We recommend for: Those who have experienced the trauma of sole delamination as well as day and overnight hikes on non-technical terrain.

What we like: Wide fit, innovative and durable construction, value for money.

What we don’t like: Tongue is moderately padded and not full-gusseted, difficult to attach gaiters

1140g (m), 1000g (w)

Overview and features: Keen’s most popular hiking boot has one significant upgrade: a process called Keen.Fusion. This fuses the sole to the boot using a liquid polyurethane claimed to be three times stronger than glue, making it impossible for the sole to delaminate (when the sole falls off the boot). There’s a Keen.Rugged outsole, waterproof/breathable lining and uppers of nubuck leather.

Fit and comfort: These wide-fit boots are true to size and provide ample room for toes to splay, ensuring balance and stability. The heel is similarly accommodating, but can be pulled tight with an integrated heel strap connected to the second-to-top lace eyelet. The wide fit and soft nubuck uppers ensure instant comfort and no break-in period is required.

Durability: The boot has minimal protection – there’s a sizeable toe bumper and leather overlays at the forefoot – so uppers may show signs of wear sooner rather than later. But double stitching throughout and the fused outsole – with a never-delaminate promise – mean it should be a long-lasting boot.

In use: I used this boot straight from the box on a tough 28km overnighter in Coromandel Forest Park over multiple trail surfaces: slick grassy track, formed trail, stream crossings and  copious amounts of mud. My feet remained dry and I found them sure-footed, comfortable and agile. They scrubbed up well afterwards, too. The tongue is narrow compared to the boot and only has a three-quarter gusset which can let trail debris in. I used gaiters but had difficulty attaching and removing the gaiter’s lace hook due to a blocking webbing strap on the boot’s tongue that the laces threaded through.

Value: It’s a mid-priced hiker that continues the Targhee’s long legacy of comfort and trail-readiness. Its failsafe sole promises years of service.

Why buy the Targhee IV? 

All day trail comfort thanks to the foot-conforming leather uppers and wide fit. It’s not expensive for the features and pedigree. It’s suitable for trips of a day or up to several days where relatively light loads are carried over non-technical terrain.