Heritage Hoax? Danner Mountain Light

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
1:26 Leather
4:59 Construction
5:44 Waterproof Test
6:37 Lining
7:19 Outsole
8:15 Cut in Half
9:05 Reveal
10:00 Worth It?
11:33 Heritage Hoax
#danner #dannerboots #hikingboots

[@RoseAnvil]

Go to tryfum.com/ROSEANVIL and use code RoseAnvil to save an additional 10% off your order today

[@brushemteeth9159]

They sure are #1 in ugliness!

[@darthtrump4428]

can you please do a modern european alpine boot, something like scarpa, la sportiva, garmont, etc

[@thewhitewolf58]

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.

[@tengu190]

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.

[@trumpwon20204]

Diesel Boot Jungle Kangaroo??? I want to see some Kangaroo Leather boots reviewed.

[@billcrary2943]

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.

[@grfnprjx]

Awesome history… as a maker I enjoyed reading your comment. Would love to hear more :)

[@randydewees7338]

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.

[@kid5Media]

@@randydewees7338 I still have my Super Guides from the 70s.

[@kylegarcia9998]

Awesome history here Bill. Also I heard that this was the first Vibram soled boot that was mas produced.

[@randydewees7338]

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

[@altezahen_N]

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.

[@Chris09978]

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

[@BrentonCarr]

you may be kidding, but I agree.

[@altezahen_N]

@@BrentonCarr I am only partially kidding

[@robertsandgren9389]

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. :)

[@Chris09978]

@@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

[@stormie5887]

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.

[@crackersnack]

Agree

[@Mason-hs9oz]

Yes please!

[@Highland_Paddy]

Just find some decent combat boots instead.

[@mfri]

realistically the most important thing about them is a boot that works for you, try on lots of pairs and buy what feels best

[@jaxmanf]

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”

[@ThatCapnGeech]

We couldn’t remember the greatest boot in the wo-orld, this is just a tribute.

[@lukeh2440]

Haha epic

[@watchornot3691]

Ahh....Tenacious D.anner!

[@PinoyAznLee]

Who else sang this

[@Uchoobdood]

You have just won the comment section!

[@rickrolled09]

* This is just a triboot..

[@rraposo7353]

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.

[@travisrolison9646]

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

[@chrismackay8314]

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.

[@69Muscle]

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.

[@DE-ew4vr]

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.

[@Derek8487]

It's a real shame.

[@savage6394]

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.

[@aussiviking604]

Thats what happens when you let accountants run a company. 😢

[@topherh5093]

if a cop sitting on his ass in a car can notice the difference, that says a lot.

[@artvandelay1099]

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.

[@MichaelWilliams85]

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!

[@BikingVikingHH]

Do the Eddie Bauer K6 boot next! It has a similar vintage æsthetic and is well under $200

[@bendercs]

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.

[@BikingVikingHH]

@@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 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@chadjazeera9960]

True! They are built in Nam, (hence the price, I guess?) but I'd still enjoy seeing them cut in half and analyzed.

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

Agree, do the K6. Although it might actually use better materials.

[@BOOGiNS]

@@InGrindWeCrust2010 you mean the k6

[@GOD999MODE]

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.

[@indeedsauce2234]

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.

[@BikingVikingHH]

Isn’t thaT just a shank?

[@BOOGiNS]

Those boots are literally made the same, just with a leather flap over the laces.

[@shotgunrain1994]

@@BOOGiNS that’s true for an external met guard but not an internal

[@suitinaute]

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.

[@yvonjasser]

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.

[@cuffeteaghlach5617]

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.

[@lukuscarter3563]

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 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.

[@dstrbd223]

"This is not The Greatest Song in the World, no. This is just a tribute." -Tenacious D

[@Inbal_Feuchtwanger]

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.

[@30-06]

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.

[@kingturtle1000]

Two years ago I really wanted a pair of Danner MLs, ended up buying a pair of Jim Greens for 1/3 the price

[@TommyNitro]

Love my razorbacks

[@usmnt4423]

Jim Greens are just fantastic

[@franky3fingers337]

You chose well

[@j187211g]

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!

