Many hikers are quick to recommend KEEN hiking boots and hiking shoes in Facebook hiking groups. The brand has also garnered votes for "best value" or "best budget hiking boots"— but that was before jacking up their prices the past few years. Is KEEN a good brand for hikers? How does it compare with other leading brands? Are KEEN hiking boots and hiking shoes still a good value? This KEEN brand review weighs the brand's pros and cons and recommends KEEN's best options for hikers to help you decide if it's a good brand—for you—or not.
KEEN brand review
hiking Havasupai Canyon in KEEN Newport sandals
Based in Portland, Oregon, KEEN has grown rapidly since its inception in 2003. The brand built its reputation on sandals before breaking through with its casual shoes, work boots, and hiking footwear. It's not only based in the United States, but one of the rare companies that actually manufactures (some of) its footwear in the USA (as well as in Asia and Mexico).
KEEN used to be the brand I recommend the most to hikers on a budget. However, KEEN's prices have shot up $30-40 in the last 2-3 years, pricing them above the budget price point. It's a good brand. But it's harder for me to recommend KEEN hiking boots and shoes now that they cost the same— or more— than the best brands for hiking boots and hiking shoes.
Highlights: KEEN hiking boots/shoes
I've been wearing KEEN since 2005 when my doctor recommended their sandals. The brand's sandals are standouts, and I imagine that I'll always own at least one pair of KEEN casual shoes. They've helped my messed up feet. However, KEEN hiking boots haven't held up as well for the harder trails I hike. That being said, plenty of hikers love the following features of KEEN hiking boots/shoes:
Wide toe boxes
If KEEN has a special feature, it's the brand's roomy toe boxes. KEEN was one of the first brands to recognize that most people need more room in the toes. The brand's wide toe boxes and protective toe caps provide necessary wiggle room for your toes and extra protection against jammed toes, broken toes, and lost toe nails.
my wife in Keen hiking boots on a Colorado day hike
Comfort
Many men and women love the feel of KEEN hiking boots and shoes. The EVA foam feels cushy underfoot, and the roomy fit doesn't pinch people's feet or crimp their toes. The average hiker usually finds them uber-comfortable.
Good fit for wide feet
Overall, KEEN may be the best brand for hikers with wide feet. Those wide toe boxes work for a lot of men and women. Plus, KEEN offers its best-sellers in wide sizes, too.
Overall, the quality of KEEN hiking footwear is pretty average. KEEN may be a good brand for the average day hiker and for hikers with wide feet. It's best known for comfort and for wide toe boxes that let your toes wiggle. KEEN hiking boots and hiking shoes should hold their own on average hikes. However, more difficult trails may expose the brand's limitations in durability and support.
best KEEN hiking boots
What's the best KEEN hiking boot? Day hikers should start with the best-selling KEEN Targhee Mid while backpackers should focus on the KEEN Durand II, which offers better support for heavier packs or harder trails.
KEEN Targhee Mid: best day hiking boot
Main Benefits:
Since 2005, the Targhee Mid has been one of KEEN's best sellers, thanks to its out-of-the-box comfort. Targhees have plenty of soft EVA foam, making them a cushiony option for hikers. This boot's soft, nubuck leather uppers break in quickly and provide (a little) more ankle protection than the shoe-cut Targhee Low (see below). I love Keen's wide toe boxes, which protect your toes and let them splay out naturally on the trail. Overall, though, Targhees don't have the best ankle support, waterproofing, or durability. Still, the average hiker may find plenty to like about the Targhee Mid.
