Im not even a shoe or boot person. Would not buy most items on this channel. But i do like how you know your shit and praise or expose expensive footware. And alot better than some youtuber who just rewords the marketing shit to get paid.
I have to inject some history here. I am the adopted son of William Charles Danner. Bill Danner lived to be 97 and yesterday May 2, 2023 would have been his 104th birthday. I worked in my dad's factory from the time I was 13. (1960) . We always gave boots numbers not names. This boot was called the 6490. the first two digits were for the year it was developed. In those days we made mostly heavy duty logging boots and work boots. But my dad wanted to climb Mt Hood as a challenge so he developed this boot. The shoemaker who developed the pattern was Horace Nunley. He was from England. At that time most all the Danner boots were made in what is called Nailed construction. However, we had an Italian shoemaker whose name was Christopher Massimo Salvatore Fiandaca. He was a master and had made shoes since he was 6 years old. At his suggestion we made this boot in a " lining lasted stitchdown " construction. We were the first boot company in the northwest to do this construction. The boot had a real 12 iron leather insole, was fully leather lined with glove leather, had a real steel shank and a leather "dutchman" with a vibram outsole. So my dad climbed Mt Hood in them as did my Mother. The boot did not sell well for ten years,: by the way the price was $ 35.00 . However, in 1974 Backpacker magazine , in their fourth issue , comapred 36 kinds of hicking boots available in the US. They rated the 6490 as the number one value in the country. From that article the boot took off. I was running the back half of the factory and we had to triple our production in that year. the boot they make today with its fabric lining of Gortex , which is just glorified plumbers tape, and a paper insole, Texon, is a far cry from the boot we made in the 70's. that is the short version of this boot.
Very interesting, thank you for the history. Basically then, the 6490 boot was a European style mountain boot made in your factory? My exposure to this style of boot came from the mountaineering side, not back packing. So, in the early 70's I picked from and wore ultra high quality boots, usually the French Galibier "Super Guide". The 6490 I did not even considered as I was Euro-centric. My casual hiking boot choice was German Pivetta. About the time I was done with mountaineering, and would have been interested in a real 6490, the world had changed and all these old style boots were gone. Well, except for the Italian company Alico, which still kind of pulls it off.
Vibram lug soles go back into the early 50's. Lots of boot makers in Europe used them in the 50's. I guess you'd have to be careful about the definition of "massed produced", since many of the European boots could be purchased from store stock. @@kylegarcia9998
The biggest problem with this channel is that my options for new boots are now restricted to the boots that they cut in half. I have developed serious trust issues with the footwear industry. Kidding aside, I really appreciate the work you guys are doing. Very educational, useful and interesting.
Had us in the first half not gonna lie All jokes aside I love things made in the USA and looking to save up for nicks boots lol $700 down the drain here we go
Totally agree! So many shitty shoes with big price tags out there. I've purchased 4 boots/shoes based on what I've learned here. So far, I have not been lead astray. :)
@@robertsandgren9389 that’s why I just buy shit that good and delivers not the other way around where it’s good but doesn’t deliver. And if something is good and deliver and the company believes in it prepare for the fucking price tag. My wallet is think about beating the shit out of me cause I’m saving up for those Nicks boots. I want something where I can wear for a very long time and not having to replace it every 6 months to a year. Guess what people in the military say is buy once cry once and I believe in that statement. I may be one side branded but who gives a shit really, I like nicks cause of what they do, the amount of work they put in that boot is already a shut up and take my money. Just gotta save $700 for it though lol I can’t even tell you how many pairs of shoes or boots I have went through that cost literally $100-$200 for a pair of shoes, they literally tear up and having to replace it or get a new one is a pain in the ass and more money is begin put down, I have a mind set where if I buy one thing I want it to last forever if I have to buy another boot within the next 10-15 years I’m sold,I’m steering away from all of these boots that are cheaply made and that falls apart easily I’m done and sick of it
Please cover more hiking and backpacking boots, I feel like when it comes to choosing the right one to buy its difficult to tell if what you get is going to work well or be a dud.
Trail runners, backpacking boots are old news. Stability comes from the sole, and lighter shoes are better for distance. “1 lb on your feet is 5 lbs on your back”
A hiking series would be interesting. Also, please review Limmer boots, they have a custom boot shop in New Hampshire with a 3 year waitlist, but their German-made stock boots are made to similar specifications and are absolute beasts. They also make “stock” boots in New Hampshire in their small shop. Probably the best hikers in the world.
My dad gave me a paire of Danners in the late 90s for hunting. Loved those boots and for years I bought exclusively Danners. Being 3 hours from Portland in Washington, I liked the PNW vibes and that first pair. I wore them as a teen working in construction then through the police academy. It was while I worked the road that I started to notice the quality of the brand going down. After 20 over years of Danners, I noticed they just weren't what they used to be and moved on. Sadly, this video just affirms my own observations.
I too was a Die hard Danner boot fan and noticed the huge decline in quality. They keep raising the price and lowering the quality. It’s not only Danner. Chippewa did the same thing. Can’t even buy the model or color I liked from them. When you spend $400 dollars and the boots last 18ish months it’s a little frustrating. I just can’t spend $700 on a pair of PNW boots that are 4-6 months out and unreturnable.
What do you think about Bates? I've been told it's the same story with them. From what I've been told, they were a popular brand with police officers. Same old story we see everywhere else, put out a good strong product at a reasonable price, then change the product to be cheap and coast on your reputation. You hate to see it.
I hope the manufactures are taking notice. People are cutting their stuff in half and reviewing it professionally and unbiased. Consumers have never been so lucky!
@@bendercs the leather feels thin? Didn’t he say it’s 2.5mm thick? That’s not really “thin”… I have the Danner RAT boot (5 pairs 😂) and they’re amazing, appears to have the same stitch down construction and hybrid foam/vibram sole. I’d be willing to try the Danner hikers but at more than 4x the price of the RAT I’ll probably settle for the EB for an æsthetic boot 🤷🏼♂️
The reason why this boot is $430 is to pay for labor in Portland, OR. It's ironic because Rose Anvil sells overpriced strips of leather as camera harnesses and doesn't realize the same could be said about him.
One of the best pair of boots I've ever had were Prospectors which were made in Canada and look like they might've been based on the original Danner Mountain Light. I purchased them in Canada from a work wear outlet in Calgary in 1997. They cost $300 CAD back then. They looked exactly like these except they were fully leather lined, had 3 screws across the underside of the toe of the Vibram sole, and a layer of Thinsulate between the leather lining and the outer. My prospectors looked great, took an absolute beating, and were very comfortable. I had them resoled. I got about 15 years wear out of them including 12 months travelling through Europe. I still have them. I have searched high and low to buy another pair but can't find them. The quality of my Prospectors appears to be a level up from the Danner Mountain Light.
I have two pairs of prospectors and they are very good boots. I have a two pairs because I found them new old stock in a thrift store for dirt cheap, they were RCMP winter boots issued.
Such a value added service this man is providing by reviewing and thus, exposing these companies for their shoddy quality. Please keep doing your thing! Would love to see reviews of some actual Italian made brands, like Saint Laurent, Gucci, Golden Goose, Balenciaga, etc.
You should do a video on boots made with metatarsal protection, they're required in my field and I've always wondered what's different about them from regular work boots.
I knew this type comment was in the comment section. And rightfully so. Danner boots have made some fine quality boots at a decent price, particularly years ago. If I'm not mistaken, the mountain light comes in 2 different models. The gortex lined 100% waterproof. And the leather lined. Definitely a unique hearty looking boot that does seem to be quality for a man as long as fit and finish are spot on.
I own these boots and have used them for everyday wear (especially in the wet) and for backpacking in rocky terrain. They've been durable and comfortable *with the extreme caveat that I literally had to develop a special way of lacing them, because the huge amount of leather folded up in the tongue created absurd pinch points and hot spots.* Once I figured that out, they've been great in all conditions. But yeah, for absolutely sure, I did buy them for the heritage/history nod and all that, and more of a fashion boot than anything. An uglier set of boots with real tech is a way better choice, if you're not trying to be style conscious.
@@memorizeitwithmusic612 For sure. For clarity, I'll define the "last" eyelets being the ones immediately before the speed hooks. One of the pressure points I had was the build up of material at the fold of the tongue, so between the last and second to last eyelets, you can actually pull that folded corner out, and let one of side of the lace cross underneath the corner. Between the eyelets and the speed hook, I do a half of a square knot (as in the first twist you do when tying your shoelaces, before you make the bow) but I'll actually give it one extra twist, so there's more friction when you tighten the boot. To be clear, the result is not a knot, it's your both sides of the lace being twisted together laterally across the top of the foot. I repeat that between the speed hooks, as well. Tying the boots that way let's me put different amounts of tightness in the top of the boot vs the bottom of the boot. You could probably do something similar along the rest of the boot if needs be, or box the laces in parts. I'm cramming Spanish as hard as possible, which is making me presently unable to remember the words I'd need to adequately describe this whole thing. If my description sucks I'll give it another go.
Danner's Quarry boots used to be my favorite boot. No break in at all, very comfortable on cement all day, and they were about $200. Over the past 5 years they have kept raising the price, and now they want $320. These are barely $200 shoes, let alone $300. I wear Georgia loggers now, which I get for $160, and they are very comparable for half the price.
Pretty sure the Mt Trail replicates Danner hiking shoe heritage based on 60s version which is leather lined and $10 cheaper (unless 90th Anniv Ed $10 more) than the Mt. Light tribute to the 70s version.
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I just want to add that the Mountain Light Cascade, and the Mountain Light are different boots. There is also a Mountain Light II, which is what I own, and I think they're fantastic. I'm a UPS driver in the Northeast, and they're one of the few boots (out of many) that have held up for more than one year (3 years now on these Danners). I've been using them alongside a couple of pairs of Asolos. One of the Asolos is falling apart after 4 years, which is honestly impressive.