[@GianmarioScotti]

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!

[@mr.bnatural3700]

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.

[@codycoco3058]

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

[@edrader]

they are almost 2 lbs each, hardly "light"

[@riogen2826]

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.

[@enjoythesilence902]

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.

[@the_spikerman3764]

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.

[@VTSteve]

The best hiking boot I ever had was the Italian Scarpa brand, just absolute perfection, back in the 70's

[@ArmySigs]

Yep, me too! Great boots

[@kisohinoki2704]

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 -__-

[@kimball_stone]

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]

I have these too and also struggle with the pinch points and heat with the tongue construction. Can you share your lacing method?

[@kimball_stone]

@@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.

[@SgtPUSMC]

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.

[@rollercam351]

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!!!

[@jw8901]

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

[@brandonwayne2343]

No shit

[@seanmoriarty311]

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.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

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]

Decent combat boots are always my go-to instead of something that costs hundreds of dollars.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@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.

[@Highland_Paddy]

@@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.

[@Highland_Paddy]

​@@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.

[@mendax7125]

I would like to buy a similar style boot in the future. I was considering Paraboot Gailber but the company doesn't produce then anymore. Are there any alternatives under 300 dollars?

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

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).

[@Lord_Mad_Dog]

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

[@dfgrego]

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.

[@bonbones4890]

Side note, wore them for a week and the lace eyelets were already rusted

[@speakerman1093]

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.

[@jaskey]

Thank you for this. I was actually thinking about purchasing this boot for this winter, but wasn't so sure about the longevity of the midsole. But now I see that the build of the boot isn't where I thought it'd be. I'm disappointed, but glad to have watched this now rather than finding out after the purchase.

[@johncandy2916]

Since you've been on a Dinner kick, I'd love to see the Mountain 600s get the treatment.

[@linkdavies3098]

I have two pairs. The first pair was purchased in 2002, and second pair was purchased in 2017. I paid nowhere near the current prices, but everything is too expensive nowadays. I’d like to know what hiking boot is “better made” for the same money today. I’d love to try something new

[@rickgriffin3567]

I noticed down below that someone mentioned a foot condition called metatarsalgia. I have this condition and its basically inflammation of the balls of your feet, it usually shows up on the third or fourth joint down from your big toe. I’m an older guy that played a lot of sports which can help to cause this condition. I’m retired now and hike a lot in the mountains and I’ve been looking for a good hiking boots with a lot of cushion in the sole because this helps a lot with the metatarsalgia. In the past I wear Hoka or New Balance tennis shoes but there’re not very good for hiking and waterproof for crossing streams etc. I also need wide shoes and that limits me even more. Recently I was in Portland, Oregon and noticed that there was a Danner Outlet store so I visited. I tried on most of there boots including these Mountain boots in the review, which weren’t very comfy on the bottom of my feet. But I did discover the Mountain 600 Leaf which I would say is the most cushioned boot I’ve tried to date. I can’t attest to the quality inside the boot but on the outside it appears to be made very well, yesterday I stepped into a river and the boot was totally submerged and my sock was totally dry. The cushioning isn’t quite perfect so I’m still looking for a more cushioned boot. If anyone has a suggestion for me I’d appreciate some suggestions on better cushioned hiking boots.

[@TheWinstonDouble]

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.

[@jhnlngn]

I'd be interested to see how Fracap compares.

[@J_LHAO]

Diemme too!

[@jhnlngn]

@@J_LHAO Velasca as well.

[@hedgeapplehomestead2816]

What would be your recommendation for an everyday boot? I need gortex, and prefer a shorter boot of 6-8". I've had 2 pairs of crispi Monaco's but they haven't made it past 18 months of use. Would love a rebuildable boot.

