KEEN Men's Targhee II Mid Hiking Boot Review: wide, comfy tank for everyday trails

I’ve been wearing the KEEN Targhee line on and off for years, and this Targhee II Mid in 11 Wide is pretty much what I expected: a chunky, comfort-first hiking boot that suits wide feet and casual hiking more than hardcore mountaineering. If you’re used to narrow Euro boots like Lowa or Asolo, this feels like switching from a sports car to an SUV. Not as precise, but your toes finally get some breathing room.

I used them for mixed stuff: weekend trails, wet grass dog walks, some light yard work, and standing around at kids’ games on soggy fields. In that kind of use, they hold up well: feet stay dry, grip is decent, and I don’t think about my feet much, which is what I want from boots. I’m not hauling 50 lb packs up scree slopes; I’m doing 5–10 mile hikes with a daypack.

They do have some downsides. They’re not super light, the look is a bit bulky and old-school, and quality control seems hit-or-miss based on other buyers’ reviews. Some people get pairs that last for years, others complain about the soles peeling or stitching coming loose in under a year. That’s honestly the big question mark with these: you either get a workhorse or a headache.

If you’ve got wide feet, hate cramped toe boxes, and mostly do moderate hiking or all-day walking, these are worth a look, especially if you catch them on sale. If you’re super rough on your boots, or you’ve been burned by KEEN durability before, you might want to think twice or at least be ready to baby them a bit and maybe fight with warranty if things go south.

For value, it really depends what price you pay and how long your pair holds up. The Targhee II is an older model, so it’s often discounted compared to the Targhee III and IV. At a decent discount, I’d say the value is good: you get a wide, comfortable, waterproof boot that handles day hikes and everyday outdoor use without much break-in. If it lasts you a few years, that’s money well spent.

If you pay full price and end up with one of the pairs that starts falling apart in under a year, then the value is obviously terrible. The angry review about the lugs peeling and the warranty being useless is a reminder that you’re taking a bit of a gamble. KEEN advertises support and a warranty, but in practice, some people get pushed away with the “normal wear and tear” line. So I wouldn’t buy these counting on the warranty to bail you out.

Compared to competitors like the Merrell Moab: the Moab feels lighter and more sneaker-like, but the KEEN has more toe room and a chunkier, more protective feel. If you have wide feet, the KEEN is often the better fit and worth a bit more money. If your feet are average width and you prioritize lightness and flexibility, the Moab might feel better value for you.

Overall, I’d call the value pretty solid when on sale, average at full price. If you get a good, long-lasting pair, you’ll be happy with what you paid. If you’re unlucky and hit a bad batch, you’ll be annoyed and feel like you overpaid. That’s the reality with this boot right now: good design, mixed execution, so buy with your eyes open and maybe keep your receipt handy.

Design-wise, this is pretty straightforward: wide, protective, slightly clunky. The Shitake/Brindle color is a brown/olive mix that hides mud and dust well. If you want something you can wear with jeans around town without looking like you just came from a climbing expedition, this works. It’s more casual-hiker than alpine boot. That big rubber toe bumper is pure KEEN: it looks a bit cartoonish, but it saves your toes when you slam into rocks or roots.

The shape is where KEEN really stands out. Their “Original Fit” is genuinely roomier in the toe box than a lot of brands. I can splay my toes, and I don’t get that pinched pinky-toe feeling I get with Merrell Moab or most European brands. In a Wide, it’s even more forgiving, so if you’ve got high volume feet or like thick socks, you’re in decent territory here. If you have narrow feet, though, these can feel sloppy without careful lacing.

The mid-cut height gives a bit of ankle coverage without feeling like a ski boot. For rolling, rooty trails, that extra bit of collar around the ankle does help with confidence, especially when you’re tired and not placing your feet perfectly. The external shank and contoured heel cup do their job: the boot doesn’t feel like a floppy sneaker, but it’s not a rigid brick either. It bends enough at the forefoot to walk naturally.