Oh damn, I bought these boots April 2021 from REI for $350 and now they are up there for $440. After a month of break in, these have become my daily driver shoes that i also take hiking and hunting. They are still going strong with only a few blemishes on the outside from rocks or debris. No issues with the inside liner so far. I'm a Bigger dude at 260+ LBS and they've been holding up. Probably will get a pair of Nicks or something when these are on their last legs, but lasting 2 years so far, at $175/year and still going strong is a win in my book since i usually had to replace whatever i bought every year.
I worked on a back country trail crew for 4 years and wore these boots for a couple of seasons. Always kept my feet dry, pretty rugged and withstood some very tough conditions. I don't think they are as comfy as a Nick's Ranger for trail work but the light weight and waterproof goretex was a big plus during the rainy months
I had these boots and they almost feel exactly like my military boots during service, which was absolutely terrible. The inside lining always bothered me because it just sticks to everything after a while.
The design, construction & quality of Danner Mountain Light Gore-tex has remained nearly the same as my first pair in late 90s. Brownish red. There's just a very small change of the sole. One thin layer of foam is deleted. Mountain Light is merely fashion boots not for hiking. A Japanese fashion designer wore a Danner Light ll (not mountain light) to hike for 25+ years though. It's the price that upset me. 17yrs ago, it was sold at about 220usd in HongKong, nearly 400usd in Japan. Now 440 in HK, 558usd in Japan The quality of Mountain Light has never declined. Additional footbeds are necessary. Aesthetic pleasure and Materials are the selling points. No comment on other Danners.
My 2017 Scarpa Kinesis light didnt even last 2000km of trekking (no climbing, no crampons used). The glue between the upper leather and the first layer of the sole failed. First on one, then on both boots. 300€ well spent -__-
I had a pair of the old Mountain Light boots from the mid 80's. I laid out a HUGE amount of money for me at the time. I loved them and wore them for many years and many miles. I also bought several pairs of Danners when I was in the Marine Corps and found them to be good boots that were much better than the issued boots. I'm saddened to see what's become of the Danner brand.
I wore these boots for some years and had problems with the lining and the soles coming unglued. I was tired of buying new ones every year or two. I switched to the Zamberlan 1023 and have been extremely impressed with them. For the same price the Zamberlan is ten times better and I'd love to see a comparison!
The Zamberlan 1023 (Latemar) is about the only Zamberlan hiking boot I would consider, but that one does truly tick all the boxes with a leather lining, Norwegian welt and Vibram soles. And at a great price!
I have the Tofane because of the rubber toe protection and goretex, i walk through a lot of streams my feet never get wet. The ground is very rugged with sharp rocks; I never feel them.
I'm glad you did this on the Danner Mountain Light - I was actually in the market for this shoe, but now having known its construction I will pass. Maybe I will look into the Nick's hiker boot.
For what it's worth, I've had my Mountain Lights for 18 years, on my second sole, and when I clean them up and oil them they look damn near new and are every bit as comfortable, supportive, and water/dirt proof as they ever were. I was unaware Nick's made a hiking boot, and I'm sure they're a great deal better, but that doesn't make these not awesome. Also, you can get them almost half off on Black Friday from Danner. Edit: This isn't the original Mountain Light, these may very well not be as good. They do still sell the original, though.
@@Highland_Paddy For long distance serious hiking or backpacking? And define 'decent', because there are absolutely combat boots that won't mutilate you for that kind of stuff, but they definitely cost hundreds of dollars. You can casually day hike in Chuck Taylors if you want to, but that's not really what these (well, the originals, these appear to be different) are for.
@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney Um, well I don't know your lifestyle or if you're just a shill for a company that you somehow haven't gotten their boots already but name one of the most expensive custom brands, but yeah, most people only hike a couple weeks in summer and only need a pair of Nevados or something that will last them two or three years. AND I can find decent combat boots on clearance at surplus store or Sportman's Guide for $50-$200 that could handle seven to twelve miles a day for a few months and then get a glued re-sole just fine. That's about half a year of shoe that I have used just like that. And without being full leather, which I think I would find too hot and not breathable in warm weather but won't have the heritage nostalgia gimmick. Yes, Converse makes military boots that aren't flat soled basketball shoes now, too. So does Reebok. The more current ones I liked were Bates but in Boy Scouts I just used jungle boots with the commando sole because they were only twenty dollars at the time and they lasted for about three years until I didn't fit them anymore and some of the side stitching was coming undone.
@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney Frankly, as much as I'm ambivalent about some of their other offerings, if somebody just absolutely wanted leather ones for the look or something, I'd say the Thursday Captain ones I got for $200 would be perfectly adequate for much trail use. I've already taken them on two day hikes with no issues but they don't have an extreme outsole and they have a lot more seams than these Danner ones and I live in a dry climate, but I don't know what Nick's has in one-piece leather lace-to-toe models.
It's rare that I think Weston doesn't get it, but here I think that's the case. You can't really understand these boots until you've hiked 20 miles in them with a loaded pack. What you're paying for are not "features" but refinement. There is nothing unnecessary on them and they are cut, lined, soled and shanked in such a way that they simply don't hurt your feet. And while that seems like it should be an easy criteria to fulfill, on long hikes the number of boots that achieve it is near zero. These boots are like a Porsche 356. There doesn't seem to be much to justify the price over the Beetle. But then you drive it and it all makes sense. This boot DOES fall short compared to the 6490 in ways that you would only know if you'd cut both at once. It no longer has the full length shank that was so great for carrying very heavy packs, and the last is now wider so it allows your foot to spread a lot- which is great for casual shoes but fatiguing for serious backpacking and less secure for technical mountaineering.
Not going to comment on the price Danner wants for these boots. BUT, when a factory makes a Gore-Tex boot they have to follow what Gore-Tex lays out for what materials the factory can use. That white fiber board is not your regular cardboard. It is made by a company called Stanbee, it is made in the USA and is used on all hot weather US military boots. Now read this. That white fiber board will outlast any leather insole....as has been proved by the millions and millions of pairs of boots purchased by the DOD over several years. It is impervious to sweat, salt, saltwater, and works from the extreme cold to the hot deserts of Iraq. While it may not mold to your foot like a thick leather insole, it will withstand millions of flexes as well. Also, if a leather insole is used with a Gore-Tex membrane it will soon separate from the membrane and make the boot useless. In waterproof boots with a membrane, man made materials are used, which also include the counter stiffeners and box toes. Now on the heritage side, the original hiker of this style was not waterproof and did use a leather insole, counter etc. Waterproofing, specially with a Gore-tex membrane changes what materials Gore-Tex allows. Also, when water enters between the upper and the membrane, but, not inside the membrane the boot is considered waterproof. It is required that water enter freely between the upper and the membrane to pass the stringent MVPR (Water Vapor Permeability Test). The only time a boot is rendered to have failed the waterproof test is when the membrane actually leaks. Here is a link to Stanbee www.stanbee.com/newpage3c2d988e
I own these boots and I got them back when they were $325. I think you're right about them. I don't regret buying them at the price point that I paid back in the day but I wouldn't spend any more than that on them. To me $325 was worth it because I used Danners in the military and I'm loyal to them, they are American made, and they look really really good to me. I don't think I'd pay $430 though. They have been fantastic boots but I agree that they aren't worth $430
I’ve been wearing Mountain Light 2 for over a decade. I still love them. The only issue far with two pairs of them: mid-sole foam in breaking down and I might have to send it for re-sole.
Danner is what can happen when people put "buy american" or "buy local" above doing their research. It leads to companies getting lazy and cutting corners because they know they can abuse brand loyalty.
I recently ordered some Danner Cascade Crest 5" boots, and a big selling point to me was that they are 're-craftable/re-soleable' when the soles are worn out. For somewhere over $100, you send them in, get them resoled and give them a spa treatment, and go on for several more years with your same favorite boots. Might be good to mention!
At 10:15 I’d like to add that it has Gortex lining and that is a huge difference maker for me. Is it overpriced? Yes yes it is but at least it’s made in America and I’m helping keep someone in a job.
I bought a pair of these about 5 years ago - I believe the price at the time was in the mid-$300's. They are a good boot. They are made in the USA, and they are actually decent as a tribute. I disagree about them being a "hoax", since I don't believe anybody would actually choose these over a modern hiking boot for actual hiking. But they are stylish, surprisingly comfortable, and worth it if you can find them at a discount.
I too love Danner Boots. I sold them throughout the company's ownership changes from The Danner Family, LaCrosse Footwear, and ABC Stores. Personally, I think any "iconic heritage" boot should have full leather linings, especially at the $400+ level. Danner was said to be the first boot company to ever use Gore-Tex bootie liners and I know of no currently made Gore-Tex lined boot that has leather next to the foot. The footwear companies would likely say Gore-Tex works better with a "trapping and wicking" layer that physically can't hold water vapor instead collecting it and efficiently passing it through to the Gore-Tex which at trade shows they used to visually demonstrate by boiling a beaker of water with a Gore Tex piece securely fitted around the beaker's mouth. The boiling water made steam and the steam migrated through the Gore-Tex thus showing a steam cloud coming through the material. Anyway, this is likely way the engineered fabric linings. Personal experience hazy memory, I did sell at some time in the eighties a Timberland waterproof boot that had Gore-Tex booties with a genuine perforated glove leather lining but that stock number is lost to me at this date. Again, I know of no company making a Gore-Tex type lined boot with leather linings in the current market. This means it might get a pass on the linings though I, myself, would forgo the Gore-Tex if the only way to to have that is to not have leather next to the foot. The other thing I don't see that I'd prefer is a genuine sweat-proof "slab" insole board. It looks, to me, that when you showed the split boot the board insole foundation was a composite type material. That's a step down if I'm correct. I think the price, therefore, is truly on the high side and folks would more readily pay about $300 for this otherwise beautiful boot. I will mention that stitch down is Danner's bread and butter difference which makes a very supportive boot much more flexible, thus easier to break-in and, likely, for most folks much more comfortable in a variety of uses. I still love Danner Boots and think the worst faux-pas is the price.
