Targhee III Mid WP (Womans) by KEEN

Women’s Targhee III Mid WP by KEEN

Editor: Angela Smart

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Just the Facts:

Our iconic hiking boot for women brings an updated look to all-terrain adventures. We carried over the fit, durability, and performance of our award-winning Targhee waterproof boot and took its rugged looks to a new dimension.

Features:

• Dry waterproof, breathable membrane
• Leather mud shield offers resilient durability
• Speed hooks, for easy lace adjustment
• Injected TPU heel-capture system for stability
• ESS shank offers lightweight support
• Resilient, internal shank
• 4mm multi-directional lugs for traction
• Cleansport NXT™ for natural odor control
• Environmentally-preferred premium leather from LWG-certified tannery

Materials:

• Waterproof, leather and performance mesh upper
• KEEN All-Terrain rubber outsole for higher-traction grip
• Dual-density, compression-molded EVA midsole
• Breathable mesh lining
• Removable metatomical dual-density EVA footbed

My Story:

As an outdoor enthusiast who loves exploring nature, I was in search of something to give me the support I needed to take me across fields, over logs, and down new trails. I’ve tried many different hiking shoes and boots yet have never found one that supports my arches sufficiently. Everything I tried left me in pain before the end of my adventures.  When my friend and co-editor Johnny asked me to try out the woman’s KEEN Targhee III mid WP, I was a bit skeptical. I had always heard positive things about KEEN, in fact they are a shoe I prefer to use for my 7 year old sons wider foot, yet I’ll admit the skeptic in me wondered if any boot would be a good fit for what I needed.  I agreed to try them, and they arrived in the mail.

I started wearing them around the house to break them in. I would slide them on to go do chores, take the dogs for a walk, or go down to the river with my son. I expected them to be like other boots I had that were not yet broke in, stiff and uncomfortable. I was wrong! They fit comfortably right away and didn’t cause any discomfort or soreness.  There was virtually no break in period necessary. They were ready for adventure in no time and I couldn’t wait to take them out.

My son had been begging me to take him up into the mountains to find snow and go sledding. I figured it would be a great time to try out my new boots. We loaded the truck with our gear and headed up into the mountains. After driving high into the hills, we found the perfect spot to sled.  We hiked up and down the hill in the snow for a few hours, and not once did I even think about my feet. Only later I realized that my feet had stayed warm and dry the entire time, leaving me to have fun and enjoy the day!  The KEEN.Dry and waterproof nubuck leather upper did exactly what it was supposed to do.  The breathable material wicked moisture away and kept the melting snow out.

Because the boots did so well on their first adventure with me, I decided it was time to take them on a hike.  It had been raining that morning, but the sun broke through the clouds leaving beautiful, yet muddy trails. While hiking my son led me off trail in mud, through river crossings, and up and down mountains. The KEEN All-terrain rubber outsole gave excellent traction, I wasn’t slipping when walking down slate, over rocky areas of the trails, or down and uphill in the mud.  The 4 mm multi-directional lugs worked wonders on all terrain types.  KEEN boots offer a roomy toe box.  Going down the hills I found my toes had plenty of room, never jamming into the front of the toe box.  My feet were free to move about for comfort but were kept comfortably in place with the support I needed thanks to the injected thermoplastic urethane heel-capture system and Lightweight ESS shank.   The trail followed a mountain stream, meeting back up with it every so often for a crossing.  The water we walked through went over the tops of my boots and my feet stayed dry. After hiking for about an hour, I noticed that the boots were keeping my feet warm, without making them sweat. Although the Targhee III are not an insulated boot, the KEEN.Dry breathable membrane combined with the performance mesh lining and nubuck leather kept my feet warm and dry.

I’ve used these boots for various things including hiking, doing chores, 4 wheeling, and taking the dogs on walks. From hours on the trail to just going a few miles down the road, I’ve found these boots have proven my skepticism unfounded, and supported my every excursion.  The dual-density EVA midsoles and metatomical EVA insoles gave good support, I’ve had no numbness in my feet and no arch pain which is typical with the majority of boots I have worn. These boots are comfortable.  KEEN even added extra comfort with proper padding on the tongue to keep the pressure from the laces and creasing in the upper from digging into my ankles.

The Woman’s Targhee III are durable and light weight.  They allow me to hike for longer periods without having to stop to rest because of foot fatigue.  The boots were designed with lots of little details that really make the Targhee III boots great.  The lacing speed hooks make it easy to tighten or loosen the boots as needed. The heel loop can be used to pull the boot on or attach to a carabiner on your pack for carrying. The signature KEEN rubber toe cap and leather mud shield protect my foot and boots from undue wear and tear.  The Cleansport NXT keeps the boots from smelling no matter how much use they get. And KEEN uses a leather that is environmentally- preferred premium leather that comes from tanneries that reduce chemical usage.

Find it Here:

https://www.keenfootwear.com/p/W-TARGHEE-III-MID-WP.html?dwvar_W-TARGHEE-III-MID-WP_color=1018178&cgid=womens_footwear_boots

What Could be Done Better:

The only negative I found with these boots for me, is the midrise around the ankle was a little stiff, causing slight discomfort to the back of my ankle. There was no abrasions or blistering, but a slightly uncomfortable pressure