Keen Revel Boot Review
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The new Revel winter boots from KEEN are absolutely made for cold weather adventures. When I first received the Revel, I was immediately impressed with how sturdy these boots feel, and how well they seem to be constructed. The sophisticated-looking footbed, which includes wool felt, grabbed my attention, and the razor-cut sipes in the outsole lugs looked like they would provide great traction, especially on icy sidewalks and trails.
My initial suspicions about this beast proved to be true. I tested the KEEN Revel boot in extreme conditions, including hikes in temperatures between 10 and 40 degrees, and terrain varying from packed trail to mud to deep snow, and never experienced cold or wet feet. The Revel boots are seriously warm! I wore these to work on a particularly cold and snowy Colorado day, and found the Revel to be almost too warm for long-term indoor use. The KEEN.WARM Trapolater wool insole, along with the 200g KEEN.WARM layers in the upper of the Revel, provide superior insulation over other winter boots.
The boot upper, made of waterproof nubuck, is quite supportive, and more reminiscent of high quality mountaineering boots than most other winter boots. The patented KEEN toe wrap is even more substantial in the Revel, and does an excellent job of protecting the toes from impact. The Revel is definitely up to the challenge for extreme winter adventures. I found the KEEN Revel to run about half a size smaller than other KEENs, possibly due to the amount of insulation in the upper. Be sure to try on the Revel before buying, or just go up half a size from your normal KEEN size.
The outsole of the Revel also shines. Those of us living in cooler climes know that getting your car tires ‘siped’ can help with traction on ice and snow. Siping involves cutting slits across the tread of the tire to create edges which grip the road surface. KEEN has decided to employ similar thinking in the Revel, visible in the photo at left. The result is perceivably better traction on slippery surfaces.
Overall, I consider the KEEN Revel to be one of the few cold-weather gear rockstars, and should definitely be on your shortlist for cold weather extreme outdoor adventures.
The KEEN Revel retails for $140. For more information on the Revel Boot and other KEEN products, visit www.keenfootwear.com or www.amazon.com/keen.
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I was absolutely astonished to read your review on the Keen remarking “…and the razor-cut sipes in the outsole lugs looked like they would provide great traction, especially on icy sidewalks and trails…”
I love my Keen boots! They have a great toe box, they fit right (unlike some brands that run narrow, like Vasque). They hold up well. I wear them all the time.
BUT, like reviews on other sites I have read my personal experience is that Keen boots are like walking on marbles or with ice skates if the surface is wet. Algae on a rock, boulders in a stream, or a wet log across the trail can put you on your backside in a hurry!
Again, I love my Keen boots, but probably won’t buy another pair unless they change the sole. I live north of Seattle and can’t escape “wet” conditions!