The problem with an all leather liner in a hiking boot is that it becomes very swampy and warm when hiking. The mesh liner allows your feet to breathe and is more comfortable on your feet when they're active. A leather heel counter would have been the better alternative because he was correct when he said that mesh lining is going to quickly break down at the heel from rubbing.
You can see just from the way the leather has a “supple” look to it (and confirmed by how easy it is to flex) that the leather is not the stiff, sturdy, supportive, long-lasting material that good “traditional” style hiking boots have. For $400+, I’d want my boots to have thick, super-stiff leather that takes forever to break in, but will also last a long, long time!
@@Totemparadox I’ve spent a lifetime in boots..I know what quality leather looks like, feels like and how it flexes…and these overpriced cheesy Danners don’t have it! Now go back to suburbia where fashion boots are all you need Martin!
@@johns3106 Well I know people who've driven their whole life and I still wonder how they haven't killed anyone. I've used heavy duty boots from makers like Nicks and JK. Over rated as fuck. Break in is unnecessarily long and doesn't offer any more support in areas that are needed and offer too much support in areas that don't need it. Best boot from Nicks has been their tactical boot and I oiled the shit out of those. Now they're as comfortable as modern combat boots like bellevilles and still supports.
I buy Danner boots for hiking but I opt for their 8" waterproof insulated ones designed for hunters. They last a good while, are exceedingly comfortable, and great for hiking.
A lot of you seem to misinterpret what he’s seeing here. He’s not really saying danner has gone down hill he’s just saying this boot is overpriced. A $300 dollar boot is still a pretty good boot-Common’.
I would really enjoy the team deconstructing a real classic mountaineering boot like the ALICO “Guide Mountain Boot”, or the custom made in New Hampshire/Germany LIMMER “the Standard” Alpine boot…. We don’t need tributes or inspiration!
I purchased these particular boots in the early 90's at $225.00 at REI. When Danner has an annual sale you can get the boots in this class at about $320. Once broken in, the Danner Mountain Light is truly fantastic for hiking. I would agree that $430 is steep, and I probably would not purchase at the full retail price. (Though I did purchase a pair of Danner Lights in the Cache-Sienna leather at $375 full price pre-COVID with no regrets). Cost breaks down to time and materials. An important question to consider is why are other brands so cheap? Where is the manufacturing, what are the employees getting paid and what is the company overhead? To me, there is no other company that is making this style of boot in the US, which I think deserves the premium. Also Danner is a Union Shop that pays proper wages, worker's comp, medical insurance, 401K, et al. At full retail, I imagine there may be 50% margins, which I believe are quiet a bit less than most other shoe makers. For comparison, I would enjoy seeing Eddie Bauer K-2, Merrill Wilderness and Fracap Magnifico 120 cut in half.
I mean I agree, I'm a union worker too. But why not use some quality materials to step it up a little? Surely that can't increase the price that much. I have bought veg tan leather to make my own insoles, I know how much it costs. Especially worth it if they are putting all that labor into it! With this design, they are essentially throwing good money after bad.
@@euromobile900 That sounds awesome. I can really respect a "Maker". I feel like materials are not what they used to be - and not just for shoes. I work with leather and it's kind of hard to get clean, consistent American hides at scale, and it seems Danner does a better then average job for this boot. The company will do small runs with specialty leathers. But those almost have cult followings and are rarely discounted. I used to feel similarity about leather insoles. I almost dropped $450 on a pair of Fracap military hiking boots just because of the leather lining. The design was similar to the Mountain Light, but "Italian Style" : beautiful, sumptuous, richly tanned Italian leather inside and out. The insole was like butter. Then it occurred to me that I will wear wool socks and custom insole in the shoes in any case, so what does it matter? I don't know. I have a Danner bias because of memories formed from very grueling experiences where the boots held up with no issues. I imagine you can template a leather insole and add a leather heel counter at a resole. Good luck with the leather work! I hope you find it rewarding.
TBH, the only real issue I have with these hiking boots is the lining that's going away in half a dozen hikes. And that's something that is not trivial to fix.
i own the mountain light 2 and theyve kept my feet dry with minimal signs of wear. i also picked mine up second hand so im not as peeved at the price. interestingly though, these have yet to wear through on the inside despite how hard i am on my footwear. the last is narrow though for sure it took some extra time to break that part in
Just out of curiosity, will Wes ever review a pair of Truman boots? I'd kind of like to know what the issues are that he is waiting to be resolved over there. The products look good on their website, but it's hard to tell. Help us, Wes!
@@randynovick7972 Yeah, I drive through Eugene, Oregon three or four times a year and I've considered checking to see if they have an on-site store and maybe picking up a pair of boots, but I've been wary of making a decision pending an explanation as to why Wes is holding off making a video. I mean, have plenty of boots, so it's no emergency, but now my curiosity is starting to kick in. What's the story, Wes?
Mountain Trail is cheaper and leather lined. Looks more or less exactly like the 6490. It seems to have the same synthetic midsole as mountain light, but a softer rubber outsole. I like them a lot.
Most boot advertising is a horrible sales scam. If you want quality boots for work, hiking, anything outdoors that is comfortable, protect your feet and ankles, and proper for a given environment, just look to see what the military wears. Give me a good pair of 8 inch side zipper, lace up military desert boot any day. Except for very wet conditions, and then I go for the full leather waterproofed version. Ive hiked the Grand Canyon and many many other tough places and never had a boot/foot problem. A good pair of military grade boot is simply the best thing on your feet for rugged day in, day out wear. Everything else is second place .
I’ve been wearing these for over a year and disappointed. The break in was hard, then they were great for about 8 months, but now they’re getting uncomfortable again like they’re wearing out! Biggest problem is the folding tongue design and the eyelets, which poke me every step I take. I feel like I got scammed into buying some hipster boot thinking it would be great for Mt. Whitney but I left them behind! never buying danner again! (Maintained cleaned and oiled religiously btw)
My favorite pair were the Vasque Sundowner made in Italy way back in the day, the 1990's. Soft, supple, barely any break in time with vibram soles. They were the standard. Now sold to red wings and made in China, the knock offs suck. Yes, I have two pairs of Danner mountain light for work and play. They're good sturdy boots if they're from the Oregon plant
Already bought the boot prior to watching this. I'm switching from the Vasque Sundowner. I bought it for all the reasons mentioned, USA, brand name, one piece. I payed $330 for mine. I love them so far, I'm still in the break in
The Alico Summit has all the good (main part of the upper is a single piece wrap-around; though it does have and eyelet reinforcement strip and other pieces higher on the shaft), addresses all the bad (has a leather lining) AND it looks like it uses a norwegian welt. It is Italian rather than MitUSA but usually half the price of Danner when you can find them stateside.
Definitely a fashion thing. Almost feels like a company who sees the dollar signs on the sneaker side of things, and wants a limited release that brings in the fashion focused individuals. But we're basically already in White's territory at that price.
You can get an Italian handmade, norwegian welted, one piece full grain leather upper, calf leather lining, vibram sole, steel shank, 6 inches hiking boot for 1/3 of the price of this Danner.
a teacher (mr Vaughn) bought me a pair of timberland boots in 1971 when I joined his rambling club at school and they were cheap (hence he bought me them) they didn't have any reputation yet of being great boots, I wore them boots out, never taking them off my feet for three years, I outgrew them and gave them to a younger kid at school who like me just joined the rambling club (our teacher encouraged that sort of thing, sharing and helping) anyways after them boots I had many pairs of hiking/walking boots but then decided to go back to the first ones, the timberland boots, the new ones looked the same, sort of ! but they were crap in comparison, the leather wasn't as supple, the sole was much stiffer and not rubberised even the cleats were flimsy in comparison, the laces were not cotton but nylon, the only thing the same was the maker's stamp on the boot that said TIMBERLAND, and they cost like £4X the cost of the original pair but they there now a fashion item 30 years later,
Lots of "popular" hiking products share a few features.... 1. They are super light 2. They are super comfy 3. They are super expensive 4. they are super hyped Seriously... a hiking boot that feels like a sneaker.... of course it was popular amongst rich yuppy hikers. They can afford to replace them every three months. I see this all the time in the camping community. Everyone is trying to sell weak tents, that arent great, they have low durability and they cost $400. BUT they are light and comfy...... Rich people will spend a lot of money on "light and comfy" ... and when it wears out too quick they will rationalise that as "I did a lot of hard work camping".
I do think these are a little expensive for what they are but European equivalents (usually made in European factories) from brands like Scarpa, Meindl, Hanwag and Zamberlan are not that much cheaper. Regarding the materials used, whole cut boots are fairly common for "premium" hiking and mountaineering boot and can be as thick as 2.8 to 3mm. Often they use Nubuck leather or at least very lightly sand the leather. This makes the cost a little bit cheaper as they can use more of the hide. The leather is sometimes impregnated with silicon based chemicals in the tanning process to make it more water resistant. These boots get lots of abuse and cuts and scrapes from rocky terrain as well as acidic peat water soakings, so protecting the leather in this way makes sense. The linings are usually jersey or similar materials like Cambrelle as it wicks moisture away from your feet better than a leather lining (or unlined) boot and also work well with Goretex booties which are frequently used nowadays (sadly).
Missed opportunity to put Linkin Park's Breaking the Habit in the sponsor section, at least the instrumental part of the song for a couple of seconds due to copyright
In my opinion, Danner has already gone the way of companies like Florsheim and Cole Hahn. They sell low quality footwear at high quality prices. They stopped caring about the customer experience and only chase their bottom dollar. It's a short sighted business plan that I hope pushes them into obscurity and disfavor among consumers.
