KEEN built its reputation on two things: a roomy toe box that suits broad feet, and a protective, hard-wearing build that takes punishment on the trail. The Targhee is the shoe most people mean when they say KEEN. The NXIS Evo Waterproof is the answer to everyone who liked that comfort and fit but wanted something lighter and faster underfoot, a low walking shoe with a running-shoe feel rather than the plod of a heavier hiker.
That is the pitch, and the spec sheet backs it up. At roughly 425g per shoe the NXIS Evo is noticeably nimbler than the Targhee, the drop is lower at around 8mm, and the engineered knit mesh upper gives it a soft, athletic feel that a stiffer leather-and-mesh hiker cannot match. It keeps the KEEN.DRY waterproof membrane and the generous KEEN forefoot, so you are trading some protection and outright durability for weight and pace, not giving up the things that make a KEEN a KEEN. Here is the full picture from owner and tester consensus, and who should buy it.
Who the NXIS Evo is for
The NXIS Evo suits the hiker who wants KEEN comfort and a roomy fit but finds the Targhee too much shoe. If you cover ground at a decent pace on trail, hard-pack and moderate terrain, want a waterproof shoe that feels light and quick underfoot, and value a springy, running-shoe ride over maximum support, this is the KEEN to look at.
It is also a strong pick for anyone with broad feet who has been put off lighter, faster shoes because they run narrow. Most nimble waterproof trainers clamp the foot down. The NXIS Evo keeps KEEN's generous forefoot, so you can have low weight and toe room together, which is a combination that is harder to find than it should be.
Who should look elsewhere? If you carry a heavy pack, walk rough, rocky or steep ground, or want the most protective and durable KEEN for long-haul abuse, the Targhee III is the better tool and costs a little less. And if your feet are slim and you want a locked-down stability shoe, a Salomon suits you better than any KEEN. The full field is in the best walking shoes UK 2026 guide.
Specs at a glance
- Weight
- ~425g per shoe (men's)
- Waterproofing
- KEEN.DRY membrane
- Outsole
- KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber
- Lug depth
- 4mm multi-directional
- Heel-to-toe drop
- ~8mm
- Upper
- Engineered knit mesh with TPU overlays
- Midsole
- Dual-density EVA
- Footbed
- Removable PU insole
- Heel hold
- KonnectFit heel-capture system
- Toe protection
- Rubberised toe bumper
- Fit
- Generous forefoot, medium midfoot
- UK price
- ~£130 (RRP), often discounted
Two numbers frame the whole shoe. The weight, at around 425g per shoe, is what puts the NXIS Evo well below the Targhee and near the lighter, faster end of the low-cut field. The drop, at around 8mm, is lower than a typical KEEN hiker and part of why owners describe the ride as more athletic and less flat-footed. Everything else follows from those two choices.
A lighter, faster KEEN: weight and pace
The NXIS Evo is the shoe you buy when you want to move. Where the Targhee is built around leather, structure and protection, the NXIS Evo is built around a soft engineered knit mesh upper with TPU overlays for shape and abrasion resistance. That construction is the reason it is lighter, and it is the reason it feels closer to a trail trainer than a traditional hiking shoe on the foot.
The pace comes from three things working together: the low weight, the lower 8mm drop, and a dual-density EVA midsole that testers describe as springy and comfortable rather than dead and flat. You notice the difference most in the last few kilometres of a long day, when a lighter shoe leaves your legs fresher, and on the flat sections where you naturally pick up speed. Owners consistently reach for words like nimble, quick and easy-going underfoot, which is not how anyone describes a Targhee.
The knit upper also means a short break-in. Reviewers report the NXIS Evo is comfortable from the first wear with no hot spots, which is normal for KEEN and one of the reasons the brand suits people who do not want to fight a shoe into submission. The KonnectFit heel-capture system holds the rear of the foot without pressure, so the shoe stays put on descents despite the softer, more flexible build.
KEEN.DRY waterproofing
The NXIS Evo uses KEEN.DRY, the brand's own waterproof and breathable membrane, wrapped through the upper so water stays out over the height of the shoe while vapour can escape. For UK conditions that is the right call for most of the year. Wet grass, dewy mornings, light rain and shallow mud are what a low waterproof shoe is built to shrug off, and the NXIS Evo handles that the way a KEEN should.
There are two things to be clear about. First, the knit upper gives the shoe a lighter, more breathable feel than a heavy leather hiker, but a membrane is still a membrane, so it runs warmer than a non-waterproof trainer on a hot day and, once water comes in over the collar, it holds it rather than draining. That is true of every waterproof shoe, not a fault of this one. Second, KEEN has moved its water-repellent finishes to PFAS-free across the range, so you get the weather protection without the chemistry KEEN has phased out.
