Keen Targhee III Low - Women's Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Comfortable for wide feet, rubber toe box is durable
Cons: Lower cut can let water in, doesn't ventilate well
Manufacturer: Keen
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Keen Targhee III Low - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | Check Price at REI Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Comfortable for wide feet, rubber toe box is durable | Superb traction, supportive, waterproof, comfort | Feels fast, lightweight, waterproof, great traction | Comfortable, stable, great traction, durable | Comfortable, waterproof, excellent traction |
| Cons | Lower cut can let water in, doesn't ventilate well | May be less durable, expensive | Average durability, not as protective underfoot | Upper absorbs water (but doesn't leak), a little heavy | Needs breaking in, runs short |
| Bottom Line | A great hiking shoe cut for a wide foot | A high-tech hiking shoe that delivers in every category, outperforming the best shoes we've ever tested | This high-performing shoe is impressively lightweight and suited for hard-charging missions across versatile terrain | This beefy shoe features rugged durability and excels at day hikes, longer adventures, and tricky terrain | Good at most things and great at some, this solid hiker meets most needs at a surprisingly low price |
| Rating Categories | Targhee III Low | Spire GTX | X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex | Sawtooth II Low BDry | Merrell Moab 2 WP -... |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Targhee III Low | Spire GTX | X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex | Sawtooth II Low BDry | Merrell Moab 2 WP -... |
| Weight per Pair (Size 7) | 1.60 lbs | 1.61 lbs | 1.37 lbs | 1.83 lbs | 1.69 lbs |
| Width Options | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular, Wide | Regular, Wide |
| Upper | Oiled nubuck leather | Abrasion-resistant mesh | Synthetic/textile | Leather/textile | Suede leather, mesh |
| Midsole | Dual density EVA | EVA | EVA | Dual density EVA | EVA |
| Lining | KEEN.Dry waterproof / breathable membrane | Gore-Tex Surround | Gore-Tex | B-Dry | Mesh |
| Outsole | KEEN all-terrain rubber | Vibram XS Trek | Contagrip | Sawtooth | Vibram TC5+ |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Targhee III Low has an oiled nubuck leather upper, and a waterproof lining. The rubber sole is a proprietary blend from Keen, with 4mm multi-directional lugs. It's available in sizes 6-11 and two colors.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
Whether or not you find the Keen Targhee III Low comfortable depends on the width of your feet. While not quite as wide as other Keen shoes we tested, they are still wider than most of the other models. So, if you have wide feet, this pair will alleviate the pinky toe squishing and rubbing that can make a fun hike miserable. Conversely, if your feet are narrow to regular width, you might find your forefoot swimming around, creating hotspots and eventually blisters. This shoe is middle of the road for the amount of cushioning under the forefoot.
The Targhee III Low is a great option for day hikes in cool weather. They're perfect for those with wider feet that can't get a good fit in other brands.
We did notice that our feet got a little hot in this shoe though. The membrane that keeps water out of the shoe is supposed to be letting your foot vent, but the full leather upper seems to trap it in somewhat. If you do hike primarily in hot, dry weather, then a shoe without a waterproof membrane might be a better choice.
Support
We got reasonable support from this shoe, though not quite as good as others in the test. The Targhee does come with a well-structured insole, which we appreciated since so many of the models out there come with nothing more than a flat liner.
Traction
Keen uses their proprietary rubber on this sole. The lugs are well-spaced to shed mud and are on the softer side. They provide great traction on the trails but are a tad slippery on bare rock.
Weight
This pair weighs 1 lb 9 oz in a size 7. That makes it heavier than some of the lighter synthetic pairs, but not the heaviest pair in this review either. Other models weigh about a quarter of a pound less than these, and the difference is noticeable. The extra rubber around the toe box is nice from a durability perspective, but it does add some weight to the shoe.
Water Resistance
The "KEEN.Dry" waterproof breathable membrane works well at keeping water out of the shoe. We had no leaking during our bucket test, but the leather did absorb quite a bit of water, making the shoe noticeably heavier. The ankle opening is only 3.5 inches off the ground, which is lower than some, meaning water could splash in the top of the shoe.
Durability
We gave this shoe high marks for durability. The rubber toe box provides a lot of protection from toe stubbing and dragging. There is exposed foam on the midsole, but it wasn't separating as we saw on other shoes.
Value
This pair retails about in the middle of the pack for hiking shoes. Note that the mid-height version of this shoe retails for only a little more, and is our Best Buy winner in our Women's Hiking Boot review.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a comfortable pair of hiking shoes and have wider than average feet, the Keen Targhee III Low is an excellent choice. They offer good cushioning and support and will keep your feet dry in the rain.
— Cam McKenzie Ring