I bought a pair of these a few years ago, shipped straight from the States, as soon as they were out of the box I noticed the soles were off-set, I figured they may be seconds. Notwithstanding this I found the overlapping tongue very annoying to lace easily and uncomfortable to wear. I returned them to America, at a cost which Danner didn’t honour, very disappointed at the product and their customer service too. Having owned and used the Danner Arcadia in the past I felt let down by this one product, which is extremely damaging to a company’s good reputation. I’ve never purchased anything from Danner since!
The original mountain trail boot, which it is based on, was a great boot. But unfortunately, the company neglected function for aesthetics. For a short, stitchdown boot, it doesn't need gore-tex. Just some beeswax. The greatest problem is the heel counter is a piece of plastic that curls inward and rubs below the ankles, causing instant blisters. A piece of plastic can't be broken in. Second, the tongue, and the gore-tex beneath the tongue wrinkle up and dig into the metatarsals. Third, the heel is wide and the toebox is narrow (for the mountain light ii at least). Fourth, after a short hike, I noticed a thorn lodged into the side of my boot. If you want a one-piece leather alternative to this boot for the same price, check out the Zamberlan Latemar and Tofane boots; heavier but more ergonomic, and more durable. For an older model, try a Vasque ascender or Asolo Yukon on ebay and they'll still outlast them. "tribute" is the right critique in one word.
The greatest long distance hiking shoe is the Altra Lone Peak trail running shoe. The Lone Peaks distinctive tread pattern is ubiquitous on the Triple Crown. Boots are too heavy and do not dry off fast enough. Ankle support will only lead to weaker ankles in the long run.
I believe they make an anniversary boot called the Mountain Trail which is basically the same boot with Horween Chromexcel and unlined. But that’s it. I agree it may be $30 overpriced but that’s it, I hope Viberg will get the same scrutiny with their machine bottomed, machine welted, brass nail gunned over priced boot but we’ll see
the 90th Anniversary Ed Mountain Trail has Horween Leather. Actually, both the Mt Trail and Mt Trail Anniv Edition are leather lined rather than the cheap Dri-Lex lining in the Mt. Light in this video. Why you would pay $10 more for the Mt Light tribute to 70's style vs the Mt Trail based on 60's version is beyond me. $10 more you get the Mt. Trail Anniv Ed.
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In 1990 I got a pair of Danner Goretex mountain lights for ~$180, color was somewhat darker then this and with goretex liners. getting out the inflation calculator $180 1990 would be 415.69 in 2023 dollars. I still have these boots so durability wise I think they are fine. the fabric lining I think wears better than you would expect because they really need to be worn with a heavy wool sock. My main criticism of these boots which I seeming can see already in the video but which becomes I think more obvious with time is that the shoe tongue doesn't remain centered and tend to pull towards the outside especially after a long day. a tongue loop would go a long way towards improving the situation , certainly in the last 30 years. after about decade of wear I did cut through the tongue order to pass the laces through before the first set of eyelets which helped a lot.
So I'm from Germany and i do like to hike and I have recently bought the Meindl Badile, and Meindl is one of the biggest players in hiking boots over here and i would really love it if You took a look at then, because Meindl positions the Badiles as heritage hiking boots so they would be right up Your alley. They are also made in Germany and are full leather.
Awesomeness!!! I asked you to do the Danner Mountain Lights on the last vid and here we are! I havent tried these but Ive had like six pairs of the Mountain Light 2. They once were made in China Exclusevly for Cabelas. They were really excellent actually. I bought the first pair for $120 around 2004 sometime. I wore them every day welding for work in a fab shop for a year or so. The sole is so comfy with that 3/4 inch foam in the heel. Once they began to wear out(sole wears flat) I bought two more pairs from Cabelas clearance for $87ea. What a deal! Fast fwd a few years and I get on the Danner discount thing and scored a pair of the Stumptown Black rough out with the white wedge soles. They came with those fat red laces. My first american made pair, $120 blems(i couldnt see a single imperfection) I put tons of miles on those. They got re-soled(Bakers Boots) 3x before the leater started to give at the welt. Since then I’ve bought them from Amazon 😅 Funny cause I live like 180 miles from the factory. Last time they tried to price gouge me! I watched them go frome 300 or so all the way up to 389 then they went down to about 325 so I forked out the cash. They came quick but were the wrong size! When I looked on Amazon they’d dropped from 325 down to 275 so I bought my correct size right then. I sent the others back. A week later I look on Amazon again and they dropped to 225 so I bought another pair. All black with white stitch Gore Tex James Bond wears them in the snow scenes of Spectre (2015) Ive taken care of these two pairs. One pair I wear casually the other is pristine, I saved them for Funerals and Weddings. I would relly love to see the Mountain Light II cut because I feel like they have different construction, althogh maybe not. Im glad I got to see these get roasted!!!
When i was in Law Enforcement, everyone loved Danner boots. My thoughts were they were way over priced and to rough on the feet. Danner is no longer the Danner it use to be... When are you going to cut FRYE Boots? I am so curious to know if FRYE has done it right for the price, and I love that you can be up front about the quality of the boots.
@@kiloyardstare no way?! darn, thats sad. i have had mine for about 4 years and i dont even wear them, they have this THICK rubber on the soles that make them feel 5lbs each. I wanted to get a new pair, but i appreciate your reply and will now look for a different brand. Thanks
Can you look into some of Danner's higher end models? Seems to be a huge difference between what you have looked at to date and things like the Rain Forest and Elk Hunter for example
Recap: he likes the one piece leather upper, likes the foam midsole with fiber shank arch support, likes the outsole, appreciates the fact that its made in the US, doesn't like the lining but he probably didn't get the gore-tex version (not positive)...so he doesn't like the boot
1 piece high quality leather, moderate waterproofness, well built sole AND it's hand made in America and that's not worth $400 (even though I got my Mountain Light II's for about $239)? I've had mine for a few years now (actually, 1/2 a decade), but I use them mostly for the woods and never in urban areas. They are undoubtedly the absolute best boots I've used for what I do (axe work, hiking, hunting, camping, etc...). I can climb up a ravine like a billy goat, they are exceptionally supporting while crossing a creek on technical rocks and they just feel (no pun intended) like they ground you to the forest. If they had been any of the hundred dollar Timberlands I used to use regularly (which I love), they would've been worn through by now. As a user, I have to say that I've gotten back my $239 back several times over. But that's just me. BTW, I recently bought a pair of Eddie Bauer K-6 boots which are the Mountain Light's twins for about $150. Did I need them? Nope. I have about a dozen pairs of good boots, but for a hundred and fifty bucks, I almost had to get them.
I have similar Danners. Bought them for 216 usd on sale 3 years ago. Never regreted the purchase. The most comfortable shoe. Wearing them in winter and summer. The lining indeed has slightly started to wear out but not too much yet. For this reason my next shoes will be all leather Danner Mountain Trail.
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They sure are #1 in ugliness!
can you please do a modern european alpine boot, something like scarpa, la sportiva, garmont, etc
Im not even a shoe or boot person. Would not buy most items on this channel. But i do like how you know your shit and praise or expose expensive footware. And alot better than some youtuber who just rewords the marketing shit to get paid.
Get some Asolo and Scarpa backpacking boots! I love mine, I have one pair over ten years and still kicking, broke it in on a 30 day NOLS trip.
Diesel Boot Jungle Kangaroo??? I want to see some Kangaroo Leather boots reviewed.
I have to inject some history here. I am the adopted son of William Charles Danner. Bill Danner lived to be 97 and yesterday May 2, 2023 would have been his 104th birthday. I worked in my dad's factory from the time I was 13. (1960) . We always gave boots numbers not names. This boot was called the 6490. the first two digits were for the year it was developed. In those days we made mostly heavy duty logging boots and work boots. But my dad wanted to climb Mt Hood as a challenge so he developed this boot. The shoemaker who developed the pattern was Horace Nunley. He was from England.
At that time most all the Danner boots were made in what is called Nailed construction. However, we had an Italian shoemaker whose name was Christopher Massimo Salvatore Fiandaca. He was a master and had made shoes since he was 6 years old. At his suggestion we made this boot in a " lining lasted stitchdown " construction. We were the first boot company in the northwest to do this construction. The boot had a real 12 iron leather insole, was fully leather lined with glove leather, had a real steel shank and a leather "dutchman" with a vibram outsole. So my dad climbed Mt Hood in them as did my Mother.
The boot did not sell well for ten years,: by the way the price was $ 35.00 . However, in 1974 Backpacker magazine , in their fourth issue , comapred 36 kinds of hicking boots available in the US. They rated the 6490 as the number one value in the country. From that article the boot took off. I was running the back half of the factory and we had to triple our production in that year.
the boot they make today with its fabric lining of Gortex , which is just glorified plumbers tape, and a paper insole, Texon, is a far cry from the boot we made in the 70's.
that is the short version of this boot.
Awesome history… as a maker I enjoyed reading your comment. Would love to hear more :)
Very interesting, thank you for the history. Basically then, the 6490 boot was a European style mountain boot made in your factory? My exposure to this style of boot came from the mountaineering side, not back packing. So, in the early 70's I picked from and wore ultra high quality boots, usually the French Galibier "Super Guide". The 6490 I did not even considered as I was Euro-centric. My casual hiking boot choice was German Pivetta. About the time I was done with mountaineering, and would have been interested in a real 6490, the world had changed and all these old style boots were gone. Well, except for the Italian company Alico, which still kind of pulls it off.
@@randydewees7338 I still have my Super Guides from the 70s.
Awesome history here Bill. Also I heard that this was the first Vibram soled boot that was mas produced.
Vibram lug soles go back into the early 50's. Lots of boot makers in Europe used them in the 50's. I guess you'd have to be careful about the definition of "massed produced", since many of the European boots could be purchased from store stock. @@kylegarcia9998
The biggest problem with this channel is that my options for new boots are now restricted to the boots that they cut in half. I have developed serious trust issues with the footwear industry. Kidding aside, I really appreciate the work you guys are doing. Very educational, useful and interesting.