Visually, it’s not stylish in any modern sense. If you want something that looks sleek or minimal, this isn’t it. It’s more of a practical, slightly old-school hiking boot. Personally, I’m fine with that. I’d rather have big rubber toe protection and decent lugs than some trendy city-hiker that looks good on Instagram but folds on wet rock.

Comfort is where this boot makes the most sense. Out of the box, there was almost no break-in for me. The leather is soft enough, the padding around the ankle is generous, and the wider toe box lets your toes move around instead of being jammed together. I wore them for a full day right away—walking the dog, running errands, a 4-mile trail walk—and didn’t get hotspots or blisters.

The cushioning is on the softer side compared to stiffer backpacking boots. If you’re used to rigid mountain boots, these will feel like comfy sneakers with more support. On rocky trails, the shank and bruise plate do enough that you’re not feeling every stone, but they’re not as protective as a hardcore boot. For day hikes and general use, I actually like that. My feet feel less beat up at the end of the day than in super stiff boots.

The arch support is moderate. If you have neutral feet or slightly flat feet, it’s probably fine. If you need serious arch support, you’ll want aftermarket insoles. Some reviewers went with KEEN’s K-30 insoles and said it improved support and cushioning. I swapped in my own orthotics for a longer hike and the boot handled that just fine; the removable footbed leaves enough room without making the boot feel overstuffed.

One thing: these run a bit short for some people. A few users had to size up half a size. In my case, my usual size in Wide was okay, but if you’re between sizes or like thick socks, I’d lean up half a size. Once dialed in, though, these are the kind of boots you can keep on all day without thinking about them, which is pretty much the goal. For comfort on moderate hikes and everyday wear, they’re pretty solid.

The upper is mostly leather with some breathable mesh panels, which is a good combo for casual hiking. The leather KEEN uses is supposed to be from Leather Working Group tanneries, so at least it’s not bottom-of-the-barrel stuff. In hand, the leather feels reasonably thick, not paper-thin. After a few hikes and some bending, it started to soften without creasing in weird spots. It’s not buttery or anything, but this isn’t a dress shoe, so that’s fine.

The mesh areas help with breathability, especially around the tongue and sides. I wouldn’t call it super breathable because of the waterproof membrane, but my feet didn’t feel like they were in a sauna on mild days. On hotter days, yeah, they get warm, but that’s normal for waterproof leather boots. The lining is quick-dry synthetic, and it does dry overnight if they get damp from sweat, as long as you pull the insoles out.

The sole is where KEEN throws a lot of material: thick rubber outsole, noticeable lugs, and a midsole that’s more cushy than stiff. The rubber itself feels reasonably grippy, and I didn’t have issues on wet dirt or light mud. On slick, wet rock it’s okay, not magic, but better than some cheap hiking shoes I’ve used. The toe guard is a big chunk of rubber that wraps up the front, and it does add some weight but also real protection.

One thing to flag: some users complain about the sole delaminating or lugs peeling off after a few months. That’s not a materials problem on paper, but likely how everything is bonded together. On my pair, no issues yet, but based on reviews, KEEN’s quality control isn’t perfect. If you get a good pair, the materials feel like they’ll last several seasons of regular use. Get a bad pair, and you may be reaching for glue way earlier than you’d like.

This is the tricky part. Durability reports are all over the place. On one hand, you’ve got people saying they’ve had their Targhee II for years, used them for work, hikes, yard work, and they’re still going strong after over a thousand miles. That lines up with how the boot feels in hand: leather upper, thick rubber, decent stitching. My pair, after a few months of moderate use, just shows normal scuffs and some creasing, nothing worrying.