[@chac65]

I pretty much agree with this video. Back in the day, I used these boots extensively. They were durable, had great soles, and had excellent waterproof qualities (if water did not overtop the boot). They were not particularly comfortable, though. In fact, they were really hard on your feet. They had a hard bottom that did a poor job conforming to the shape of your foot and did not have particularly good arch support. My feet were bigger fans of the Vasque boots I had before, and the Asolos I had after. The Danners were far more durable, though. The Danners did a better job of mounting non front pointing crampons (those used for hard snow, not ice climbs). The Danners had a stiffer sole, which was useful for some situations but were less comfortable. Before going on a long trip in the Danners, it was necessary to wear them extensively so as to toughen your feet up (even after extensively breaking in your boot), or face a mole skin nightmare.

[@connorgmehlin2986]

Can you do dress shoes next? I’m looking for well made, comfortable and affordable.

[@andy14169]

Now ya gotta do the actual mountain light.

[@-IE_it_yourself]

maybe they had that or a similar lining.

[@foxfyre841]

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.

[@alex-kuninfiltreaujapon3237]

Glad you decided to tackle Danner's. I found many Danner's boots. In regular retailers, the only Danner's shoes available all have the look and the price of heritage boots...yet they all seem to be a lil bs

[@theemersonexperience7282]

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.

[@euromobile900]

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.

[@theemersonexperience7282]

@@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.

[@rickwebermusic]

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!

[@AudioFileZ]

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.

[@brandonb.5304]

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.

[@GiuseppeVonHosentraeger]

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!

[@sailcat9]

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]

I'd like to see some Trumans, too.

[@sailcat9]

@@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?

[@uckBayNguyen]

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

[@alex_ottomano]

Please keep up the hiking/mountain footware videos!! Would love to see some of the legendary Italian makers quality like La sportiva, Scarpa, Salewa etc

[@JacobDH87]

I think the Jim Green Razorback is a great value alternative to this boot. I'd highly recommend it to someone who wants a series stitchdown work/hiking boot.

[@romanshulik3134]

You should review some mountaineering boots like La Sportiva or Scarpa!

[@kmb1]

This is not, the greatest boot in the world, no no... this is just a tribute.

[@Elantry]

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.

[@Yoda8945]

This is great information. I am still using a pair of Raichle hiking boots that I bought 45 years ago at REI. They have the really hard sole that is now being replaced for the first time. I opted for a softer Air-bob type sole as I use them mainly in the winter these days, though they were my primary hiking and hunting boot for many years. The interior layers are leather and show no signs of breaking down due to use or age.

[@deXXXXter2]

It would be cool if you cut some european hiking boots from Meindl or italian brands. We could compare them to this.

[@mopey323]

You should do a video on the top 5 hiking boots.

[@randynovick7972]

especially if he avoids molded soles and sticks to heritage constructions ... there are a lot of German, Swiss and Italian brands to pick from.

[@dahpughie]

Could you compare these to fracap boots? Or some other similar style boots maybe a meindl superperfekt or hanwag double stitch

[@SurvivalBayArea]

hey could you do the redwing supersoles? I dont know if you can slice through the soles new but im curious to know what corners they cut. its a great boot in my opinion

[@gush3013]

Hanwag double stitched Tashi boots are much better boots

[@Totemparadox]

Tashi's are fantastic!

[@amanasd26]

yup or the grunten

[@teombe]

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.

[@redman3583]

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

[@angryagain68]

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!

[@The1860th]

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!

[@cyphre]

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.

[@cherrbo8414]

Bought these a few months ago to replace my Meindl hikers ( loved them but the soles won’t hold up nearly as long as the rest of the boot) . Agree at$420 not really worth it , got mine on sale for $300 and so far I am impressed. Needed EE for this boot and after short break in feels great on my feet ,they are actually light and the Vibram sole would seem to outlast the rubber glue on type ( Meindl) and are comfortable. Think I will be wearing these for a long time!

[@ing4gi]

Can you do the Eddie Bauer K6? It's a sub 200 bucks option Alpine boot. I wondered how good they are.

[@GianmarioScotti]

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.

[@tonycox8746]

Glad you did this because Ive been thinking about these for a while. I bought a pair of Jim Green Razorbacks and can't even wear them because the toe box is unnaturally shallow and smashes your toes. I did get a pair of K6 and I like them pretty well so far.

[@wc2913]

Will you cut the red wing 8864 ? The moc gore tex ?

