Be aware that Danner makes “Lifestyle” versions of the Mountain Light & Danner Light styles. These “Lifestyle” versions are meant for urban oriented use (hanging out at a pub - lol). They look very similar to the heavy duty versions shown in this video but have light use soles (Vibram calls them “casual”). The Lifestyle vibram soles look similar to their heavy duty counterparts but are made of a softer Morflex compound & wear faster. Many of the Danner Lifestyle versions have Gore-Tex linings so one has to research the specific version you intend to buy and not be confused with the Lifestyle version. I also have a pair of the Mountain Lights with a Christy sole (like the Bull Run) - the leather is a thinner suede (not full grain leather) and not intended for heavy duty use. You really need to be sure you know which version of these boots you are shopping for!
I have those three exact same boots! My favorite is the Mountain light. But my most used and most versatile is the Danner Light Cedar Brown. I just got back from a 3 month trip to Europe (day hikes and urban hiking) and Nepal (hiked the Everest Base Camp Trek)... and the Danner Light Cedar Browns were incredible. The first three weeks were painful during breaking in of the boot. Lots of blisters and cuts.... but I kept conditioning them every night during the trip. One day during week 3, after weeks of at least 7-10 miles of walking per day, the boots finally broke in and they felt like a comfortable glove afterwards. Literally molds to your feet. The 18 day Everest base camp hike was painless and the boots held up great. --wished I didn’t hike long distance in gortex boots. Maybe the Danner light Cascade version would’ve been more breathable??-- Same positive things can be said about the Mountain light Cascade with the red laces...but break in took about a year because I only used them for urban/casual use. Now they’re more comfortable than my running shoes. The bull runs are amazing. The leather on the ankle took a few days to break in and stop pinching, but other than that the boots were super comfortable right outta the box. Your feet tend to sweat in a weird way because of the leather type, so these perform better in cold weather. The sole wears fast, but it’s is comfortable it’s worth it. I also have the Lux version and those are even softer and more comfortable
I’ve had two pairs of mountain lights over the years. I’ve beat the hell out of my latest pair for the last 10 years cutting grass, landscaping, and an everyday winter boot. They’re still holding up great! They’re waterproof and very comfortable.
I've had a pair of the Moc Toe Bullrun's for just short of a year now. For use in my garage on concrete doing woodworking or just general work around my place they are great. The sole gives tons of cushion and is very comfortable to be in for long periods. I did some tree bucking and work felling trees at the start of the year and they didn't fill me with confidence on that sort of terrain over a more aggressive sole, but they worked out. The Quarry's I'd be a lot happier in which are what I wear for work. I've done some long distance hiking in the Bullruns doing trail maintenance and didn't find them incredibly comfortable for the longer distance walking, probably down to a poorer sizing on my part though. Overall I love them for shop work, but would look elsewhere for outdoors.
I had a pair of Danners until just recently. A high top with 400 grams of insulation. The tops were insulated but the lower boot was not. So my feet and toes got cold alot. I have a photo of the day out hunting when my son and I had to stop, build a fire to warm my frost bitten toes. Oh Man did that hurt when my toes started to warm. The boots hurt my feet most of the time. I couldn't really make any adjustments because they would hurt in different places. On one occasion The high top had hurt my lower calf so bad I had to completely loosen the laces and walk out of the mountains. It was very painful to walk. I didn't wear them for a long time after that. My Danners had that sole with the nickle sized round balls on the bottom. So traction was only good on dry flat ground. I never wore them unless hunting or during Search and Rescue call outs. They lasted 18 years and I had finally wore holes in both boots. I had payed a lot of money for them. Don't recall. But it was a lot more than most boots cost at the time. I'm glad those boots are finally gone. They were made of a good quality leather though. They had started to crack right at the bend of the toe. But they sucked otherwise.
I was just weighing up the bull run last night. I need some new boots, good to get a look at them on here. Got to say the mountain light looks most appealing to my eye.
I’ve had several pairs of Danners over the years. Some lasted better than others. Last pair were a Grouse model. Waterproof, upland hunting similar to the middle boot. $450 and waterproof lasted 2 years. I sent back to Danner and they offered a 25% discount for another pair. Bought a $450 pair of kenetrek and after 2 hunting seasons decided I didn’t like them - to stiff. Now wearing waterproof Irish setters , a red wing product , and after 9 months I really like them. $175.00 and if they last 2 years I can take them in and have them rebuilt. A bargain.
