User Review: Keen Men's Targhee II Mid

Summary

I have trouble finding hiking boots that I find truly comfortable. This is one of those. As boots go, they feel good on my feet. They also have a very roomy toe box as opposed to the unnatural-shaped angled toe box found on many boots. Unfortunately they turned out to be not durable.

Usually I research gear extensively before buying it. In the case of these boots, I bought them in a store without reading reviews first, because I have trouble finding boots that fit me well. These Keens fit well. The nice wide box toe avoids the typical problems of scrunching up my toes laterally, or my toes hitting the front.

They are pretty comfortable for boots like this. What I really like is that they feel comfortable, yet at the same time have a sole that's solid enough to avoid the soles of my feet feeling every pebble on the trail.

However I have to return them. I've had them for <3 weeks, gone on about 16 miles of day hiking, and 13 miles of backpacking and already the sole on one is starting to separate from the boot.

Surprise (!!!) several other reviews mention the same kind of issue.

Too bad ... I wore these boots on these hikes/backpack without a single blister, and they were as comfortable as I could expect a boot of this type to be. Honestly, part of me says "just cement the sole back to the boot" ... it's too hard to find comfortable boots that fit me. But I paid good money for them, even on sale, and I'm afraid if they're coming apart this soon, what'll happen months from now with n more miles on the trail?

Back to the drawing board to find another pair that fits me and is comfortable... :(

In spite of the positive attributes I had to give just a "2" rating because of the poor workmanship.

Update: November 24, 2011

I have used these boots for a number of overnight trips since posting my original review. The separation of the sole hasn't gotten any worse. I can probably seal up the gap with some kind of boot goo.  

The boots continue to be as comfortable as I could expect for this type of boot, without any real issue with blisters, etc. Therefore I've upgraded my rating to a "3.5" from the previous "2".