An essential piece of kit for anyone out on the trails is a good quality pair of hiking boots. There’s lots of debate in the parent community whether young children should wear stiff soled boots at such a crucial time of bone and foot development. Personally, I feel confident knowing his feet and ankles are protected and he is comfortable wearing his boots out and about exploring. With this in mind, I turn to a trusted brand, Keen, to kit up the tiny feet.

This is our second pair of Keen Targhee kids hiking boots. I decided to buy again after experiencing the durability and comfort from the first pair, worn over and over again, they feel as good as new with just a few scuffs to show. The kids boots are modelled on the adult versions with super comfy insoles and easy to use bungee style laces making even the smallest of hikers feel like a pro! Keen have made buying boots so simple with the ability to stick with a pair you love and simply move onto the junior and adult version of these boots as your kids feet grow.

The stars aligned and I spotted the kids Targhee Mid boots were on sale at sportshoes.com for just £27.49. Of course I snapped them up and was super excited to get them out where they belong- on the trail.

On first inspection they really do feel like a quality bit of kit. The outer feels robust, firm and waterproof, while the inside feels cosy and supportive. Within no time the little feet were confidently slipped into the boots and he was running out the door.

If there’s one thing you can count on, its that a 3 year old will give you honest feedback when asked. At the start of the hike we needed a little adjustment to tighten the bungee lace and secure the velcro strap across the ankle as, in haste, we had just thrown them on and headed out. Those minor adjustments helped to keep the little feet secure and help the busy pre-schooler adventure confidently, climbing and running without a worry.

The rubber soles stood up to tests of dragging feet and tripping which are inevitable when outdoors, and allowed enough grip to climb a slightly slimy tree and tackle uneven and rough terrain which are big plus point from us both. It wouldn’t be a fair test if the boots didn’t experience a soaking so we had an (unplanned) dip in a fairly green pond. Amazingly the only part of his foot that felt wet was around the ankle where water had gone in from the top. Top marks for this feature, he will certainly push their waterproof capabilities to the extreme!

By no means do you need to spend a fortune to get little ones outdoors, but investing in quality kit (and keeping an eye out for amazing deals!) means that they can be supported to explore and adventure further.