Mar 04, 2026 8 min read

Reviews Hiking KEEN

KEEN Targhee Apex Waterproof hiking shoes review: fast, light, roomy

KEEN gives the Targhee a lighter, quicker feel without losing its signature comfort, waterproof protection, or trail-ready grip.

The KEEN Targhee Apex Waterproof feels like a clear shift in what the Targhee line has been trying to be.

Instead of leaning into the heavier, more traditional hiking shoe formula that made earlier versions so dependable, this one trims things back and moves in a lighter, quicker direction without giving up the roomy fit and trail-ready protection people already associate with KEEN.

That’s what makes it interesting. It still looks and feels like a hiking shoe, not a trail runner pretending to be one, but it has a more agile personality than the classic Targhee models.

In the Star White / Lily Pad colorway that I have, it also looks fresher and more modern than many waterproof hikers in this category, making it a viable choice for general lifestyle use too.

This is a fast-and-light day hiking shoe that keeps KEEN’s comfort-first DNA intact. The big draw is not just that it’s lighter, but that it feels intentionally lighter, with a more responsive ride, less fatigue over long days, and a fit that’s immediately easy to get along with especially if you appreciate extra internal volume.

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Key specifications

Price: $180 at KEEN / Women's version here
Weight: 11.7oz / 332g per shoe (my measured US men’s 9)
Stack height: 38mm at the heel
Drop: 14mm - it feels alot more like a 10mm drop to me, however.
Upper: Flexible performance mesh with TPU overlays, protective toe bumper, molded heel counter. Waterproofing uses KEEN.DRY waterproof breathable membrane with PFAS-free DWR finish
Midsole: KEEN.ReGENX high-rebound foam with lightweight stability shank and contoured arch support
Outsole: KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN non-marking rubber with aggressive multi-directional lugs and KEEN.Terrain Shield sidewall protection
Insole: removable and the shoe is orthotic-compatible
Best use: Day hikes, fast-and-light trail outings, mixed terrain, travel, everyday wear

Sizing and fit

Fit runs true to size, and the shape is very much in line with what many hikers want from KEEN: generous forefoot room, secure midfoot hold, and a heel that stays put without needing a long break-in.

To get an even better heel lockdown, I recommend using the racers loop heel lock lacing method (demo here).

The roomy toe box is one of the shoe’s biggest strengths, especially if you prefer natural toe splay, wear thicker hiking socks, or use custom insoles. There's also plenty of padding around the collars and the tongue, making them super comfortable for all day wear.

Volume is generous overall, so if you have especially narrow feet, this may feel a touch less dialed-in than some lower-volume hiking shoes.

Performance review

Immediate comfort is the headline feature

The strongest thing about the Targhee Apex is how quickly it gets out of its own way. A lot of hiking shoes need a few outings before they stop reminding you that you’re wearing them. This one does the opposite.

The step-in comfort is fantastic, and that lines up with how it’s positioned: a modern, lighter hiker that feels easy from day one.

This comes down to a few things working together; the foam has more rebound than older, more traditional hiking midsoles, the upper has enough structure without feeling stiff, and the fit gives your forefoot room without letting the heel float around.

For long days on foot, that matters more than flashy tech ever does. It’s the kind of comfort that makes a shoe easier to keep reaching for, whether you’re heading onto the trail, walking through wet town streets, or wearing it all day while traveling.

Lighter on foot than the Targhee name suggests

At 11.7 oz / 332 g for my size 9, this is where the Apex really separates itself from the heavier Targhee shoes that came before it.

That number alone changes the conversation. This is no longer a chunky comfort hiker that simply happens to be dependable. It sits much closer to the fast-and-light end of the hiking category, and that lighter build translates directly to less fatigue over longer outings.

Importantly, it doesn’t seem like KEEN chased weight savings by stripping away everything that made the line useful.

The Apex still has a protective toe bumper, reinforced upper zones, a stability shank, and meaningful outsole coverage.

