Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

I wore my first pair for three years before the fabric between the leather uppers began to give out. These are light, comfortable, high-traction waterproof shoes with good support for everyday use and moderate hiking. I've been wearing my second pair daily for about a month now and am very satisfied with them.

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

This is my second set of shoes from REI. The first pair are boot length with true ankle support and these are low. There is not the ankle support that the boots allow for but less rigid makes walking easier if the terrain is not extremely uneven. There was a very small break-in period for the back of the heals which a simple bandaid helped totally to control. After a week of wear, that is no longer necessary. They are comfortable and the soles stiff enough protect the metacarpals from injury if stepping on a rock edge. I plan on walking the Inca trail in June and as it stands now, these will be the shoes that I take as my primary walkers.

They are also comfortable wearing inside at work as well as on trails at 10 above zero F. I will never go back to gym shoes for anything other than working on the plane or working around the house. I can walk for miles in these without a single blister or ache.

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

Keen sizing is a little different than others, but i have Keen Sandals, and knew it going in. I also bought in the store. I always recommend store visits for footware.

Pros:
Waterproof - i've shoveled in them.
Comfy - wear them all day at work, either standing work desk, or out hiking about.

Cons:
Ankles are cut low (comfortable), but that means likelyhood of water/snow/mud etc getting in.

Laces are slippy nylon or something. don't hold very well. bow will easily come loose. i use a modified runner's knot, stays better, but still slippy. I will be replacing.

They do seem a bit warmer, but they're also not mesh, like some other trail-shoes, such as TNF Hedgehog. they are keen branded waterproof/breathable, but it's winter here, and i haven't worn them in the summer yet.

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

I think these are the warmest shoes I've ever owned. After about 30 minutes, I was ready to take them off. The footbed is very hard and did not conform to my feet even after 3 weeks of all day use. The shoes have a strong sour smell to them, so much so that after a day of use, you are blasted with the smells of sweaty socks and Easter egg dye. Bottom line is that they never felt broken in and I ended up returning them to the store.

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

Have had the shoe since January 2013. So far it is my "weekend" shoe when I need more than Crocs. It is also my first foray into a "low top" outdoor shoe as it is replacing my old hiking boots. I was looking for low tops as I think they will be more comfortable for my backpacking (that and some gaiters).

I have a size 13 regular foot. I bought a size 13 shoe. At first, fit on instep was tight but adjusting laces fixed that. Plenty of room for toes and maybe some thicker than normal socks. Heel feels a bit high.

Have done a few wet and muddy miles up in Forest Park and it does well up there. Feet stayed dry but I did not walk into any puddles, pools of mud or through a creek. Plenty of mud though up one of the firelanes I went. I also do a mile or so in the evenings for exercise walking about my neighborhood. It's a fine shoe and the little reflective details are nice there. Breathability is average, my feet can get sweaty.

A cross-training shoe? No, too big and heavy.

I have had trouble in the past with Keens and the sewing coming apart on me. Seems Keen likes to do a lot of sewing on many of their products and the more stiches, the more stitching to fall apart on you. I will re-review this shoe after this spring and summer and more backpacking.

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

This is the umpteenth pair of Keen Targhee shoes that I have owned. They're the BEST!!!

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

As others have said about Keen shoes, I had to go up a half size to get a comfortable fit.

I haven't had these long enough to comment on durability, but these are wonderfully comfortable shoes for the cool wet months in the Pacific Northwest. I have worn them for hours in the rain while standing in wet grass and hoping for a bite from the elusive rainbows. I have worn them for casual walks around town. I have just worn them for days out with my wife. They provide exceptional freedom of movement in the forefoot. This is important to me as my old feet have spread out from decades of hard use. The soles have very good grip on dry or wet rocks - important on the streamside. That grip might translate into faster wear of the sole - we shall see.

