After a ton of researching online and trying hiking boots on in-store, I decided to go for the brand Keen. Keen is a Portland-based footwear brand, and a lot of their hiking boots do live up to their hype, perform well, and last so long.
HOW TO SHOP FOR DAY HIKING BOOTS GUIDE
KEEN TARGHEE II BOOT REVIEW – GOOGLE WEB STORIES
For the very first pair of day hiking boots, I went for the Women’s Targhee III Waterproof Mid in the color Brindle/Quiet Harbor. I’m a 7.5 and went for size 7.5!
Disclaimer: This blog post is not sponsored. I bought my Keen Targhee III with my own money a year before I became a Keen affiliate.
A Keen affiliate partner means that I can link products from their website. To avoid fakes, only buy from keetfootwear.com. If you decide to buy to support me and Keen, the brand will pay me a small commission. You will not pay any additional cost.
about KEEN:
Keen is an independently owned and values-led, Portland-based footwear brand. Their shoes are known for fit, durability, and performance.
Women’s Targhee III Waterproof Mid
Technical Specs:
- Height: over-the-ankle
- Closure: Lace-up style with easy-adjust hooks
- Upper: Oiled nubuck leather. Leather mud shield for durability.
- Lining: mesh
- Insole: Removable insole with CLEANSPORT NXT odor control
- Midsole: dual-density EVA
- Internal Support: ESS shank for lightweight support. Resilient, internal shank.
- Outsole: 4mm traction-enhancing multidirectional lugs. Injected TPU heel capture system for stability.
- Weight: 1 lb. 12.4 oz.
- Waterproof: Yes. KEEN.dry breathable, waterproof membrane.
- Features: Cleansport NXT™ for natural odor control
- Sustainability: Contains leather from a tannery rated gold by the Leather Working Group (LWG)
Sizing:
I’d recommend staying with your regular size or SIZE UP HALF SIZE if you’d prefer a slight loser fit. I have flat feet, and my feet are medium width, not narrow nor too wide. My partner’s feet are wide, and he loves his KEEN (Yes, we do have the same hiking boots, but his shoes are the low ankle style). With my thick Darntough or Smartwool socks, the 7.5 fit me great, however, my toes start to hurt after about a 9+ mile hike, especially when hiking downhill. I wish I did do the half-size-up from the beginning. If you’re in between a full size and a half, definitely go for 1/2 size larger because you’d need to leave some space for thick socks.
Durability:
It’s been about two years since I purchase my KEEN, and I have not noticed any tears nor faulty design on the boots. They are waterproof and pretty much indestructible. Despite all of the dirt that the shoes have picked up over the years, they are in pretty good shape and condition. I love the look rugged, and how the worn-in look really adds in some characteristics and personality for the shoes.
Care:
I’ve hand-washed them once in my bathtub with some detergent and water once or twice so far. I remove the insoles and laces and let them soak for a few hours before going in with a toothbrush. Then I leave all parts to air dry, and it takes about 2 days to completely dry.
Performance:
So far, I have only done day hiking in these, and the longest hike is around 11 – 12 mile hike.
They do great on all terrains such as groomed trails, rocks, snow, and wet muddy areas. Out of all of the hiking boots I own, these have the best grip or the traction is the best! In addition, these are completely waterproof, and I have not noticed any leakage when hiking through streams and wet areas on trails. For snow activities, get yourself a pair of actual snow hiking boots or go for thicker wool socks if you’re choosing these. This is why sizing up any hiking boots is a great idea!
Another tip is that I always pack or leave a pair of fresh socks somewhere in my backpack or in the car. And I always change out my shoes and give my feet a break whenever I get back to the car. That is just to give my feet a break and prevent the shoes from accumulating a bad smell over time.
As said above, my toes tend to hurt in these if I hike in them for a very long time. I have long toes, and I think I should have gone for a half size up. My partner and I both love our KEEN, and they’re well-tested and loved.
Final Thoughts:
Women’s Targhee III Waterproof Mid hiking boots are best for day hiking and recreational hiking, especially if you have wide feet. I genuinely love KEEN as a brand, and I think they do boots with great grip and very durable materials. I love the rugged design of these boots and how well they wear and age over the years.
If you’re looking for the first pair of hiking boots or just looking for something with great grip, go for these Women’s Targhee III Waterproof Mid-high ankle boots and SIZE UP HALF SIZE! If you know someone who has wide feet, these boots will be the perfect solution!
A FEW WAYS I’VE STYLED KEEN BOOTS ON TRAILS. ENJOY!
I love my Keen boots and have recommended them to a lot of my friends and followers, and they love them, too! So take advantage of their current Labor Day weekend sale and snag a pair. SHOP MY KEEN SHOES HERE!
READ MORE:
