Walking Boots

Keen Targhee III Walking Boot | Review

The brand’s bestseller is back with a new eco-friendlier build and modernised look

Why We Chose It: Innovative mid soles, lightweight, eco-friendly build
Price: £120
Weight: 375g (per shoe)

2005, the year the first ever Youtube video was uploaded, Pope John Paul II died, Freddie Flintoff bowled England to a famous Ashes win and Keen launched the first ever Targhee boot.

15 years on and the Targhee is now in its third iteration, with modernised features and a bunch of much eco-friendlier materials to, um, boot. As well as the model on show here, bear in mind that there are also a bunch of other different styles to suit different needs.

What’s The Keen Targhee III Best Suited To?

This particular Targhee is one of those generic hiking boots. That might sound a bit belittling, but we don’t mean it that way. What we mean it is that it’s that kind of boot that will be on your feet a hell of a lot, something that’ll suit everything from country walks and dog walks, to day hikes in a national park and long-distance backpacking trips. It wouldn’t look too out of place when just worn about town either.

It’s limits probably lie in the more technical stuff – basically winter mountain conditions or the more serious scrambles.

The sole features 4mm lugs. Photo: Chris Johnson

The Eco Credentials

First up, Keen have banished PFCs from the Targhee’s durable water repellent coating, getting rid of the potentially carcinogenic and persistent chemicals in favour of an eco-friendly alternative. They’ve also given the inner lining and sole an anti-odour treatment that utilises a safe, naturally occurring probiotic proven to be just as effective in odour control as the chemical alternatives – but without any of the ecologically damaging side effects.

Unfortunately for the vegans out there, the Targhee has a leather plated upper. If you’re looking for something leather-free from Keen, the Terradora is a good alternative. The leather they have used here does at least come from a tannery with full Leather Working Group approval, meaning it meets a stringent criteria concerning ethical and sustainable production.

Features

As well as that leather on the upper, the Targhee III also features the brand’s proprietary Keen.Dry waterproof membrane. There’s also one of those rounded toe bumpers that have come to characterise Keen hiking boots, plus the webbing system that integrates with the laces to lock in the heel.

Underfoot, there’s a removable footbed, a decent shank that keeps out rough rocks and roots well while still allowing a bit of foot flex and there’s an injected PU foam for shock absorption and general comfort.

As was the case with the last Targhee, the sole unit isn’t particularly aggressive but its 4mm lugs should still provide enough traction on defined trails. We found that its limitations are exposed on any particularly muddy and steep slopes. For that kind of stuff you might want to look into the Keen Karraig which is a boot made specifically with British upland conditions in mind. Boggy quagmires in other words.

Conclusion

At 375g per boot, the Targhee isn’t the lightest of boots out there but nor is it the heaviest. The price is pretty decent, though do bear in mind that the Targhee III isn’t the kind of boot that’s going to last you for years and years. You’ll want to go for something with thicker leather and less stitched on parts if it’s longevity that you’re after.

It’s good to see the steps Keen have taken in regards to sustainability. For a few years now, the outdoor footwear industry seems to have been behind outdoor apparel when it comes to eco developments, but Keen have been one of the exceptions.

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