These modifications in Targhee III provide superior traction, stability and water resistance; but they also cause it to sacrifice some comfort and support in return. I'm gathering information for a wide range of possible Targhee II and III buyers (all for possibly different types of purposes), so I'd appreciate if you could share their technical & practical differences with me, as well as their most suitable intended uses. What are the advantages & disadvantages of one over the other? Ready for an adventure? The Keen Targhee III WP Women is the perfect companion to take with you when you are outdoor - whether hiking, trekking, or biking. Step out in confidence, without fear of giving way in public. Keen is known for creating high-quality shoes for men, women, and children and the Targhee III WP Women is no exception. It gives you adequate support and balance all through your adventure. Have no fear of unexpected weather changes such as rain because this shoe has you covered with its water-resistant mesh lining and removable metatomical dual-density EVA footbed that is carefully shaped to suit the biological human feet with a supporting arch that matches the natural contours of the foot. Sustainable Odor Control The insoles are removable and form good arch support. They are also, rather cleverly, good at not getting too stinky! This is thanks to the probiotic technology that they are treated with: Eco Anti-odour. This is free from chemicals and heavy metals and naturally breaks down odour and sweat to keep your feet (and shoes) smelling fresh. Uppers The Targhee line is known to have a wide fit, and particularly in the toe box. When testing the Targhee II previously, we were not huge fans of the fit. Our tester had a standard-sized foot if not slightly on the wide end, and although the heel and middle section of the boot felt normal, he was swimming in the toe box. This most certainly adds to the comfort element of the boot and may not be an issue for easy day hiking, but if you’re really pushing your footwear, a ton of roominess is not a desirable feature.

KEEN | Cotswold Outdoor KEEN | Cotswold Outdoor

With a verified weight of 2.26 pounds for a US men's size 11, the Targhee III Low is not the heaviest shoe in this review but is far from the lightest. Keen is not claiming that this is a lightweight hiking shoe; rather, it is a rugged hiking shoe designed with durability in mind. That has been achieved to a large degree, and so the almost half-pound weight difference between this pair and the lightest hiking shoes in our review is not nearly as much of a red flag as it may seem at first glance. Durability The Targhee III is a revamped version of the Targhee II. Handles most terrains, is more streamlined, less bulky, and has a more flexible sole (more like an athletic shoe). It has a bit less volume in the toe and has a little bit narrower fit than the Targhee II. Runs true to size. The Targhee III Mid weighs 15.4 oz per shoe.

What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?

After a summer of wearing mostly zero-drop trainers to run and walk in, or no shoes at all, my first few jaunt wearing the Targhees felt somewhat constricting. My arches started to cramp with all the support that they were not used to getting! That has now eased since my feet are getting more used to being supported again.

Keen Targhee II vs III - OutdoorCrunch Keen Targhee II vs III - OutdoorCrunch

Sanity aside, there’s an emphasis on Targhee II’s comfort, but others noted the flexibility and “more like a running shoe” trait of the III. Targhee III. From my standpoint, they’re one in the same and I’m now torn between them given the distinctions made… Can anyone clarify which will be most gentle on my feet? I am 185 lbs and have a wide 9.5 – 10 trail boot size. The 2’s in standard width fit perfect with plenty of wiggle room for the toes without having to size up to a clown shoe in length. Keen.Dry waterproofing is serviceable but falls short of Gore-Tex. Therefore, moisture buildup can be issue when hiking for extended periods in warm conditions (the non-waterproof Vent model may be the better choice in those situations).

Performance Comparison

Unfortunately, I’m struggling a little with the aesthetics of this new design. My old ones made my feet feel tiny and compact, in a positive way. These make me feel like I’m wearing boats, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. Perhaps because the sizing is a little off? The result is that I’m not dying to wear them in non-hiking / outdoorsy scenarios, nor with non-outdoorsy clothing. The leather uppers, combined with the KEEN.Dry membrane, offer excellent waterproofness that hasn’t let me down so far. Versatility Disclaimer: Cool of the Wild received this product free in return for an honest review. We only recommend gear that we love from companies we trust and we are under no obligation to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are that of the reviewer and we are in no way influenced by the brand or company. The footbed provides excellent arch support via an internal support mechanism. This is designed to cradle the natural contours of the foot.

