This Redesigned Hiking Icon Could Be the Last Boot You Buy

Improving an iconic product is easier said than done. Change too much, too quickly, and you risk losing the Je ne sais quoi that earned it a cult following in the first place. Change nothing, and you risk getting left in the dust.

When it came time for KEEN to reimagine its most iconic hiking style, the Targhee, a lot of thought went into how to pull it off. The brand’s ultimate strategy? Go all in on durability. The resulting Targhee IV retains what fans loved about three generations of predecessors while taking a giant leap forward in the longevity department.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new Targhee IV.

Twenty Years of Targhee

Since 2005, the Targhee has been KEEN’s flagship line. According to the brand, in the nearly two decades since its introduction, Targhees have logged over 3 billion trail miles (roughly equivalent to 80,000 trips around Earth’s equator).

So, why, exactly, are Targhees so popular? First and foremost, they’re just plain comfortable. Targhees have always been lauded for their secure heel fit and plenty of room for toes to spread out, two characteristics maintained with the Targhee IV. 

On top of comfort, the boots offer solid on-trail performance and are produced through KEEN’s “Consciously Created” approach to design and manufacturing that minimizes impact on the planet. More on that later.

Lifetime Delamination-Free Guarantee

Anyone who’s put extended mileage on a pair of hiking boots knows that delamination is an all-too-common shoe killer. The reason this happens is simple: in most hiking footwear, glue connects individual components, and over time, that glue inevitably fails.

So, for Targhee IV, KEEN removed the glued upper-to-sole connection entirely. Their solution is the revolutionary KEEN.FUSION technology, which creates a mechanical bond between the two components that’s three times stronger than a glued connection. KEEN is so confident in this construction method that it’s introducing a lifetime delamination-free guarantee for Targhee IV, the first shoe KEEN has backed with this claim. 

What’s the fine print? There isn’t any, actually. During the lifetime of any style in the Targhee IV family, if you buy a pair and somehow manage to separate the outsole from the midsole or the midsole from the upper, KEEN will hook you up with a direct replacement or store-issued credit. It’s that simple.

Durability Is Sustainability

Not long ago, sustainability and performance were seen as mutually exclusive goals in outdoor gear. But that’s no longer the case, thanks primarily to brands like KEEN, a family-owned shoemaker that’s been consciously making unapologetically comfortable, innovative footwear for over two decades. And the Targhee IV is a shining example of how to accomplish both.

Exhibit A: KEEN.FUSION technology eliminates an environmentally detrimental substance from its manufacturing process and creates a longer-lasting boot that’ll stay on the trail longer and, therefore, out of landfills.

This emphasis on durability and sustainability is everywhere in the Targhee IV: The KEEN.RUGGED outsoles with multi-directional lugs provide durable traction for roughly twice as long as traditional rubber outsoles. The uppers are reinforced with ethically sourced leather — one of nature’s most durable materials — and secured with 100 percent recycled plastic laces.

Finally, waterproof Targhee IV styles call on a breathable KEEN.DRY membrane and PFAS-free water repellency to keep your feet dry and comfortable without forever chemicals, which KEEN eliminated from all its products in 2018.

The Targhee IV lets you have your cake and eat it too

If you’re looking for a hiking shoe, odds are you care about the planet you intend to explore. You also care about how comfortable your feet are during said exploration. With the Targhee IV, prioritizing one doesn’t mean sacrificing the other. There’s a Targhee IV for every hiker, available in a wide range of high- and low-top models for both wet and dry conditions.

Price: Adult styles from $145; Kid’s from $70

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KEEN is a shoemaker with purpose. Family-owned and values-led for over 20 years, KEEN has been consciously making unapologetically comfortable, innovative footwear that lasts and using its business to do good. In 2003, KEEN started a revolution with the introduction of the original hybrid sandal, the Newport. As revolutionary, thoughtful shoemakers, KEEN is determined to reduce the impact of how they make shoes. They’ve been PFAS free since 2018 and envision a shoe industry that has a net positive impact on lives. To get there, they’re sharing their sustainable innovations to do more good together. Learn more at keenfootwear.com.