My only criticism is that my heel feels a bit loose. I have not had any blisters or other pains from this, but it is certainly a change from my other trail shoes and trainers. I still might give these a try on some day hikes, just out of curiosity, but, for me, these seem like great everyday shoes or for nonchallenging outdoor wear. But not designed for really rough country.

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

I purchased these Targhee's five days before backpacking into Grand Canyon. This was not by choice, but because my Alamosa's developed a lump under the forefoot, rendering them unacceptable after just two months (see Alamosa review).

I hiked up a short steep hill for two days to break in the Targhee's. After the second day, I developed plantar fasciitis for the first time in ten years! Not a good start for a Grand Canyon trek. However, I cannot say for sure that the Targhee's caused the fasciitis, even though I have hiked that hill for years with several different shoes.

Thankfully, the fasciitis receded and I wore these into Grand Canyon (with an orthotic under the left foot) carrying a 45-pound pack (12 lbs. of water, baby). The shoes felt fine and provided great traction. By the end, my fasciitis was gone! Go figure.

However, during the hike UP the trail (35-pound pack), I developed blisters on the side of both big toes! But in a subsequent dayhike in Colo. Nat. Monument, I had no problems. The toe box felt a bit sloppy, being quite roomy. Still, I had no loss of stability or traction.

You can easily feel the additional arch support and padding in the sole of the Targhee compared to the Alamosa or Voyageur. An REI salesman told me Keen claims the Targhee is designed more for hiking or backpacking. The toe box is roomier. I had no problems with toes being pinched while hiking seven miles down the very steep Grand Canyon trail. (In my earlier years, I wore size 8½, but now it's 9.)

However, I dislike the thick tongue. There is a leather patch on the tongue that makes it protrude between the laces like a tumor! The tongue does not tuck under the sides like most tongues: I guess it's not supposed to.

The Targhee has "diamond" pattern lacing rather than parallel lacing like the Alamosa and Voyageur. It is easier to pull the laces and it helps a little in avoiding the pressure point over the top of the arch, but it also feels like I can't really lace the shoe as tightly. The sideways loop on the heel is pretty useless: Keen is the only company I know that puts the pull loop sideways, to be cute, not functional.

Finally, the color of this leather is NOT gray, it is greenish, which I personally find quite ugly. You can see the green in some of REI's photos. The other gray photos do NOT match what is in the store (not my store, anyway). One solution: hike the Grand Canyon and the leather will acquire a beautiful sandy red color! Keen should take a clue.

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

I bought these to replace my old everyday wear shoes. I wanted waterproof shoes that didn't look like I was about to climb a mountain but were still fairly sturdy. I'm happy to say these fit the bill.

I found it confusing why these would be called cross-training shoes but having worn them for a few weeks I can understand why (though I still think it's strange). These shoes feel really light and the cushioning reminds me a little of sports shoes.

I've only been in the rain once and it was fairly short-lived but the waterproofing appears to work as expected. The only slight downside might be breathability/heat. Before I got these, I read other reviews that said that the shoes 'ran hot' and I can understand why. They can get warm depending on what you're doing and it's possible that they don't breathe as well as they could (when I take the shoes off, my socks sometimes feel a little damp). However, I can live with that.

I would have given it 4.5 if I could because I'm concerned how quickly the sole will wear. It's only been a couple of weeks, so too early to tell but the sole feels 'softer' than others I've tried. Since that's only a concern rather than an actual problem, I put 5 stars.

Overall, I'm really happy I got these and would definitely recommend them to others.

Service and delivery comments:

My USPS delivery got stuck at some depot (and no note was left on my door when they tried to deliver). I didn't get a proper tracking number either.

REI customer service (amazing as ever) sent a new pair out via UPS which arrived in a couple of days.

Comments about Keen Targhee II Cross-Training Shoes - Men's:

The most supportive, comfortable shoe I have ever worn! I wear it everyday in all types of terrain. From gravel and asphalt, as you might find in an urban park, to moderate-strenuous trails over large rock outcrops. As with any shoe like the Targee II, I always recommend a good, thick pair of socks - so size them with that in mind.