Keen Men's Targhee II

Soles started falling to pieces after only a month or so.

This is my second pair of Targhee IIs. My first pair were worn most days for 2-3 years, including much wilderness hiking as well as city walking. I ended up replacing them when the wear on the heel became obvious—they were great.

The new pair are at the other end of the spectrum as far as quality. It seems that the glue used to hold the layers of the sole together was substandard. Part of the tread started peeling away after only a few weeks and now it looks like a whole layer will fall off soon. It's been less than a year.

As a light duty trail/approach shoe, this product didn't meet my expectations. The support and comfort levels did not match earlier Keen purchases.

I really like the Keen last—the wide forefoot takes the threat of blisters away.  I've owned a few pairs of their shoes, because of this, but the Targhee 2 is perhaps the least impressive of those purchases.

The shoes have held up to punishment, but I never choose them for difficult tasks, so what does that mean? The soles have good tread and are grippy, but they are too flexible and the uppers don't hold my feet still, which reduces confidence and adds fatigue, on grassy slopes, or broken rock. A full boot would probably have suited me better; a stiffer sole would be better still.

I would never wear approach shoes for trail hiking in British conditions—even waterproof ones—they just don't offer enough support. In somewhere like California, where weather is more predictable, lighter footwear is common, but I still found the Targhees disappointing on trails in the Bay Area and around Tahoe. Hot weather left my feet swimming in the nylon lined uppers of these shoes and left me wishing for a pair of their office shoes—leather, with a leather lining.

As an everyday walking around and driving shoe, the Targhees have found a role. The wear rate has been slow and construction quality is good enough for these purposes, but as an active outdoor shoe, this product has not made the grade—at least for me.

Background

I bought the shoes in 2013. They have led a quiet life, after their early failure to impress, in the Sierras and State Parks. Of course, I have old knees and feet. A younger lightweight person might love them.

I have been wearing the Targee II's for a number of years now. They are probably my all time favorite shoe. My first pair lasted a good while but eventually split a toe seam. I bought a new pair and with very little use other than an out to dinner, once in a while kind deal, the toe area split on the new pair. 

I contacted Keen and let them know that I exected nothing on the first pair. I really didn't even expect much on the new pair other than maybe a little pro-rated help on a replacement third pair (sent detailed pictures also).

The second pair was worn so sparingly but was older than one year and the factory refused any help in any way. I have never had the problem with any other shoe or boot that I have ever worn of any type and you can see in both pair that the material overlap was extremely minimal to hold the joint together. 

I like the shoe so much that I brought a third pair and only wear them at times where my dogs want to enjoy themselves and keep watch over the seam. I have seen a similar failure on a Targhee II in Vermont where I actually stopped the person and asked about them.

The Targhee II in my opinion is a great shoe but the customer service aspect of the manufacture was nonexistent in my case.

Overall this has been a very comfortable shoe. I have used them on a variety of trails and terrain. From sand trails to rugged rock slides. They grip really well and once broken in are very comfortable.

The downside that I am most upset about this shoe is how long they are lasting. Either I am very tough on my shoes or the rubber soles on these things are cheap. I bought them last April 08 and they are almost completely wore out. And I am not hiking every day here. I have had other hiking shoes hold up longer.

The rest of the shoe is fine, but the rest of it is wearing out like someone doing burnouts with offroad tires if you know what I mean.

On second note, it's worth getting the Gore-tex model, I opted for cheap 20$ less for the non and every time I step in a puddle I regret it.