The best of Danner is the recon. The most iconic boot there is. U S Special forces have been using them for as long as I can remember. 1987 US RA SAPPER
I own a pair of danner mountain light, I had to hike every weekends for a year to break them in! They became the most gorgeous pair of boots I own. I’m now working on a pair of danner mountain pass natural leather
Just found you looking up Doc reviews. I'm in Portland and we're pretty proud of Danner out here. I would enjoy hearing your opinions on a Mountain Light break in. Cheers from PDX.
Once the welt is gone the boot is gone so if you use it hard you might have to replace them pretty soon. I like my Danners but its worrying that they're limited in that respect for $400
I would love to see the bull runs broken in. I rotate between Thorogoods and Carolina wedge sole boots in a machine shop and have thought about getting a pair of bull runs for a while now.
After having Danner lights for 2.5 years. The upper is great, soles are the worst part, expect the liners to wear out. the midsole will crumble and be cut by stuff, just expect it, also the kletterlift sole they come standard with wears fast around the heel, so expect first resole in a year or less. Also for sizing, they run narrow, even the wide sizes aren't really wide and the break in is painful. The insoles aka peices of plastic they give you will likely crack, and you'd have a fun time getting half soles for them. In hindsight, I kinda regret buying them, but got them for half the price than usual.
Would love to see a an in depth on the bull runs or mountains. I’m particular about boots and I found myself disliking the break in process on my redwings, a comparison in the process/time of breaking in would be fantastic. Also any reason you went with round toe instead of mic toe on the bull runs?
I have a pair of danner lights with about 20 hrs on feet. Didnt know about the welt and if it cracks they wont resole it. Both of my lights already have a big crease on the outsides of the boot right above the welt.... great.
Don't worry too much, creasing is natural, just make sure you give the welt a brush off occasionally to knock out any dust and dirt, and ensure you don't miss the area when conditioning / oiling your boots...
The creasing in your boots is unfortunate. I wouldn’t like that. For what it’s worth, I’m on my 2nd pair of Light II boots. But the ones with ‘nubuck’ leather. The nubuck has been amazingly durable for me, WAY more so than my ‘regular leather’ boots. IIRC the Light and Light II are similar priced. May give you a better bang for the $ (in nubuck). BTW I spray them well with a silicon shoe spray upon purchase and every year thereafter. Seems to really keep the leather clean.
Try the right size on foot before order on line. I've more than 10 pairs, just for daily wear. It's strange... Mountain Light, 30866 us size 9EE 30868X us size 9EE 31539 us size 9EE 30876 us size 9.5 EE Danner Light I,II, 30440 us size 9EE 33000 us size 9EE 30457 us size 9.5 EE (cedar brown in vid) 33020 us size 10D 12040X us size 9.5 EE Don't need time to break in , if the size is correct. If you feel narrow & break in, the Gore-tex membrane will leak.
These Danner boots look great. I'm looking for a new boot brand as Timberland boots are now deficient in quality: too narrow at top and in the toebox, with hard backs. I'll pay for supreme quality, not for shite....🤔
I’ve got a pair of Danner mountain light boots, great classic boots, very comfortable but took a lot longer than usual to break them in. I’d like to know what your thoughts are on break in time on the mountain lights?
I have the Mountain Light II boots. I live where it's cold in the winter, and I got them in December 2018. Took probably two months to break them in. I think the cold weather made the boots stiffer and thus more difficult to break in. Now they're great, but they sucked for a while at first.
I always think it is so weird hearing it pronounces Dain-ner. Here in Portland everyone calls it Dan-ner, as in van, lamb, ban, sand, grand, and land. But I don’t really think there is a “right” way. Just sounds odd, lol.
Realistically the bull runs are something that you would wear on a more common basis per capita. Mathematically I would say the bull runs. From a consumer standpoint concerning affordability again I would say the bull run’s . I wonder if my American accent would throw him off as much as his accent throws me off. Excellent video though. Excellent job from the Englishman. Jolly good!
The first 2 look like clown shoes because the toe box is high and round. Lol. The bull run is the only one that looks good because it doesnt have that clown shoe toe box look.
Perhaps a little research ... maybe listening to Brits on TH-cam ... will open your mind to the fact they speak differently than do we. I cringe every time I read someone who is narrow, provincial and uneducated. Do you also cringe when they say 'aluminum' or 'schedule' or 'distribute' or a score of other words? Open your mind; close your mouth.
