Cool fall days will soon turn into frosty winter days and evenings. Hiking season will screech to a finish until the spring thaw for most. Trail troopers aren't discouraged by the cold weather.

The KEEN Revel is touted as the company's warmest boot. 200 grams of insulation keeps the top of your foot warm.

The technology that KEEN packed under your foot is different than other winter hikers. The Heat Trapolator is located in the boot's midsole and is three layers to keep your feet warm – wool felt, thermal heat shield and honey comb.

I gave the boots a pre-winter test through Blue Knob State Park on a simple five-mile hike. A 2,200-foot elevation change gave a bit of a challenge. I coupled this with other intense day hiking outings to give a tougher test.

The Revel boots has a scree collar that extends well up your ankle, and each boot weighs 20 ounces (size 10). The beefier design suits it for multi day hikes and for colder weather. The lug design is responsive to varying terrains. KEEN shaves some weight from the Revel's design using EVA in the midsole instead of PU.

Catching an exposed tree root or a stray rock won't cut your hike short. The toe box is heavily protected making the Revel a choice for rock-filled trails. And the nubuck leather upper held up submerged in water for extended amount of time.

The KEEN Revel's highlight is the insulation built into the upper and underfoot. I donned the boots and a thin pair of socks during crisp and cool fall days with the temperature dipping into the 30's Fahrenheit. The insulation was noticeable.

The KEEN Revel is geared for multi-day backpacking trips. If you are looking for a beefier boot for the cooler days of fall and frigid winter days , it is an alternative to consider. (MSRP $140)