The Keen Targhee IV mountain climbing boots made my hikes extraordinarily snug, and they’ve the seems to match, too. After having my toes crushed by uncomfortable boots on earlier expeditions, and struggling blisters upon blisters, I’ve beloved every minute with the Targhee IVs.
The boots take a step away from the onerous leather-based design Keen boots are identified for, which can not impress severe mountaineers. Nonetheless, they made my trek an absolute pleasure.
With cushioned insoles giving bouncy arch help that may have you ever feeling such as you’re walking barefoot by means of the sphere. And with loads of area on the entrance of the shoe, there are no crushed toes or blisters to be heard of. And the help from the again to entrance bracing is the icing on the cake.
Yow will discover out extra about my expertise in my full Keen Targhee IV overview.
Keen Targhee IV overview: Cheat sheet
- Who are they for? Hikers and walkers who look for arch help
- What do they do properly? Absolutely supportive from all angles and plenty of padding — no rolled ankles or blisters right here
- What do they price? $169 / £155
- What are the weaknesses? Not onerous leather-based like earlier Keen fashions, so could not get up as properly to put on and tear
Keen Targhee IV overview: Specs
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Worth |
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Weight (per shoe) |
16.58oz / 470g |
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Dimension availability |
Ladies’s: U.S. 5-12 U.Ok. 2.5-9.5 Males’s: U.S.7-15 U.Ok. 6-14 |
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Colours |
Ladies’s: Brindle/Nostalgia Rose Alloy/Granite Inexperienced Rose Brown/Plaza Taupe Safari/Reef Waters Bison/Beaujolais Males’s: Bison/Black Sea Turtle/Roasted Pecan Brindle/Canteen Triple Black |
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Supplies |
Recycled plastic, leather-based, mesh lining |
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Waterproofing |
PFAs-free waterproofing exterior KEEN.DRY membrane inside |
Keen Targhee IV overview: Worth & availability
The Keen Targhee IV girls’s mountain climbing boots are accessible from Amazon U.S. for $169. They are additionally accessible for buy straight from Keen’s U.S. website for $170. Within the U.Ok. you’ll be able to’t get them on Amazon however they are priced at £155 from Keen’s on-line retailer.
I examined the boots within the colour Brindle/Nostalgia Rose in a U.Ok. dimension 5/U.S. 7.5 however they are additionally accessible in 4 different colorways: Alloy/Granite Inexperienced, Rose Brown/Plaza Taupe, Safari/Reef Waters, and Bison/Beaujolais.
Within the U.S., the ladies’s sizes vary from 5-12, together with half sizes, which is helpful because you need a comfortable match to make sure final consolation. Within the U.Ok. the boots are accessible from sizes 2.5-9.5. The boots are additionally accessible in a large choice in all sizes.
The Males’s model of the boots are accessible for $169 from Amazon US and $170 from Keen’s U.S. website. Within the U.Ok. the lads’s boots are priced at £155 from the Keen web site.
There’s a vast alternative of colours with the lads’s design of the boots too. They are accessible in Bison/Black, Sea Turtle/Roasted Pecan, Brindle/Canteen, and Triple Black. The lads’s sizes vary from 7-15 together with half sizes within the U.S., and 6-14 within the U.Ok..
Keen Targhee IV overview: Design
I assume the Keen Targhee IV boots are the epitome of gorp-core. They’ve the performance down whereas having colorways to go well with everybody. I personally beloved the colour I examined, which was Bridle/Nostalgia Rose, as they are fairly impartial however I nonetheless have the pop of colour from the pink accents on the high of the boot.
The very first thing in regards to the boots that shocked me is the dearth of glue used. Keen says quite than glue (which is fairly dangerous for the surroundings) the boots shoe and sole are fused collectively utilizing warmth and stress.
The model says the fusion bond additionally lasts longer since glue can deteriorate over time. I thought the boots felt very safe, however solely time will inform if the fusion bond holds up in comparison with conventional glue.
The higher of the boots is produced from nubuck leather-based, which is softer than the more durable leather-based used for the earlier Targhee III mannequin. The Targhee IV boots are extra versatile because of the softer materials, however it will get up much less properly to put on and tear over time and gives much less safety in opposition to rocks, scuffs and knocks.
