KEEN Men's Targhee 3 Low Waterproof Review: wide, tough hikers that feel like casual shoes

I’ve been wearing the KEEN Men’s Targhee 3 Low Height Waterproof Hiking Shoes (size 11, Bungee Cord/Black) for a mix of weekend hikes and daily errands. So this isn’t a lab test, it’s just how they behaved on real dirt, wet grass, and around town. I’ve used older Targhee models before, so I had a rough idea of what to expect, but this version still surprised me in a few ways, both good and annoying.

The first main point: these shoes are clearly built with a wider fit and comfort first. If you’ve got broad feet or hate narrow hiking shoes, you’ll probably feel at home right away. My toes had room to move, even on downhill sections, and I didn’t get that cramped pinky toe pain you get with some other brands. On the flip side, if your feet are narrow, you might find them a bit sloppy unless you really play with the lacing.

In terms of use, I did a few 10–15 km hikes on mixed trails: mud, packed dirt, some loose rock. I also wore them to work and around town for about two weeks straight just to see how they feel as daily shoes. So this isn’t just a “tried them on in the living room” opinion. They’ve seen some abuse: wet mornings, a couple of small streams, and plenty of stairs and pavement.

Overall, I’d say they’re pretty solid all-rounders. Not perfect, not ultra-light, and definitely not the most breathable option out there, but they get the job done if you want one pair that can handle hiking and casual use. The big questions are: do you like the wider KEEN shape, and are you okay trading some breathability for waterproofing and durability? If yes, they’ll probably work for you. If you’re chasing super light and airy shoes, these are not it.

Price-wise, the Targhee 3 Low sits in that mid-to-upper range for hiking shoes. It’s not bargain-bin cheap, but it’s also not in the premium, super-expensive category. For what you get—leather upper, waterproof membrane, solid outsole, and a proven design—the value is pretty good, especially if you plan to use them a lot, not just a couple of times a year. If you’re just looking for something for one casual trip, they might feel like overkill.

Compared to some competitors like Merrell Moab or similar models from Columbia, these feel a bit more robust in the toe and upper. The trade-off is they’re slightly heavier and warmer. If you’re tough on your gear and keep shoes for several seasons, that extra durability can justify the price. If you treat your shoes gently and mostly walk on easy paths, you might not fully use what you’re paying for here.

Another thing to factor into value is how versatile they are. I’ve been able to wear them hiking, doing yard work, and even to the office on casual days. That means I’m not buying a separate pair just for trails and another for daily use. For me, that boosts their value. If you want one pair that can do many things fairly well, they make sense. If you already own a light trail runner and a big hiking boot, these might overlap with what you have.

Overall, I’d call the value “strong but not mind-blowing.” You’re paying for durability, waterproofing, and a comfortable wide fit. If those three things matter to you, the price is fair. If you don’t need waterproofing or you prefer a lighter, more breathable shoe, you could save money with a simpler model and probably be just as happy.

Design-wise, the Targhee 3 Low is on the “rugged and functional” side. It has that classic KEEN big toe bumper, which doesn’t look sleek but does save your toes when you kick a rock or root. Personally, I don’t care about looking slim on the trail; I care about not smashing my toes, so I actually like that part. If you’re used to more streamlined hiking shoes, they might look a bit bulky at first glance.

The color combo Bungee Cord/Black is pretty neutral. It goes fine with khaki, black, grey, or denim. I’ve worn them to the office on casual days and nobody commented either way, which to me is a plus: they don’t scream “I just came from a mountain,” but they also don’t pass as dress shoes. Think practical outdoor shoe you can still get away with in a relaxed office or running errands.

One thing I paid attention to was the lacing system and tongue design. The laces run through a mix of fabric loops and metal eyelets, and the tongue is gusseted (connected to the sides) to help keep water and debris out. That part works well: I walked through wet grass and light mud, and nothing sneaked in from the top. However, the laces themselves are on the short side, which lines up with that Amazon review. If you like to use all the eyelets and double-knot, you’ll probably find them annoyingly short. I ended up reusing longer laces from an older pair, and that fixed it.

