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KEEN Revel IV High Polar Boots Review

KEEN Revel IV High Polar 400g Boot Review

KEEN’s Revel IV High Polar Boots are insulated waterproof/breathable winter hiking boots rated to -40F/-40C. Available for both men and women, these boots come up to mid-calf for maximum heat retention and feature metal lacing hardware for maximum durability, a gaiter ring above the toes, and a ridged heel counter that helps keep snowshoes securely fastened. Lined with fleece, the Revel IV’s are exceptionally comfortable for all-day comfort.  Sizing runs about one-quarter to half of a size small, so I’d size up and plan on wearing a slightly heavier sock. Wide sizes are not available and while the toe box is roomy, it’s not as high volume as many of KEEN’s other mids or boots.

KEEN Revel IV High Polar Insulated Boots

Foot Protecton
Traction
Sensitivity
Warmth
Water Resistence
Sizing
Weight
Durability

Super Comfortable Winter Boots

KEEN's Revel IV High Polar Boots have 400g insulation and are rated to -40F. They're super comfortable for winter hiking boots with a fleece-lined collar and tongue, making them wearable out of the box with little to no breaking time.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Temperature Rating: -40F/-40C
  • Height: Mid-calf
  • Waterproof/Breathable: Yes
  • Gender: Men’s (size 7-15); Women’s (size 5-12)
  • Sole: 5mm lugs
  • Sizing: Runs one-quarter to a half-size small.
  • Insole: Felted thermal insole
  • Weight: 3 lbs 8 oz/pr (size 11 men’s)

I’ve always found KEEN winter hiking boots to be very warm and the Revel IV is no exception. This is the kind of boot you want for long winter hikes when your trips start before the sun comes up and ends after it goes down.

With a temperature rating of -40F/-40C, the Revel IV is insulated with environmentally friendly charcoal and bamboo, instead of the usual Thinsulate used by most other winter boot manufacturers. The upper cuff and tongue are covered with fleece while the exterior is covered in leather with ballistic nylon in high flex areas.

The Revel IV High is a mid-calf 400g boot. The extra height helps keep you warmer by trapping more body heat.
The Revel IV High is a mid-calf 400g insulated boot. The extra height helps keep you warmer by trapping more body heat.

The Revel IV has a large front toe kick for toe protection and a reinforced heel counter to lock your heel in place and prevent pronation. Ridges on the back of the heel help keep snowshoe, crampon, or microspike straps secure which is a real plus for more technical winter hikes from traction aids are required. However, the boots have a very shallow mid-sole arch which can prove challenging if you wear gaiters with a thick stirrup strap, like OR Crocodiles, as it can cause abrasion if you walk on surfaces that are not covered with snow and ice.

KEEN provides a thermal insole with the Revel IV Polar Boot, which is covered in felt for warmth but does not have a reflective aluminum coating. When worn, the boots have a pretty low arch, so I wear mine with Superfeet’s merinoGrey insoles which are wool-covered for warmth but have a much more aggressive arch to protect against plantar fasciitis.

The Revel IV High Insulated Boots have a gaiter ring to hook your gaiters too.
The Revel IV High Insulated Boots have a well-protected toe cap and a gaiter ring to hook your gaiters too.

Traction is more than adequate and the boots have deep 5mm multi-directional lugs to grip snow and ice. The edges of the soles are also quite stiff, which makes them good for scrambling over rock ledges when you need a sole that won’t collapse on a narrow foothold.

There’s minimal time to break-in the Revel IV boots which are soft and pliant out or the box. KEEN also sells an “over-the-ankle” mid-sized versions of the Revel IV High Polar Boot called the Revel IV Polar Boot (note the missing “High”) that is rated to -25F, if you need less insulation or prefer a mid-sized height.

The ridged and rigid heel counter helps position snowshoe straps and prevents pronation.
The ridged and rigid heel counter helps position snowshoe straps and prevents pronation.

Recommended Insulated Winter Hiking Boots

Men'sWomen'sInsulation
Oboz 10" Bridger InsulatedOboz 9" Bridger Insulated400g
Salomon Toundra ProSalomon Toundra Pro400g
KEEN Revel IV High PolarKEEN Revel IV High Polar400g
Vasque Snowburban IIVasque Pow Pow III400g
Oboz Bridger 8" InsulatedOboz Bridger 7" Insulated200g
Columbia Bugaboot III Columbia Bugaboot III 200g
KEEN Revel IV Mid PolarKEEN Revel IV Mid Polar200g
Merrell Thermo Chill MidMerrell Thermo Chill Mid200g

Recommendation

KEEN’s Revel IV High Polar Insulated Boots are really good for men and women who want or need warm winter hiking footwear. Rated to -40F/-40C, their high mid-calf height helps lock in warmth while a fleece-lined collar and tongue provide both comfort and additional warmth. Their thick soles provide excellent insulation from the cold ground while durable metal hardware ensures trouble-free use and long life. The sizing runs slightly small, so consider sizing up a half-size. Amazingly, these boots are wearable out of the box and require virtually no break-in period.

