I’ve found the hiking boots that will be coming with me on trails throughout the summer, and their polarizing looks aren’t even a deal breaker

The Keen Targhee Apex Mid hiking boots describe themselves as comfortable right out of the box, and that’s no lie. They’re lighter than my usual hiking boots, but still offer good support even through trickier terrain.

The multi-directional lugs on the soles of the shoes deliver excellent grip, even in wet conditions, and they’re waterproof, so they're good-to-go for all weather. But as with many shoes from Keen, you’re either going to love or hate the design, and the wide fit may be a little roomy for some wearers, although it ensures a spacious toe box.

To find out more about these hiking boots, you can keep reading this full Keen Targhee Apex Mid review.

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Keen Targhee Apex Mid review: Specs

Keen Targhee Apex Mid review: Price

The Keen Targhee Apex Mid hiking boots are available in women’s sizing and colors as well as men’s. The women’s version of the shoe is available in the U.S. from REI for $190 and in the U.K. directly from Keen for £150. The shoe comes in U.S. size 5-12 with half sizes and U.K. size 2.5-9, with half sizes available. You can get them in a range of colors, including Fig/Burnt Brick, Vintage Indigo, Lemon Grass, Abbey Stone/Birch and Lily Pad/Fig.

The men’s version of the she is available in the U.S. from REI for $190 and in the U.K. directly from Keen for £150. They are available in U.S. sizes 7-15, with half sizes and wide options, and U.K. sizes 6-14, again with half sizes. They come in a different range of colors to the women’s shoe, which include Dark Olive/Khaki, Abbey Stone/Birch and Alloy/Black.

If you don’t need as much traction from the multi-directional lugs that come with these boots, the Keen Zionic Mids offer a more flexible outsole for $170. These boots are also available in a wide range of colors.

Or if you want something to take on a more standard hiking trail where you might encounter more muddy conditions, I would recommend the Keen Targhee IV, my personal favorite hiking boots. These cost $169 and have a lot more side wall and arch support (although the Targhee Apex boots also have very comfortable arch support).

Keen Targhee Apex Mid review: Design

As with a lot of shoes in the Keen range, the Targhee Apex Mid hiking boots are quite divisive — you’ll love them, or you’ll hate them. But Keen knows that a lot of their shoes can be considered on the uglier side, but they own it, and I respect that. They describe the Keen Hyperport H2 shoes as “the world’s ugliest sandals.” While the Targhee Apex Mids aren’t exactly to my taste, I’m willing to sacrifice style for comfort.

The shoes are very lightweight, at 11.1 ounces, and that makes walking long distances feel like a breeze. They’re noticeably lighter than my Keen Targhee IV (16.6 ounces), which I usually wear on hikes.

The fit of the Targhee Apex IV is pretty wide, so as someone with narrow feet, I had to tie the laces tight, but it meant I had plenty of room in the toe box. This makes the shoes feel a lot more comfortable, especially if you wear thick pairs of socks to combat any friction within the shoes.

The shoes have a drop value of 0.5 inches, which is the difference in height between the heel and the front of the shoe. This kept me leaning forward enough that my posture never suffered, even on steeper inclines. I always opt for shoes with a drop value around this level, as it makes me feel a lot more stable when walking.

Upper

The upper of the Targhee Apex Mid hiking boots is mesh, with overlays for durability in high-wear areas, such as on the tops of the toes. I found this great for moving through loose terrain like rocks, as it meant the mesh wasn’t getting ruined. The mesh lining is also breathable, so my feet never feel sweaty.

The KEEN.DRY waterproof membrane lets vapours out without letting water in, and I love this technology when working my way through puddles in my Keen Leiki sneakers, so I knew I could rely on it with the Targhee Apex boots.

Insole

The insole of the Targhee Apex hiking boots uses KEEN.ReGENX foam that absorbs the impact of your walking. I could feel the bounce as I was walking, so I appreciated this as I didn’t feel my feet getting tired or achy. The arch of the shoe is also great as it helped my feet stay supported, although it didn’t feel as high as the Salomon XT-6 sneakers, which are my most comfortable shoes.

Thankfully, the shoes use Keen’s Eco Anti-Odor technology. If you’re an avid hiker, you know this is a godsend for keeping your shoes smell-free — and as a bonus, it’s pesticide-free.

Outsole

Between the insole and outsole of the shoe is a stability shank. This helped to combat overpronation and stopped my feet from twisting, which is an issue I usually have when hiking on uneven terrain. The KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN Traction design uses multi-directional lugs, so I had no issues with slipping, either.

At the front of the shoe, you’ll find the KEEN.PROTECT Toe Bumper. The outsole comes up to the front of the toes. This is ideal for protecting against rocks on the trail.

Keen Targhee Apex Mid review: Performance

The Keen Targhee Apex Mid hiking boots are a much-needed addition to my shoe collection. They bridge the gap between sneakers and traditional hiking boots perfectly, giving me a little more flexibility but still providing ample support.

Grip

The Targhee Apex Mids have multi-directional lugs on the soles of the shoes, which were great for ensuring I wasn’t slipping where the muddy ground was a little damp, and also helped me when walking across rockier terrain.

They have a lot more grip on wet surfaces than my Keen Targhee IV, but that’s to be expected since the lugs are much deeper.

Support

I had plenty of support from the Targhee Apex Mid hiking boots. These boots cover the ankles, which is perfect if you’re climbing mountains or steep trails. I didn’t have any issues with rolled ankles.

The shank in the middle of the shoe also adds to the stability, although as I mentioned earlier, I wish the arch were a little higher for comfort and support.

Flex

Even with the shank running through the centre of the shoe, there’s still a lot of flex. It can be great at times to have stiff shoes for stability, like the Keen Leiki sneakers, but the flex around the toes in the Targhee Apex Mids made traversing uneven and tricky terrain feel effortless.

Waterproofing

The Targhee Apex Mid hiking boots are fully waterproof. I wore them out in the rain and to walk through puddles, and my socks didn’t get wet at all. Of course, if you go into water that’s too deep, it will leak in through the top of the shoe, but I was mindful, and my feet remained dry.

Keen Targhee Apex Mid review: Maintenance

Maintenance of the Keen Targhee Apex Mid boots is very easy. They’re going to get muddy after a hike, and it’s best to get any dirt off as soon as you can to preserve the waterproofing membranes. Keen recommends gently brushing the shoes with a soft, damp sponge to remove loose dirt. Any stains should be treated using a gentle cleanser. The shoes are waterproof, so they don’t take very long to dry at all after cleaning.

When cleaning my books, I found it best to give them a bang against a wall outside to make sure I was getting all of the mud out of the multi-directional lugs.

Keen Targhee Apex Mid review: Verdict

The Keen Targhee Apex Mid are some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve walked in — but that’s no surprise coming from Keen. They’re lighter than my usual hiking boots, so great for longer walks, but still provide solid arch and ankle support..

For me, the multi-directional lugs are the star of the show since these shoes offered me awesome grip no matter the terrain. They’re also waterproof, so you can wear them in any weather, and even take on river walks.

As with most of Keen’s offerings, you’ll either love or hate the design, and the wide fit may be a little spacious for some. But all in all, this is a shoe I want with me even on the trickiest trails.