[@HikingBikingDrawingFighting]

I'd love to see more reviews of hiking boots. Kicking rocks and trudging around in the rain and mud for miles and miles is one of the toughest things you can put your boots through, and performance really matters on a long hike or backpacking trip. I recently discovered that both Nicks and Whites make a hiking boot. As an avid hiker who lives in the Pacific Northwest I would love if you reviewed both so we could determine who makes the ultimate PNW hiking boot (since it obviously isn't Danner ☹).

[@ptzntb]

I've got two pairs of italian version or maybe progenitor - Fracap. They has leather inside and white vibram outsole - very nice and comfort, lasting for many years

[@juststeve23b]

I'd love to see you take apart a Danner Fort Lewis and hear your take on the value. I've had a pair for a decade, but they only see occasional wear, and I know they are marked to service guys who'll be wearing them hard and daily...

[@mathewrussell926]

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.

[@hanwagu9967]

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.

[@riverpower9402]

Is the Vibram outsole usually that thin?

[@IR4TE]

After seeing a few video here, which boot am I supposed to buy that is quality made, did not cut cost on the important parts but also doesn't break the bank?

[@mattolson9555]

Can you please review the new drew boots logger. I need to know what corners were cut to get the price down.

[@brutusgallicus3568]

I should mention concerning Italian made boots, I had two pairs of Vasque and the soles started to delaminate at one point. I checked the reviews on some Scarpas, same thing. Try getting the soles off a Danner. There's a video on YT of a shoemaker getting part way through pulling the soles on some Acadias. He quit halfway through, and said he would continue the video after getting the soles off.

[@elgatoguapo7842]

I’d love to see a Danner Quarry cut in half. I’ve been wearing them for nearly a decade (only gone through 2 pairs) as my only work boot. I’ve been in farming the whole time; 16 hour days and plenty of miles later I’m still thrilled with them. I’d be interested to see if they’re as good as I’ve experienced them to be or if I should start considering something else for my next pair.

[@DenyTheZeitgeist]

I wonder what mine are like on the inside then? I have the mountain lights with goretex lining and I LOVE THEM. That being said, I also bought them from REI’s used gear page for 130 bucks. Had a small scuff on the toe and hadn’t been worn more than probably 10 minutes so it was a good deal to me.

[@LeRektorat]

Hello Weston and thanks a lot for giving the level of transparency any boot brand should push to show how price can be justified through quality. I'm just a random french guy watching. Turns out a small company in France called Le Soulor is trying to rebuild that same style of hiker boot around the same € price point, would be fun to watch you dissect french boot bands, we don't have our french equivalent of Rose Anvil on this platform :') Also very disappointed in how Danner gets either building poor-quality boots, or overpricing OK level boots, or both. These used to inspire me a couple years ago but I guess I have to bid them farewell. Can't wait for next boots on the bandsaw

[@shadymaint1]

I've got a pair of Danner Matterhorn boots. Nice cold weather boot, but the stitching let go after about a year and a half of lite wear. The last cobbler in my area retired a couple of years ago. I'd like to get them repaired, but there is no one in my area.

[@jamesyoung7382]

Very interesting review on this boot. What would be great alternatives to this boot for the 250-300 price range that you suggested?

[@StephenMaraist-vt7hi]

Thank you for your work and especially for confirming all my suspicions after many miles in these particular boots, as well as other Danner USA models: I was duped. 😭

[@tommyg8018]

I’m never buying another pair of footwear again until I see you cut it in half. Great video as always. I’m glad I ran into your channel.

[@mal2671]

ever get requests to try the eddiebauer k6 hiker or severson moctoe? they seem great

[@elosacle]

The only pair of danners that I had fell apart within a month of working in the wet parks of Portland. Since they also don't make extra wide sizes, I could never get them to be as comfortable as I thought they should have been, especially for the price I paid for them at the time.

[@mallardcutter7209]

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.