@@ckbhack Wow. You sure are a cultured fella, aren't you? Among countless others, guess you'd better get on the phone today, call Ralph Fiennes, and tell him he's incorrectly pronouncing his own name (like all Brits pronounce Ralph). Tell Rallfuh that everything should be pronounced how you in your tiny world wish.
@@ckbhack Right, a Brit pronouncing an American name like Brits pronounce names. Not like Chris in his tiny, insulated world wants everyone to pronounce words exactly like Chris demands. Since Donner boots are from the Northwest, better call every Brit and tell them to stop pronouncing Spokane as 'Spo-kane.' Look outside; it's a really big world out here, Chris!
Be aware that Danner makes “Lifestyle” versions of the Mountain Light & Danner Light styles. These “Lifestyle” versions are meant for urban oriented use (hanging out at a pub - lol). They look very similar to the heavy duty versions shown in this video but have light use soles (Vibram calls them “casual”). The Lifestyle vibram soles look similar to their heavy duty counterparts but are made of a softer Morflex compound & wear faster. Many of the Danner Lifestyle versions have Gore-Tex linings so one has to research the specific version you intend to buy and not be confused with the Lifestyle version.
I also have a pair of the Mountain Lights with a Christy sole (like the Bull Run) - the leather is a thinner suede (not full grain leather) and not intended for heavy duty use.
You really need to be sure you know which version of these boots you are shopping for!
The lifestyle ones are easily Id'd when you look at the sole. There should be 3 layers, if you only see 1 it's a softer comfier compound.
I have the Bull Run roofer boots like those. Incredibly comfortable.
I'm like "Dana, who the hell is Dana?
AH....Danner...British version...
😂😅cool reaction but the coolest is somewhere down the line…
I have the Bull Run. I love them. I have the Mountain Light too, but don't like them as much. Good review.
I have those three exact same boots! My favorite is the Mountain light. But my most used and most versatile is the Danner Light Cedar Brown. I just got back from a 3 month trip to Europe (day hikes and urban hiking) and Nepal (hiked the Everest Base Camp Trek)... and the Danner Light Cedar Browns were incredible. The first three weeks were painful during breaking in of the boot. Lots of blisters and cuts.... but I kept conditioning them every night during the trip. One day during week 3, after weeks of at least 7-10 miles of walking per day, the boots finally broke in and they felt like a comfortable glove afterwards. Literally molds to your feet. The 18 day Everest base camp hike was painless and the boots held up great. --wished I didn’t hike long distance in gortex boots. Maybe the Danner light Cascade version would’ve been more breathable??--
Same positive things can be said about the Mountain light Cascade with the red laces...but break in took about a year because I only used them for urban/casual use. Now they’re more comfortable than my running shoes.
The bull runs are amazing. The leather on the ankle took a few days to break in and stop pinching, but other than that the boots were super comfortable right outta the box. Your feet tend to sweat in a weird way because of the leather type, so these perform better in cold weather. The sole wears fast, but it’s is comfortable it’s worth it. I also have the Lux version and those are even softer and more comfortable
I’ve had two pairs of mountain lights over the years. I’ve beat the hell out of my latest pair for the last 10 years cutting grass, landscaping, and an everyday winter boot. They’re still holding up great! They’re waterproof and very comfortable.
The mountain lights looked great, the vote went to the Bullruns so just breaking those in now!
I've had a pair of the Moc Toe Bullrun's for just short of a year now. For use in my garage on concrete doing woodworking or just general work around my place they are great. The sole gives tons of cushion and is very comfortable to be in for long periods. I did some tree bucking and work felling trees at the start of the year and they didn't fill me with confidence on that sort of terrain over a more aggressive sole, but they worked out. The Quarry's I'd be a lot happier in which are what I wear for work. I've done some long distance hiking in the Bullruns doing trail maintenance and didn't find them incredibly comfortable for the longer distance walking, probably down to a poorer sizing on my part though. Overall I love them for shop work, but would look elsewhere for outdoors.
