Every year, humans make more than 24 billion pairs of shoes. It's a vast understatement to say that that's a lot of shoes, but to say so also underlines how much progress can still be made toward lessening our impact by innovating new ways to more consciously create longer lasting products. One company taking these steps is KEEN, the Portland-based shoemaker that's been family-owned and values-led for over 20 years. Recently the company doubled down on its ongoing mission to make the world's cleanest shoes with their flagship hiking boot, the Targhee IV.
Even within KEEN's vast and unique catalog—which includes the beloved OG Newport, a staple sandal since 2003, and the eye-catching UNEEK, blazing runways and trails since 2014—the Targhee stands apart. The boot has been a fan favorite since its introduction in 2005 and countless hikers have logged millions of trail miles in them. To tinker under the hood of a boot that's become such a classic is proof of how determined KEEN is to continue to reduce the impact of how they make shoes.