Overall, the design is very much “form follows function.” Thick outsole with 4 mm lugs, solid heel counter, and a decent heel pull tab to get them on quickly. Nothing fancy, but most of the choices make sense if you’re actually going to hike in them. The only design gripe I have is the slightly short laces and the bulkier look, which some people will either like for the protection or dislike for the style.

Comfort is where these shoes shine the most for me. The toe box is generous, and you really feel that on longer hikes or when your feet swell later in the day. I never had that “toe smashing against the front” feeling on downhill sections, and my pinky toes weren’t rubbing against the side. If you’ve got wide or slightly problematic feet, this is a big plus. If you have narrow feet, you might need to crank the laces tighter than usual to avoid sliding around.

The insole is removable and has decent arch support and a shaped heel cup. I have slightly flat arches and usually swap insoles, but I actually kept the stock ones in for the first couple of weeks. They did a good job of cradling my foot without feeling too hard. The cushioning in the midsole is on the softer side for a hiking shoe—more like a beefy sneaker than a rigid mountain boot. That’s nice for mixed use: walking on pavement, standing around, and light trails. For heavy backpacking with a lot of weight, I’d maybe want something stiffer, but for day hikes, this setup feels good.

One thing to be honest about: because of the waterproof membrane and leather, they run warm. On cool and wet days, that’s great—my feet stayed dry and comfortable. On a warmer day, especially if you’re climbing and sweating, your feet will feel it. It’s not unbearable, but if breathability is your top priority, these won’t be your favorite. I didn’t get blisters, but I did notice my socks were pretty damp from sweat after a long, warm hike.

From a support standpoint, the external shank and heel cradle do their job. On uneven ground, my ankles felt stable even though this is a low-cut shoe. Of course, you don’t get the same ankle lock as a mid or high boot, but for a low shoe, it’s quite stable. No weird rolling or lack of trust on side slopes. In short: very comfortable for wide feet and day hikes, with the trade-off being a bit of extra warmth due to the waterproofing and leather.

The upper is a mix of premium leather and breathable mesh. In practice, that means the shoe feels sturdy where it needs to be (around the toe, sides, and heel) and slightly more flexible on top. The leather panels handle scrapes and branches well. I dragged them across some rocky sections and low brush, and they only picked up light scuffs, nothing serious. The mesh panels help with flexibility and a bit of airflow, but don’t expect them to feel like full-mesh trail runners.

Inside, there’s a quick-dry lining and the KEEN.DRY waterproof membrane. The lining does a decent job of not feeling soggy after you’ve been sweating in them. I had one longer hike where my feet were sweating a fair bit, and while they were warm, they didn’t feel like a swamp. That said, with any waterproof membrane, you trade breathability for dryness from the outside. On cooler days and in wet conditions, this combo works really well. On hot summer days, especially above 25–28°C, your feet will likely feel warm.

The outsole is thick rubber with 4 mm multi-directional lugs. Rubber quality feels solid: it grips on wet rocks better than some cheaper hiking shoes I’ve used. It’s not sticky climbing rubber, but for hiking and light scrambling, it’s fine. The midsole cushioning hasn’t packed out quickly either. After a couple of weeks, including a few longer days on feet, they still feel basically the same as day one, which is good news for long-term comfort.

KEEN also pushes the “consciously created” angle: leather from LWG-certified tanneries, PFC-free water repellent, and their Eco Anti-Odor tech. I can’t scientifically verify any of that, but I can say this: after wearing them a lot without changing insoles, they didn’t develop that nasty shoe stink as fast as some of my other hikers. So whatever they’re doing for odor control seems to work okay in real life. Overall, the materials feel durable and practical, even if they make the shoe a bit heavier and warmer than a pure mesh alternative.

Durability is one of the reasons people stick with the Targhee line, and I can see why. The leather panels and the thick toe bumper take hits without complaining. After a couple of weeks of frequent use, including scraping against rocks and walking through rough brush, the shoes mostly show light cosmetic scuffs. No stitching coming loose, no peeling around the sole, and no weird creases that look like they’re about to split.

The outsole also looks like it will go the distance. The lugs barely show any wear, even after several hikes on rocky and gravelly paths. With some cheaper shoes, you can see the heel lugs rounding off quickly, but here they still look almost new. If you’re someone who wears one pair of shoes for both daily life and hiking, that’s important—you don’t want the sole gone in six months.

