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.

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With Fall upon us, it’s time to break out the jeans, long sleeve shirts, jackets, and boots.  For Fall 2011, Chaco is introducing the new Otis Nurl Boot which has a suede upper leather that screems Fall.  When I think of the classic Fall look, the Otis Nurl Boots are what I have in mind, as least for men.

The Chaco Otis Nurl is a mid cut boot that looks great with jeans or khakis for around the office, classroom, or out on the town.  As many of our reviews are active and outdoors in nature, these boots help you maintain that outdoors look for when you are off the trail.  For when Mother Nature starts to unleash the cold air and snow, the boots are sure to keep you upright.  This is because they have a Vibram Icetrek outsole that helps grip ice and snow better than a traditional outsole.  The Chaco Otis Nurl fits true to size and if you are in between sizes, I suggest to size down.  The insole of the Otis Nurl has the standard Chaco footbed, so if you are one of those people that like to have a little more support, this is a perfect option.

The Chaco Otis Nurl retails for $140 which is on par for most casual high quality boots.  For those that must wear their Chaco’s in the winter time or for the outdoors person that wants to complete their casual outfit, this is a perfect option.

The Pathway Moc by Merrell is an extremely comfortable lightweight moc that works great for summer bbq’s, yet they can hold their own city walking and light hiking.  I recently took a trip to the Northwest where I played tourist and I ended up doing a lot of walking.  Not only did I use the Pathway Moc’s because they were comfortable, but I also really like the styling to these shoes.  They have a low cut making them look good with both shorts and pants.  The suede in the Pathway has a clean look, yet it has a hint of outdoorsiness to it.  The rubber sole in the toe of the Pathway Moc comes up and over part of the toe box as shown in the pictures.  This gives the shoe some flair and function as this area often gets most dirty and it also helps protect your feet and shoes from getting wet when stepping in a puddle.  I found this to be true when I was doing some light hiking in Portland, OR.

While playing tourist, I walked about 6-10 miles a day in the Pathway Moc’s and while my feet were a little sore from being upright for a long time, I thought they performed just fine.  They don’t have the support of a Chaco per-se, but if you don’t need a ton of support, they should be just fine.  I think they work great as a travel companion as well.  A shoe that is lightweight, compact, looks fashionable with a number of outfits, and can handle multiple terrains is a good travel partner in my mind.  They also feel really nice to slip into after more rigorous activities when your feet swell.  Since the Pathway Moc is pretty roomy on the inside, it should be able to accommodate most foot volumes.  The Merrell Pathway Moc retails for $85 and if you can get half as many miles and years as you can in the Jungle Moc, I think these shoes are an excellent deal!  For more information, please visit Merrell.com

I’ve been testing out the Columbia Master than Faster Tech Lite’s for a few months now and while I was a little skeptical at first, I have grown to really like them.  When you first try these shoes on, they are pretty snug and a little stiff.  Something that I am not a huge fan of in the first few miles my first hike out, but after that, it’s all gravy!  For traction, Columbia uses its traction system called Omni Grip which is a 3-pronged lug that gives you traction in all directions, not just forward and backward.  I found the Omni Grip sole of the Master of Faster to provide ample amount of traction on all my hikes.  I hiked rocky dry and wet Colorado trails and I also tested these shoes out in Northern CA, Oregon, and Washington where the ground is a little moister, wet, and there are a lot more roots in the trail.

To keep your feet dry, the Master of Faster Omni-Tech comes with Columbia’s Omni-Tech membrane which is their form of waterproofing on a shoe or garment.  While the Colorado trails generally weren’t all that wet, the trails in the Northwest were wet and there were plenty of water crossings.  The end result of hiking in all these varying climates, my feet stayed dry no matter what the environment was.  While the Omni-Tech keeps you dry, keep in mind these are low top shoes and water will come over and into the shoe if you step in a river.  The durability of the Master of Faster is exceptional to this point.  I’ve put many miles on these shoes and there is no said stitching or piece of fabric that is coming undone.  For those of you that accidently stub your toes on rocks or roots, there is a nice protective toe guard to help you from bruising your toes or losing a toe nail.

For stability, Columbia has added a TPU shank to the midsole of the shoe that gives this shoe some rigidity.  I took the Master of Faster on an overnight backpacking trip with a 35-40lb pack and I felt I had plenty of support.  The shank runs about 2/3 of the way up the foot in the midsole.  While backpacking, I also was able to use the Master of Faster as my trail running shoe as well.  I didn’t want to take a separate pair of trail running shoes with me, and it turned out they worked just fine on my 6 mile trail run.  I wouldn’t buy these shoes for the sole purpose of trail running, but a run here or there, they will do just fine.

In the end, I really enjoyed the Columbia Master of Faster hiking/multisport shoe and feel they are a great shoe for day hikes, occasional trail runs, and weekend backpacking trips.  For more information, please visit Columbia.com

My feet are a little wider then normal feet and thought the Ecco Xpedition Lite fit my feet very well. I sometimes even throw them on when I take a walk in my neighborhood on the pavement because of the comfort level they offer. I really like the sporty design and the protection the shoes offer. The durable yak leather makes it easy to clean and I normally just brush/wipe them off with a little towel.

