This time, we would like to compare the Keen Targhee II vs III and share the key differences between them. If you need a quick answer, we would like to recommend the Targhee II over Targhee III since it is more comfortable and more supportive/stable and more budged considering both hiking shoes and hiking boots options.
The Keen aimed to produce a lighter hiking shoes/boots in the Targhee III line and made changes on the face fabric and insert of Targhee II and released it as Targhee III. Apart from these, we found the changes in the new iteration are mostly cosmetic.
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We recommend reading following sections to deeply understand the difference between Keen Targhee II and Targhee III hiking shoes and boots.
Keen Targhee II vs Targhee III: Hiking Shoes Comparison
These two hiking shoes look identical when we take a look to the specifications and material. However, based on our own experience we found the Targhee II more comfortable than the Targhee III.
The Keen made improvements on the weight scale and released the Targhee III. But, the Targhee II is still the one of the most preferred hiking shoes out there. Especially, from the stability perspective, the Targhee II is a better option. Keen placed a softer insert to the Targhee III to reduce the overall weight of the shoe. They made it, but compromised on the stability and support. By the way, you can conclude that the Targhee III is more flexible, if you are looking a flexible hiking shoe.
We have prepared following chart to help you make a clear decision for Keen Targhee II vs Targhee III hiking shoes:
| Comparison of# | Keen Targhee III Review | Keen Targhee II Review |
|---|---|---|
| Our Score | 80/100 | 85/100 |
| Deals & Discounts | Rates for Men’s / Women’s on Amazon | Rates for Men’s / Women’s on Amazon |
| Comfort | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Support | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
| Traction | 3.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Versatility | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Water-Proof Rate | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Durability | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Upper Fabric | Leather-Full Grain | Nubuck Leather & Mesh |
| Width Options | Regular | Regular/Wide |
| Waterproof Membrane | Keen.Dry Waterproof Breathable Membrane | Keen.Dry Waterproof Breathable Membrane |
| Shank | ESS Shank/Lightweight | ESS Torsional Stability |
| Midsole Material | Eva-Dual Density | Compression Molded Eva – Dual Density |
| Outsole Material | Rubber-Non Marking | Rubber-Non Marking |
Keen Targhee II Mid vs Targhee III Mid: Hiking Boots Comparison
You may think that the Keen Targhee III Mid is a better hiking boots since it is newer than the Targhee II Mid. But, this is not always the case. Although, they look almost identical considering their specifications, based on our experience the Keen Targhee II Mid is sturdier and supportive and the Targhee III Mid. The insert of Targhee III Mid is softer, therefore more flexible and lighter in weight. However, the Targhee II Mid is more supportive and stable due to its ESS torsional stiff shank.
Here is the table we have put together to help you compare Keen Targhee II Mid vs Targhee II mid hiking boots:
| Comparison of# | Keen Targhee III Mid Review | Keen Targhee II Mid Review |
|---|---|---|
| Our Score | 88/100 | 92/100 |
| Deals & Discounts | Rates for Men’s / Women’s on Amazon | Rates for Men’s / Women’s on Amazon |
| Comfort | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Stability | 4.1/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Traction | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Water-Proof Rate | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Durability | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Type | It is a light-weight hiking/backpacking boot. | It is a light-weight hiking/backpacking boot. |
| Width Options | There are two options available. Regular-Wide. | There are two options available. Regular-Wide. |
| Water Proof Membrane | Has a waterproof lining inside- Keen.Dry-Waterproof Breathable Membrane. | Has a waterproof lining inside- Keen.Dry-Waterproof Breathable Membrane. |
| Upper Fabric | Upper fabric is oiled nubuck leather. | Upper fabric is nubuck leather. |
| Shank | Its shank is ESS. | Its shank is ESS-Torsional Stability. |
| Midsole Material | Midsole is dual density EVA. | Midsole is dual density molded EVA. |
| Sole Material | Sole is all-terrain rubber of Keen. | Sole is rubber-outer sole, non-marking. |
Bottom-line
Considering both hiking shoes and hiking boots of Targhee II and III;
The Targhee II line is more budged, stable, and more comfortable than the Tarhgee III. On the other hand, the Targhee III is lighter since its facefabric and insert has been replaced with softer material.
What we prefer, Keen Targhee II or III? We definetly prefer Keen Tarthee II over III, since it is more comfortable and bugded friendly. A lot of people agree with us, especially considering that Keen is still producing the Targhee II along with the Targhee III.
If you are wondering the main differences between the Keen and Merrell Hiking shoes and boots, we strongly encourage you reading our “Keen vs Merrell: which one has the best hiking shoes and boots” comparison article.
We also compared the Merrell Moab 2 Waterproof with Ventilator including both hiking shoes and boots. If you are in between these two, you may find very useful information in our post.