So the benefit here is not minimalism. It’s efficiency. You get a hiking shoe that feels quicker and less clunky underfoot, while still giving you enough structure for roots, uneven ground, and long days of walking.

For hikers who liked the fit of older Targhees but wished they felt less heavy and less dated, this will feel like the update you have been waiting for.

The ride feels more energetic without becoming unstable

The KEEN.ReGENX midsole is a major part of why the Apex sounds more modern than the brand’s older hikers.

Rather than a dense, flat-feeling platform, this setup is described as lively, cushioned, and more responsive underfoot, with enough resilience to soften repetitive impact while still feeling stable on uneven terrain.

That balance is important. A hiking shoe that gets softer but loses control usually stops being useful the moment the trail gets technical.

Here, the lightweight shank and reinforced chassis seem to keep things composed, so you still get torsional support and enough confidence for off-camber sections and light rockier terrain. It also provides underfoot protection from sharp objects on the trail.

The midsole has a well-judged blend of cushioning and trail feel, with enough protection to mute rock strikes but not so much isolation that the shoe feels detached from the ground.

For day hikes and faster-moving outings, this balance, I would say, it probably the sweet spot.

Traction is best where it matters most

The outsole setup is very well matched to the shoe’s intended use.

The multi-directional lugs, braking elements, and mud-shedding layout all point to a shoe designed for mixed trail surfaces rather than casual pavement first.

Loose grit, damp dirt, roots, gravel, and short scrambles is where this kind of tread will feel most at home.

It's worth noting that the tread appears more dependable on actual trail surfaces than on polished, wet hard surfaces like slick concrete or smooth stone.

That’s not unusual for an aggressive trail-oriented outsole (or any outsole for that matter), but worth knowing if you do plan to wear these mostly around town in wet weather.

On proper trail, though, the grip is confident, predictable, and well suited to the kind of terrain this shoe is built for.

Waterproofing and versatility make it easy to wear often

A waterproof hiking shoe only really earns its place if it stays practical beyond the trailhead, and for me, that's part of the Targhee Apex’s appeal.

The KEEN.DRY membrane should handle wet grass, puddles, light rain, and damp mornings without issue, while the mesh-based construction helps stop it from feeling overly stuffy for a waterproof model.

That makes it a more versatile kind of hiker.

It’s not just for dedicated trail days. It makes sense for travel, mixed-weather walking, daily wear, and those in-between days when you want one shoe that can handle a bit of everything.

The attractive almost tennis shoe style design helps there too. It doesn’t look overly technical, and in this colorway especially, it has more casual crossover appeal than most waterproof hiking shoes.

Where it makes the most sense

The Targhee Apex WP is best suited to hikers who want comfort, toe room, and trail protection, but no longer want the bulk that often comes with traditional waterproof hikers.

It's especially well aimed at day hikers, fast walkers, travel-heavy users, and anyone who wants one capable outdoor shoe they can wear often.

Where it makes less sense is heavy-load backpacking or more demanding alpine terrain. The roomy forefoot, lighter mesh build, and fast-and-light positioning are all part of what makes it appealing, but they also define its limits.

This is a more agile hiking shoe, not a mountain tank.

My verdict

The KEEN Targhee Apex Waterproof looks like a smart evolution of a very familiar hiking line. It keeps the roomy fit, dependable trail focus, and all-day comfort people expect from KEEN, then drops the extra bulk and adds a more responsive, lighter-feeling ride.

That’s the appeal in a nutshell. It doesn’t try to replace a heavy-duty backpacking shoe, and it doesn’t try to be an all mountain trail runner either. It sits in a genuinely useful middle ground: protective enough for real hiking, light enough to feel quick, comfortable enough to wear all day, and versatile enough to earn a place beyond the trail.

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If you’ve always liked the idea of buying a Targhee but wanted one that felt more modern, more energetic, and easier to move in, this is one of the most compelling updates KEEN has made to the line in years.

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