A Review of KEEN Men's Targhee II Hiking Shoe

KEEN has a solid reputation for comfortable footware, and the KEEN Men’s Targhee II Hiking Shoe is no exception. That’s the first thing you’ll notice right out of the box, and it is all the more remarkable because hiking shoes and boots, while rugged and functional, are not normally known for comfort. If you’re in the market for a new pair of hiking shoes, read on!

What You’ll Like

The KEEN Men’s Targhee II Hiking Shoe has a distinctive look and feel, that manages to be both rugged and stylish at the same time. Even better, it comes in a variety of colors, so there’s almost always going to be something to please just about every taste. When you put both of these features together, what you wind up with is a shoe that looks as good as it feels on your feet, and one you can wear hiking in the mountains, and when you get back to town. If you had to pick a single word to describe this shoe, that word would be “versatile.” No, it’s not as rugged as some offerings (see below), but it’s rugged enough for all but the most die-hard outdoorsmen, and will stand up well to just about anything you throw at it.

Another thing you’ll really appreciate is that the shoe is actually watertight! Nothing is more frustrating than buying a hiking boot or shoe that promises to be watertight, and what you end up with is a shoe that is, at best, ‘water resistant.’ Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that in this case.

Things You Won’t Like

Price-wise, this shoe is near the top. You’ll pay a little more, but what you’re paying for is the styling and the name. KEEN has a solid reputation for a reason. You can take a chance and buy a knock off brand for less, but will you have to replace the shoe in two weeks? If so, it calls your savings into question, still, there’s no doubting that the price tag will turn off some price sensitive shoppers.

The other big thing here, is watching the sizing! For whatever reason, this shoe comes in nearly a full size smaller than most other shoes (so if you normally wear a size nine, order a size ten in this shoe to be safe!)

Comparisons

It is important to remember that this shoe is not meant for heavy duty. If you live and work in the wilderness, you’ll be happier with a pair of the sturdiest hiking boots you can find. Get a pair of Wolverines with steel toes or something similar. They’ll last longer and stand up better to the daily punishment you mean to give them. That said, this isn’t a lightweight shoe that will fall apart the first time you put it through its paces. It was designed for the weekend explorer. Casual, but steady use, as opposed to relentless, every day use, and when used in its proper context, it’s just fine and will stand up very well.

One thing to note about waterproofing is that a waterproof shoe is of somewhat lesser value than a waterproof boot, simply because of how high the footwear rides up on your leg. That is to say, if you wade through a stream deeper than the shoe is high, your feet are still going to get wet. The she might be waterproof, but this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

In a practical sense then, what that means is that the shoe is just fine if all you’re doing is rock hopping across a deeper body of water, or crossing little trickles and incidental water. It’s also fine in the rain. Sure, some water will still seep into your socks as it trickles down your leg, but you’ll be miles ahead of the poor fellow not wearing a waterproof shoe.

Earlier, I mentioned price, and that is a factor here. You can certainly find other hiking shoes for less. Merrell and Hi-Tec offer several decent alternatives if price is truly the deciding factor, though bear in mind that you’ll get what you pay for. Don’t expect shoes on the lower pricing tier to be as well made, as stylish, or as long lasting as the KEEN. The rule of thumb is, when moving down a tier, you can expect to give up at least one of the three features mentioned above, and the further down the pricing tier you move, the more features you can expect to drop off.

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Notes and Recommendations

KEEN makes a good shoe. It’s solid, comfortable, and good looking, but you pay a premium for the name. Also be aware that the shoe is manufactured in China. That’s not a bad thing in and of itself, but it does manifest itself in one way that is sometimes troubling and annoying. China tends to have fewer or more lax quality controls in place than many other countries. They’re getting better about that all the time, but the bottom line is, sometimes, a bad shoe gets through, and when that happens, you’ll see the soles coming apart too quickly, stitching that breaks and seams that come loose. The upshot here is that KEEN’s customer service is excellent, so you’ll get a hassle free replacement, but it is something to keep in the back of your mind.

That said, if you’re looking for a quality, light to medium use hiking shoe, KEEN is an excellent choice, earning it’s 4 stars out of five (half a point off for being a little pricey, and half a point off for the occasional problem with quality control).