Had us in the first half not gonna lie
All jokes aside I love things made in the USA and looking to save up for nicks boots lol $700 down the drain here we go
you may be kidding, but I agree.
@@BrentonCarr I am only partially kidding
Totally agree! So many shitty shoes with big price tags out there.
I've purchased 4 boots/shoes based on what I've learned here. So far, I have not been lead astray. :)
@@robertsandgren9389 that’s why I just buy shit that good and delivers not the other way around where it’s good but doesn’t deliver. And if something is good and deliver and the company believes in it prepare for the fucking price tag. My wallet is think about beating the shit out of me cause I’m saving up for those Nicks boots. I want something where I can wear for a very long time and not having to replace it every 6 months to a year. Guess what people in the military say is buy once cry once and I believe in that statement. I may be one side branded but who gives a shit really, I like nicks cause of what they do, the amount of work they put in that boot is already a shut up and take my money. Just gotta save $700 for it though lol
I can’t even tell you how many pairs of shoes or boots I have went through that cost literally $100-$200 for a pair of shoes, they literally tear up and having to replace it or get a new one is a pain in the ass and more money is begin put down, I have a mind set where if I buy one thing I want it to last forever if I have to buy another boot within the next 10-15 years I’m sold,I’m steering away from all of these boots that are cheaply made and that falls apart easily I’m done and sick of it
We couldn’t remember the greatest boot in the wo-orld, this is just a tribute.
Haha epic
Ahh....Tenacious D.anner!
Who else sang this
You have just won the comment section!
* This is just a triboot..
Please cover more hiking and backpacking boots, I feel like when it comes to choosing the right one to buy its difficult to tell if what you get is going to work well or be a dud.
Agree
Yes please!
Just find some decent combat boots instead.
realistically the most important thing about them is a boot that works for you, try on lots of pairs and buy what feels best
Trail runners, backpacking boots are old news. Stability comes from the sole, and lighter shoes are better for distance.
“1 lb on your feet is 5 lbs on your back”
A hiking series would be interesting. Also, please review Limmer boots, they have a custom boot shop in New Hampshire with a 3 year waitlist, but their German-made stock boots are made to similar specifications and are absolute beasts. They also make “stock” boots in New Hampshire in their small shop. Probably the best hikers in the world.
Yes I have wide feet and would love if there were options for a good hiking/hunting boot. A bit lighter and more flexible boot would be good
Yes Limmer. I have their"light" boot, that is 2 lb 2 oz each. Have resoled. Bought in 2004/2005. Have saved my feet and ankles.
I’m from New Hampshire. I’ve been backpacking the White Mountains since 1978. I’ve wanted a pair of Limmers for a very long time.
My dad gave me a paire of Danners in the late 90s for hunting. Loved those boots and for years I bought exclusively Danners. Being 3 hours from Portland in Washington, I liked the PNW vibes and that first pair. I wore them as a teen working in construction then through the police academy. It was while I worked the road that I started to notice the quality of the brand going down. After 20 over years of Danners, I noticed they just weren't what they used to be and moved on. Sadly, this video just affirms my own observations.
It's a real shame.
I too was a Die hard Danner boot fan and noticed the huge decline in quality. They keep raising the price and lowering the quality. It’s not only Danner. Chippewa did the same thing. Can’t even buy the model or color I liked from them. When you spend $400 dollars and the boots last 18ish months it’s a little frustrating. I just can’t spend $700 on a pair of PNW boots that are 4-6 months out and unreturnable.
Thats what happens when you let accountants run a company. 😢
if a cop sitting on his ass in a car can notice the difference, that says a lot.
What do you think about Bates? I've been told it's the same story with them. From what I've been told, they were a popular brand with police officers. Same old story we see everywhere else, put out a good strong product at a reasonable price, then change the product to be cheap and coast on your reputation. You hate to see it.
I hope the manufactures are taking notice. People are cutting their stuff in half and reviewing it professionally and unbiased. Consumers have never been so lucky!
Do the Eddie Bauer K6 boot next! It has a similar vintage æsthetic and is well under $200
And it is built just like this Danner - I have them both :( Thankfully I got the K6 on a black Friday for $65. Both brands feel so thin.
@@bendercs the leather feels thin? Didn’t he say it’s 2.5mm thick? That’s not really “thin”…
I have the Danner RAT boot (5 pairs 😂) and they’re amazing, appears to have the same stitch down construction and hybrid foam/vibram sole. I’d be willing to try the Danner hikers but at more than 4x the price of the RAT I’ll probably settle for the EB for an æsthetic boot 🤷🏼♂️
True!
They are built in Nam, (hence the price, I guess?) but I'd still enjoy seeing them cut in half and analyzed.
Agree, do the K6. Although it might actually use better materials.
@@InGrindWeCrust2010 you mean the k6
The reason why this boot is $430 is to pay for labor in Portland, OR. It's ironic because Rose Anvil sells overpriced strips of leather as camera harnesses and doesn't realize the same could be said about him.
One of the best pair of boots I've ever had were Prospectors which were made in Canada and look like they might've been based on the original Danner Mountain Light. I purchased them in Canada from a work wear outlet in Calgary in 1997. They cost $300 CAD back then. They looked exactly like these except they were fully leather lined, had 3 screws across the underside of the toe of the Vibram sole, and a layer of Thinsulate between the leather lining and the outer.
My prospectors looked great, took an absolute beating, and were very comfortable. I had them resoled. I got about 15 years wear out of them including 12 months travelling through Europe. I still have them. I have searched high and low to buy another pair but can't find them. The quality of my Prospectors appears to be a level up from the Danner Mountain Light.
I have two pairs of prospectors and they are very good boots. I have a two pairs because I found them new old stock in a thrift store for dirt cheap, they were RCMP winter boots issued.
Such a value added service this man is providing by reviewing and thus, exposing these companies for their shoddy quality. Please keep doing your thing!
Would love to see reviews of some actual Italian made brands, like Saint Laurent, Gucci, Golden Goose, Balenciaga, etc.
You should do a video on boots made with metatarsal protection, they're required in my field and I've always wondered what's different about them from regular work boots.
Isn’t thaT just a shank?
Those boots are literally made the same, just with a leather flap over the laces.
@@BOOGiNS that’s true for an external met guard but not an internal
My Danners are the greatest boots I've ever owned. I'm 74, retired 30 years ARMY, and Danners were my go to work in boots, and still are.
I knew this type comment was in the comment section. And rightfully so. Danner boots have made some fine quality boots at a decent price, particularly years ago. If I'm not mistaken, the mountain light comes in 2 different models. The gortex lined 100% waterproof. And the leather lined. Definitely a unique hearty looking boot that does seem to be quality for a man as long as fit and finish are spot on.
I own these boots and have used them for everyday wear (especially in the wet) and for backpacking in rocky terrain. They've been durable and comfortable *with the extreme caveat that I literally had to develop a special way of lacing them, because the huge amount of leather folded up in the tongue created absurd pinch points and hot spots.* Once I figured that out, they've been great in all conditions.
But yeah, for absolutely sure, I did buy them for the heritage/history nod and all that, and more of a fashion boot than anything. An uglier set of boots with real tech is a way better choice, if you're not trying to be style conscious.
I have these too and also struggle with the pinch points and heat with the tongue construction. Can you share your lacing method?
@@memorizeitwithmusic612 For sure. For clarity, I'll define the "last" eyelets being the ones immediately before the speed hooks.
One of the pressure points I had was the build up of material at the fold of the tongue, so between the last and second to last eyelets, you can actually pull that folded corner out, and let one of side of the lace cross underneath the corner.
Between the eyelets and the speed hook, I do a half of a square knot (as in the first twist you do when tying your shoelaces, before you make the bow) but I'll actually give it one extra twist, so there's more friction when you tighten the boot. To be clear, the result is not a knot, it's your both sides of the lace being twisted together laterally across the top of the foot.
I repeat that between the speed hooks, as well.
Tying the boots that way let's me put different amounts of tightness in the top of the boot vs the bottom of the boot. You could probably do something similar along the rest of the boot if needs be, or box the laces in parts.
I'm cramming Spanish as hard as possible, which is making me presently unable to remember the words I'd need to adequately describe this whole thing. If my description sucks I'll give it another go.
Danner's Quarry boots used to be my favorite boot. No break in at all, very comfortable on cement all day, and they were about $200. Over the past 5 years they have kept raising the price, and now they want $320. These are barely $200 shoes, let alone $300. I wear Georgia loggers now, which I get for $160, and they are very comparable for half the price.
Pretty sure the Mt Trail replicates Danner hiking shoe heritage based on 60s version which is leather lined and $10 cheaper (unless 90th Anniv Ed $10 more) than the Mt. Light tribute to the 70s version.
I just want to add that the Mountain Light Cascade, and the Mountain Light are different boots. There is also a Mountain Light II, which is what I own, and I think they're fantastic. I'm a UPS driver in the Northeast, and they're one of the few boots (out of many) that have held up for more than one year (3 years now on these Danners). I've been using them alongside a couple of pairs of Asolos. One of the Asolos is falling apart after 4 years, which is honestly impressive.
"This is not The Greatest Song in the World, no.
This is just a tribute."
-Tenacious D
Oh damn, I bought these boots April 2021 from REI for $350 and now they are up there for $440. After a month of break in, these have become my daily driver shoes that i also take hiking and hunting. They are still going strong with only a few blemishes on the outside from rocks or debris. No issues with the inside liner so far.
I'm a Bigger dude at 260+ LBS and they've been holding up. Probably will get a pair of Nicks or something when these are on their last legs, but lasting 2 years so far, at $175/year and still going strong is a win in my book since i usually had to replace whatever i bought every year.
I worked on a back country trail crew for 4 years and wore these boots for a couple of seasons. Always kept my feet dry, pretty rugged and withstood some very tough conditions. I don't think they are as comfy as a Nick's Ranger for trail work but the light weight and waterproof goretex was a big plus during the rainy months
they are almost 2 lbs each, hardly "light"
I had these boots and they almost feel exactly like my military boots during service, which was absolutely terrible. The inside lining always bothered me because it just sticks to everything after a while.
