for more than ten years as an everyday shoe. Something must have happened to make them break down so quickly. I finally decided to try a new version. Immediately noticed a huge difference in fit. The III's feel lighter and fit my feet much better. The II's were painful to break in. These are just nice to wear right out of the box.

I had another pair just like these and i loved them. They fit great and are very comfortable. I have wide feet and these are perfect

I don't recommend these boots for high-mileage hikers in a wet climate. I walk/hike 60-100 miles a month (depending on season), and it doesn't take long to run up the odometer on a pair of boots. I hike in western WA state and the Olympic Mountains. For roughly six months a year, everything, everywhere, all the time, is wet. Every trail worth hiking is wet and muddy. Boots that leak are a waste of money.This is my second pair of Keen hiking boots. The first pair was a Targhee II in a style that Keen doesn't currently make. That pair went over 1000 miles before I retired them to yard work duty. I still use them, and they don't leak. Those were too wide in the forefoot for me, and they're terrible in snow & scree (too flexible), but they were very good hiking boots for trails.I bought the Targhee III boots last year. They fit much better than the old boots, and they're lighter. However, after a year of steady use and an estimated 600 trail miles, they're just about knackered. No where near as durable as the older boot. Yesterday I was hiking up a trail with about 1"-2" of water running over it, and my right boot leaked almost immediately. Then the left boot. This is unacceptable for a boot that claims to be waterproof. A good modern boot will keep your feet dry indefinitely in 2" of water. The stitching is starting to break too.This pair of Keen Targhee III boots is a disappointment for durability and water resistance. I'll fall back on my Salewa mountaineering boots for now, but I need to buy a new pair of mid-weight hikers ASAP, and they WON'T be Keen.