Customer Reviews KEEN Targhee II

OK, here's my Targhee II saga- bear with me. I really liked the rugged good looks of this shoe, but I was quite concerned about the many reviews that I read that the shoe runs small. Nonetheless, I ordered my regular shoe size, Mens 12M. When I received my shoes, I tried them on, and sure enough, they were way too snug, with my toes all crumpled up inside the toe box. In this size range, there is no 12.5M, so if I wanted to wear the Targhee II, it would have to be a 13M. So I sent them back for an exchange. The 13's came and I tried them on. They felt cavernous- So much so that when I walked, not only would my heel come up with each step, but my foot would slide forward into the toe box and make contact with the front edge... I'll regress a bit here... I wanted these shoes for a planned trip to Norway, which was now upon me. I had other clothing and packing issues to consider, so I tossed the shoes into my suitcase, and figured I'd just wear some heavy socks or even two pair. Fast- forward to Oslo, a few days later. It was time for our first hike, and I grabbed my Targhee II's. It was then that I noticed what appeared to be a manufacturer's defect, a smudge of black rubber on the tongue of one shoe. But I needed to wear the shoes, so I did. And they weren't much better comfort wise, despite my attempts at several sock combinations. I also tried lacing them very tightly, in attempt to stop my foot from moving forward. This helped somewhat, but overall, I decided that my feet were just not made for these shoes. When I got back to New York, I decided to contact Zappos to see if they could help, knowing that by this time, I was outside of the return policy. I figured, although I had worn the shoes, there was a manufacturer's defect (the rubber smudge), and perhaps I could try something else. Zappos was very gracious in allowing me to return this, the second pair- However, I could not choose another shoe- THey would only replace them with the same Targhee II's. So I completed the exchange, and the third pair arrived. Disappointed by the entire process, I put the shoes in the closet and didn't forget about them, but didn't plan on wearing them anytime soon. OK, here's where it gets interesting. We planned a 6 mile hike at Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island. I was planning on wearing my old Merrell mid hikers, which are quite comfortable. I went back to the closet where we keep our gear, and noticed the gleaming-new Targhee II's sitting on the shelf, for some two months now- I had never ebven tried them on. I thought, "what the heck", and slipped them on. Something was very different. Immediately I sensed a comfort that I hadn't with any of the previous pairs. So much so, that I had to take them off and examine the tongue to see if they were the correct size. Yep, 13M. So I decided to give it a go. Out on the trail, I noticed that I was NOT thinking about my feet, which is a GOOD thing! And when I did, I was delightfully surprised at the level of comfort. We completed the six miles with absolutely no issues (other than my sciatica), and then walked for another two hours around the streets of Greenport, NY. My Targhee II's feel like bedroom slippers- A slight heel rise with each step (these are the low-cut versions) but nothing bothersome, and my foot comfortable enshrouded within the shoe with no contact with the front of the toe box. I'm thrilled! So what does this tell the prospective Targhee II buyer? I don't really know, but I'm guessing that there is indeed some variation in the manufacturing process. Thank you, Zappos, for your accommodation. Keen? I don't know what to say, other than you really should offer half-sizes beyond size 12. And I can't wait for the next hike!

Slightly small. Order 1/2 size up. Sturdy shoe

Needed arch support.

Had to add an arch support liner. Otherwise a very nice boot

I have owned maybe 5 pairs of Targhee’s. But for some reason these didn’t fit ...in the past they were great out of the box and this pair had a weird arch support on the outside of my left foot that didn’t feel right so I sent them back. Disappointing. This also happened to a pair of Targhee’s mid height boots that I bought while traveling and didn’t wear for a year or two. Now I have to try to find a new go-to-shoe. Going to try a pair of Ecco boots to see how they fit.

I love these shoes! I have a wide foot so women’s 10.5W are my normal size, sometimes I need 11W to accommodate my full-length arch inserts. These Keens fit me in a men’s 9.5 so based on that I say these may be a half size small when converted to women’s sizing since typically a men’s 9 would fit me. I decided to move away from my typical ankle-height work boot when I discovered my old ones were no longer waterproof. While these are somewhat stiff in the footbed, I really like the look of these. I appreciate that the rubber toe cap covers more of the shoe so they will last longer when I’m working on roofs and installing floor tile. I also like that they have mesh on the uppers but I don’t feel a breeze on my feet when I walk, so I can still wear them when the weather is cold. Now I need to get used to less ankle support on job sites with uneven terrain so I guess I’ll be upping my coordination effort when walking! I picked the one with navy in the color description and the only navy on it is the lining inside the shoe, and striping on the trim and laces. The navy is a minimal accent color in my opinion. The rest of the shoe is mostly charcoal grey solid with medium grey tongue and lace accents. The Keen logo is a yellowish-orange which gives the shoe an industrial/worksite-look.

I love the shoes. Have had 2 pairs before this one. The last pair was an 11-1/2. Even the 12 in the new show seemed short. I tried the 13 and it was too big. I really needed a 12-1/2 but they only make full sizes after the 11-1/2. I kept the 12, hope it is not a mistake.

I read that they sizing was off so order just a half size larger, wrong going a full size larger. Very strange, have steel toe shoes (Atlanta) and fit great, walk miles and miles in them. Thanks to Zappos returns life is great.

