Kane Revive AC Performance Review

As we learn more about fitness – and marvel at how past generations thrived without all our luxuries – we learn how much recovery impacts our performance, not only in the gym but in all areas of life. That half marathon might be an easy run for you. But your body not only needs very specific nutrition after it, your legs also need the right tools – foam rollers, massage guns, etc – to be ready for the rest of the day without chance of injury (or just general oww-ness).

[Editor’s Note: Arune, you’re 43. Use adult words.]

One of the biggest fitness gear growth areas has become recovery footwear, and Kane has positioned itself as a leader in this space with its signature Revive shoe (which we recently reviewed). It certainly hasn’t hurt, as we noted before, that everyone from (maybe?) disgraced superstar rapper Drake to your favorite running influencers seem to be rocking these shoes.

But Kane has expanded its line with the Kane Revive AC (All-Conditions) that’s meant to bring the recovery benefits of the Revive to a shoe intended for all kinds of climates (i.e. no Croc-like holes and a whole different bootie fit). But is it possible to get a recovery shoe we’d actually want to wear everywhere and that isn’t easily replaced by a comfy pair of shoes?

Luckily, we’ve got the answers for you, as Kane provided the WearTesters team with pairs of the Revive AC to test. However, Kane had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.

What is the Kane Revive AC?

Kane describes it as:

Recover without limits. Take your recovery with you, wherever your pursuits lead. With the Revive AC (All-Conditions), nothing can hold you back.

Recovery & Comfort

Arune: When I reviewed the Kane Revive, I was just starting my running journey and was mostly running indoors on treadmills; so my need for this kind of shoe was fairly limited.

Now I’m running close to 40 miles outdoors each week and kinda accidentally started half-marathon training. So my feet are constantly in need of some kind of footwear once I take off those running shoes.

And I really do appreciate Kane’s recovery technology and designs much more now.

The Kane Revive AC is much firmer underfoot than the standard Revive, but that was a welcome change after some longer distance training sessions. I’ve often wanted to feel squishy marshmallow midsoles under my feet. But for whatever reason (weight? gait?), I’ve come to realize that firmer midsoles are what I enjoy in most of my shoes.

Like the standard Revive, the Revive AC has “raised footbed nodes” that really do make my feet feel like they’re getting massaged and leave them feeling better once I’m done with these shoes. It took me a minute to get used to the Revive – both with and without socks – so you may find it a similarly foreign experience at first.

Taking these outdoors in the cooler Los Angeles weather of late (look, as a former Canadian/Utahn/Minnesotan, I feel weird calling it cold when it’s just 40 F or 4 C), I found that the Revive AC kept my bare feet quite warm during morning walks with the dog across grass, the street, and the LA River trails [Editor’s Note: Honestly, I’m still reeling too much from learning the spelling of “Utahn” to make fun of your balmy LA weather].

Kane advertises this warmth retention as a key feature of the “integrated thermal cuff” – AKA the very visible bootie element. That’s great outdoors, but let me tell you that this makes the Revive AC into a hotbox when you’re indoors (or anywhere warm) [Editor’s Note: So, like, anywhere in LA in general? And, I’m back…].

Drew, this was your first experience with Kane – what did you think?

Drew: I, too, didn’t expect the firmness of the Kane Revive AC. I expected, at the very least, a Crocs level of squish in the midsole. This level of firmness is like putting on an old-school retro. I don’t need a ton of squish after a hard run or workout, but there’s not enough here for me to keep reaching for the Kane Revive AC, as it’s extremely underwhelming.

Apart from longtime Kane fans, I can’t see someone trying these and being wowed. I’m willing to bet Kane will see a lot of returns until they soften up this midsole just a little. Doesn’t have to be a lot…but right now, it’s a brick.

Despite the firmness, I found the walking experience to be smooth and the traction to be grippy, even in cold, icy, or wet conditions. I just wouldn’t want to wear them very long… Walking the dog or a trip home from the gym would likely be my maximum.

The Kane Revive AC does keep the elements out. No water will get inside unless you step in a deep puddle. The water would need to reach the bottom of the neoprene sleeve to breach the Kane Revive AC’s defenses, and that’s a good 3-4” off the ground. So, as long as you’re choosing your winter weather footsteps carefully, you’ll be good.

The Kane Revive AC kept my feet very warm, even when the temps dropped below 20 F (-6 C). The Revive AC also performed well in cold wind. The shoe is built so that there’s no way for cold wind to get in and chill the foot inside. But, while this build is great for the elements, wearing the Kane Revive AC somewhere warm will result in a sweaty foot. It’s just too protective/not breathable enough to function as a house slipper. Grab the Kane Revive if you’re looking for something that’s wearable indoors.

