The Keen Koven and the Targhee are popular value hiking boots that go the mile to provide comfort and stability. With these boots, you can go hiking for miles over rough terrain, or just use it on your daily commute.
Keen is known to add extra toe protection to its boots. The Koven and the Targhee have a wrap around toe protection that will help prevent against abrasion while walking on rocky terrain. You may already be aware of what makes a Keen boot so great. But knowing the difference between the Koven and the Targhee can be challenging, as they are very similar boots.
This is why, we have created this Keen Koven vs Targhee comparison in order to help you better understand what your options are.
Related: Keen Voyageur vs Targhee: Which Offers The Most Luxury?
Keen Koven vs Targhee
Keen Koven vs Targhee: Which To Choose
To tell the difference between these boots is difficult just by looking at product descriptions. But we have done the research for you and bring you two lists of differentiating features for each of these boots. Then, we will let you know which of these booths we feel is of the best quality and utility.
Keen Targhee Features
Below are the most pertinent features of the Targhee.
- Excellent traction: The Targhee offers excellent traction on muddy pass and rocky roads. Its lug formation follows the curvature of the foot in order to provide for maximum stability. The same holds true for the Koven, but the lugs on the Targhee are deeper and more numerous. It simply has better traction than the Koven.
- Plenty of comfort and cushioning: The EVA midsole of the Targhee offers plenty of comfort and cushioning for the foot. This is particularly helpful with hard strikes on the ground, such as when running or walking on rocky paths.
- Lightweight: Despite the fact that the Targhee offers plenty of cushioning, it is also very lightweight. The Targhee is adequate for some light backpacking.
- Attractive look: The Targhee has an attractive look that the Koven does not quite have. Customers have noted that they prefer the look of the Targhee, as it looks of higher quality and has better colors.
- Waterproof: This boot has some waterproofing, but is not completely waterproof. The trade-off to a Gore-Tex boot is the fact that it is not as breathable as a regular waterproof boot. You may like the Targhee or the fact that it has plenty of breathability.
Keen Coven Features
Lets now compare the Targhee to the Koven.
- Removable footbed: The Koven has a removable footbed/insole. In case your boots get wet, you can remove them and dry them out. This also allows for better cleaning ability. You could also replace the footbed with a thicker one if you would like to feel more comfortable.
- Thin insole and midsole: The midsole on the Koven offers little to no arch support. The Targhee has better comfort and better arch support than this one. Also, the Koven’s insole is thinner than the one for the Targhee. Customers who owned both the Koven and the Targhee have noted that they feel more comfortable in the Targhee.
- Breathability: Since the Koven has more mesh around its shaft, it is also more breathable than the Targhee. There is a notable difference in the breathability, particularly when it comes to those hot summer days.
- Not as durable: The Koven is a slightly lower quality than the Targhee and is less durable.
- More lightweight: Despite the fact that the Targhee is very lightweight, the Koven is even more lightweight than the Targhee. Whether the difference is particularly noticeable is up to the individual.
- Wears 1/2 size smaller: When purchasing the Koven, it should be noted that it wears 1/2 size smaller. One should always order a size larger then they would normally order. However, the Targhee is true to size.
Keen Koven vs Targhee: Price Comparison
Prices on hiking boots tend to vary depending on the season. If you would like to see current prices for the Koven and the Targhee, please see below:
The Verdict
As you might have noted from reading the feature lists above, the Targhee has better quality components than the Koven. The Koven is not as waterproof or as comfortable as the Targhee. However, it is more breathable and lightweight. We feel that overall, the Targhee is simply a better choice.
This is backed by a number of customers who have owned both Keen models. We like these Keen hiking boots for the fact that they fit narrow feet very comfortably. One of the reasons for this is that their eyelets are placed lower on the side of the shoe. The placement of the lacing mechanism allows people to accommodate for the size of their feet.
Keen produces inexpensive hiking boots that are better quality than others of the same price. We give these boots two thumbs up!