The Targhee line includes approximately half a bazillion choices, such as standard and wide sizes, waterproof ("BDry") and non-waterproof, and several sub-styles (see below). For hikers, the best options include the older Targhee II (slightly wider and sturdier), the Targhee III (slightly lighter with more leather), and Targhee Vent (more ventilating mesh for warmer climates). Here are affiliate links to check available size and color options at Backcountry, which usually has the best online selection of hiking footwear:
KEEN Durand II: best hiking & backpacking boot
Main Benefits:
Targhees may be KEEN's best sellers, but the Durand II is a technically a better hiking boot. It's got a taller and more supportive ankle collar, for example, and a little more leather. That should equal a little more durability and performance for moderate day hikes or backpacking trips. Personally, I prefer other mid-weight hiking boots at this price. However, the Durand is a decent hiking boot and an upgrade over the more popular (but less supportive) Targhee II or III. This is also one of the best hiking boots for wide feet, thanks to Keen's extra wide toe box—it's what I usually recommend to hikers who struggle fitting into other brands' wides. And it's the only KEEN hiking boot that's made in the USA.
best KEEN hiking shoes
What's the best KEEN hiking shoe? The Targhee Low is KEEN's best-selling hiking shoe for men and women. For a few dollars less, you can buy the similar KEEN Voyageur, which is not waterproof and thus a little less expensive.
KEEN Targhee Low: best hiking shoe
Main Benefits:
The low-cut Targhee is a comfortable hiking shoe for men and women with average support and above average cushioning. This waterproof low-cut provides limited ankle protection, but good foot protection with its mid-foot shank, nubuck leather uppers, and KEEN's signature toe bumper. It's also comfortable enough to wear everyday if you're looking for a trail to town shoe. Targhee Lows will be more supportive and durable than trail running shoes, but they don't have the best waterproofing or weight-to-performance. Overall, it's a good hiking shoe and a comfortable "trail to town" shoe that you can wear for hiking, work, and play.
KEEN Voyageur: best budget hiking shoe
Main Benefits:
Now that the Targhee Low is above the budget price point, the KEEN Voyageur is the brand's best hiking shoe for hikers with limited budgets. The Voyageur is the shoe version of Keen's famous Newport water sandals—and looks and feels a lot like the Targhee. However, it's not waterproof, replaces some leather with ventilating mesh (quicker drying/ cooler on the feet), and costs a few bucks less. That makes the Voyageur a decent value choice, especially for desert hikers and fair-weather hikers who avoid wet trails and rainy weather hikes.
KEEN hiking boots & shoes: Pros vs Cons
KEEN is one of the brands that gets recommended the most on Reddit or Facebook. But that doesn't mean that it's necessarily a good fit for your unique feet or a good match for your hiking style. Here are the main Pros and Cons of KEEN hiking boots and hiking shoes:
Overall recommendations:
Overall, KEEN is great brand for sport sandals, comfortable work boots, and performance casual shoes—and a pretty good brand for hiking boots and hiking shoes. It's a good brand for the average day hiker and also a good brand for wide toe boxes and wide sizes. Hikers and backpackers should target other recommended brands if they prefer lightweight hiking footwear or more durable and supportive hiking boots.
best fit
hikers with wide feet
fans of wide toe boxes
best match
day hikers,
casual hikes
Should you buy KEEN hiking boots/shoes?
I hope my brand review helped you decide if KEEN might be a good fit for your feet, your budget, and your hikes. I no longer hike in KEEN, but I still wear their casual shoes and sandals for their comfort and support. Now that Keen's best-sellers have jumped up $30-40 in the last 2-3 years, they shouldn't be getting votes for "best value" or "best bang for your buck." At the same time, KEEN may be a comfortable choice for day hikers who need a wider fit and mostly hike easy to moderate trails.
That's plenty of hikers, so it's no surprise that KEEN is such a popular brand.
Are you keen to try KEEN hiking boots or shoes? If so, please consider purchasing them through the affiliate links above. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from the retailer (which costs you nothing) if you click on a link and make a purchase. That gives me a few bucks back for the hundreds of unpaid hours I've devoted to writing free content to help you find the hiking footwear that works best for your feet, your budget, and your hikes. Thanks in advance if you hook me up!
If you're not feeling KEEN, please check out my brand recommendations, the Hiking Feet brand reviews, or my short lists of the best hiking boots, best hiking shoes, and best trail running shoes for hiking. These resources should help you narrow your search and find the best brand(s) for you—whether that's KEEN or another brand.
Happy hiking!
