KEEN Revel IV High Polar review

Who should buy the KEEN Revel IV High Polar

Powerful against the forces of the winter season, the Revel IV High Polar basks in its ability to withstand the biting cold with warmth and wonder. If you are seriously considering this doozy pair from KEEN, you must be:

• Desperate for a high-traction boot, particularly one that provides extra-surefootedness on frozen terrain.
• In need of something light but quite supportive around the ankle.
• The kind of hiker who likes fording cold streams and slush.

Who should NOT buy it

The featured boot and its too-intimate confines might not be for you. In its place, consider the Xero Shoes Alpine. Also, if you prefer something a bit more reassuring closure-wise, try the Astral Hiyak instead. 

Revel IV High Polar: Your portable campfire

Droves of hikers, including experts, praise the excellent insulation of KEEN’s Revel IV High Polar. It lives up to its -40°F warming capability.

Supple on mile one

This winter hiker is comfortable straight from the box, numerous trail-goers say.

The Revel IV High Polar's impermeable shell

It keeps feet nice and dry, especially in and around melting snow.

Stellar support

Hiking enthusiasts love its reassuring, no-wobble ankle collar.

A miss on the roominess front

It could be roomier around the midfoot and forefoot, according to a handful of adventurers. These folks miss the spaciousness of some of KEEN’s finest.

KEEN Revel IV High Polar: Clingy on ice

The Revel IV High Polar is part of our highly sought-after boots for being relentlessly grippy on icy surfaces.

Tricky closure system

The shoe not having KEEN's signature lace lock element is a disappointment. Testers said, “Its absence makes tightening the boot a challenge.”

Tall but not heavy

One of its many draws is its extraordinary lightness despite its burly construction + 400 g of insulation.

Revel IV High Polar: A showcase of KEEN technologies

If there is ever a brand that takes homegrown tech seriously, it would have to be KEEN. The Revel IV High Polar is a testament to this with the following:

KEEN.WARM. At 400 g, this insulation will ensure sufficient warmth up to the lower calf in below-zero conditions. This tech, coupled with the boot’s heat-trapping insole, translates to cozy hikes for many hours!

KEEN.DRY. The Revel IV High Polar is fully waterproof because of this. Since the boot in question has a high clearance, a gaiter is not required to keep your tootsies dry in, say, 5 inches of snow.

KEEN.Polar Traction. This exclusive outsole provides high surface traction on icy surfaces. Engineered for frigid conditions, this rubber component does not freeze easily, keeping its effectiveness intact in extreme cold.