words :: Christina Tottle // photos :: Todd Lawson.
At first glance, these boots are like eye-candy—sporty, rugged kicks you’d see in a fancy window display at an outdoor retail shop. But after lacing up the Women’s Revel IV Polar Boot—I might add that I’m not so ‘fancy’—I find myself practically living in these things when I’m outside. From casual walks to chopping wood to building snow forts, they seem like they can handle anything I throw at them.
When I first slid them on, the fit and comfort factor was immediately apparent. There are no pressure points—which means no blisters! And they hug my foot and ankle in the right places. Great first impression. They may look good, but how do they perform? Since I live in the Coast Mountains of BC, boots have to be rugged enough to grip wet boulders, logs, ice, and steep, rooted terrain–all within varied temps.
I took the Revels for a test drive through knee-deep snow, puddle jumping (’cause it’s fun!), hiking on wet, rocky trail runs, as well as pounding some pavement. In all scenarios, the part that stands out for me is comfort. Coming from a mountain girl who can only stand to wear heels for about two hours max (and mostly sitting), the happiness of my feet is a key factor. So far, the Revels tick a lot of boxes.
For what looks like a hiking boot, I was surprised at how warm they kept my feet—another box ticked for the footwear I choose to put on my feet when I leave the house in winter. The KEEN.WARM Recycled PET insulation is good up to -32°C! Because we are known as the ‘Wet Coast’, dampness is the thing that makes your feet cold. Well, after snow trekking and even full submersion in the lakeside’s unfrozen edge (oops!), the Thermal Heat Shield Insole did its job. On my last jaunt out in the forest, through mud, water and snow, I came back with relatively dry feet. Only the top of my foot was slightly damp when I removed my boots at the door.
I wanted to test them out to see if I could jog in them without strapping on extra spikes, so I took them to an uneven forest trail out my front door. The ankle support was key and the 5 mm multi-directional lugs for traction meant I didn’t fall on my ass in full stride. The KEEN.POLAR TRACTION outsole provided great grip on the snow and ice of my backyard trails. I’m a big fan of the lacing system that covers my ankles and I made it through my run without having to double tie.
While taking in my daily dose of mother nature, it’s nice to know KEEN also does its part in keeping the planet clean. They use an environmentally preferred premium leather from a LWG-certified tannery, and recycled insulation with charcoal bamboo for breathable warmth.
I love to be barefoot and I hate the feeling of scrunched-up toes so the width of this model suits my slightly wider foot and picky yogi toes—plenty of room to wiggle them around. Heck, I would bring these to change into from the squeeze of my ski boots for dancing at après or to drive home with happier feet!
The Revel IV boots feel like supportive, protective safety gear: comfortable enough to wear all day long on any winter day. All around, I’m impressed. They look good, they feel good! What more do you need in a boot?
Check out the Revel IV Polar and more from KEEN here.