The design, construction & quality of Danner Mountain Light Gore-tex has remained nearly the same as my first pair in late 90s. Brownish red.
There's just a very small change of the sole. One thin layer of foam is deleted.
Mountain Light is merely fashion boots not for hiking. A Japanese fashion designer wore a Danner Light ll (not mountain light) to hike for 25+ years though.
It's the price that upset me. 17yrs ago, it was sold at about 220usd in HongKong, nearly 400usd in Japan. Now 440 in HK, 558usd in Japan
The quality of Mountain Light has never declined. Additional footbeds are necessary.
Aesthetic pleasure and Materials are the selling points.
No comment on other Danners.
Two years ago I really wanted a pair of Danner MLs, ended up buying a pair of Jim Greens for 1/3 the price
Love my razorbacks
Jim Greens are just fantastic
You chose well
The best hiking boot I ever had was the Italian Scarpa brand, just absolute perfection, back in the 70's
Yep, me too! Great boots
My 2017 Scarpa Kinesis light didnt even last 2000km of trekking (no climbing, no crampons used). The glue between the upper leather and the first layer of the sole failed. First on one, then on both boots. 300€ well spent -__-
I had a pair of the old Mountain Light boots from the mid 80's. I laid out a HUGE amount of money for me at the time. I loved them and wore them for many years and many miles. I also bought several pairs of Danners when I was in the Marine Corps and found them to be good boots that were much better than the issued boots. I'm saddened to see what's become of the Danner brand.
I wore these boots for some years and had problems with the lining and the soles coming unglued. I was tired of buying new ones every year or two. I switched to the Zamberlan 1023 and have been extremely impressed with them. For the same price the Zamberlan is ten times better and I'd love to see a comparison!
The Zamberlan 1023 (Latemar) is about the only Zamberlan hiking boot I would consider, but that one does truly tick all the boxes with a leather lining, Norwegian welt and Vibram soles. And at a great price!
I have the Tofane because of the rubber toe protection and goretex, i walk through a lot of streams my feet never get wet. The ground is very rugged with sharp rocks; I never feel them.
This is not, the greatest boot in the world, no no... this is just a tribute.
I'm glad you did this on the Danner Mountain Light - I was actually in the market for this shoe, but now having known its construction I will pass. Maybe I will look into the Nick's hiker boot.
For what it's worth, I've had my Mountain Lights for 18 years, on my second sole, and when I clean them up and oil them they look damn near new and are every bit as comfortable, supportive, and water/dirt proof as they ever were. I was unaware Nick's made a hiking boot, and I'm sure they're a great deal better, but that doesn't make these not awesome. Also, you can get them almost half off on Black Friday from Danner.
Edit: This isn't the original Mountain Light, these may very well not be as good. They do still sell the original, though.
Decent combat boots are always my go-to instead of something that costs hundreds of dollars.
@@Highland_Paddy For long distance serious hiking or backpacking? And define 'decent', because there are absolutely combat boots that won't mutilate you for that kind of stuff, but they definitely cost hundreds of dollars. You can casually day hike in Chuck Taylors if you want to, but that's not really what these (well, the originals, these appear to be different) are for.
@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney Um, well I don't know your lifestyle or if you're just a shill for a company that you somehow haven't gotten their boots already but name one of the most expensive custom brands, but yeah, most people only hike a couple weeks in summer and only need a pair of Nevados or something that will last them two or three years. AND I can find decent combat boots on clearance at surplus store or Sportman's Guide for $50-$200 that could handle seven to twelve miles a day for a few months and then get a glued re-sole just fine. That's about half a year of shoe that I have used just like that. And without being full leather, which I think I would find too hot and not breathable in warm weather but won't have the heritage nostalgia gimmick. Yes, Converse makes military boots that aren't flat soled basketball shoes now, too. So does Reebok. The more current ones I liked were Bates but in Boy Scouts I just used jungle boots with the commando sole because they were only twenty dollars at the time and they lasted for about three years until I didn't fit them anymore and some of the side stitching was coming undone.
@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney Frankly, as much as I'm ambivalent about some of their other offerings, if somebody just absolutely wanted leather ones for the look or something, I'd say the Thursday Captain ones I got for $200 would be perfectly adequate for much trail use. I've already taken them on two day hikes with no issues but they don't have an extreme outsole and they have a lot more seams than these Danner ones and I live in a dry climate, but I don't know what Nick's has in one-piece leather lace-to-toe models.
It's rare that I think Weston doesn't get it, but here I think that's the case. You can't really understand these boots until you've hiked 20 miles in them with a loaded pack. What you're paying for are not "features" but refinement. There is nothing unnecessary on them and they are cut, lined, soled and shanked in such a way that they simply don't hurt your feet. And while that seems like it should be an easy criteria to fulfill, on long hikes the number of boots that achieve it is near zero. These boots are like a Porsche 356. There doesn't seem to be much to justify the price over the Beetle. But then you drive it and it all makes sense.
This boot DOES fall short compared to the 6490 in ways that you would only know if you'd cut both at once. It no longer has the full length shank that was so great for carrying very heavy packs, and the last is now wider so it allows your foot to spread a lot- which is great for casual shoes but fatiguing for serious backpacking and less secure for technical mountaineering.
Not going to comment on the price Danner wants for these boots. BUT, when a factory makes a Gore-Tex boot they have to follow what Gore-Tex lays out for what materials the factory can use. That white fiber board is not your regular cardboard. It is made by a company called Stanbee, it is made in the USA and is used on all hot weather US military boots. Now read this. That white fiber board will outlast any leather insole....as has been proved by the millions and millions of pairs of boots purchased by the DOD over several years. It is impervious to sweat, salt, saltwater, and works from the extreme cold to the hot deserts of Iraq. While it may not mold to your foot like a thick leather insole, it will withstand millions of flexes as well. Also, if a leather insole is used with a Gore-Tex membrane it will soon separate from the membrane and make the boot useless. In waterproof boots with a membrane, man made materials are used, which also include the counter stiffeners and box toes. Now on the heritage side, the original hiker of this style was not waterproof and did use a leather insole, counter etc. Waterproofing, specially with a Gore-tex membrane changes what materials Gore-Tex allows. Also, when water enters between the upper and the membrane, but, not inside the membrane the boot is considered waterproof. It is required that water enter freely between the upper and the membrane to pass the stringent MVPR (Water Vapor Permeability Test). The only time a boot is rendered to have failed the waterproof test is when the membrane actually leaks.
Here is a link to Stanbee www.stanbee.com/newpage3c2d988e
I own these boots and I got them back when they were $325. I think you're right about them. I don't regret buying them at the price point that I paid back in the day but I wouldn't spend any more than that on them. To me $325 was worth it because I used Danners in the military and I'm loyal to them, they are American made, and they look really really good to me. I don't think I'd pay $430 though. They have been fantastic boots but I agree that they aren't worth $430
No shit
I’ve been wearing Mountain Light 2 for over a decade. I still love them. The only issue far with two pairs of them: mid-sole foam in breaking down and I might have to send it for re-sole.
The best kept secret is the Treemme 137 boots from Italy. Less than $300 per pair using 3.3-3.9mm thick Gallusser Juchten leather.
Danner is what can happen when people put "buy american" or "buy local" above doing their research. It leads to companies getting lazy and cutting corners because they know they can abuse brand loyalty.
It’s really greasy and reflects on a company’s ethics which gives pause to buying their other products IMO.
Side note, wore them for a week and the lace eyelets were already rusted
I recently ordered some Danner Cascade Crest 5" boots, and a big selling point to me was that they are 're-craftable/re-soleable' when the soles are worn out. For somewhere over $100, you send them in, get them resoled and give them a spa treatment, and go on for several more years with your same favorite boots. Might be good to mention!
At 10:15 I’d like to add that it has Gortex lining and that is a huge difference maker for me. Is it overpriced? Yes yes it is but at least it’s made in America and I’m helping keep someone in a job.
I bought a pair of these about 5 years ago - I believe the price at the time was in the mid-$300's. They are a good boot. They are made in the USA, and they are actually decent as a tribute. I disagree about them being a "hoax", since I don't believe anybody would actually choose these over a modern hiking boot for actual hiking. But they are stylish, surprisingly comfortable, and worth it if you can find them at a discount.
I'd be interested to see how Fracap compares.
Diemme too!
@@J_LHAO Velasca as well.
I too love Danner Boots. I sold them throughout the company's ownership changes from The Danner Family, LaCrosse Footwear, and ABC Stores. Personally, I think any "iconic heritage" boot should have full leather linings, especially at the $400+ level. Danner was said to be the first boot company to ever use Gore-Tex bootie liners and I know of no currently made Gore-Tex lined boot that has leather next to the foot. The footwear companies would likely say Gore-Tex works better with a "trapping and wicking" layer that physically can't hold water vapor instead collecting it and efficiently passing it through to the Gore-Tex which at trade shows they used to visually demonstrate by boiling a beaker of water with a Gore Tex piece securely fitted around the beaker's mouth. The boiling water made steam and the steam migrated through the Gore-Tex thus showing a steam cloud coming through the material. Anyway, this is likely way the engineered fabric linings. Personal experience hazy memory, I did sell at some time in the eighties a Timberland waterproof boot that had Gore-Tex booties with a genuine perforated glove leather lining but that stock number is lost to me at this date. Again, I know of no company making a Gore-Tex type lined boot with leather linings in the current market. This means it might get a pass on the linings though I, myself, would forgo the Gore-Tex if the only way to to have that is to not have leather next to the foot. The other thing I don't see that I'd prefer is a genuine sweat-proof "slab" insole board. It looks, to me, that when you showed the split boot the board insole foundation was a composite type material. That's a step down if I'm correct. I think the price, therefore, is truly on the high side and folks would more readily pay about $300 for this otherwise beautiful boot. I will mention that stitch down is Danner's bread and butter difference which makes a very supportive boot much more flexible, thus easier to break-in and, likely, for most folks much more comfortable in a variety of uses. I still love Danner Boots and think the worst faux-pas is the price.
