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Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Keen Targhee II Mid > Test Report by Michael Mosack
KEEN TARGHEE II MID BOOTS
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TESTER INFORMATION
I've been backpacking for over 30 years, doing day trips, weekenders and week-long or longer trips throughout the year. I backpack in all climates and seasons, from summer desert trips to Spring/Winter camping in Michigan, California and Grand Canyon, Arizona and I worked in Afghanistan for 4 years and rely on my equipment constantly. I prefer to go lighter when possible and am always trying new items. Quality and reliability of items are paramount to me over price and weight.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
A couple of descriptions from the manufacturer include: KEEN.DRY - A proprietary waterproof, breathable membrane that lets vapor out without letting water in. METATOMICAL FOOTBED DESIGN - This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support and cradle the natural contours of the foot. The Keen Targhee II Mid Boot, hereafter called the boot or boots, are mid-height, feature-dense, lightweight, hiking boots. They are constructed with the KEEN.Dry waterproof breathable membrane, designed to allow the feet to breathe, yet also keep them dry and comfortable. There is an aggressive outsole designed to provide excellent traction. The ESS shank to help provide stability, while the mid cut height increases ankle support while hiking. The tongue is well padded and the boot has a pull loop, both, on the tongue as well as on the heel to ease in pulling the boot on. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
I am pretty optimistic about these boots. They seem to be a high quality product. The upper, made from nubuck leather has a very smooth feel with solid construction and durability, throughout. The weight of the boot feels deceptively, incredibly light. I'm holding up my ridiculously large boot and it is quite possibly the lightest boot I have owned. There is a smudge of something that looks like glue on one of the uppers (see photo) that doesn't seem that it will impact the effectiveness of the boot and except for that, I can not identify any flaws with these boots at this time. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
The only instructions reference cleaning of the boots, which can be found on the manufacturer's website as well as on the underside of the boots tongue via international symbols. TRYING IT OUT
These boots are very comfortable right out of the box and it doesn't seem as if the break-in period will be very long at all. They are easy to lace up and tie. The laces seem to stay tied as I walk around and the boots seem very well padded. I have a normal width foot and the toe-box is a little wider than a lot of my other brands of hiking boots. I'm loving this as it allows my feet and toes to have a comfortable spread as I walk. This gives me more of a natural step and my foot is not continually squeezed. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
Three night backpack trip in the area of Gunnison, Colorado USA; elevation was approximately 7600 - 8050 ft (2310 - 2450 m). Weather included sunny days mixed with rain showers. There were foot trails, open grassy fields and rocky climbs. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
Insoles - Grip - The boots are comfortable and maintain a good grip on a variety of terrain conditions. The majority of my hiking has been on rocky terrain or on maintained trails. I have also hiked in areas of typical open desert conditions of rock, sand and dust as well as grassy forested areas. I have worn them on wet trails, rocks, and concrete sidewalks. In each case, the boots' grip was solid. I have not had any experiences where my boots were unable to maintain a reliable grip on many different surfaces. These boots seem to handle slick rock or smooth wet rock equally well.
Socks or barefoot - I have worn these boots with a variety of sock options and include low-cut cycling or running (ankle-high) socks to mid-calf length socks and thin performance wicking socks to thicker standard athletic or sport socks. I have found that wearing the low-cut socks as well as going barefoot obviously allows direct skin contact with the boots' upper. I have not found any uncomfortable rubbing feeling against my feet or ankle areas unlike so many other boots I have owned. I am loving this! I normally prefer to wear longer socks and I double (fold over) my sock upper to provide my ankle a little additional padding. I do not experience any uncomfortable rubbing with these boots. Waterproofing - I should note here that I have not applied any waterproofing or leather treatment products to the boots prior to this testing period. I have not had any stream crossings on any of my hikes to date. I have been able to experience wet weather during this testing phase, but not to the level of water immersion. With the seemingly unending drought here in Southern California, maybe I'll have to resort to soaking the boots in my bathtub. Lacing - Lacing up the boots is quite easy and fast. The shoe strings hold their knots and do not untie themselves during long hikes. The eyelets are strong and smooth so as to not chafe the laces. Construction - So far, the rubber soles are not separating and I have not found any evidence of any obvious deterioration either. They seem to be holding up well. All stitching is like new and there is no evidence that the material is breaking down anywhere on the boots. I used to only hike with running shoes and only in the last couple of years have broadened my footwear to include boots. These boots are obviously heavier on my feet than the running shoes I am used to wearing, but the added ankle support and secure feeling of wearing the boots are sometimes worth the relatively minor weight difference. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
Pacific Coast Trail section in Laguna Mountain region of Southern California, USA PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
I do not really have much I can add to this report having re-read my own Field Report above. I believe my write up to date, is spot on. I love these boots. Their level of comfort is almost unsurpassed to anything else I have worn. I often like to try to identify features I would like to see improved, but cannot find any this time. I always allow for a break in period at the beginning of a footwear test, and this one was no different, but I quickly found that this time, it was not needed. These boots were ready to go from the onset and despite my travels, I have had no hot spots or blisters and my feet have been quite happy. SUMMARY
I am impressed by these boots, which are lightweight and yet have very solid construction. They are very comfortable and they provide a solid grip on a variety or terrain. The insoles fit well inside the boot and provide support for my normally arched feet. The only potential fault I have located, is that there is a smear of something on the side of the upper which can be seen in the photograph in my Initial Report above. I believe this is just glue and has had no effect on the performance of these boots, however, I would have swapped these for another pair if I had purchased them in a store. I'm pretty disappointed in their quality control in allowing these boots to pass with such an obvious visual flaw, but as I said, it is just a visual flaw. These boots easily pass my expectations and I have every anticipation of getting another pair once these eventually wear out. Read more reviews of Keen gear Read more gear reviews by Michael Mosack Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Keen Targhee II Mid > Test Report by Michael Mosack |