Keen Targhee III Vs IV | Which Is Better In 2025?
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In this article, I'm going to share my HONEST Keen Targhee III vs Targhee IV comparison in detail after personally owning both Keen hiking boots. I have thoroughly tested both of these hiking boots on the trails for countless hours, and I aim to offer a professional hiker's critical opinion.
I'll be comparing these two head-to-head in categories like price, comfort, traction, overall protection, fit, breathability, and durability. The Keen Targhee III was released in 2020, while the IV was released in 2024.
Then, at the end, I'll share which product offers the best overall value for the money and provide my overall recommendation for which you should buy.
Also, if you're interested in learning more, I have tested each product individually in my Keen Targhee IV Review and Keen Targhee III Review.
Our Individual Youtube Review Of Each
Keen Targhee IV vs III Price Comparison
Overall, the Keen Targhee III is $43 cheaper than the Keen Targhee IV.
Keen Targhee III Price : $127
Keen Targhee IV Price: $180
Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE
(Do NOT pay retail):
Currently at the time of this writing, you can purchase the Keen
Targhee IV for $180 retail. However, they are available on Amazon.com for as low as $160 brand new via the link below. We ensure to update our links to give you lowest possible price on market.
Comfort
Both the Keen Targhee IV and III are moderately comfortable hiking boots. When first putting on the Targhee IV, I noticed decent plushiness and cushioning. While the Targhee hiking boots are not world famous for their comfort, they get the job done.
The Targhee IV has luftcell technology in their midsole, which is air-injected for enhanced comfort and durability. I noticed Keen did improve their comfort of the midsole when comparing the III to the IV.
Moving towards the ankle, Keen added extra padding and cushioning around the ankle cuff for the IV. I noticed it was tough to get a tight seal around my lower calf when tying my laces, I felt the ankle cuff was slightly wide.
Starting at the toe box, the Targhee IV has just enough wiggle room for your toes, compared to the III , which has too wide of a toe box. I felt the toe box of the Targhee III was unnecessarily wide, while the mid foot and heel were normal to narrow sized.
Both Targhee boots are excellent at shock absorption, I felt they had improved the shock absorption with the Targhee IV, just slightly. No issues with shock absorption regarding either boot.
Both hiking boots feature a comfortable heel, I didn’t notice any unnecessary rubbing or compression in these areas.
Both Targhee III and IV have a decent sock liner. I wish this was one area they would improve and make it similar to the Merrell Moab 3, where the sockliner is sleek and comfortable.
Overall, both Keen hiking boots have moderate comfort. The upper hand goes to the IV with improved comfort than it’s predecessor.
Keen Targhee IV Comfort: 4.5 out of 5
Keen Targhee III Comfort: 4 out of 5
Winner: Keen Targhee IV
Traction
Both the Keen Targhee III and IV score very well in terms of traction and grip. Both possess the KEEN.RUGGED outsole, which performs excellent on trail.
I tested both boots in a variety of conditions, including mud, gravel, snow, and dirt on every imaginable terrain. They both perform excellently in terms of traction and extreme grip.
Both midsoles are firm, which is excellent for traction. I felt Keen had improved on the firmness of the Keen Targhee IV. The Targhee IV midsole was crafted to be more comfortable and stiff which is hard to achieve, which is hard as these two attributes have an inversely proportional relationship.
I would say both midsoles have done great in terms of longevity. The Targhee IV were just released in 2024 but I haven’t noticed any wear of the lugs or midsoles themselves.
Both Keen boots have great traction, I would say the Targhee IV gets the upper hand here just due to the new and improved firmness.
Keen Targhee IV Traction: 5 out of 5
Keen Targhee III Traction: 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Targhee IV
Overall Protection
When it comes to Overall protection, the Targhee boots have always scored well. I would say KEEN made even further improvements with the overall protection of these boots.
The Targhee III has a robust toe cap with extension of the rubber around the medial and aspects of the boot. I felt the III had great protection while testing them out on trail.
Compared to the Targhee IV, the III has slightly less protection around the heel putting you at risk of sharp objects around the heel. Other than that, the Targhee IV and III are nearly similar in terms of overall protection.