The problem with an all leather liner in a hiking boot is that it becomes very swampy and warm when hiking. The mesh liner allows your feet to breathe and is more comfortable on your feet when they're active. A leather heel counter would have been the better alternative because he was correct when he said that mesh lining is going to quickly break down at the heel from rubbing.
You can see just from the way the leather has a “supple” look to it (and confirmed by how easy it is to flex) that the leather is not the stiff, sturdy, supportive, long-lasting material that good “traditional” style hiking boots have. For $400+, I’d want my boots to have thick, super-stiff leather that takes forever to break in, but will also last a long, long time!
Tell me you don't know shit about leather without telling me you don't know shit about leather.
@@Totemparadox I’ve spent a lifetime in boots..I know what quality leather looks like, feels like and how it flexes…and these overpriced cheesy Danners don’t have it! Now go back to suburbia where fashion boots are all you need Martin!
@@johns3106 Well I know people who've driven their whole life and I still wonder how they haven't killed anyone. I've used heavy duty boots from makers like Nicks and JK. Over rated as fuck. Break in is unnecessarily long and doesn't offer any more support in areas that are needed and offer too much support in areas that don't need it. Best boot from Nicks has been their tactical boot and I oiled the shit out of those. Now they're as comfortable as modern combat boots like bellevilles and still supports.
Since you've been on a Dinner kick, I'd love to see the Mountain 600s get the treatment.
I buy Danner boots for hiking but I opt for their 8" waterproof insulated ones designed for hunters. They last a good while, are exceedingly comfortable, and great for hiking.
A lot of you seem to misinterpret what he’s seeing here. He’s not really saying danner has gone down hill he’s just saying this boot is overpriced. A $300 dollar boot is still a pretty good boot-Common’.
Exactly.
I would really enjoy the team deconstructing a real classic mountaineering boot like the ALICO “Guide Mountain Boot”, or the custom made in New Hampshire/Germany LIMMER “the Standard” Alpine boot…. We don’t need tributes or inspiration!
I purchased these particular boots in the early 90's at $225.00 at REI. When Danner has an annual sale you can get the boots in this class at about $320. Once broken in, the Danner Mountain Light is truly fantastic for hiking. I would agree that $430 is steep, and I probably would not purchase at the full retail price. (Though I did purchase a pair of Danner Lights in the Cache-Sienna leather at $375 full price pre-COVID with no regrets). Cost breaks down to time and materials. An important question to consider is why are other brands so cheap? Where is the manufacturing, what are the employees getting paid and what is the company overhead? To me, there is no other company that is making this style of boot in the US, which I think deserves the premium. Also Danner is a Union Shop that pays proper wages, worker's comp, medical insurance, 401K, et al. At full retail, I imagine there may be 50% margins, which I believe are quiet a bit less than most other shoe makers. For comparison, I would enjoy seeing Eddie Bauer K-2, Merrill Wilderness and Fracap Magnifico 120 cut in half.
I mean I agree, I'm a union worker too. But why not use some quality materials to step it up a little? Surely that can't increase the price that much. I have bought veg tan leather to make my own insoles, I know how much it costs. Especially worth it if they are putting all that labor into it! With this design, they are essentially throwing good money after bad.
@@euromobile900 That sounds awesome. I can really respect a "Maker". I feel like materials are not what they used to be - and not just for shoes. I work with leather and it's kind of hard to get clean, consistent American hides at scale, and it seems Danner does a better then average job for this boot. The company will do small runs with specialty leathers. But those almost have cult followings and are rarely discounted. I used to feel similarity about leather insoles. I almost dropped $450 on a pair of Fracap military hiking boots just because of the leather lining. The design was similar to the Mountain Light, but "Italian Style" : beautiful, sumptuous, richly tanned Italian leather inside and out. The insole was like butter. Then it occurred to me that I will wear wool socks and custom insole in the shoes in any case, so what does it matter? I don't know. I have a Danner bias because of memories formed from very grueling experiences where the boots held up with no issues. I imagine you can template a leather insole and add a leather heel counter at a resole. Good luck with the leather work! I hope you find it rewarding.
Can you do dress shoes next? I’m looking for well made, comfortable and affordable.
Trail runners are now what serious backpackers wear. Altra Lone Peak is the most popular one these days for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Jim Green for me. $430 is a big no.
TBH, the only real issue I have with these hiking boots is the lining that's going away in half a dozen hikes. And that's something that is not trivial to fix.
Now ya gotta do the actual mountain light.
maybe they had that or a similar lining.
The toe box is absolutely ridiculously unnatural on those boots. your big toe has to tilt 45 degrees to even fit in them.
i own the mountain light 2 and theyve kept my feet dry with minimal signs of wear. i also picked mine up second hand so im not as peeved at the price. interestingly though, these have yet to wear through on the inside despite how hard i am on my footwear. the last is narrow though for sure it took some extra time to break that part in
I'm with this guy. I've been wearing a pair of new generation Mountain Light 2's for the past 10 years and they've been great.
Just out of curiosity, will Wes ever review a pair of Truman boots? I'd kind of like to know what the issues are that he is waiting to be resolved over there. The products look good on their website, but it's hard to tell. Help us, Wes!
I'd like to see some Trumans, too.
@@randynovick7972 Yeah, I drive through Eugene, Oregon three or four times a year and I've considered checking to see if they have an on-site store and maybe picking up a pair of boots, but I've been wary of making a decision pending an explanation as to why Wes is holding off making a video. I mean, have plenty of boots, so it's no emergency, but now my curiosity is starting to kick in. What's the story, Wes?
Mountain Trail is cheaper and leather lined. Looks more or less exactly like the 6490. It seems to have the same synthetic midsole as mountain light, but a softer rubber outsole. I like them a lot.
Most boot advertising is a horrible sales scam. If you want quality boots for work, hiking, anything outdoors that is comfortable, protect your feet and ankles, and proper for a given environment, just look to see what the military wears. Give me a good pair of 8 inch side zipper, lace up military desert boot any day. Except for very wet conditions, and then I go for the full leather waterproofed version. Ive hiked the Grand Canyon and many many other tough places and never had a boot/foot problem.
A good pair of military grade boot is simply the best thing on your feet for rugged day in, day out wear.
Everything else is second place .
You should review some mountaineering boots like La Sportiva or Scarpa!
Great video as always. I think it would cool to see you review/cut in half a pair of vintage Vasque hiking boots, like from the 60s or 70s!
I’ve been wearing these for over a year and disappointed. The break in was hard, then they were great for about 8 months, but now they’re getting uncomfortable again like they’re wearing out! Biggest problem is the folding tongue design and the eyelets, which poke me every step I take. I feel like I got scammed into buying some hipster boot thinking it would be great for Mt. Whitney but I left them behind! never buying danner again! (Maintained cleaned and oiled religiously btw)
It’s sad because my father in law uses Danner boots for firefighting
My favorite pair were the Vasque Sundowner made in Italy way back in the day, the 1990's. Soft, supple, barely any break in time with vibram soles. They were the standard. Now sold to red wings and made in China, the knock offs suck. Yes, I have two pairs of Danner mountain light for work and play. They're good sturdy boots if they're from the Oregon plant
It would be cool if you cut some european hiking boots from Meindl or italian brands. We could compare them to this.
Already bought the boot prior to watching this. I'm switching from the Vasque Sundowner. I bought it for all the reasons mentioned, USA, brand name, one piece. I payed $330 for mine. I love them so far, I'm still in the break in
The Alico Summit has all the good (main part of the upper is a single piece wrap-around; though it does have and eyelet reinforcement strip and other pieces higher on the shaft), addresses all the bad (has a leather lining) AND it looks like it uses a norwegian welt. It is Italian rather than MitUSA but usually half the price of Danner when you can find them stateside.
Hanwag double stitched Tashi boots are much better boots
Tashi's are fantastic!
yup or the grunten
Definitely a fashion thing. Almost feels like a company who sees the dollar signs on the sneaker side of things, and wants a limited release that brings in the fashion focused individuals. But we're basically already in White's territory at that price.
You can get an Italian handmade, norwegian welted, one piece full grain leather upper, calf leather lining, vibram sole, steel shank, 6 inches hiking boot for 1/3 of the price of this Danner.
a teacher (mr Vaughn) bought me a pair of timberland boots in 1971 when I joined his rambling club at school and they were cheap (hence he bought me them) they didn't have any reputation yet of being great boots, I wore them boots out, never taking them off my feet for three years, I outgrew them and gave them to a younger kid at school who like me just joined the rambling club (our teacher encouraged that sort of thing, sharing and helping) anyways after them boots I had many pairs of hiking/walking boots but then decided to go back to the first ones, the timberland boots, the new ones looked the same, sort of ! but they were crap in comparison, the leather wasn't as supple, the sole was much stiffer and not rubberised even the cleats were flimsy in comparison, the laces were not cotton but nylon, the only thing the same was the maker's stamp on the boot that said TIMBERLAND, and they cost like £4X the cost of the original pair but they there now a fashion item 30 years later,
You should do a video on the top 5 hiking boots.
especially if he avoids molded soles and sticks to heritage constructions ... there are a lot of German, Swiss and Italian brands to pick from.
So buy them on sale or gently used is what I learned. Pretty bummed but not surprised they’re way overpriced.
That Fum thing seems pretty slick!
That mesh lets socks slide and the blister factor is off the chart. I have experienced this very thing....and no the lining will last no time.
It's disappointing: on the one hand I want companies to benefit from making cool boots like these, on the other you can't reward BS.
I'd love to see Danner Acadias cut in half. All my coworkers swear by Acadias, but I went for the Nicks Tactical instead.
