KANE Revive AC: Quick Evaluation
By Andrea Myers
Kane Revive ACPrice: $120-125 at Kane Footwear
Weight (full pair): 27.3 oz, 773 g (men's size 10/women's size 8)
Stack Height: 44mm heel / 32.5mm forefoot
Drop: 11.5 mm
Shoe Purpose: Winter/waterproof recovery shoe
Pros: waterproof, warm, comfortable after workouts
Cons: heavy, lugs not deep enough to provide sufficient traction in deeper snow
SIMILAR SHOES: Kaha 2 Frost Moc GTX, Topo Rekovr 2
PAST MODEL: N/A
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Winter came early here in CT, and I quickly found my regular KANE Revive shoes too cold and exposed to the elements for wearing to/from the gym. I was very excited when the Revive AC showed up, because they have the same comfortable fit as the regular Revive, but with a completely waterproof upper, a Neoprene thermal cuff, and 2.65mm lugs for traction. They have been perfect for wearing to the gym (not to exercise in of course) and walking my dog in cold, wet conditions.
The shoes comes in whole sizes, and KANE recommends sizing down if you are a half size, but sizing up if you have a wide foot. I sized up from my usual women's 9.5 to a women's 10 in both the Revive and Revive AC, and definitely made the right choice. Recovery shoes should have ample room for your toes, and I have a full thumb's width from the end of my big toe to the front of the shoe as well as more than enough width at my MTPs. Like the Revive, the Revive AC is a slip-on shoe, and the ankle cuff, rearfoot sidewalls, and the RestoreFoam upper do a good job of stabilizing the foot in the shoe, without creating pressure points anywhere on the foot. The heel counter is very flexible and there is no internal padding, but the heel fits securely and comfortably thanks to the high ankle cuff. The heel pull tab makes it easy to don and doff the shoe. The upper is comfortable both with and without socks.
The midsole is KANE's RestoreFoam, which is an EVA midsole. It is on the firmer side and feels stiffer than the regular Revive model, but still provides plenty of underfoot protection and a little bit of bounce when walking. The moderate heel bevel and early forefoot rocker also help keep your feet moving along, which is highly appreciated after a hard workout. There is wide, balanced sole flaring that runs the length of the shoe, which further helps center the foot from initial contact to push off. The high stack height and firmer midsole also make this shoe quite comfortable for standing. I have enjoyed wearing it for quick errands and short walks with my dog. The one improvement I would like to see in the Revive AC is an increase in lug depth. The current 2.65 mm lugs do not bite into snow enough to provide sufficient traction if there is more than a dusting on the ground. At 27.3 oz (13.6 oz for a single shoe), weight is already not a priority here, so some deeper lugs are not going to break the performance of the shoe. The shoe does feel heavy on foot, but for short bouts of walking or standing it is just fine.
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes, short walks
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Yes
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: Yes
Durability Expectation: High
FINAL THOUGHTS
Reviewer
Fit: A (I sized up for a wider forefoot fit, which was the right choice. Fit is comfortable and secure, which is impressive for a slip on.)
Performance: A- (Great winter recovery shoe that provides complete protection from the elements, a protective midsole, and rocker geometry to keep tired legs moving. Only negative is outsole lugs are not deep enough for sufficient traction in snow.)
Stability: [neutral] A- (Stiff platform, rocker geometry, large, balanced sole flare, and rearfoot sidewalls do a good job of centering the foot in the shoe. Platform is overall neutral but locks the foot down well and promotes forward motion.)
Value: A (The upper and outsole appear highly durable - this shoe will probably last years)
Personal: A- (Comfortable fit, warm and waterproof for winter conditions, but shallow lugs do not provide sufficient traction in snow.)
Overall Design: A-
The KANE Revive AC is a great winter recovery shoe option thanks to its warm, waterproof upper. If you like the regular Revive in warmer weather, you will likely enjoy the Revive AC for winter weather. The fit of the two shoes is very similar and the main difference in performance (besides the waterproof upper) is the increased weight and stiffer platform of the Revive AC. The fit of slip on shoes can be less than ideal, but KANE has done a good job of making the shoe secure without creating any pressure points on the foot. I expect to get a lot of use out of my pair this winter and many winters to come.
SHOP | SUPPORT DORKane Revive ACPrice: $120 at Kane Revive AC
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