On the other hand, there are some brutal 1-star reviews. The main complaints: outsole lugs peeling off, soles separating from the upper, and stitching coming undone in under a year, sometimes in just a few months. One reviewer was especially angry about KEEN’s warranty, saying they kept calling obvious failures “normal wear and tear.” That’s not great to read if you’re paying decent money for a boot that’s marketed as durable.

From what I can tell, it’s a quality control consistency issue. If you get a well-made pair, they last a long time and take abuse. If you get a bad batch, the glue or bonding between outsole and upper seems to be the weak point. The Targhee IV supposedly fixes this with a new fused construction, but this Targhee II still relies on more traditional bonding, which is where things can go wrong.

My honest take: if you’re gentle-ish with your boots—mostly day hikes, casual wear, not kicking rocks all day—they should last several seasons. If you’re really tough on footwear or you’ve had KEENs fail on you before, you might want to either budget for replacement sooner than you’d like or look at something with a stronger reputation for bombproof build. The potential is there, but the lack of consistent durability is the biggest red flag on this model.

On the trail, the KEEN ALL-TERRAIN outsole does its job. The 4 mm multi-directional lugs bite into dirt, light mud, and forest trails well. On loose gravel, I felt stable enough, and the wide base of the boot helps you feel planted. It’s not a precision boot for edging on small rock holds, but that’s not what it’s built for. It’s more about comfort and grip on normal hiking paths, fire roads, and mixed surfaces.

Waterproofing has been solid so far. The KEEN.DRY membrane kept my feet dry walking through wet grass, shallow puddles, and muddy sections. I’ve stood in a couple of inches of water for short periods and didn’t feel any leaks. As with any waterproof boot, once water goes over the collar, you’re done, so don’t expect miracles. Breathability is okay given the membrane, but if you hike in hot, humid weather, your feet will get sweaty. That’s just how waterproof leather boots are.

In terms of support, the external shank and mid-cut height give enough stability for moderate loads. I carried a 20–25 lb daypack on uneven trail and felt supported, but I wouldn’t pick these for a week-long backpacking trip with a heavy pack. They’re a bit too soft and comfort-oriented for that, and you might feel the lack of stiffness after long days on rough terrain.

Where they shine is general all-day use: dog walks, light hikes, yard work, and casual outdoor stuff. The guy in the reviews who racked up over 1,300 miles and thousands of work hours in his pair isn’t an outlier in terms of how they feel on foot; they do hold up well for that style of use when you get a good pair. Just don’t expect them to behave like a technical boot for alpine routes or super rocky backpacking—it’s not their lane.

Out of the box, the Targhee II Mid looks like a classic KEEN boot: chunky rubber toe bumper, lots of stitching, and that Shitake/Brindle color combo that basically screams “dad who hikes.” It’s not flashy, but it looks like it’s made to be used, not shown off. In size 11 Wide, each boot is around that 17–18 oz mark, so you feel them in your hands and on your feet, but it’s not like a heavy mountaineering boot.

The cut is mid-height, about 4 inches, so it covers the ankle bone without feeling like a full-on high boot. That’s enough to give a bit of ankle support and keep rocks and debris out, but you still have some freedom to move. The lacing system is basic: fabric eyelets with a speed hook at the top. Nothing fancy, but it works, and I didn’t have issues getting a secure lock on the heel.

Inside, the footbed is removable and has some arch support, but it’s nothing special. Some reviewers swapped it for KEEN’s pricier K-30 insole and said it helped. Personally, I think the stock insole is fine for casual use, but if you’re on your feet all day or have picky arches, you’ll probably want an upgrade. The lining feels like standard synthetic mesh that dries reasonably fast if it gets a bit damp from sweat.

Overall, the first impression is: sturdy, comfort-oriented trail boot with a wide fit. Not sleek, not modern-looking, but it feels like something you can throw on daily without babying it. The big question is whether your particular pair holds up like the guy who got 1,300+ miles, or falls apart in a few months like the 1-star review. Build feels decent in hand, but KEEN’s consistency clearly isn’t perfect.