I had a pair of Danners until just recently. A high top with 400 grams of insulation. The tops were insulated but the lower boot was not. So my feet and toes got cold alot. I have a photo of the day out hunting when my son and I had to stop, build a fire to warm my frost bitten toes. Oh Man did that hurt when my toes started to warm. The boots hurt my feet most of the time. I couldn't really make any adjustments because they would hurt in different places. On one occasion The high top had hurt my lower calf so bad I had to completely loosen the laces and walk out of the mountains. It was very painful to walk. I didn't wear them for a long time after that. My Danners had that sole with the nickle sized round balls on the bottom. So traction was only good on dry flat ground. I never wore them unless hunting or during Search and Rescue call outs. They lasted 18 years and I had finally wore holes in both boots. I had payed a lot of money for them. Don't recall. But it was a lot more than most boots cost at the time. I'm glad those boots are finally gone. They were made of a good quality leather though. They had started to crack right at the bend of the toe. But they sucked otherwise.
I was just weighing up the bull run last night. I need some new boots, good to get a look at them on here. Got to say the mountain light looks most appealing to my eye.
Mountain Light definitely seems the most interesting.
I’ve had several pairs of Danners over the years. Some lasted better than others. Last pair were a Grouse model. Waterproof, upland hunting similar to the middle boot. $450 and waterproof lasted 2 years. I sent back to Danner and they offered a 25% discount for another pair. Bought a $450 pair of kenetrek and after 2 hunting seasons decided I didn’t like them - to stiff. Now wearing waterproof Irish setters , a red wing product , and after 9 months I really like them. $175.00 and if they last 2 years I can take them in and have them rebuilt. A bargain.
The best of Danner is the recon. The most iconic boot there is. U S Special forces have been using them for as long as I can remember.
1987 US RA SAPPER
John Taylor Acadia\ recon made for the 84 LA games , been wearing them since 1990 !!!!!!
I own a pair of danner mountain light, I had to hike every weekends for a year to break them in! They became the most gorgeous pair of boots I own. I’m now working on a pair of danner mountain pass natural leather
The bullruns are fantastic ...❤️
Just found you looking up Doc reviews. I'm in Portland and we're pretty proud of Danner out here. I would enjoy hearing your opinions on a Mountain Light break in. Cheers from PDX.
The boots I always think of when Danner comes up are the Acadia and the Fort Lewis
I like the look of the mountain light I was gonna get a pair but I went for Fracap’s M120 ripple sole
James Bond wears the Danner Mountain Light II
Once the welt is gone the boot is gone so if you use it hard you might have to replace them pretty soon. I like my Danners but its worrying that they're limited in that respect for $400
I would love to see the bull runs broken in. I rotate between Thorogoods and Carolina wedge sole boots in a machine shop and have thought about getting a pair of bull runs for a while now.
After having Danner lights for 2.5 years. The upper is great, soles are the worst part, expect the liners to wear out. the midsole will crumble and be cut by stuff, just expect it, also the kletterlift sole they come standard with wears fast around the heel, so expect first resole in a year or less. Also for sizing, they run narrow, even the wide sizes aren't really wide and the break in is painful. The insoles aka peices of plastic they give you will likely crack, and you'd have a fun time getting half soles for them.
In hindsight, I kinda regret buying them, but got them for half the price than usual.
Would love to see a an in depth on the bull runs or mountains. I’m particular about boots and I found myself disliking the break in process on my redwings, a comparison in the process/time of breaking in would be fantastic. Also any reason you went with round toe instead of mic toe on the bull runs?
You should review a pair of blundstone boots and give your opinion on them.
I never commented before, but wanted to say mine have a shank and that gives arch support but I need something cushioned for insole
I have a pair of danner lights with about 20 hrs on feet. Didnt know about the welt and if it cracks they wont resole it. Both of my lights already have a big crease on the outsides of the boot right above the welt.... great.
Don't worry too much, creasing is natural, just make sure you give the welt a brush off occasionally to knock out any dust and dirt, and ensure you don't miss the area when conditioning / oiling your boots...
The creasing in your boots is unfortunate. I wouldn’t like that.
For what it’s worth, I’m on my 2nd pair of Light II boots. But the ones with ‘nubuck’ leather.
The nubuck has been amazingly durable for me, WAY more so than my ‘regular leather’ boots.
IIRC the Light and Light II are similar priced. May give you a better bang for the $ (in nubuck).
BTW I spray them well with a silicon shoe spray upon purchase and every year thereafter. Seems to really keep the leather clean.
Would like to see the Bull Run proper broke in as, like you, I'm fairly dubious as to the longevity of the soles. Keep up the good work!
Reading several of the comments from this video review I’m curious as to what kind of use folks intend to use these boots for.
I have Danner light mountain boot great boot.
