Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Outdoorsy Couples (His & Hers)
Five free ways to say I love you outdoors, plus practical his and hers gear picks
The KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof is a classic, mid-height leather hiker that leans hard into stability, protection, and durability, rather than trying to feel light and fast. That’s exactly why I think it still has a place in a lot of people’s gear closets.
For me, the vibe is simply that it’s a traditional boot that feels reassuringly solid on the foot, looks genuinely good in that “proper hiking boot” way, and gives you a ton of toe space if you need it.
If you like wearing thicker hiking socks (or your feet swell on longer days), the roomy fit is a big part of the appeal.
It’s not perfect though, there’s a real break-in period, traction is more “adequate” than “sticky”, and in warmer temperatures it can run hot, but to be fair that’s normal for a padded leather waterproof boot.
Key specifications
- Price: $180 at KEEN (I recommend buying here for the best price and colorway options)
- Weight (my pair): 19.4 oz / 550 g (US men’s 9)
- Drop: 12mm (stack: 28mm/16mm)
- Upper: premium nubuck/leather with a very protective build
- Waterproofing: KEEN.DRY membrane plus leather as the first barrier
- Midsole feel: medium-firm cushioning (protective and stable rather than plush)
- Stability features: supportive platform with a shank and a moderately stiff leather upper
- Outsole: KEEN.RUGGED rubber compound with ~4 mm lugs
- Durability detail: glue-free / fused construction and a delamination-free guarantee
Performance review
Fit and sizing (where it feels amazing, and where it can feel “too generous”)
The signature feature is the toe box, it’s properly wide and roomy, and I’d honestly put that right up there with durability as the main reason to buy this boot.
I also love that the extra space makes it easy to wear thicker hiking socks without feeling cramped.
Length feels true to size for me but the more important thing is the shape: the heel and midfoot feel more “medium” in width, while the forefoot/toe box flares wider.
For wide-footed hikers, that’s usually a relief but for narrow-footed hikers, it can be harder to get a truly locked-in feel up front, even if you pull the laces tight.
That matters most on off-camber trails (sidehilling). If you don’t naturally fill the boot volume, lateral security can feel a bit compromised.
I don’t see that as a “bad boot” issue so much as a “know your foot shape” issue.
Comfort and break-in period (do yourself a favor: wear long socks early on)
There’s a break-in period, no sugar-coating it.
One specific comfort note is to wear long socks during the break-in, especially because the heel counter collar area at the rear can be a bit unforgiving at first.
I found longer socks made those early miles way more pleasant, and once the boot softened up, it stopped being a thing I thought about.
After break-in, overall comfort is genuinely solid and they feel like a trusty hiking boot that will get used for years to come.
The underfoot cushioning sits in that medium-firm zone, which I actually like for hiking because it feels protective and stable rather than squishy.
The padded collar/ankle area adds comfort and support, once it’s not rubbing, and the whole boot starts to feel like it’s working with you.
A very specific thing to note: the stock insole doesn’t offer meaningful arch support, which will be fine for most but it that’s something you require, just know your custom insole will fit in here just fine, due to the generous internal volume.
If you feel like toe-off is a little firm for you, or you can’t get the underfoot feel to agree with you, swapping the insole is an easy fix that can change the whole experience.
Support and stability (planted, protective, and not trying to be “nimble”)
The Targhee IV Mid feels very planted whilst on the trails.
The stable base, relatively low stack height, stiffer platform feel, leather upper, and shank all work together to make it feel supportive and resistant to rolling.
I also like how protected my feet feel in these.
The upper is stout, and the big rubber toe bumper is one of my favorite parts of the design.
It’s the kind of toe protection that prevents those annoying early-life scuffs and splits when you inevitably clip rocks.
Ankle support is a little nuanced; the boot clears the ankle, but it’s not the most “locked-in” ankle support in the category.
The good news, however, is the cuff can be snugged down when terrain gets rough, and it feels protective for day hikes and general use.
Traction (good enough on most trails, less confidence on slick stuff)
The outsole has ~4 mm lugs with edges that bite decently in loose dirt, and on mellow to moderate trails it feels predictable.
Where it’s less convincing is wet rock and slick surfaces.
Side-to-side traction can also feel less secure than boots with stickier rubber compounds. It doesn’t give that glued-down confidence you get from something like Vibram Megagrip.
So if most of your hiking is dry trails, hard-pack, and general terrain, it’s totally workable.
If you’re regularly on wet stone, slick roots, or you’re picky about grip, you’ll likely notice the limitation.
Waterproofing and breathability (reliable for normal wet trails, but it can run hot)
In typical wet-trail use, waterproofing will be solid.
The leather does a lot of the first-line work, and the KEEN.DRY membrane backs it up.
Breathability is the flip side of any waterproof build. Leather + padding + membrane means heat can build up, and once temps push above ~60°F (especially in sun or on harder climbs), I can feel these running warm.
Weight and “clunk factor” (it’s the feel, not just the number)
My pair is 19.4 oz / 550 g (US men’s 9). On paper, that looks heavy, and on foot it can feel a little clunkier than modern, more athletic hikers but of course where those win in weight, they lose in durability.
The wide frame and stiffer platform are part of why it feels so stable, but they also make it feel less quick. I don’t think hikers that choose these are even thinking about hiking quick anyway, so a bit of a non-issue for most.
If you’re coming from something more lightweight like the HOKA Anacapa Mid GTX, the difference in nimbleness is going to be very noticeable.
My verdict
You get a seriously durable boot for $180, and I think the KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof makes the most sense for hikers who want a durable, protective, wide-friendly boot for easy-to-moderate trails and occasional backpacking, and who don’t mind a traditional feel.
What I personally like most:
- Roomy toe box that works great with thicker hiking socks
- A stable, supportive platform that feels planted
- Toe box protection and a rugged upper that can take real wear
- A lacing system I trust, especially how it cinches down well from the top
- Comfort that gets genuinely good once the break-in phase is done (just wear long socks early on)
What I’d keep in mind:
- It can feel clunky if you’re trying to hike fast or stack big days
- Traction is not the best on wet rock and slick surfaces
- Break-in is real, and the heel collar area can demand long socks at first
- You may want to swap the stock insole if it feels unsupportive
- It can run hot in warmer conditions
If you care most about moving quickly, staying cooler, or getting stickier grip, I’d look at something lighter and more nimble like Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof, or a boot with a stickier outsole compound if wet rock is a frequent part of your hiking.
