The Keen Targhee 3 Mid is a justifiably popular hiking boot that strikes a great balance of comfort and ruggedness. But are they worth the hype?
Our review below covers our experiences from testing them for 1+ years on a variety of hikes.
November 2025 update: We’ve recently refreshed this review to ensure all information is up to date and have also added a few new notes from further tests with the Keen Targhee’s.
Great news: These are also available in women’s fit.
Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Excellent comfort
- Great durability
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- The looks are a little dated
- Are relatively expensive outside of the USA
We’ve previously reviewed the Keen Targhee 3 hiking shoe and this is essentially that same shoe built-up into a mid-high boot. The Keen Targhee is an iconic hiking boot, well-known for its balance of comfort and durability. These may not be the most stylish hiking boots out there, but for many hikers, their solid reputation is all that’s needed to justify their purchase.
What’s more, we’ve found that the Targhee III Mid really does live up to its reputation and for many hikers, these will make a great, all-round pair of boots. Provided you don’t hike in extreme cold or heat, they could really be the only pair of hiking footwear you need and why they performed well in our best hiking boots round up.
Editor’s note: This article is part of our guide to the best hiking boots, be sure to check out the rest of this guide for our top buying tips:
Analysis and Test Results
American brand Keen are one of the big names in terms of hiking shoes and boots and the Targhee family is one of their key product ranges encompassing these mid-high boots, shoes, open and closed-toe sandals and even a ‘semi-formal’ version of the shoe. The Targhee is one of those boots with an intensely loyal following and it’s not unusual to read accounts of hikers who’ve worn only Targhee’s for decades.
These boots are well-known for their combination of durability and excellent comfort right out of the box and when that’s combined with their water-resistance and often very reasonable price (especially so in America, less so elsewhere), it’s easy to see why they are so popular. On the downside, the styling may seem a bit ‘old’ to some. However, we think that the positives outweigh the negatives here and we can see why these shoes remain such a popular choice.
Performance Comparison
Traction
The Keen Targhee 3 uses an in-house sole. Keeping the sole unit in house – rather than using one from, say Vibram, is likely one of the key ways Keen can keep the price of these boots down, but it absolutely does not mean the grip or traction these boots offer is compromised. This sole has deep lugs and offers excellent grip on a range of different surfaces. If you’re hiking in the kind of mixed weather conditions these boots are intended for, it goes without saying that wet, slick rock, mud and, of course, ice will thwart the grip on any boot worn without additional traction aids.
Breathability
These boots are intended for hiking in mixed weather conditions, so they do not prioritize breathability. If you hike in the desert or some other very warm place and get particularly bothered by having warm feet, then a more specialized, heavily ventilated shoe or boot would likely serve you better.
However, that’s not to say these boots are not ventilated and they do make use of ventilated mesh material in their upper which helps keep air circulating whilst hiking. Your choice of socks can also make a big difference to how sweaty your feet feel after a long hike and we’d always recommend wearing a pair made from a naturally moisture wicking material such as Merino Wool.
Ankle Support
The mid-high version of the Keen Targhee 3 boot offers good ankle support from a combination of a chunky, well-padded cuff and a multi-zone lacing system that integrates with webbing straps that form a heel cup.
The ankle support is not as much as you’d get on more rigid mountaineering boots, but it’s definitely a step-up from hiking shoes. If you’re prone to twisting your ankles (like our reviewer is!), then mid-high boots make a lot of sense and are definitely worth the weight penalty over shoes, especially so on more uneven terrain.
Arch Support
The Targhee 3 Mid offers fairly neutral arch support out of the box. This won’t be an issue to most buyers, and these boots are pretty much in-line with most of their competitors in this regard. However, for some hikers, extra arch support can make a massive difference to comfort and in this regard, it’s easy to swap out the included insoles with something more heavily shaped to provide that extra support if it’s needed.
See the Keen Targhee III Waterproof Mid in more detail:
Fit
The Keen Targhee 3 Mid is available in sizes from US 7/UK 6/EU 39.5 all the way up to US 17/UK 16/EU 49. It’s also offered in both normal and wide versions and sizing is generally regarded as being true. We think it’s great to see such a wide range of sizes offered – especially so at the large end where traditionally, choices have been very limited.