Training

Arune: Kane is constantly promoting the Revive as appropriate for more than just recovery and certainly has amplified the number of influencers who’ve made claims about it as a runner and/or training shoe.

The Kane Revive AC, like the OG Revive, isn’t a training shoe. And while I can see someone wearing it to a hotel gym to get in some basic bench presses, bicep curls, or cable work, the traction isn’t going to do you any favors when you get to stability or lower body work outside of maybe deadlifts (though, even then, I’ve got some concerns about how that midsole would compress).

And that’s okay; this isn’t a shoe you buy to be your do-it-all trainer. But we wouldn’t be doing our due diligence if we didn’t interrogate the claims that manufacturers make about their products.

Drew: The Kane Revive AC is not a good training option. Let’s keep this moving [Editor’s Note: Boom].

Cardio

Arune: Similar to the previous category, this is not a do-it-all cardio shoe, and I can’t even strap into a rower with this on (nor is it flexible enough to work for that purpose).

But I’ve also walked a good 3 miles in the AC and found it to be pretty comfortable there. I can see someone taking it on some easy, short trails on an active recovery day and be pretty happy with the results.

Drew, did you get any notable miles or off-terrain experiences with this one?

Drew: The Kane Revive AC can handle a good amount of walking, but it’s too bottom heavy and clompy to work for any type of running or high intensity cardio.

Sizing

Arune: Kane only has full sizes for its shoes and offers a guide on the website for those who typically wear half sizes. So, as someone with a slightly wider 9.5 foot, I accordingly sized up to a 10 in the AC (as I did with the OG Revive) and found it to be a perfect fit.

I had no issue getting my foot in and out of the AC – something that isn’t always the case with bootie-style shoes and my Hobbit feet.

I also had no issues with toe splay either.

The sizing question on Kanes is always where I stumble a bit, so I’d recommend using the guide and paying attention to the return policy if you order two sizes to try.

Drew: I wear size 12 in most shoes and found that size to work great from a length perspective. But due to my high arch/instep, the Kane Revive AC just isn’t quite tall enough to fully accommodate my foot shape. I can feel the area above the foot (where the neoprene sleeve, pull tab, and foam come together) pressing into the tops of both of my feet.

This area hasn’t caused a hot spot and will probably break in eventually; but, depending on the day and how swollen my foot is from running, it can bug me enough to not want to wear the Revive AC. I’d recommend anyone with a tall foot to avoid the Kane Revive AC because there’s just not enough clearance.

Aesthetics

Arune: The Kane Revive AC is a unique looking shoe – not quite the Yeezy/Crocs lovechild of the OG Revive, but also not quite a shoe either.

The AC product page actually does a good job showing how you can style the AC with some outfits. But outside of dog walks or errands, I can’t see this shoe fitting with my general fashion sense.

Drew: We live in a world where foam-based shoes are now fashionable. How did this happen? I’m not sure. But nowadays, anyone can get away with wearing them as they run errands, go back and forth from the gym, or pick the kids up from school. The Kane Revive AC nails the all-purpose, I’m getting my adult responsibilities done vibe.

Price

Arune: The Kane Revive AC is priced at $120, and that isn’t a complete surprise given the OG Revive is $80. But it’s hard not to compare it to the standard Crocs Clog at $50.

Moreover, getting past the $100 mark gets you into the territory of everyday running shoes. Some of that probably comes as a sustainability tax, seeing as these kinds of products cost more to be made in more ethically and environmentally responsible ways. But that cost can limit the audience for them, too.

Would I spend $120 for these? Truthfully, I don’t know. They would be primarily dog walking shoes. But I wouldn’t be using them during the day (unless it’s chilly) or in many other scenarios. So for me, the value is debatable.

How about you, Drew?

Drew: $120 feels like too much for the Kane Revive AC. Adding GORE-TEX to a running shoe typically increases the price by $40…but there’s no name brand GORE-TEX here. Yet, the Revive AC is still $40 more than the regular Revive.

Plus, with the limited use case of the Revive AC, it needs to sit at about $100 to have a shot at delivering the correct value for the price.

Kane Revive AC Final Verdict

Arune: It’s exciting to see Kane expanding out its footwear. The Kane Revive AC is a very comfortable shoe whose price limits the audience, but is a worthy addition to the brand’s lineup.

The OG Revive remains a more versatile and more highly recommended shoe for me. But if Kane is your go-to in summer weather, then you’ve now got your winter weather partner.

Drew: The Kane Revive AC is a great winter dog-walking shoe, but I wanted a little more than that. The limited use case just can’t justify the $120 price point. But I do like how Kane’s line is shaking out. A daily recovery shoe plus a winterized recovery shoe makes a lot of sense. I just think it needs some tweaks before I can recommend it widely.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Arune Singh (age 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming from Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Disclosure

While Kane did provide pairs of the Kane Revive AC to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.