Do you want 200g or 400g insulated winter boots? See our insulated winter boot FAQ that explains the differences and pros and cons of each.

Disclosure: The author purchased this product.

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23 comments

  1. Hi Philip!
    I’ve been using a pair of Keen Durand Polars. How do these compare to the Durand Polars?
    Thanks!

  2. Keen says the footbed isn’t removable so I’d wrote these off. But you found an end around it seems. How’s the toe room above the toes adding in an insert?

    • You just need a thin screwdriver to lift the footbed out (I used the one on my swiss army classic). It’s completely removable. Toe space is fine without it. I put a pair of superfeet green in mine and they are fine.

  3. Hi! Nice article! However, could you confirm if they are suitable for use with 12 spike crampons? Are the soles suitably rigid?

    Thanks,

    Richard

  4. Hi, I’m really enjoying your reviews!

    I just purchased a pair of the Revel iv High Polars in size 11 and I’m looking to order some Hillsound Trail Ultras as well. Hillsound’s website says that the large should work with a size 11 insulated boot, but it looks like the XL would work as well. Since you’ve reviewed both I was wondering what your thoughts were.

    Thanks!

  5. Hello I bought a pair of Keen Revel 4 High Polar. They looks fantastic and very warm, but I’m a little scared because I’ve read a lot of bad review about the reliability and material quality. It seems that many customers have had problem with breaks and seems that Keen products will not last.
    I see that they are made in Cambogia.
    Could you tell me something about it ?
    I am undecided whether to return them…. but I’m in love with these boots!

  6. I just looked up these boots for women in the mid and the description says they are made with 200g insulation. I found the same to be true with my current Solomon insulated boots. The mid has 200g of insulation versus the 400g in the taller boots.

  7. With no REMOVABLE insulating liner you have to wear a 3 mm thick closed cell neoprene DIVER’S SOCK (over a thin poly liner sock) as a VBL to keep your sweat from ruining the boot’s insulation layer. I prefer US Divers brand. BTW, one pair of liner socks for each day camping and a quart ZipLoc bag to store the sweaty liners each night.

    THIS IS A MUST for overnight camping where drying your boot insulation is impossible. Also in that situation you need to put the boots in a stuff sack and in the bottom of your sleeping bag.
    (You did get a size Long winter bag for all that stuff you need to keep warm, right?)

  8. Looks like they don’t make it in a high version for women. I guess somehow snow isn’t deep when women walk in it.

  9. I see you have the weight listed as 3 lbs 8 oz (56 oz). That seems awfully heavy. Are they tiring to wear? Are they clunky and stiff or are they pretty flexible? I personally can’t stand heavy, clunky, stiff boots.

  10. Hello,

    I’m a big fan of your site and have learned a lot from it. I have these boots and am having trouble finding crampons that fit. The heel is wider than the ones I have tried. Has anyone had any success?

  11. For several years, Keen’s Summit County boots have allowed me to fully engage in Canadian winter activities, despite suffering from Raynaud’s syndrome and mild arthritis, and so I was disappointed to recently learn that Keen no longer makes the Summit County.

    Keen recommended their Revel IV High Polar Boot as being their closest equivalent to the Keen Summit County, and so — hoping for the best — I recently bought a pair.

    After testing them for a week, I find that they are significantly different than the Summit County:
    • The Revel toe box is considerably narrower. This, for me, means a tighter, more compressed — and therefore perhaps colder (and more arthritic) — fit at the toes.
    • The Revel heel area is narrower, which results in some chafing, and a less comfortable fit.
    • The Revel shoelace fasteners are more durable than those on the Summit County, but seem to make for a somewhat dysfunctional lacing system: it’s almost impossible to tighten the laces at the top of the foot, and similarly challenging to loosen the laces at the ankle. (Tip: replacing Keen’s laces with thinner ones – e.g., DuraCare Armour Laces — seems to help.)

    The end result is a boot that is too narrow at the toe and heel, and too wide/loose at the top of the foot.

    Conclusion: If you were happy with Summit County boots and are looking to replace them, try the Revel IV High Polar boots on first before buying them — they may be too narrow for you, and their lacing system can be frustrating.

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