[@Julian-yx4we]

Wow, what a disappointment! Great review as always, Weston! I have a pair of these that I got lucky with in 2018 and scored for under $200. I loved the look and in fairness would probably have bought them at full price THINKING that they were indestructible. What a chump I would have been! I mostly bought them for the look (I do love it) but when I arrived I found them clunky and HEAVY. Would much rather have got the Mountain Pass (which wasn't available at the time) for a lighter, more urban boot and my hikes that I do a couple of times a year. I'm certainly not the demographic of person who needs any kind of dedicated/hardcore hiking boot (for my level, trail sneakers would probably do). Also, mine have a Gore-tex lining which, judging from some of the other videos I've seen on the channel talking about waterproof linings, probably isn't worth the fabric it's made with. This is why this channel is so useful: you've already saved me eyeing a pair of Aldens enviously! I already have the Danners but I'm getting muuuuuuch more cynical with my boot purchases!

[@Tassells77]

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

[@richardhill194]

Anyone know if this difference on price vs quality is true for most models of Danner boots? or is it mostly only true of the "heritage" boot.

[@robinmichel9048]

Vasque Sundowner would be a real contender for the best classic hiking boot, IMO.

[@Dl-wh8bd]

I love your review and how you cut boots in half and discuss all the details that makes the boot good or bad. Can you do a review of the Gronell Stelvio boot?

[@mmnootzenpoof]

I'd love to see a comparison between this and Nick's Howard boot, and White's Hiker boot.

[@flt528]

I have these boots - the "non waterproof" version. Bought them 3 years ago and have hiked a dozen eastern high peaks plus many smaller hikes in them. I'm very happy with them. There are very few real leather hiking boots that DON'T have stupid Gore-Tex in them. Limmer is the only other boot that comes to mind. I have waded through countless streams in my "non-waterproof" Danners and never had a drop of water in my boots, because when you rub oil into a full grain leather boot with almost no seams, you get a waterproof boot. They took a long time to break in, but I find them super comfortable now. I am not impressed with the liner, but I have no visible wear on mine (perhaps wearing thicker hiking socks helps?). Maybe they don't make them like they used to, but they are not junk by any stretch of the imagination.

[@shawndolan3704]

Thank you, Weston! I've been dying to see you review the mountain light. I LOVE this boot! I just bought my second pair after 15 years in my first. I really didn't need to, but wanted a second color. The mountain light held up like armor after I had hiked similar cheaper boots (Vasque and Technica) off my feet. One point , though- I did install custom foot beds as these don't come with any.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Oh wow too funny, this video could not have come at more perfect time! I was looking at a pair of these just the other day after my last pair of hiking boots totally disintegrated on the trail on me last week. We were half way through a 40 mile trek when the soles peeled off the right foot and then the heel came off on the left foot. So I ended up having to switch over to my sneakers for the rest of the hike, which was not fun as you could imagine. But what's funny is while we were hiking I kept asking for different brand suggestions bc, normally I just buy cheap sub $200 boots but I decided I'd just pay a little more and get a decent pair that I can just get resoled instead of getting a new pair. And my one friend and his girl suggested these Danner hiking boots, they were hyping them up big time saying oh you'll love them, they're a little pricey but they're totally worth it bc and I quote _"they are bomber as hell and they'll last you years! We've had ours forever"_ yada yada yada. So to now that I see this I just started laughing and sent them the link to this video. 🤣😆🤣 There is no way in hell that I'm going to get these after seeing this! Why spend over $400 on a pair of boots that are barely worth $250?! 🤷♂ So thank you brother you saved me a huge disappointment! Liked and Subbed just bc of this. 👍👍

[@mokster5]

I feel so validated hearing you call the last narrow. Danner claims they fit wide and you should size down, but I know so many people who tried these boots and called them narrow, so I ordered the men’s (supposed) EE width. My feet are barely on the lower end of what would be considered narrow, and while the boots were comfortable underfoot they were still too narrow! I really don’t understand the fit of these.

[@CHIMPOaGOGO]

I haven't seen these in person but my first impression when looking at them was that the toe box was definitely narrower than my Iron Rangers which fit my feet perfectly and I have D width. Other than that, the Lems boulder boots Weston made a video about have been the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.