Keen Terradora WP Mid - Women's Review

For women looking for a soft, lightweight hiking boot, the Keen Terradora fit the bill. These boots are designed in response to the burly, leather, stiff-soled boots that tend to make up the hiking boot market. The Terradora has a mesh upper and a thin, flexible sole, which make them ideal for day hikes with light packs. Though the uppers are made up of fabric, these shoes will keep your feet dry in wet trail conditions. Unlike other Keen models we have tested in the past, the Terradoras have a very narrow toe box, making them more suitable for folks with a thin foot shape.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Terradora's performance in this category depends greatly on the size and shape of one's foot. If you have a narrow foot, these boots may offer more comfort. Our tester has wide feet and found the Terradoras were too tight in the toe box to be worn comfortably for long periods. These boots also have thin soles and lack the support of more substantial boots. This is great for shorter hikes, or when carrying less weight, but for long days on the trail, the Terradora will likely leave your feet feeling under-supported. The thin, mesh uppers make these boots great for warm conditions and light outings, but be warned that these boots do not hold up on longer, more rugged hikes.

Support

One of the defining features of the Terradora Mid is their thin sole, mesh upper, and overall lightweight design. Though the manufacturer claims that the boots have a full-length rock plate embedded in the sole, we found that the soles were thin enough to feel small pebbles on the trail through them. The thin sole also makes the boots way more flexible underfoot, more like a running shoe than a boot; for shorter hikes, this can be great. Sometimes it is nice not to have the stiffness of a traditional hiking boot when carrying a light load.

Weight

With a weight of 1.64 pounds, these boots shine in the weight metric. They are sold as a lightweight hiker, and that is exactly where the Terradora performs best. Unlike other Keen models we have tested these feel light on the foot. They lack the bulk of many of the other boots in this review that include leather in their design.

Traction

The Terradora Mid is designed for maintained trails and moderate hiking conditions. For rugged trails with steep, rocky terrain, we suggest a more supportive boot with a more aggressive tread pattern. The lug depths on the Terradora are more comparable to lighter boots we have tested in the past. This means that small rocks and other terrain features can be felt through the thin soles. The thin nature of the sole also causes the boot to skid out on steep, rocky terrain more easily.

Water Resistance

The thin textile and mesh upper make the Terradora fall short when it comes to water resistance. These boots are made of a thin fabric that has a waterproof coating, but unfortunately, they were not as water-resistant as we hoped. For a boot that functions better in wet conditions, try an all-leather boot.

Durability

With an upper constructed entirely of fabric, it's no surprise that the Terradora did not score very highly in the durability metric. The seams that run along the sides of the toe box are reinforced, but not enough to keep from wear to occur along the line where the foot flexes in step. The light feel of the boot comes at a price, and that is longevity. Unlike a boot with leather uppers and sturdy soles, these boots will not last a lifetime. The Terradora is a hiking boot with a running shoe design, making them lighter and less durable than other options on the market.

Value

The Terradora is a great deal overall. They are relatively inexpensive compared to other models on the market. You can expect the Terradora to be easy to break in and soft in both the upper and sole. This makes them a good option for shorter day hikes, and the price is right for that purpose.

Conclusion