Chris Townsend awards the Keen Targhee IV Low his Greener Choice award and dubs it Best it Test for those with wide feet. Find out why.
Keen Targhee footwear has always been quite wide, fitting me well, so I was surprised that a wide version of the Keen Targhee IV Low is available. A wide boot in a wider fit!
Chris Townsend’s Best in Test & Greener Choice
My toes can spread even more and there’s no downward pressure on the top of my toes and forefoot, which I sometimes feel with the standard fit. Overall my feet feel freer.- extra foot volume
- non-delaminating construction,
- recycled material
- lightweight
- low cost
- a bit warm for summer use
| Quick Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $170 (available from Keen US) / £145 (available from Ellis Brigham) Weight: 1,126g per pair (UK 9) Materials: nubuck leather upper, Keen.Dry waterproof/breathable membrane Features: air-injected midsole, air-injected insole, Keen.Rugged outsole Waterproof: yes Sizes: men 6-14, women 2.5 – 9.5 www.keenfootwear.co.uk |
However wide here does not just mean wider across the forefoot but extra foot volume overall. Keen were unable to supply the Targhee Mid in the wide fit in time for the review so I tested the Targhee Low, which is more of a shoe than a boot. However the sole unit and uppers are the same on both models.
Targhees always look quite wide, due to the stubby shape at the toe and the large toebox. The wide version doesn’t look noticeably different but it does feel different. My toes can spread even more and there’s no downward pressure on the top of my toes and forefoot, which I sometimes feel with the standard fit. Overall my feet feel freer, which I like.
The Targhee IV has a new glue-free sole construction that is guaranteed not to delaminate and uppers made from leather from a Leather Working Group-certified tannery. The tongue is mesh. The laces are made from recycled plastic. The water repellent outer treatment and the inner waterproof/breathable membrane are PFAS-free. The outsole grips well and the midsole cushions well. The foam footbed is quite thick and provides some cushioning though its soft and not very supportive. The big toe bumper is great for kicking rocks and the hard heel cup keeps the foot in place.
The shoes are flexible at the forefoot but stiff longitudinally, which I found good when traversing rough steep hillsides. I’ve found the shoes very comfortable and supportive. As well as several day walks I wore them on a late winter overnight trip with a heavy pack on which I went up and down several steep slopes of heather, grass, and scree, and traversed much boggy terrain. They were fine throughout.
Testing conditions
Chris Townsend tested the boots in the Cairngorms in autumn and winter 2024/25 on a wide variety of terrain. He takes a size 9 and has wedge-shaped feet – wide at the forefoot and narrow at the heel. Compare this with other hiking boots for wide feet in our buyer’s guide.
