KEEN Women’s Targhee II Waterproof Hiking Boot Review

9 years ago 0 comments

KEEN is a known manufacturer of footwear, in particular sandals and hiking boots. Most of KEEN’s hiking boots are good value for money and the KEEN Women’s Targhee II Waterproof Hiking Boots are no exception.

As the name suggests, the Targee II shoes are perfectly suitable for the winter season. This is possible by means of a Nubuck and textile waterproof upper and a waterproof membrane. At the same time, the shoes have a breathable liner to avoid the feet getting wet with sweat. The Targee II boots are machine washable.

The Targee II shoes include removable footbed for the best arch support plus what the manufacturer calls S3 heel support. According to KEEN, S3 stands for shock, suspension and stability. The shoes also provide special protection for the toes by means of the patented KEEN.PROTECT.

At the time of writing there are 513 customer reviews for the Targhee II women’s boots, with 416 users giving a full 5 star rating, while the average rating is 4.6 out of 5 stars. Most reviewers agree that the Targhee II is indeed waterproof whilst providing a perfect fit.

A few Amazon customers said that the boots look great, are lightweight and not too bulky. Some also wrote that the boots do not require any break in. According to some reviewers, the Targee II are the best hiking boots they ever owned.

One woman wrote that she wears Targhee II boots every day and she owed a pair for 3 years before they eventually worn out. According to this woman she will keep buying KEEN shoes for life. Another customer wrote that she bought the shoes just before going on a backpacking journey. Even though he did not give the shoes any time to break in, she did not get any blisters or foot pain.

Another Amazon customer wrote that she used the shoes at a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton and they provided great support on rocky paths. The woman stated that she has stepped onto wet snow, muddy paths and bison poop without any issues whatsoever.

A reviewer stated that she walks her two 40 pound dogs every day in all kinds of weather while wearing these shoes. The woman said that she has wide feet with high arches and while she tried different brand of shoes, these KEEN shoes suited her best.

A woman wrote that the Targee II boots provide a nice toe box which keeps her toes safe. She also wrote that these shoes don’t hurt her ankle unlike other shoes she has owned in the past. Another Amazon shopper wrote that she has used the shoes on one very cold night and while her friend complained of cold feet, her feet remained very warm.

As one can expect, there are also a few negative customer reviews for the Women’s Targhee II Hiking boots. While some users commented that the shoes run half a size small, a couple of users wrote that the shoes do not provide the best of grips and are slippery in wet weather.

A couple of users wrote that the Targee II boots are not completely waterproof as some water leaks on the inside in very wet weather. One woman also wrote that contrary to what KEEN states, these shoes are not breathable enough. According to a few women, the shoes are not very comfortable and one reviewer wrote that her Targee II shoes sprain her ankle.

Check out the KEEN Women’s Targhee II Waterproof Hiking Boot on Amazon UK and Amazon USA.

Salomon Conquest GTX Boot Review

9 years ago 0 comments

Salomon is a well-known sports equipment manufacturer that originated in France but now forms part of the Adidas group of companies. Salomon is known to produce high quality items including, amongst others, hiking boots and shoes. The Salomon Conquest GTX Boots is one of the popular models this company produces.

The Conquest GTX weather proof boots are made from the so called split-suede leather, which according to the manufacturer, allows “for longer wear and durability”. These boots utilize what is branded as GORE-TEX, a technology that keeps the feet dry at all times. Though these are robust boots, they are fairly light weight at the same time.

Some reviewers on Amazon praise the boots for being comfortable out of the box. These reviewers wrote that it is not necessary to wear the shoes beforehand so that they break in. One particular reviewer wrote that he has hiked with the Conquest GTX for 170 miles with a 45 pound backpack but he did not have a single blister to show for it. Reviewers wrote that these shoes provide a great grip even on damp surfaces while at the same time they provide great ankle support.

While doing my research on these boots, I did only come across one negative review. The reviewer in question wrote that the shoes provide too much arch support. To be honest this would be fine for me since I have a big foot arch, however flat footed people may find these boots to be a bit uncomfortable. Two particular reviewers also wrote that the shoes run a bit small and in fact, they wrote that they had to exchange their shoes with one that is a half size larger.

For further information, please visit Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk. Apart from the reviews on Amazon.com, there is also an interesting review on the site The Big Outside. The reviewer in question praised the boots for providing a lot of cushioning and support. The guy said that the Conquest GTX boots are completely waterproof while at the same time they are breathable which is great for avoiding overheating of the feet. More user reviews of the boots can be found at Camp Saver and Moosejaw.