Vasque Sundowner would be a real contender for the best classic hiking boot, IMO.
That jersey liner is what kills this boot for me. To spend that much on a boot that will be back in the shop within two years is a NO SALE!
Lots of "popular" hiking products share a few features....
1. They are super light
2. They are super comfy
3. They are super expensive
4. they are super hyped
Seriously... a hiking boot that feels like a sneaker.... of course it was popular amongst rich yuppy hikers. They can afford to replace them every three months.
I see this all the time in the camping community. Everyone is trying to sell weak tents, that arent great, they have low durability and they cost $400.
BUT they are light and comfy......
Rich people will spend a lot of money on "light and comfy" ... and when it wears out too quick they will rationalise that as "I did a lot of hard work camping".
Requested the Eddie Bauer k-6. Looks super similar for a fraction of the cost. Gyw, vibram sole. I’m curious how the two compare
I do think these are a little expensive for what they are but European equivalents (usually made in European factories) from brands like Scarpa, Meindl, Hanwag and Zamberlan are not that much cheaper.
Regarding the materials used, whole cut boots are fairly common for "premium" hiking and mountaineering boot and can be as thick as 2.8 to 3mm.
Often they use Nubuck leather or at least very lightly sand the leather. This makes the cost a little bit cheaper as they can use more of the hide. The leather is sometimes impregnated with silicon based chemicals in the tanning process to make it more water resistant. These boots get lots of abuse and cuts and scrapes from rocky terrain as well as acidic peat water soakings, so protecting the leather in this way makes sense.
The linings are usually jersey or similar materials like Cambrelle as it wicks moisture away from your feet better than a leather lining (or unlined) boot and also work well with Goretex booties which are frequently used nowadays (sadly).
Missed opportunity to put Linkin Park's Breaking the Habit in the sponsor section, at least the instrumental part of the song for a couple of seconds due to copyright
Love to see you do a side by side comparison between the Danner Mountain Light, and the Jim Green Razorback at less than half the price!
In my opinion, Danner has already gone the way of companies like Florsheim and Cole Hahn. They sell low quality footwear at high quality prices. They stopped caring about the customer experience and only chase their bottom dollar.
It's a short sighted business plan that I hope pushes them into obscurity and disfavor among consumers.
I would love to see the cut-in-half on Paraboots. Another heritage French shoes.
I bought a pair of these a few years ago, shipped straight from the States, as soon as they were out of the box I noticed the soles were off-set, I figured they may be seconds. Notwithstanding this I found the overlapping tongue very annoying to lace easily and uncomfortable to wear.
I returned them to America, at a cost which Danner didn’t honour, very disappointed at the product and their customer service too.
Having owned and used the Danner Arcadia in the past I felt let down by this one product, which is extremely damaging to a company’s good reputation. I’ve never purchased anything from Danner since!
The original mountain trail boot, which it is based on, was a great boot. But unfortunately, the company neglected function for aesthetics. For a short, stitchdown boot, it doesn't need gore-tex. Just some beeswax. The greatest problem is the heel counter is a piece of plastic that curls inward and rubs below the ankles, causing instant blisters. A piece of plastic can't be broken in. Second, the tongue, and the gore-tex beneath the tongue wrinkle up and dig into the metatarsals. Third, the heel is wide and the toebox is narrow (for the mountain light ii at least). Fourth, after a short hike, I noticed a thorn lodged into the side of my boot. If you want a one-piece leather alternative to this boot for the same price, check out the Zamberlan Latemar and Tofane boots; heavier but more ergonomic, and more durable. For an older model, try a Vasque ascender or Asolo Yukon on ebay and they'll still outlast them. "tribute" is the right critique in one word.
The moment you said $430 and Portland in the same sentence it was pretty self explanatory
The greatest long distance hiking shoe is the Altra Lone Peak trail running shoe. The Lone Peaks distinctive tread pattern is ubiquitous on the Triple Crown. Boots are too heavy and do not dry off fast enough. Ankle support will only lead to weaker ankles in the long run.
I believe they make an anniversary boot called the Mountain Trail which is basically the same boot with Horween Chromexcel and unlined. But that’s it.
I agree it may be $30 overpriced but that’s it, I hope Viberg will get the same scrutiny with their machine bottomed, machine welted, brass nail gunned over priced boot but we’ll see
the 90th Anniversary Ed Mountain Trail has Horween Leather. Actually, both the Mt Trail and Mt Trail Anniv Edition are leather lined rather than the cheap Dri-Lex lining in the Mt. Light in this video. Why you would pay $10 more for the Mt Light tribute to 70's style vs the Mt Trail based on 60's version is beyond me. $10 more you get the Mt. Trail Anniv Ed.
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In 1990 I got a pair of Danner Goretex mountain lights for ~$180, color was somewhat darker then this and with goretex liners. getting out the inflation calculator $180 1990 would be 415.69 in 2023 dollars. I still have these boots so durability wise I think they are fine. the fabric lining I think wears better than you would expect because they really need to be worn with a heavy wool sock.
My main criticism of these boots which I seeming can see already in the video but which becomes I think more obvious with time is that the shoe tongue doesn't remain centered and tend to pull towards the outside especially after a long day. a tongue loop would go a long way towards improving the situation , certainly in the last 30 years. after about decade of wear I did cut through the tongue order to pass the laces through before the first set of eyelets which helped a lot.
I bought these a few months ago and they do have a tongue loop now
So I'm from Germany and i do like to hike and I have recently bought the Meindl Badile, and Meindl is one of the biggest players in hiking boots over here and i would really love it if You took a look at then, because Meindl positions the Badiles as heritage hiking boots so they would be right up Your alley. They are also made in Germany and are full leather.
Awesomeness!!! I asked you to do the Danner Mountain Lights on the last vid and here we are! I havent tried these but Ive had like six pairs of the Mountain Light 2. They once were made in China Exclusevly for Cabelas. They were really excellent actually. I bought the first pair for $120 around 2004 sometime. I wore them every day welding for work in a fab shop for a year or so. The sole is so comfy with that 3/4 inch foam in the heel. Once they began to wear out(sole wears flat) I bought two more pairs from Cabelas clearance for $87ea. What a deal!
Fast fwd a few years and I get on the Danner discount thing and scored a pair of the Stumptown Black rough out with the white wedge soles. They came with those fat red laces. My first american made pair, $120 blems(i couldnt see a single imperfection) I put tons of miles on those. They got re-soled(Bakers Boots) 3x before the leater started to give at the welt.
Since then I’ve bought them from Amazon 😅 Funny cause I live like 180 miles from the factory.
Last time they tried to price gouge me! I watched them go frome 300 or so all the way up to 389 then they went down to about 325 so I forked out the cash. They came quick but were the wrong size! When I looked on Amazon they’d dropped from 325 down to 275 so I bought my correct size right then. I sent the others back. A week later I look on Amazon again and they dropped to 225 so I bought another pair. All black with white stitch Gore Tex James Bond wears them in the snow scenes of Spectre (2015)
Ive taken care of these two pairs. One pair I wear casually the other is pristine, I saved them for Funerals and Weddings.
I would relly love to see the Mountain Light II cut because I feel like they have different construction, althogh maybe not. Im glad I got to see these get roasted!!!
When i was in Law Enforcement, everyone loved Danner boots. My thoughts were they were way over priced and to rough on the feet. Danner is no longer the Danner it use to be... When are you going to cut FRYE Boots? I am so curious to know if FRYE has done it right for the price, and I love that you can be up front about the quality of the boots.
Frye is another has-been brand. The last pair I bought was $450 and made in China. The boots fell apart after a year of daily wear.
@@kiloyardstare no way?! darn, thats sad. i have had mine for about 4 years and i dont even wear them, they have this THICK rubber on the soles that make them feel 5lbs each. I wanted to get a new pair, but i appreciate your reply and will now look for a different brand. Thanks
I still have my Danner Mtn Lights from 1987. Would be interesting to do side by side comparison.
Can you look into some of Danner's higher end models? Seems to be a huge difference between what you have looked at to date and things like the Rain Forest and Elk Hunter for example
Recap: he likes the one piece leather upper, likes the foam midsole with fiber shank arch support, likes the outsole, appreciates the fact that its made in the US, doesn't like the lining but he probably didn't get the gore-tex version (not positive)...so he doesn't like the boot
Would love to see you cut apart a Velasca Resegott alpine hiking boot. How am I supposed to know whether or not to buy it if you don't?
I got my pair for 200$ used, and they are by far the comfiest/best boots I have. Might not be great at 430$, but still so good!
Exactly. Great boots, just overpriced.
Two pair of Danner’s 10 years old. I still wear them and they are always ready for another day.
That 'jersey mesh lining' on the interior you gripe so much about looks like Gore-Tex. They are going to put that in there for added waterproofing.
1 piece high quality leather, moderate waterproofness, well built sole AND it's hand made in America and that's not worth $400 (even though I got my Mountain Light II's for about $239)?
I've had mine for a few years now (actually, 1/2 a decade), but I use them mostly for the woods and never in urban areas. They are undoubtedly the absolute best boots I've used for what I do (axe work, hiking, hunting, camping, etc...). I can climb up a ravine like a billy goat, they are exceptionally supporting while crossing a creek on technical rocks and they just feel (no pun intended) like they ground you to the forest.
If they had been any of the hundred dollar Timberlands I used to use regularly (which I love), they would've been worn through by now. As a user, I have to say that I've gotten back my $239 back several times over. But that's just me.
BTW, I recently bought a pair of Eddie Bauer K-6 boots which are the Mountain Light's twins for about $150. Did I need them? Nope. I have about a dozen pairs of good boots, but for a hundred and fifty bucks, I almost had to get them.
I have similar Danners. Bought them for 216 usd on sale 3 years ago. Never regreted the purchase. The most comfortable shoe. Wearing them in winter and summer. The lining indeed has slightly started to wear out but not too much yet. For this reason my next shoes will be all leather Danner Mountain Trail.