If you mostly walk dry summer trails or run the flat sections and value airflow above dry feet, a breathable shoe is the better tool and the walking shoes guide covers those. For general UK use across the year, the KEEN.DRY membrane earns its place.
Fit and the KEEN toe box
Fit is the reason to buy a KEEN, and the NXIS Evo keeps the signature. The forefoot is generous, with real room for your toes to splay, which is the thing broad-footed hikers keep coming back to KEEN for and the thing most lightweight waterproof shoes get wrong. If a Salomon has ever felt like a clamp across your toes, this is the shoe that fixes that without sending you back into a heavy hiker.
There are two caveats worth knowing before you order. The midfoot is medium rather than wide, so the roomy feel is concentrated at the front of the shoe, and a few owners with high-volume feet find it a touch snug through the middle. And the NXIS Evo tends to run a little short in length, so a lot of reviewers advise sizing up half a size, especially if you want the full benefit of that toe room on long descents. As with any shoe, try them on late in the day with the merino socks you actually hike in, and leave thumb-width of room ahead of your longest toe.
Get the size right and the NXIS Evo is comfortable straight out of the box, with the roomy KEEN front end and a secure heel. Get it wrong on length and you lose the descent protection that toe room is there to provide, so this is one to size carefully.
Grip, protection and the trade-off vs the Targhee
This is the part to be straight about, because the NXIS Evo's lightness is not free. The trade against the Targhee is protection and outright durability, and it shows in three places.
Grip first. The KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber outsole runs a 4mm multi-directional lug that holds well on trail, hard-pack and moderate ground. It is good rather than aggressive. On loose, steep or very wet ground it is less confident than a deep-lugged trail shoe, and testers note the heel section is smoother than the forefoot, which trims a little traction on loose descents. For coast path, downland and mixed trail it is fine. For a Purbeck bog or a steep, greasy Brecon descent, an aggressive shoe like the Salomon Speedcross bites harder.
Protection second. There is a rubberised toe bumper and TPU overlays for abrasion, so this is not an unprotected shoe, but there is simply less material underfoot and around the foot than a Targhee. Under a heavy pack or on sharp, rocky ground the Targhee feels more planted and better armoured.
Durability third, and this is the one to weigh most carefully. The knit upper and thinner overlays are what make the NXIS Evo light, and testers flag them as the likely long-term weak point, with wear concentrating at the forefoot flex area where the material is thinnest. It is a lighter-duty shoe than the Targhee and it will not take the same years of abuse. If longevity is your priority, the Targhee, or the newer Targhee IV with its fused, glue-free construction, is the more durable buy.
The short version: choose the NXIS Evo for weight, pace and the running-shoe feel, and choose the Targhee for protection, support and long-haul durability. Same brand, same roomy fit ethos, two different jobs.
Pros and cons
- Light and nimble at ~425g per shoe, a running-shoe feel underfoot
- Keeps KEEN's generous toe box, rare in a fast waterproof shoe
- KEEN.DRY membrane handles typical UK wet, PFAS-free repellent
- Comfortable from the first wear, no break-in, secure KonnectFit heel
- Springy dual-density EVA midsole that stays comfortable over distance
- Less protective and less durable than the Targhee, wear concentrates at the forefoot flex
- Grip is good rather than aggressive, and less sure on loose or steep ground
- Runs a little short, most owners size up half a size
- Midfoot is medium, so high-volume feet may find it snug through the middle
- Runs warm in high summer, as any waterproof membrane shoe does
Hikers who want KEEN comfort and a roomy toe box in a lighter, faster shoe. Coast path, downland and moderate trail at a decent pace, rather than heavy loads or rough, rocky ground.
Verdict: is the NXIS Evo worth it?
Yes, if you want the KEEN you can actually move in. The NXIS Evo takes the roomy fit and out-of-the-box comfort that make KEEN worth buying and puts them in a light, springy, athletic shoe that suits pace and distance far better than the Targhee. For a broad-footed hiker who has been stuck choosing between toe room and low weight, it is one of the few shoes that gives you both, and the KEEN.DRY membrane keeps it honest through the wet UK year.
The compromises all point the same way, and they are the price of the lightness. It is less protective, the grip is good rather than confident on the worst ground, and the knit upper will not outlast a Targhee. None of that is a flaw. It is simply a lighter-duty shoe aimed at a different kind of day. Size it up half in length, keep it for trail, coast path and moderate terrain rather than heavy loads and rough rock, and it does exactly what it is built to do.
If protection and durability matter more to you than pace, spend a little less on the Targhee III and get the tougher, more supportive KEEN. If you want the lighter, faster one with the same roomy fit, this is it.
Rating: 4.3 / 5
Buy the KEEN NXIS Evo WP on AmazonKEEN NXIS Evo FAQ
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