Been on the fence on the mountain one.
i wish they made the Bull Run in EE width like the Mountain Light.
It would be interesting to make a comparison video about different kinds of soles.
I gave up on Danner ..I used them for 10 + years. Red Wing and Kenetrek these days.
I owned a 2 out of 3 you have there wtw
DevonReviewer: which shoe you want me to test en review?
Viewers: yes!!
Try the right size on foot before order on line.
I've more than 10 pairs, just for daily wear. It's strange...
Mountain Light,
30866 us size 9EE
30868X us size 9EE
31539 us size 9EE
30876 us size 9.5 EE
Danner Light I,II,
30440 us size 9EE
33000 us size 9EE
30457 us size 9.5 EE (cedar brown in vid)
33020 us size 10D
12040X us size 9.5 EE
Don't need time to break in , if the size is correct.
If you feel narrow & break in, the Gore-tex membrane will leak.
Highly recommend using the SAPHIR shoecream "No.52 orange" for the 30457 col. cedar brown.
the mountain lite, looks just like a Frecap boot
The light
These Danner boots look great. I'm looking for a new boot brand as Timberland boots are now deficient in quality: too narrow at top and in the toebox, with hard backs. I'll pay for supreme quality, not for shite....🤔
Mountain light for sure
If you call Danner and tell them your boots were missing the Airthotics, they’ll send you a free pair.
Even if the boots ordered by me doesn’t come with Airthotics in the first place ?
I’ve got a pair of Danner mountain light boots, great classic boots, very comfortable but took a lot longer than usual to break them in.
I’d like to know what your thoughts are on break in time on the mountain lights?
I have the Mountain Light II boots. I live where it's cold in the winter, and I got them in December 2018. Took probably two months to break them in. I think the cold weather made the boots stiffer and thus more difficult to break in. Now they're great, but they sucked for a while at first.
my vote goes to the middle boot
Would love to see the bull run detailed review and comparison to red wings as they come in cheaper
Joe Tucker Only cheaper for us U.S viewers I believe.
Do the bullrun just because they are closer to the redwings, golden fox and thorogoods. I feel like that’s the comparison the people want to see.
The Light
I always think it is so weird hearing it pronounces Dain-ner. Here in Portland everyone calls it Dan-ner, as in van, lamb, ban, sand, grand, and land. But I don’t really think there is a “right” way. Just sounds odd, lol.
😂where is your mana? ( manner)
Black rock leather conditioner. Made in USA
Realistically the bull runs are something that you would wear on a more common basis per capita. Mathematically I would say the bull runs. From a consumer standpoint concerning affordability again I would say the bull run’s . I wonder if my American accent would throw him off as much as his accent throws me off. Excellent video though. Excellent job from the Englishman. Jolly good!
Dana?
Bull runs for long term test.
Really don’t understand why you pronounce Danner as Daner. You’re not the only one. Strange phenomenon.
The first 2 look like clown shoes because the toe box is high and round. Lol. The bull run is the only one that looks good because it doesnt have that clown shoe toe box look.
Check out Paraboot Avoriaz
GTX on Mountain model is just stupid.
I cringe every time you pronounce their name incorrectly.
Perhaps a little research ... maybe listening to Brits on TH-cam ... will open your mind to the fact they speak differently than do we. I cringe every time I read someone who is narrow, provincial and uneducated. Do you also cringe when they say 'aluminum' or 'schedule' or 'distribute' or a score of other words? Open your mind; close your mouth.
@@brycecrousore1985 It's Danner like the man's name Dan. Your actually saying it wrong accent or not.
@@ckbhack Wow. You sure are a cultured fella, aren't you? Among countless others, guess you'd better get on the phone today, call Ralph Fiennes, and tell him he's incorrectly pronouncing his own name (like all Brits pronounce Ralph). Tell Rallfuh that everything should be pronounced how you in your tiny world wish.
@@brycecrousore1985 I'm sorry I thought we were talking about an AMERICAN boot company here.
@@ckbhack Right, a Brit pronouncing an American name like Brits pronounce names. Not like Chris in his tiny, insulated world wants everyone to pronounce words exactly like Chris demands. Since Donner boots are from the Northwest, better call every Brit and tell them to stop pronouncing Spokane as 'Spo-kane.' Look outside; it's a really big world out here, Chris!
Are these the ugliest boots ever?
No
Your moms boots are. Ooooh 🤪🤣