The within of the boots and the padded tongue are lined with a breathable mesh which is barely powerful on the the highest of the shoe for the primary few wears, nevertheless it did develop into extra malleable over time.
A design function famous by Keen is the additional area within the toe space of the shoe. I discovered this to be tremendous snug as mountain climbing boots I have owned up to now have crushed my toes and precipitated blisters on the facet, which I didn’t expertise right here.
There’s a strap connected to the laces which wraps across the again heel of the boot. When the laces are tightened the straps hug tighter making for a brilliant comfortable match.
There’s a detachable Luftcell insole which resists compression and offers additional help to the foot. The boots even have in-built arch help which I beloved as my years of ballet coaching means my toes demand help on lengthy walks.
The only real of the shoe has deep indentations for traction and they are extremely grippy. They’d be splendid for winter hikes in icy circumstances. Additionally they have Eco Anti-odour which is pesticide-free.
Keen Targhee IV overview: Efficiency
I examined out the Keen Targhee IV mountain climbing boots round my native nation park which has muddy terrain with plenty of hills to climb. This was a really perfect check for the boots as I may see how properly the waterproofing held up and how snug they had been throughout totally different terrains.
I ought to begin by prefacing that I am notoriously clumsy and accident susceptible. I have beforehand taken a tumble on the sumit of Mount Snowdon in North Wales, and ate grime and ripped holes in my trousers on my manner down the extra forgiving Pen Y Fan mountain in South Wales.
It’s for this purpose I am very grateful the Targhee IVs had been in a position to hold my ankles in an upright place. That is right down to the strap that wraps across the heel of the shoe and is tightened with the laces. I discovered that when I paid consideration to how this was set, my steps had been extra supported.
I examined the boots on a fairly dry day however I made certain to search out some remnant muddy puddles. Fortunately, there was no leakage of water by means of to my toes and my sock remained utterly dry. When the footwear had been splashed with water they had been tremendous fast to dry and the leather-based didn’t develop into stained. Any mud that discovered its manner on to the boot brushed proper off.
They had been additionally extremely snug to stroll in. The arch help meant that my toes didn’t ache as a lot as standard after the three hour hike. I additionally had no points with my toes rubbing the edges of the footwear and inflicting blisters, which is one thing I had come to just accept because the norm with earlier boots.
With mountain climbing boots, I wish to really feel like I have a agency really feel of the bottom, and despite the fact that the insoles of the boots are cushioned I nonetheless felt in charge of my steps. It additionally helped that the boots are very versatile regardless of having onerous rubber soles, as this lends a higher feeling of management.
Keen Targhee IV overview: Upkeep
A key a part of ensuring mountain climbing boots keep in tip high situation after every journey is having the correct aftercare. Prior to now I’ve bought again from my hike and been too drained to dry brush them, leaving them in a single day to search out stains have dried in and ruined the look of the boot.
The Targhee IVs are very straightforward to wash. Keen advises cleansing the boots with gentle cleaning soap and chilly water to take away extra grime. As soon as this dries you’ll be able to clear them additional by utilizing a stiff brush which can break free any muddy flakes.
When the boots inevitably get moist, they must be air dried however away from warmth, it will be sure the form of the leather-based isn’t affected.
Keen Targhee IV overview: Verdict
The Keen Targhee IV boots are the definition of a really perfect mountain climbing boot. Keen is clearly acutely aware in regards to the environmental impact of boot manufacturing and the small modifications made accordingly to the boot development hasn’t compromised their high quality.
The cushioned sole is extremely snug on lengthy walks, the degrees of grip are spectacular and the help from the arched design is crucial for longer hikes. The waterproofing on the shoe is spectacular and they dried shortly after I subjected them to muddy puddles and they had been straightforward to take care of with a dry brush to take away grime regardless of the mushy leather-based.
Positive, the Targhee IV’s mushy development may not stand as much as probably the most demanding hikes fairly in addition to the earlier hard-shell Targhee IIIs, however I’ll take the added consolation any day. After so lengthy spent nursing accidents and blisters from my hikes, I’ve lastly discovered the right walking boot.