Materials
The Keen Targhee 3 Mid uses a combination of tough, smooth-finished leather and synthetic materials in its construction. The largely leather upper will certainly appeal to many buyers as leather is still regarded as a great choice for durability – something these boots are well known for. The synthetic materials help with padding and also allow for a good degree of breathability in the boot.
Appearance
Whilst these are not traditional hiking boots, they are also not at the cutting edge of outdoor footwear design. One complaint we’ve heard about the Targhee’s is that the design is looking more than a bit dated and that probably isn’t helped by the fact that the boots are only offered in earthy color ways (though there are a good few options here).
Looks shouldn’t be your key concern when choosing hiking boots, but it’s also fair to say that many hikers want good-looking kit and we think a few more vivid color options would be a great way for Keen to broaden the appeal of these boots.
Durability
Durability is one of the key factors on which the Targhee 3’s reputation is built and we’re happy to report that they live up to expectations. The thick leather upper and robust synthetic materials used elsewhere give us no cause for concern about the durability of these boots and we have no reason to doubt that these boots could give many long years of service. They’re still going strong after 1+ years of testing, and continue to be very comfortable.
Sustainability
Like pretty much every other outdoor gear manufacturer, Keen is working to reduce the environmental impact of their products. The brand has eliminated PFAS (‘forever chemicals’) from their products since 2018 and has also eliminated toxic chemicals from the anti-odor treatment they apply to their insoles.
They also source their leather from Leather Working Group (LWG) accredited suppliers, who are committed to ensuring better welfare and environmental standards in leather production. Keen have also financially supported a range of environmental, conservational, educational and disaster relief projects around the world since 2003.
Water Resistance
The Targhee 3 Mid is marketed as a waterproof boot and features Keen’s in-house ‘Keen.Dry’ technology. This is a waterproof, breathable membrane – essentially similar to Gore Tex and it prevents water from entering the boot whilst still maintaining breathability.
The Keen.Dry layer will help keep your feet dry in the rain and even if you need to cross shallow streams – though do bear in mind that water can still enter the boot around the ankle cuff.
Weight
The Keen Targhee 3 Mid weigh-in at 970g/2lb 2oz for a pair. Whilst that’s heavier than many hiking shoes, that’s a respectable weight for a pair of mid-high hiking boots – especially so a pair that isn’t specifically marketed as lightweight and which features a traditionally heavy leather upper.
Insoles
The Keen Targhee 3 Mid come with a pair of fairly unremarkable padded insoles. These have an anti-odor treatment which Keen point out is free from toxic chemicals. The insoles are fairly unremarkable, but we think that most buyers will be perfectly happy with them. If you do need extra cushioning, arch support or wat to fine-tune the fit of your boots, then, of course, the supplied insoles can be easily swapped out for a third-party alternative.
Break-in Period
The Keen Targhee 3 Mid has a reputation for out of the box comfort – indeed this is one thing you’ll hear over and over again if you do any research on these boots. The good news is that they live up to this reputation and these boots are indeed very comfortable and feel like they could be worn on a long hike straight away.
Now, despite this, we don’t think that any footwear is completely without a breaking in period, and we’d always suggest wearing new shoes or boots on a few shorter walks – or simply around your home for a while – before taking them out on a longer hike.
Lacing System
The Keen Targhee 3 Mid uses regular laces. Most hikers don’t realize just how versatile lacing is as a way of adjusting the fit of their boots, and the multi-zone lacing system on these boots allows a good dela of control of fit in different parts of the boot. Taking things a step further, you can experiment with different lacing patterns to further refine the fit of your boots.
Toe Protection
The leather upper of the Keen Targhee 3 Mid is reinforced with thick rubber around the toe, offering great protection from knocks and bumps on the trail. This isn’t the same level of protection as you’d get on a more heavy-duty mountaineering boot, but it’s certainly enough to save some stubbed toes and broken nails.
Conclusion
Spend any time with the Keen Targhee 3 Mid boot and you’ll quickly understand why they are such a popular choice. They strike a great balance between weight, durability, comfort, water resistance and value and this surely makes them a very attractive proposition to many potential buyers.
However, we do feel that they look a little dated when you line them up next to other boots that exist in the same world. But that really is just personal preference.
We’d go as far as saying that if you hike in more temperate conditions – essentially avoiding very extreme heat and winter conditions, then these could well be the only hiking footwear you need.
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