KEEN Women's Targhee 2 Mid Height Waterproof Hiking Boots

Not the most "sexy" looking boots, for sure, but definitely great for hiking the awesome national parks! When I first put them on, they seemed a little bulky. However, the "bulk" is what actually made them so comfortable. They have a bit wider toe box, which I like, but still fit my narrower ankles just fine. They required no break-in period. I used the insoles that came with the boots and they worked well, which is great for someone like me who has issues with plantar fasciitis and other foot pain. Though my feet were a bit "heavy" after 8+ hour hiking days, I had no pain. These boots also seem waterproof. Only time I felt actual water was after stepping in a creek that was deeper than expected and water went over the top of the boot (totally my fault). Otherwise, I walked through some pretty thick mud, moderate puddles, and shallow creek beds and they worked well. Good traction. Not sure how they'd do in deep snow, but I'm not sure these are made for that since they are only mid-height anyway? The rounded toe is pretty ugly, but I was quite thankful for the rubberized protection when walking over rocks and boulders. Definitely recommend these boots. You get what you pay for, and these are worth it. And these are true to size. I wear a size 11 ladies in both running shoes and tennis shoes, and I ordered a size 11 in these...perfect fit.

My favorite hobby is hiking, mostly off trail. Unfortunately I inherited my mother’s bunions which tend to make long hiking trips quite painful. After doing some research, this boot was recommended for those, like myself, whom suffer from hallux valgus. Right out of the box, the wide toe box that these Keen’s offer felt amazing. The boot is also fitted around the heel, which not only keeps my foot from sliding in the boot, but also provides stability. I’ve just returned from a 5 mile, off trail hike, which involved a lot of climbing, crawling, and side-hilling. With my previous boots, after about 2 1/2 miles, my bunion pain would become so severe that I’d have to call it quits. These Keens far exceeded my expectations. The waterproofing kept my feet nice and dry, even after spending time hopping around in a creek. My toes never felt pinched as they had plenty of wiggle room. I still developed some bunion pain on one foot, but that was the fault of the amount of side-hilling I did and not the fault on my shoe. Next hike. I plan to wrap my bunions to see if that doesn’t help with the side-hill pressure. I typically wear a 9 and I ordered a 9 1/2, which fits well with my thin hiking socks. However, I probably should have considered a size 10 to accommodate my thicker, wool hiking socks. All in all, I definitely recommend these boots from Keen.

So happy with these boots and that’s saying a lot since I have so many foot problems. It’s always worrisome to buy shoes online so I’ll try to describe these best I can. First of all I won’t be making any 20 mile hikes. I’m over 70 and need boots to allow for my farm chores and bad weather, not mountain climbing, but if these work for me, how much better for those who are young and spry.I’ve overweight and my feet tend to swell quite a bit, plus I have fused big toe joints. I can no longer get tall boots on at all and even regular tennies can pose a problem if I can’t open them wide. I need a big toe box and decent width, but have narrow heels. I need a cushiony insole, but also arch support (flat feet), low heel to toe height ratio and a rocker bottom to help with my stride because of bad ankles. It seems an impossible set of requirements. So it was with great trepidation that I ordered these boots.Pretty much all I can wear anymore is what my grandchildren call my ‘Air Grammas’, thick leather New Balance shoes with a wide tongue and stabilizing sole. Boots and shoes I could wear previously have been relegated to the back of the closet. These include Mephisto walkers and Timberland and Ariat boots among others. Heels too high, tongues too narrow, not enough flexibility or too much, you name it.These boots offer easy on/off while even having an attached tongue to aid in waterproofing. The toe box is ample and the width good, but you have to order a half size up for length. I did that and they are perfect. Even though the toe box width is generous, the heel is narrow enough to eliminate slippage. The built-in ankle stabilization is very helpful and the modified rocker bottom makes walking relatively easy for me, which is quite something. Few boots offer that. The padded ankle collar and height is very comfortable. The sole at the heel is not much higher than that at the toe which also makes walking easier for me. The sole is sturdy, but flexible at the same time. The mid-foot support is surprisingly good for my flat feet and although I often replace insoles with orthotics or other insoles to help my various problems, the ones that come in these boots are great just as they are.Normally I wear a 9B although on some shoes the B is too tight. That’s a problem with my narrow heels because a wide width affects heel width too. I bought these in 9.5B and they are perfect.I kept the packing, so sure was I that I’d have to return the boots, but it can all go out now. There will be no return. Very happy indeed.