Keen Targhee III Mid/Low Vs Keen Targhee II Mid/Low

 

See Mother Nature, traverse a variety of terrain types and enjoy the natural beauty of the world when you hike regularly. To ensure that your hike goes as planned, and that you are as safe as possible, it is important that you have the right gear.

Hiking boots are among the most important types of gear that you can consider. When you pick the right pair, they can help with everything from keeping your feet warm to ensuring that you can maintain control on various types of terrain.

With so many pairs, it can be hard to narrow down your choices. However, the Keen Targhee II vs Keen Targhee III are two pairs that are viable for hikers of multiple skill levels.

Quick Comparison: Keen Targhee II Vs Keen Targhee III

Comfort

Both the Keen Targhee II vs Keen Targhee III are comfortable and able to be worn right out of the box. Neither are especially rigid, allowing you to have little to no breaking in time. They are also moderately breathable so that your feet remain dry even on long hikes.

Due to the sole thickness, rocks and other thick debris will not cause foot pain when you have to walk on them. Overall, these boots feel more like tennis shoes, allowing you to move around without stiffness causing issues with your mobility.

Stability

Stability is critical for safety when you are hiking. You want a shoe that can keep your joints in alignment even on rough terrain.

The Targhee II is very versatile with its stability. This is due to the lacing system and the flexibility of the boot’s upper. These features allow you to get a high level of stability whether your feet are narrow or wide.

At the forefoot of the shoe, there is a little more width. This makes these boots a good choice when you are hiking on rough terrain. These boots also have a torsion stability shank for better load-bearing support.

The Targhee III has uppers that are flexible and soft. This is due to the nubuck leather being less rigid compared to other types of leather. Due to the lacing system, you have control over how tight your boots fit, letting you adjust how much stability you have.

These boots have a wider sole. This feature helps to ensure a greater level of stability even when you are hiking on uneven terrain.

Traction

The traction on the soles determines the types of terrain that you can hike on. It is important that the traction is adequate for safety.

The Targhee II features a non-marking rubber sole. You can maintain traction and control in both wet and dry environments, including when you are hiking on wet rock and slopes that are muddy. There are side lugs that help you to maintain your grip on the terrain when it becomes muddy and slippery.

The Targhee III has rubber soles with low-profile lugs. These allow you to maintain contact with the terrain even when it is wet and muddy. You can even traverse wet rocks in these boots without losing any of your traction.

Weight

When hiking shoes are too heavy, this can cause you to become tired faster since you will be walking with too much weight.

The Targhee II weigh about 2.5 pounds for the pair. This weight is for a size 11 shoe. This puts them in the relatively lightweight category, ensuring that they are not too heavy to cause premature fatigue during your hikes.

The Targhee III weigh approximately 2.3 pounds for the pair. This weight is for a size 11 shoe. This makes them relatively lightweight compared to similar hiking boots. Due to their weight, you do not have to worry about premature leg fatigue on long hikes.

Water Resistance

If your feet get and remain wet when you are hiking, this can increase your risk of issues like fungal infections, so it is important that your hiking shoes can resist water well.

The Targhee II are classified as water resistant. However, if you are hiking in deep water, it is possible for some water to get over the top of your boot. This is because there is a 3.75-inch floor height.

The Targhee III has the same flood height as the Targhee II boots. Because of this, they keep you dry in streams and mud, but are not ideal in deeper water.

Conclusion

With this information, you can sufficiently compare the Keen Targhee II vs Keen Targhee III . While both pairs of boots are a good choice, the Keen Targhee II is a better option.

The Keen Targhee II offers a high level of traction on a wide variety of terrain types. Right out of the box, they are ready to wear, and you do not have to worry about taking the time to break them in.

Compared to other hiking boots, this pair has enhanced toe protection. This is important for a variety of hikes, including those that require some climbing.

Since this boot is waterproof, your feet remain dry and warm. Due to the design of these boots, you can wear them for all-day hikes without experiencing discomfort.