This is the iconic Keen. If you were to sum up the Keen brand with one shoe, it would be this one. This is my third pair of Targhee's, and there's some things you should know. They don't do half sizes for people with large feet. I usually wear a 12, but their 12 is too tight. Jumping up to a 13 feels a little large at first, but after a few days, you don't notice. I have had problems in the past with the sole separating from the shoe, hopefully I won't see that this time. These are very warm. With a wool sock, they're comfortable in temperatures around zero. I find them uncomfortable to wear inside all day, they're just too hot. With a cotton sock, they're bearable, but still a very warm shoe. This is the price you pay for waterproofing. And last, if they're anything like the last ten pairs of Keen shoes I've owned, they will eat their laces in about four months. Replace them with a better lace, or even a length of paracord and they're good to go.

felt loose in the heal

Great shoe, however I needed to return them for a size bigger as my toes rubbed the front of the shoe

I've purchased over twenty pairs of Keen shoes over the years. The toe box of this particular shoe was narrower than normal. My toes feel pinched. Not as much room in the toe area than other Keen's I've purchased.

Ordered my first pair of Keen's based on lots of recommendations from friends. Couldn't find a Wide (EE) in any style but these and I was hoping to find more of the tennis shoe style. These feel a little big and boxy but overall they are fairly comfortable. Ordered my usual size of 11 1/2 EE and the feel a little shorter than normal.

Runs about a half size to large. Will definitely order again but in he correct size.

to narrow in toe box

I brought these on deployment and wore them every day for five months. They were fairly comfortable, though the waterproofing means your feet get warm, especially during the hot summer months. After five months of walking on gravel every day, the cushion inside was pretty worn. I also never untied them, as the heel box was wide enough to slip my foot in and out as long as the laces weren't tight. The downside to that though, is that the plastic support that covers the back of the heel broke through the shoe eventually, and would destroy my socks. Great shoes overall, and they'll last a lot longer if you take the time to tie and untie them each time.

I unfortunately listened the the advice to buy a half-size bigger and needed to return. My real size fits fine, although I had to do the ankle-lock lacing to get them tight enough on the top. Otherwise, I like them a lot.

8 shoes later I settled on these keen's. Sure, the heel slips a bit and they're a bit bulky. But boy are they tough. Took them hiking through Costa Rica for 10 days and never had a doubt about them. I find the inner arch support spot on in placement. Too many shoes feel like the support is too close to the heel.

Very good hiking shoe. These have great support for a hiking shoe and are have good water resistance. I typically wear dress shoes in size 8.5 or 9 EEE depending on the manufacturer. I initially bought a pair of the Keen Targhee in Size 9. They only come in medium width, but I heard from others that they run wide. It turned out that the width was fine, but the size 9 was definitely too small. I exchanged them for size 9.5. Those fit perfectly with a pair of merino hiking socks. They are extremely comfortable right out of the box. They provide a snug feel that makes them very stable, as if they were a part of my foot. Kudos to Zappos by the way. The original pair and exchanged pair showed up the next day after I ordered them! Incredible service! I would have rated these shoes a 5 except for one feature. The 'eyelets' for the laces are a made from webbing material without any metal or other reinforcement. So I have some concern that if the webbing wears through I won't be able to use that eyelet for lacing. On the other hand, comparable hiking shoes are selling for almost double what I paid for these. So time will tell how good a value they are. But at this point they are an excellent fit for my wide foot and are very stable.

I initially ordered as suggested, 1/2 size larger, which was too big even with thick cushioned hiking socks. I called zappos and they sent the correct size (10 1/2 D) which arrived the next day and fit perfectly. They're a little heavy, the sole is very stiff and there is slight heel slippage as others have said. If I hadn't already returned one pair I would exchange these for the mids, which would likely eliminate the heel issue and justify the weight. Overall they're comfortable and look/feel rugged enough for tough hiking terrain.

These shoes are very comfortable and look good. They aren't as durable as I would like as the soles started coming off after about three months. Zappos customer service though is amazing and this will definitely not be my last pair of shoes I buy from them.

These run 1/2 size smaller than my Keen Voyageur. These also are not as comfortable as Voyageur. Nice looking shoe, though. I wish Keen made Voyageur in blue similar to this Targhee II. As always, awesome customer service from Zappos.

The Keen Targhee II is an almost perfect shoe for hiking, or daily wear. I wear the Targhee II mid for my hiking boots, and when I wanted a pair of casual shoes for work, I purchased its little brother. Like the mid, this shoe has the same sole and structure, so is identical in footbed comfort and support. I love wearing them for work. They do suffer from one small flaw, inherent in so many hikers I have worn--the inability to stay tied. Here is a simple trick that Keen has solved in the Targhee II Mid that they so-easily could resolve in this shoe. Use the little lace-grabber that serves as the top eyelet of the Mid, but has been left off this shoe. The grabber, for lack of its real term, allows you to tighten the boot and then insert the laces into the rubberized grip. Even if the shoe does come untied, the shoe remains firmly in place because the lace holding the tension is still in place. Without it, both the boot and nature conspire to loosen the ties that bind. Several times each day, these forces win out. Sometimes, the feeling of looseness is enough that you choose to re-tie. Other time, they just give out. In these time, it is quite literally possible to throw a shoe. I have resorted to using the same tricks I employed on the shoes of my kids when they were toddlers. This is my ONLY complaint about the shoe. The could be made perfect for about 50 cents worth of rubber grippers.

If they fit, you'll love them. Firm sole, fancy lacing, gusseted tongue -- and, best of all, a really big toe box. Unfortunately they don't make half sizes for us big boys -- so a 14 was too small for me, and I'm kinda swimming in the 15. I'll probably keep them for hiking when I wear double socks.

I ordered the grey and red Targhee II and the colors are exactly as seen on the website picture. They look awesome in person and I absolutely loved the shoes. Unfortunately, the heel slip was too much for me. I had to return them. I tried different ways to tie them but it just didn't help enough for my feet. Bummer, I really liked these shoes. Kudos to the Zappos team for their great customer service with the live chat function. That worked really well.