One small weak point is the stock laces. They work, but as mentioned, they’re a bit short if you like to use every eyelet and double-knot. Short laces also tend to wear out quicker because you’re pulling harder on a smaller length. Not a deal-breaker, but I’d budget for a better, slightly longer pair of laces down the line. The rest of the hardware (eyelets and loops) seems sturdy; I didn’t see any fraying or bending.

Based on my use and on what other long-term Targhee users say, I’d expect these to last several seasons of regular hiking and casual wear, especially if you take basic care of the leather (brushing off dirt, maybe using a leather cleaner or conditioner now and then). They’re not indestructible, but they feel more robust than a lot of lighter, mostly-mesh hiking shoes. So if you value durability over shaving a few grams of weight, these are a good bet.

On the trail, the Targhee 3 Low behaves like a solid, no-nonsense hiking shoe. The grip from the KEEN All-Terrain rubber is pretty dependable. I tested them on wet dirt, small rocks, and some muddy patches. The 4 mm lugs bite into soft ground well enough to keep you from sliding around, and on rocky sections they felt secure. On really slick, algae-covered rocks, nothing grips perfectly, but these did about as well as any mid-range hiking shoe I’ve used.

Waterproofing is one of the main selling points. I walked through wet grass, shallow puddles, and a small stream crossing where the water came just below the top of the shoe. My socks stayed dry every time, as long as I didn’t let water pour in from above. That KEEN.DRY membrane seems to work as advertised. The only trade-off, like I said earlier, is heat buildup on warmer days. If your usual conditions are wet forests, muddy trails, or shoulder seasons, the waterproofing is worth it. If you mostly hike in hot, dry climates, you might be better off with a non-waterproof, more breathable shoe.

In terms of stability and protection, the external shank, heel cradle, and toe guard all come together nicely. I stepped on a few pointy rocks and roots, and the bruise plate did its job—no sharp pain through the sole. The thick rubber toe cap saved me more than once when I kicked a hidden rock. Compared to lighter, more minimal shoes, you feel more protected but also a bit more disconnected from the ground. That’s personal preference: I like having my feet not get banged up, so I’m fine with the slightly more “boot-like” feel.

For pace, these are more suited to steady hiking than fast trail running. They’re not built to be quick and nimble; they’re built to handle abuse and mixed terrain. If your goal is to crush fast miles, this is not the right tool. If your goal is a reliable shoe for hiking, light backpacking, and everyday use, they do the job very well. No performance surprises, just consistent behavior across different surfaces.

Out of the box, the Targhee 3 Low looks like exactly what it is: a chunky, low-cut hiking shoe that leans slightly toward casual. The Bungee Cord/Black color is basically brownish/olive with black accents, which is easy to match with jeans, hiking pants, or work pants. It’s not flashy, and that’s fine. It looks like a practical shoe, not a fashion sneaker. If you want something that screams “trail runner,” this isn’t it.

The first thing I noticed when I picked them up was the weight. At around 500 g per shoe, they’re not super heavy, but you definitely feel more heft than a running-style hiking shoe. On foot, the weight is less noticeable because the cushioning is quite forgiving, but you’re still aware this is a sturdy leather shoe and not some ultra-light mesh trainer. For day hikes and daily wear, I found the weight acceptable. For really long, fast hikes, I’d probably choose something lighter.

Fit-wise, KEEN’s “Original Fit” is real. The forefoot is generous, and the toe box is wide. I have medium-to-slightly-wide feet, and I didn’t need to size up or down—my usual size worked. Compared to brands like Salomon or Merrell, these feel roomier in the front. If you usually struggle with tight toes, that’s a big plus. If you like a locked-in, narrow feel, you may not appreciate this shape.

In the first few days, I used them straight from the box on a 7 km hike. No real break-in pain, just a bit of stiffness from the leather, which softened after two or three outings. No blisters, no hotspots. That’s pretty decent for a leather-based hiking shoe. So from a presentation and first-wear point of view: solid, straightforward, and ready to use with only a short break-in period needed.