Keen Targhee Apex review: Comfort-first hiking boots for modern trails

It’s been more than 20 years since Keen launched its iconic Newport hiking sandal, which fast-tracked the New Hampshire company into the hiking footwear spotlight.

That was followed up a few years later by the burlier Targhee hiking boot, which took the best aspects of the Newport (a wide toe box and webbing design) and added more coverage. Though the leather Targhee has enjoyed decades of success, the last year has shown that the brand is ready to reach a more agile customer.

The first sign that the brand was interested in a more nimble approach for moving through the mountains came with the release of its first trail running shoe, the Keen Seek, in the summer of 2025.

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Now, Keen has reimagined the Targhee boot as a fast-and-light hiker. It joins the ranks of the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 and Hoka Kaha and embraces many of the qualities that make trail running shoes so popular for hiking: out-of-the-box comfort, a responsive foam midsole and a rocker sole.

Gone is the Nubuck leather upper and sturdy Luftcell midsole of days gone by, and in their place you’ll find a mesh upper and a high stack of lightweight foam.

This design isn’t a replacement for the more traditional Targhee; instead, it’s intended to sit alongside that design as an option for fastpacking, more casual trails and those who want to move from town to trail and back in a single day.

Does it have the goods for tracking the trails, or has it sacrificed durability and protection in pursuit of shedding grams? I’ve put in the miles in the Scottish Highlands wearing these boots this spring to find out.

Keen Targhee Apex review

Price and availability

The Keen Targhee Apex is available in both mid and shoe versions in a wide range of sizes (6 - 14 in men’s and 2.5 - 9.5 in women’s UK) directly from Keen.

It has an MSRP of £150 for the mid version, which I tested in the rather demure Abbey Stone/Birch colourway, though more exciting options are available. The shoe version retails for £140.

The recommended retail price is cheaper than similar alternatives from competing brands. The high-stack Hoka Kaha retails for £190, and the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 hits the market at £180.

Design and materials

The profile of the Apex will look familiar if you’ve been paying attention to hiking boot trends over the last five years. A huge stack of KEEN.ReGENX foam adds 38mm to your heel height, hinting at both comfort and a propulsive ride on the trails, aided by the slight rocker design to the sole.

The sole geometry isn’t as exaggerated as Hoka’s Hubble Heel, but it does extend about 1cm from the back of the heel to act as a suspension system and help reduce strain on your knees and ankles.

Keen’s own-brand rubber outsole is arranged in a multi-directional lug pattern that looks more similar to that of a trail running shoe, and a diamond cutout in the centre helps to shed weight.

The streamlined ripstop mesh upper is reinforced with welded overlays that protect your feet. This is lined with Keen.Dry Aero, the brand’s in-house breathable waterproof liner.

In true Targhee style, there’s tons of room in the toe box, and the overall design leans towards those with wider feet, while there’s no arch support in the removable liner.

The lacing system extends to the base of your toes for more adjustability, and the mid-height cuff has just one eyelet, though this provides a fairly secure fit.

The whole package tips the scales at only 296g for the women’s size 4, which I tested. That lies somewhere in between my Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 and Helly Hansen Traverse boots. Basically, the only thing noticeably lighter would be a pair of trail running shoes like the Hoka Speedgoat 7s.

Comfort and performance

My first outing in these boots was a hike up Ben Lomond, which entails about 7.5 miles and 3,000ft of elevation gain. Clearly, the smart thing to do would have been to break them in first, but I took a gamble and wore them out of the box, and it paid off.

The cushioned midsole and roomy fit really make themselves known as the miles go by, and like a trainer, this is a boot that I can wear for hours on end without feeling miserable. The 14 mm drop is huge, but it doesn't result in toe-bashing the way it does on other steep shoes like the Terrex Freehiker.

The upper is flexible and really well-reinforced, with overlays creating a sort of bumper all the way around the edges of my feet.

With just one eyelet, I can still get a secure fit around the ankle, and even though my feet have lots of room, the fit around my midfoot feels pretty secure. There is no arch support, and I do have very high arches, so my feet move around just a little, but this could be fixed with an orthopaedic insert.

I can’t say I think about responsiveness in hiking footwear – it’s more of a quality I seek in running shoes – but the foam does make for more pleasurable walking and reduces foot fatigue.

The only real problem I have with the midsole is that the heel protrudes quite a bit, and several times, as I made my way down a rocky set of steps, it actually got stuck under the rock.

The rubber outsole is adequate for the type of walking this shoe is clearly designed for, meaning fairly straightforward paths, but I did notice the grip failed me on steeper sections that were slick and muddy.

I’ve worn these for several hikes, which isn’t enough to note any durability issues, but I am a little concerned that some of the midsole is exposed. On top of that, the diamond cutout tends to pick up stones and dirt, which is annoying.

I haven’t had these out in very rainy weather, but my treks usually include a few stream crossings. The membrane is watertight, but take care if you’re wading deeper, as it doesn’t extend to the ankle.

As a result of the membrane, on milder days, I’d say this shoe runs a little warm. It’s not enough to keep me from wearing it, but on a hot day, I’d be more likely to just go for my Speedgoats.

Verdict

The Keen Targhee Apex might not be perfect, but it’s among the best trainer-style hiking boots I’ve tried. It’s undeniably comfortable if you’re spending long days out there on the trail, and it’s got those technical details that you might miss if you wear trail running shoes, such as robust protection, waterproofing and some ankle support.

I think boots like these are the way much of the hiking public is going, and frankly, it’s smart of Keen to cater to those who want something between burly leather affairs and sandals. It can go the distance, as long as you’re not looking at too much technical terrain.

Also consider

The Targhee Apex is built for speed, comfort and day-long wear straight out of the box. The Danner Mountain Light II takes the opposite approach. It's significantly heavier and requires more commitment, but rewards that with exceptional durability, greater stability on uneven ground and a construction designed to last for years. If you regularly tackle rugged trails or carry heavier loads, the Danner is the more robust option.

The Moab Speed 2 Mid is probably the closest rival in spirit to the Targhee Apex. Both blend trail-running comfort with hiking-boot protection, but the Merrell feels slightly more refined underfoot and offers a similarly lightweight, cushioned ride. The Keen counters with a roomier toe box and more substantial toe protection, making it a strong choice for hikers who prioritise comfort above all else.