Keen’s Targhee hiking boots and shoes have been favourites of mine for many years as they are comfortable, lightweight, durable, and fit my wide feet well. The latest version, the Targhee IV should prove the longest lasting yet as it has a new fused construction to stop the sole delaminating that is glue and solvent free and guaranteed not to delaminate. The Targhee IV is environmentally friendly in other ways too with uppers made from leather from a Leather Working Group certified tannery and recycled post-consumer plastic with a PFAS-free water repellency treatment.
Chris Townsend’s Best Buy
Keen’s Targhee boots and shoes have been favourites of mine for many years as they are comfortable, lightweight, durable, and fit my wide feet well.- Lightweight
- Fused non-delaminating construction
- Environment friendly
- Comfy
- Bit warm for summer use
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Uppers: PFAS free leather & recycled polyester/plastic outer, Keen.Dry membrane inside Midsole: Luftcell air-injected polyurethane Sole: Keen.Rugged Sizes: men 6-14, women 2.5-9.5 keenfootwear.co.uk |
The boots have a solvent-free, air-injected polyurethan midsole that resists compression and an outsole that is twice as durable as rubber. Inside there’s a Keen-Dry membrane.
The boots retain the Targhee’s distinctive chunky look with a big rubber toe bumper. They have the same fit as the first Targhees with a wide forefoot that lets your toes spread out, which is just right for my feet.
The specifications of the Targhee IV are excellent then but what’s even more important is how they perform on the hills. I’m pleased to say that the answer to that is excellently. I wore them on the It’s Up To Us path work day on An Teallach and then for an overnight wild camp and an ascent of Sail Mhor in the same area. Next came a three-day trip to Creag Meagaidh in April. On these trips the boots encountered muddy paths, bogs, rocky slopes, wet grass, loose stones, and extensive snow patches. They were fine on all that varied terrain, including kicking steps up some steep snow. Overall they were comfortable and secure, and I enjoyed wearing them. I had no blisters or sore spots, the lacing keeping them in place on my feet with no heel lift. The cushioning felt good, and the outsole gripped well. I can’t fault them as backpacking and hillwalking boots.
The weather on these early spring trips was on the cool side and the terrain was mostly wet. My feet stayed warm and dry inside the boots in midweight wool socks even when crossing the snowfields on Creag Meagaidh, which were ankle-deep in places. I think they’ll be a little too warm in hot summer weather, like other boots with waterproof membranes, but for most of the year they should be fine.
