The Greatest Hiking Boot In History...vs. The One That Beat It

Portlander here, the Danner people are rad. They care about their employees and their city (they give away a lot of boots to non-profits helping people on hard times), and you can visit the factory and get factory seconds and samples at a deep discount. Also, it’s just a cool place to visit.

I bought the merril Moab 3 and it was ruining my feet….. I bought the Danner Mountain 600 and solved my problem with blisters and mild shin splints…. Unbelievable how comfortable the mountain 600 is for walking…. The Danner mountain 600 is $60 to $80 more than the Merril but absolutely worth it…. For me…. Bought a 2nd pair on sale from Sportsman’s Warehouse. Won’t stop walking now.

Heads up: you can go to the Danner factory store in Portland and get a "second" for half the price. Most boots simply have blemishes on the leather. You can also watch them "re-craft" boots. Surprised you omitted any mention of "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed, which I'm sure spikes sales. I believe that the book cover was a stock photo and Danner made a boot to match it for the movie.

This dude is very likable. Seems like a real, honest dude. Keep up the good work.

Been wearing my Mountain Pass Gold Rushes for a couple years now. Perfect for me. I like the retro style and find them on my feet just as often as my other brands, particularly when I want a little more presence and style. Great vid!

The ad you did with Taylor for Saintbones was so classy with a hit of humour. Love your videos, the info given in story time format, well what can I say but very enjoyable. Shout out to the Iron Snail. I've basically watched all your videos & today I came to my senses & subscribed. Yes Michael I also smashed the like button :eyes-purple-crying:

Great video. I’m a hiker & camper and I made the switch from the Moab to Danner, and back to the Moab. I’ve worn merrell hikers for about a decade without any issues, but as I learned more about better quality and trad built footwear I invested in the Danners. Unfortunately I couldn’t get them to be comfortable. I own several pairs of Goodyear welted boots/shoes so I understand break in. I just couldn’t get the Danners to work for me. I switched back to the Moab and it continues to be a great performer in a wide range of conditions.

Go to saintbones.com/discount/IronSnailand use the code IronSnail to get 10% off on all eyewear! Dear everyone -- please don't worry, the boots got a DEEP clean, condition, and wax after that treacherous water logged day. They look fantastic and I'm so proud of myself.

Cool video. This was the boot worn in the movie Wild. Since then has become a fashionable boot for women. Especially with the thick red laces.

No other look as cool as the classic styling of the Danner’s.

I have my dad's pair of 6490s he bought brand new in 1972. I stopped hiking in them about 10 years ago but I do still wear them a few times a month in casual wear. If I ever got around to having someone properly resole them I would hike in them again no doubt.

Just got my Jim Green Razorback Boots today and am loving them to bits! They are doing great in the berlin winter so far

I work a job that requires boots and ive tried them all or at least all the popular choices, keen, merrill, redwing ect. Danners are by far, not even close, my favorite boots. They look good. They stay waterproof longer than any boot ive owned and they last longer than any boot i own. And for me at least, they are very comfortable.

Danner boots were THE boot for private purchase to be worn by the British army SAS in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s; in black leather. I don’t know if that’s the case today. They were seen as just the very best one could buy….🇬🇧

Good work on the video. Try a can of Snow Seel, this is the stuff we used back in the 70's to waterproof our boots. Just rub it into your boot leather particularly around the seams and tongue. The trick is to take your hair drier and melt the wax into the leather. Two coats will last a long winter.

I live in the mountain west so wear boots a lot and so feel like I have some experience with boots... the one thing that I'd mention is that Merrell makes "throw away" boots/shoes. I've never had a pair last longer than a year with heavy use (although their customer service is quite good and will replace them). A pair of boots like Danner (I personally use/prefer Zamberlan) will last faaar longer and get more comfortable the longer you wear them. I'd say a good pair of heavier leather boots will be a far better bargain in the long run, especially if you are using them often.

Lol Mike I gotta be honest, I don’t have a whole lot in common with you other than we’re both men and we both like nice stuff. Love the information in your videos and the transitions lol, we do have a similar sense of humor. Made a fan here in rural Texas.

A pair of Danner ridge (like the Danner light) in 2020 were my first recraftable boots and largely why I chose them as my hiking boot. I do think you’re over paying a little but agree they are unique in terms of USA Union made etc. I like how light they are and I have definitely put them through their paces. The sole and leather has held up. Some of the stitching has come apart and the waterproof lining has either torn or failed because they’re not really waterproof now. For the stitching, I don’t think it’s QC it’s more just I wore them for trail clean ups, hiking and carpentry projects. For sizing, the run narrow. I will probably buy another pair instead of recrafting just because these are too narrow for me. Hopefully the next pair I’ll get re crafted. I recommend going up a half a size if you’re gonna wear thicker socks or if you have wide feet like me. Great video as always Michael! Also, have definitely been there too walking in the woods in a puddle and all of the sudden your foot is soaked haha

we used to call these boots "Clutter Boots" back in the 70s and 80s. The only boot known around the Rocky mountains as The Boot.

Interesting video as always! I like Danner’s heritage style, but prefer Asolo fugitive gtx (resoleable) for functionality. My trail runners are good for light afternoon hikes. I still prefer traditional boot support on longer day hikes, and especially when backpacking.