Since my first hike using the Ecco Xpedition Lite, I have used them 40 to 50 different times on the trails. I also had the chance to use them on some west coast trails in Colorado and thought the Ecco Xpedition Lite handled the Rocky Mountain hiking trails very well. The weather was warm and the breathable lining helped wick away moisture so my feet never really sweat and stayed dry.

I also wore the Ecco Xpedition Lite on a 3 day camping/fishing trip and they are a solid shoe for beating around the campfire. I also wore them fishing off the river banks and I felt very sturdy and secure whether I was on dirt, or wet or dry rock.

The only negative issue I came across was one of the eye rings for the shoe laces came off and I had to super glue it back on. This might occur because I pull my shoe laces extremely tight when I tie them. Outside of the eyelet, I have been super happy with the Ecco Xpedition Lite and would suggest these hiking shoes to others.

MSRP $150

Guest review by Todd Mower

When your significant other starts complaining about you wearing your hiking shoes on date night, it might be time to upgrade.  And while I don’t mind wearing my hiking and running shoes out on the town, it is nice to have a pair of shoes that have a little bit of an outdoor look, but not the dirt.  I really like the Keen Denver Canvas shoe as they go really well with jeans for a casual night out on the town, but they aren’t a full on dress shoe.  I’ve received a number of compliments while wearing these shoes out.  I think they also can work well for the casual work atmosphere, but that can depend on your employer.

The Keen Denver Canvas shoes are made of a combination of full grain leather and weaved canvas.  The soles of the shoes are non-marking rubber which allow for great traction.  The inside of the shoe is lined with soft leather that is sure to last a long time and it keeps your feet nice and comfy.  The insole of the Keen Denver Canvas is about 2 times thicker than other casual shoes on the market, so they can work out great for long days on your feet. The Denver Canvas by Keen retails for $90 and can be found at KeenFootwear.com

As Keen continues to grow outside its popular original Keen Newport water shoe, I decided it was time to see how their hiking shoe line holds up.  With a number of my friends wearing Keen hiking shoes on the trails and noticing a number of hikers wearing these shoes, I thought to myself, they must be doing something right.

I’ve been testing out the Keen Alamosa over the past couple months to see how they hold up as far as durability, comfort, fit, and style. When I am looking a hiking shoe, I look for a few things.  I personally like a lower cut hiking shoe for non-winter excursions as I find it provides enough support for about 90% of hikers out there.  A lower cut hiking shoe also reduces weight vs. a mid or high top hiking boot.  Next, I look to see that the hiking shoes midsole is stiff enough to hold up to longer hikes.  If a hiking shoe is super flexible, then that means your foot will flex just as much as your shoe is flexing.  On shorter hikes, this is okay, but if you are going out on 10 mile + hikes, I find it important to have a shoe with some rigidity to it. A shoe that has a shank in the midsole or firm EVA takes some of the impact from rocks other obstacles on the trail.  I also find that I just feel a little more stable with a firm midsole or shank.  The tread on a hiking shoe is important for a couple different purposes.  One, it allows for traction on both uphill and downhill hikes.  The second important factor when it comes to tread is the longevity of the shoe.  Most treads on hiking shoes will last a lot longer than the midsole, so this is usually not a problem.  And while it is not something I worry about too much, there are a few bad apples from time to time when checking out hiking shoes.  This is typically in lower end and lower priced hiking shoes, something you might get at Walmart.  Last, I like to have a hiking shoe that is either up with the current trends or has a classic look as far as styling goes.  If you don’t like the look of a shoe, you typically won’t want to wear it all that much.

Now on to the Alamosa… I found the Keen Alamosa to have a roomy fit, so if you have a real narrow shoe, I would stay away.  If you have a normal to wider foot, I think the Alamosa is a great option for a hiking shoe.  I have a normal sized foot, and I found it to be a little roomy, but on a longer hikes my foot started to swell and the shoe fit like a glove.  The midsole has a 2/3 shank that allows the shoe to bend at the start of the toe box.  This is something I was very happy with.  I felt stable on my hikes and it was very rare that I would feel any rocks coming through the  shoe.  The tread of the Keen Alamosa has held up great after many hikes and it offers plenty of traction or snow, mud, rock, and dirt.  I personally think the Alamosa has a nice clean look to it, a look that I have been comfortable with.

The Keen Alamosa has an upper that is made of nubuck leather and mesh.  The tongue of the Alamosa is attached to the shoe helping keep out rocks and dirt.  And while Keen claims this shoe is good for wet conditions, I would disagree. If I am going to been in wet conditions and slogging through puddles, I like to have a shoe that is waterproof.  Since the toe box has mesh incorporated into it, I found my foot getting wet in deeper puddles and when it was raining out.  If you are running into a puddle here and there or not getting into anything deeper than an inch and a half, your shoes and feet should stay dry. As most hikers kick a rock or two while hiking, a thick toe bumper is a nice addition.  As with most Keen shoes, the Alamosa has a nice beefy toe bumber

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsuVEDGbb9M

After talking with a number of hikers about Keen hiking shoes and testing the Keen Alamosa out for myself, I comfortably reccommend the Keen Alamosa to hikers and other outdoor enthusiast.  For more information on the Keen Alamosa, please visit KeenFootwear.com

MSRP $100

With warmer weather around the corner and many of us outdoor enthusiast getting excited to hit the trails, it’s time to check our hiking shoes to see if they have enough life to last another season.