Hard to pick a winner here, I feel the overall protection is great in both.
Keen Targhee IV Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Keen Targhee III Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Winner:Tie
Keen Targhee IV Vs Keen Targhee III | Which Fits Better?
I tested both hiking boots and a size men's 10 and a half, both normal width. As mentioned before, I felt the room around the toe box of the III was excessive without the same compensation in the heel and mid foot. I did not have to size down or up in either boots.
Both the III and IV feature one metal rung at the top to help secure your foot. During my testing, I felt I need to secure the tongue extra tight to the top of my foot for the IV. The Targhee IV had a little extra room around the ankle cuff that was unnecessary. I felt my ankle was able to get full range of motion but felt as secure as they should have been.
Each boot fit okay, I felt there could have been improvements of better contoured fit around the toe box of the III and around the ankle of the IV.
I felt the fit could’ve been improved on both models.
Keen Targhee IV Fit : 4 out of 5
Keen Targhee III Fit : 3.5 out of 5
Winner: Targhee IV
Breathability
The Keen Targhee IV boasts significantly more breathability than the Targhee III. The integrated mesh around tongue of the IV increased the breathability during summer hiking by a large margin.
While both hiking boots are not the most breathable on market, I felt the IV made significant improvements towards breathability while added a more “rugged” look to the model.
Both are waterproof by the keen.dry waterproof membrane. I felt the keen.dry membrane is definitely more breathable than the industry standard gore-tex without compromising the waterproofness.
Read More: Keen.dry vs Gore-tex | Which Is Better?
Overall, both hiking boots are decently breathable. The Targhee IV gets the go-ahead here with the new and improved rugged design while not compromising integrity.
Keen Targhee IV Breathability : 4 out of 5
Keen Targhee III Breathability : 3.5 out of 5
Winner:Keen Targhee IV
Durability
Both the Targhee III and IV can be relied on in terms of durability. Both are made with pristine Nubuck leather and quality stitching.
Both midsoles have held up well during my continued testing, the lugs still hold great grip on technical terrain. Regarding the III, I haven’t noticed any flattening out of the sole even after years of use.
The Targhee IV features more traditional stitching with robust leather that is even more thick than the III. Both do not contain any welded materials which are excellent for durability.
Regarding the III, I noticed the forefoot begin to bend upwards which is a sign of the leather wearing down. However this is expected with years of use.
In general, KEEN hiking boots are made with extremely durable, quality materials that will last you a long time. I have never had any issues with durability regarding KEEN boots.
Keen IV Durability : 5 out of 5
Keen III Durability : 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Keen Targhee IV
Keen Targhee IV Overall Rating: 9.0/10
Comfort: 4.5 out of 5
Traction: 5 out of 5
Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Fit: 4 out of 5
Breathability: 4 out of 5
Durability: 5 out of 5
Total: 27/30
Keen Targhee III Overall Rating: 8.1 / 10
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Traction: 4.5 out of 5
Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Fit: 3.5 out of 5
Breathability: 3.5 out of 5
Durability: 4 out of 5
Total: 24.5/30
Keen Targhee III vs Keen Targhee IV Which One Is Better Overall?
Both of these KEEN hiking boots are made with extreme quality and durability. I will say the Targhee IV definitely has made improvements from the III for better. The IV offers more comfort, better quality materials, and just a better build overall.
We tested these KEEN boots in many different categories. I must say that the Targhee IV is the clear winner here.
Paying 43$ more dollars for the Targhee IV is well worth their value that you get in return. The increased comfort, new stitching design, and improved midsole are worth the extra investment.You will not be disappointed with the Targhee IV.
If you are looking for a more budget-friendly hiking boot and are a amateur hiker, then I would suggest looking into purchasing the Targhee III at such a reduced price.
Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE
(Do NOT pay retail):
How We Tested and Our Methodology
I personally tested the Keen Targhee IV and III for several months, with the sole intent of giving you the most unbiased review possible. Mountaineer Journey is a 100% independent publisher with years of testing and reviewing outdoor equipment.
We currently pay for the products we test ourselves; no company or manufacturer pays us to sway our opinions or decisions.
Adventure Awaits,
Tyler
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. We update the links to give the best deal on market.