Keen Targhee Mid Boots Review

So following my escapades with the Merrell Mid Moab boots I took a jaunt over to Pickering to see a chum of mine at Trailblazer Outdoors, which is where I got my Meindl Bernina Boots (review here).

As soon as I tried them on  the difference was overwhelming. I have got strangely wide feet, sufficiently so that a sixth toe probably wouldn't look out of place. These boots however accommodated my mutant feet amazingly well, even with the 2 pairs of socks I'm starting to wear in my quest in how to prevent blisters.

I tried the Keen Gypsum boots also but the ankles on these were far higher and they seemed a beefier boot, despite being really comfy they didn't fulfil the brief.

Needless to say the purchase was made. I took them on a run out on the Leeds Country Way hiking trail to see how they went. They've got some kind of weird laces that are kind of wavy. That sounds odd but there is no real way to describe it otherwise (so I've taken a photo, see below). I presume this is to aid in them not coming undone, fair play the only time I had to re-tie them was when I took my boot off to check for blisters (there weren't any at that point it was an issue from the Merrell Moab Mids).

The insole isn't as cushioned as the Merrell Mid Moab boots either but it is pretty comfortable, this can of course be substituted for another insole which could be purchased separately. I found also that there isn't as much support for the bridge of the foot. I have issues in this department and whilst the Keen Targhee Mids don't fail here by any means they aren't quite prefect for my feet.

On the outward leg of the hiking trail (about 7 miles) they performed amazingly well with the only discomfort being around the bridges of my feet (I'll look at insoles to combat this later). On the return leg (around 4.5 miles) I got blisters on the balls of my feet, which I kind of anticipated, I seem to be unable to avoid it when walking at around 4 mph.

All told the Merrell Mid Moab boots didn't fit my feet (although I thought with a narrower foot they would be the boot of choice) and the Keen Targhee Mid boot were the perfect substitute, not extortionate with a price tag of around £100. A must as a lightweight option for someone with feet as wide as they are long like myself.

Merrell Moab Mid Boots Review

Merrell Mid Moad Boot

So then following on from my previous post in the hunt for a lightweight boot and my purchase of the Merrell Mid Moab Boots here is my findings of what joy I came across.

I tried them on and at first try the Merrell Mid Moab is a really comfortable boot. It seems to be really well built and is really lightweight, which is exactly what I was looking for - the best of all worlds! They felt a touch tight to start with but that was no surprise really as I have desperately wide feel anyway (see my post on the Meindl Bernina Boots). The length however was fine so I gave them a shot waiting for them to give a bit as all trainers do, after all the Merrell Mid Moab boots are made of the same stuff, or so it appears.

I went on a 5 mile mosey round the park and whilst they were tight they weren't ridiculous, the inner soles were liking walking on a cloud they they were exceptional. It was nice to get them off however.

After that and with training for the Oxfam Trailtrekker in mind I thought I'd go out and break them in once and for all and set off for a meander up the Leeds Country Way. They started to give me a bit of grief after about 5 miles so I taped the tender parts up with micropore and ploughed on. The long and short of the matter is that when I got back I had a blisters on the sides of my heels where the footbeds are actually too narrow for my feet and whilst there is seemingly enough room width ways for my toes I had a blister the size of my little toe on the end of my little toe, rather a large watery growth at best.

I thought that would really have sorted them so again I gave them another shot the following week once the blisters had settled down to see if they were going to give. Same results, this was only over about 7 miles but still. It's the actual footbed around the middle of the heel of the foot that is too narrow so I feel no amount of breaking in is going to sort these unfortunately. I feel I've given the Merrell Mid Moab's a fair go but after 35 miles they are still giving me grief so I will go back to the drawing board. A pal of mine has pointed me in the direction of the Keen Targhee Mid Boot so I'll give them a shot next.

To surmise I have a friend who swears by the Merrell Mid Moab boot but for my wide feet there is just no way will these boots do, well not in my size anyway. Naturally if I went up a size then they could well work but then I'm nervous that the flex point over my toes will be too far forward and cause me discomfort there. So if you have normal sized feet from a width perspective I think these could be possibly the most comfortable boots you could come across however very very sadly they are not for me.

The wider the better - alas help is at hand!

Further to my posts regarding my trust Meindl Bernina and my quest to find comfortable boots for broad feet, I have now discovered (thanks to the Sunday Times) Altberg. They are an independent boot maker based in Richmond in North Yorkshire who actually make boots in 5 different widths. This is a dream come true for anyone with frustratingly broad feet like myself. However not completely satisfied that they will be able to find a boot from their range that will fit you, at their factory shop in Richmond they also stock boots from Scarpa, Miendl, Lowa, Zamberlan, Brasher and other leading makes. They do advise that you can order online/mail order however for wide feet Altberg do advise that you visit their factory shop for an on the spot boot fitting service and advise from them directly.

This must be the best possible shot anyone with awkward shaped feet have at finding a boot that fits as it should. Let's be fair about this, boots really are one of the most important pieces of kit we will ever own, if they don't fit trekking just isn't enjoyable.

Clogs for my fat feet - Meindl Bernina Review

After running my last boots into the ground to the point where they leaked like old boots (ha ha). I decided I was long overdue a new pair seeing that they would see a fair amount of use this year what with taking on the Lakeland 3000's and the National 3 Peaks as well as whatever other yomps I'll get out for.

I went over to see the guys at Trailblazer Outdoors in Pickering, who I have to say are awesome. They spent an age with us and walked us through (still going..) different uppers/soles etc of boots and the benefits/drawbacks of each (attention and knowledge you certainly don't get in the likes of Blacks or GoOutdoors). Once we'd got the jist of everything we then went to their boot room to try on the wares.

It transpired however that my feet are like dinner plates and are about as wide as they are long which is a bit of a pain in the derriere when tasked with finding suitable sturdy footwear. Starting with a normal fit boot suiting my spec I was pretty crippled across the widest part of my foot (big toe to little toe). I then moved up to a wider boot which felt little different. Boots seemingly do give with wear but not to any great extent so if they don't fit when you first try them on they will likely always give you a bit of grief. When these didn't fit, shopkeeper Andy told me to take the boots off so he could have a look at my feet.

A sharp intake of breath through gritted teeth ensued. Seemingly I have very odd shaped feet which were only to be accommodated by the Meindl Bernina, and if they didn't do the job I would have to revert to the workshop to fashion something out of old hose, tyres and bits of string - not the best for the frosty days. Fortunately they fit like a glove, they are by far the most comfortable boot I have worn to date.

The Meindl Bernina isn't the cheapest of boots but at the end of the day if your footwear isn't comfortable you are in for a bit of a grind of a day and we all want to go out and enjoy the hills as much as we can.

We went out shortly afterwards onto the North York Moors to test drive them and they seem tip top. Fair play I did get a touch blistered but even with already broken in boots I get blistered if I havn't been out in a while so that is nothing too out of the ordinary. That aside though, they aren't to weighty and they offer as much support as I will ever need them for, an all round winner.

I would say that the only downside with these is that they will require a touch more attention to aftercare then most boots as they aren't goretex but that's no great shakes. You should always wash your boots after a yomp and it takes all of 2 minutes to rub waterproofing on them.