If you are in the market for a new pair of hiking shoes, I would highly suggest taking a look at the Merrell Refuge Pro Ventilator.  I’ve been testing these hiking shoes for the past 6 months now and I have been very happy with their performance.  The Refuge Pro Ventilator is a new hiking shoe for Merrell this spring, offering some new styling, but still offering a quality hiking shoe Merrell is known for.

To offer a soft ride on almost any surface, Merrell has added a duel density EVA to the midsole that offers a nice plush ride.  I found while hiking in this shoe, the midsole was soft, but I still felt in control on rocky technical terrain.  Part of this control can be attributed to the Vibram sole with 5 mm lugs. I initially thought the lug pattern had more to do with looks than function, but no matter what the trail surface was or obstacle that presented itself, the outsole held up nicely and gave me plenty of traction.  While the Merrell Refuge Pro Ventilator is not waterproof, it was able to keep out water while walking through puddles about inch in depth.  For the first layer above the midsole, there is a fabric like material that is flexible, but I found it to be resistant to wind and water.  This material gives the shoe keep some flexibility as well as offer some breathability.  Pig suede is also used in this shoe offering some durability and form.  So far, the shoes that I have been testing out still look pretty good and there are no signs of deterioration.

For those of you who find themselves dragging their feet on hikes, there is a rubber toe bumper that helps to keep your toes from bruising.  In the past, I have found some of the recent shoes by Merrell to be pretty roomy, but the Refuge Pro Ventilator wrapped my foot like a glove to give me a nice comfortable, secure fit.  Retailing for $115, I found the Merrell Refuge to be appropriately priced for what it offers.  I think they could even bump it up another $10 and it would still be worth it, but that will just be our little secret.

For more information on the Merrell Refuge Pro Ventilator hiking shoe, please visit Merrell.com

Gore-Tex liner in Sabino Trail Mid

The Montrail Sabino Trail Mid GTX has a Gore-Tex membrane that helps keep out mud, water, and other liquid like forms.  This membrane goes up a little over two inches at its height from the bottom of the footbetd.  The outer of this shoe is made of a synthetic leather to give the shoe some form and also includes mesh to add flexibility and breathability.  In the toe box, there is a small amount of added brushed rubber so it won’t get warn out too fast. The midsole of the shoe has a softer (not too soft) EVA in the forefoot for cushion and flexability, the middle of the midsole has a heavier EVA that gives some stability to the arch and midfoot.

Outsole

The outsole of the shoe uses Montrails Gryptonite which has held up great.  They use a little different approach to lugs than your standard hiking boot/shoe. On the outer of the outsole, Montrail uses a set of three little sqaures that are really close to each other.  The little squares have different placements, so you have traction from all sides.  On the inner of the outsole, the Sabino mid has a layered tread pattern that helps you get up the hill.  In this section, we found the material to wear out a little too fast, especially near the toe.

Montrail Sabino Trail Mid GTX outsole wearing out near the toe

The design of the Montrail Sabino Trail Mid GTX leaves something to be desired in my mind.  For some reason, the syling makes the shoe look like it could be sold at a mid grade department store which is not really the case as far as performance goes.  This may just be my personal opinion, so if you think different, go on with your bad self!

As temperatures begin to warm a little, snow starts to melt, and the mud starts to become more abundant, a mid hiker is just what the doctor ordered. Overall, aside from the styling and wear down of the toe in the outsole, I have been happy with the performance of this shoe.  If you find that you are needing to trade in your old hiking kicks, I find the Montrail Sabino Trail Mid GTX to be worth a look.  For more information, please visit Montrail.com

I’ve been testing out the Keen Alta Mid’s for a few months now.  The looks of the boots seems to be holding up, although I am not one that likes to clean my shoes all the time.  One thing that I do notice is that the white midsole tends to get a little dirty easily.   Once again, if you clean them off and on, they should stay a little more white.  For me, having a shiny white midsole isn’t all that important.  Having dogs, I like to have a winter boot that I can slip into when taking them for a walk around the block.  Given these boots are slip on’s with no laces, they lend themselves to quick trips around the block with the dogs or a short trip to the grocery store well.  I have also worn them out a number of times while going out to dinner and grabbing beers with friends and they tend to fit the bill. The soles of the Keen Alta Mid boots are non-marking which I haven’t found a use for, but in case I feel like a game of racquetball last minute, I should be all set.

The Keen Alta Mid Boots retail for $100 and I feel this is a fair price for a full grain leather winter boot.  For more information, please visit KeenFootwear.com and if you have any ideas for what I could use non-marking soles for, I would love to hear your comments!