Keen Targhee III Mid Hiking Boot Review | Switchback Travel Keen Targhee III Mid Hiking Boot Review | Switchback Travel

Ghillie-style laces sit on the outside of the shoes, rather than looping through and into the uppers. This means that each loop can be tightened individually right down to the toes. Additionally, the top lace pulls in the webbing from around the ankle. Toe box At 2 pounds 2.8 ounces, the Keen Targhee III falls into our “lightweight” hiking boot category. In use, the Targhee III feels light on the foot, and we experienced no fatigue or feelings of clunkiness that sometimes occurs with heavier boots. For comparison, the Merrell Moab 2 Mid WP is slightly heavier at 2 pounds 4 ounces, although that boot offers more in the way of stability (more on that below). Others in this category, including the Oboz Bridger Mid BDry (2 lbs. 6 oz.) and Vasque Talus AT UltraDry (2 lbs. 3 oz.) also slightly outweigh the Keen. Salomon’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX is lighter at 1 pound 15.7 ounces, but that boot is less protective underfoot. And for a burlier option for challenging trails and longer days, the midweight category features heavy hitters like the Lowa Renegade (2 lbs. 7 oz.) and Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX (2 lbs. 13.2 oz.), both of which are considerably more expensive than the Keen. Thanks again for posting this research and for any clarification you can provide about your findings.

Keen Targhee III WP Women - At a Glance

The mid-top boot has ample cushioning around the ankle, so there is no noticeable pressure on the ankle bones like we felt on some of its rivals in our hiking boots review, but this boot did not have the high-end comfort found in the Editors' Choice Award-winning boot. Thank you for digging into the details and providing this comparison! I have a pair of Targhee Mid II that are starting to wear out but have been a great day hiker for me. I was intrigued when I saw there is a new version (III) available but that version II is still being sold so the information you provided is spot-on. The Keen Targhee III WP Mid features a burly rubber toe cap that we appreciated on multiple occasions while not paying close enough attention to the trail. It’s more substantial than the Merrell Moab and most other lightweight boots, extending all the way to the base of the toes. In terms of ankle protection, the Targhee III is a mid-height boot, and Keen added a patch of extra padding right around the ankle area. On our boots, we can see a number of scuff marks around the ankle, which means the padding was well placed and doing its job. Features of the Keen Targhee III Hiking Shoes Outsoles With 4mm deep lugs that have a multi-directional tread pattern, the outsoles provide superb traction and grip on even steep and challenging terrain. The super grippy KEEN All-Terrain rubber also helps with this. If you're unaware, the "upper leather" statement (a.k.a just "upper") refers to the outer footwear construction excluding the sole.

Keen Women’s Targhee III Waterproof Hiking Boots

Aside from that, the shoes felt immediately comfortable with no rubbing or hot spots and have continued to feel great the more I wear them.Separately, do Keens break in considerably or just a little bit?… I’ve tried on the Targhee II in an 8 wide and they are only minimally snug… Pretty much like a glove, but still, minimally snug. I’m confident they’d be perfect for casual use/easy hiking after getting broken in, but concerned they wont break in enough for two to four days in the canyon. Can anyone speak to the extent to which the Targhee IIs break in and stretch out? —Thanks so much. I really do appreciate it. The Targhee lll’s feel clunky and more like work boots. I have several pair of steel toed work boots and these feel very similar. They are too restrictive for my feet. I also find them to be a much hotter boot with less breathability. The 3’s were also much stiffer than my 2’s out of the box and took more break in time. I love how protected and comfortable my feet feel in them. The grip is also a stand-out point for me. What I don’t love so much about the Keen Targhee III Hiking Shoes I'd recommend the Targhee II Waterproof[ Men's- Men's Wide- Women's] for casual use and the Targhee III Waterproof MID[ Men's- Men's Wide- Women's] for hiking out in the nature. If you'll be doing both, then I'd recommend Targhee II Waterproof MID[ Men's- Men's Wide- Women's]. What about EXP and VENT adaptations? One isn't better than the other, although some recommendations based on the intended uses can be and are given above in the introduction part. Here is my chat with the customer service Me: