How to Choose Hiking Boots

Doubling down as around-town trekkers, the lightweight KEEN Terradora II Waterproof Mid women's hiking boots offer a glovelike fit and cushioned ankle panels for all-day comfort and flexible freedom.
Imported.
View the KEEN Terradora Product LineView all KEEN Women's Day Hiking BootsBest Use | Hiking Casual |
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Footwear Height | Over-the-ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Waterproof | Yes |
Type of Waterproofing | KEEN.DRY waterproof/breathable membrane |
Upper | Synthetic leather/textile |
Lining | Mesh |
Midsole | EVA |
Support | Stability shank |
Outsole | KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 10.1 oz. |
Gender | Women's |
5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 | |
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U.S. Women's | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 |
UK | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 |
EU | 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 43 |
Foot Length (in.) | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 9.25 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 10 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.5 | 10.9 |
Measurements are stated in inches.
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These hiking boots run narrow - I have wide feet and took out the insole to put in my custom orthotic - then they fit great. I liked the insole because it's very cushiony with good arch support, but there wasn't enough room for the insole and my orthotic.The boots also loosened up quite a bit after wearing a few times. The boots are waterproof and give great ankle support. They also have good grip for slippery rocks and mud. They look great too - love the blue color!
I have been a life-long Merrel hiking boots gal, when looking for a lightweight, all-around boot. I decided to switch to these boots one time at REI as I wanted to try something new. That was a mistake. Took them on a two week trip where they were worn casually as a walking shoe. The mesh on the outside acquired a hole after about 9 days of light wear. Completely non-durable and terrible design on that part. I thought, no big deal it's probably fine. They sat in the closet for a couple of months. Come fall, I started wearing them again and the hole began to grow. Still, I thought the mesh really must be cosmetic, and as I don't really care what my shoes look like, I decided to roll with it. Note that I go on about a 4 hour hike maybe once a month or every two months. This hole has grown into a giant gaping flap that allows snow and rain in, so is just completely useless. The right boot received a tear in the mesh from a thorn, YES, a thorn and now the same thing will likely happen. pros are that they are flexible, low profile, and the colors are nice but if you want your boot to last, this is not the one for you. I was really disappointed, as the two other Keen shoes I had lasted me 8 and 4 years, respectively, and I really wanted to like these. They also run narrow for Keens, I find, but are normal width when compared to other boots. Of course I am already outside the year warranty. In addition, the second-hand gear store I visit has about 15 of these brand new from Keen, so you know Keen knows that the boots are bad, but won't admit it.
I purchased a pair of these and had to return them right away because there was something wrong with the right one. I figured it was a manufacturing issue so I decided I liked them enough to get them a second time and hope the second pair didn’t have the same flaw. Thankfully they didn’t. I loved them. Most comfortable pair of shoes I’ve ever hiked in, however, I got horrible blisters without even realizing they were forming and then by the 2nd day in on a Cali backpacking trip (with less than 35 miles on the shoes) they literally started shredding on each side of the toe box. I had to wrap duct tape the second day to help keep the dust out of the shoes. I had only worn them for a month or so (about 25-30 miles of trail prep). It was ridiculous. So I was mid backpacking trip worrying if my shoes were gonna fall apart completely. I just loved these shoes too-I was so disappointed. Thankfully REI gave me a refund, but I really had wanted them to work out. I couldn’t find the image of the shoes with the huge holes or duct tape at the end of the trip - but in the images attached you can tell they started to come apart and that was like day one with hardly any training miles on them :(
I had my eyes on these boots for a while and was pretty excited when I finally ordered them. I am between a size 9-9.5 and I initially bought a 9 but they hit right at my toes so I sized up. I wasted no time and took these for a muddy hike on Mt.Diablo. I quickly learned that these boots are not suitable for major incline/decline or rocky terrains. My heels and arches were aching by the end of my 7 mile hike. I feel like these boots are only suitable for well-groomed and mostly flat trails. They did okay in the mud/water and I love the aesthetics of this show but that’s about it. Will keep for easy hikes but gonna stick with my Merrell Moab 2 for those rocky terrains.
I enjoyed wearing these hiking boots. A couple of times people have seen them and said they don’t look like your average hiking shoes. I think that is a positive nod to the peacock color. The cushion in the insole is very good, as is the cushioning around the ankle. Sometimes I can get a blister on the back of my heel when wearing new hiking boots and I did not with these. Since I have had a broken left foot that will never be the same after surgery, I need more support through the arch area and these were too flexible through that area for me. These are a more narrow boot and that fit my foot well with no cramping in the toe area.
My last pair of keens I bought in 2010 and had them until 2020. I bought these and wore them just one season for walking in the winter. The fabric is falling apart at the foot bend point. The sole looks brand new so I haven't put that many miles on them. Very disappointing.
I bought these boots primarily to wear for my volunteer work walking dogs on terrain that's flat, and mostly clay/sand with an occasional dusting of snow. They felt very comfortable right out of the box, and my feet didn't hurt after walking 6 miles plus. Then I tried them on a regular hike with a few rocks and 800 foot climb. On the downhill, my toes were jamming so bad I couldn't wait to take them off. Must be because they are somewhat narrow. I'll probably keep them for walking dogs and flat terrain just because they are lightweight but don't work for me as a hiking boot.
I have been using trail runners for years now for hiking and backpacking because I find most hiking boots heavy, uncomfortable and too rigid. I was pleasantly surprised with this pair of boots. They are lightweight, handle rocks and slick surfaces well and they have good ankle support that is not constrictive. The back of the boot has extra padding that helps preventing the boot from digging in like so many mid-rise boots do. I think I may have found a pair of hiking boots I actually like! The only thing I would change is for the shoes to have 1-2 inch longer laces.
I've worn these on various types of terrain, from rocky and steep to flat with soft dirt, and they perform well no matter what. I felt some tightness in the toe box at first, but with breaking in, they are molding to my feet and getting more and more comfortable. The traction is good, but I wish the soles were a tiny bit thicker so I wouldn't feel rocks quite as much. They are waterproof and warm, yet breathable... I can't wait to wear them on snow hikes. They are also stylish and the color is great (I have the blue). Overall, a very good boot!
I have been hiking in these boots for about a month now. They are incredibly comfortable and my feet love them. The best part about these boots is I never get any toe jamming on my descents. The unfortunate thing I’ve come to find with these boots it’s the tread does not do well on smooth rock, wet or dry. In the Adirondacks this summer I hiked all week and started to notice I was losing traction a ton on larger rocks and smooth rock at higher elevation. This slowed down my normal hiking pace quite a bit. My worst experience with these boots thus far was hiking in high tor in the finger lakes region. The terrain is dominated by shale rock ( a lot of gully climbing), I had no traction whatsoever in these boots. I felt like I was constantly walking on a sheet of ice. These boots are only great in gravely or dirt paths. Anything smooth or rockier is not ideal. Truly unfortunate given their so comfortable.