I tested the Danner Mountain 600 boot, a lightweight, waterproof, trail boot. I believe that most hikers will find it to be the “go to” boot for everyday trail use.
When it comes to Law Enforcement, this is an excellent choice for the officer that needs duty protection that does not have the “We’re from the government and we’re here to help” look.
I have a long history with Danner so I need to start out with full disclosure in this review. Throughout my military and law enforcement career, I've always been able to suffer some pretty challenging conditions, as long as I didn't have wet feet. When using LPCs (Leather Personnel Carriers), wet feet can be debilitating. I started purchasing Danner Boots about 30 years ago. My first pair was a set of Danner Ft. Lewis boots. Not only were my feet dry all the time, the design of this boot allowed weight to be distributed very evenly, which is very important with 60 pounds on your back.
When I went into law enforcement, I initially worked in the jail. I wore Danner Blackhawk boots throughout my law enforcement career. They definitely have stories to tell, but the most important thing I can tell you is that I have washed them off with hot soapy water, then polished them dozens of times.
I still have a closet full of Danner Boots, and I’m a little biased, so take this review with a grain of salt.
The Danner 600 is deigned to be lightweight. The rough out suede is lighter than some full grain leather, and it adds to the abrasion resistance of the package. It is a water resistant boot, using the proprietary Danner Dry liner. At 37 oz per pair, it is in the mid range for lightweight hikers and quite a bit lighter than brands with similar features.
The Danner 600 is constructed using a minimum number of seams, which is a good way to reduce “hot spots”, where the raised areas rub, when hiking. The reduced seam look also adds to the overall fashionable look of the boot. There are several models of the Danner 600 that have ”smooth side out” leather in an oxford style which are great for everyday wear. I plan to get a pair of Danner Mountain 600 Low boots for walking.
The laces are secured with speed swivel eyelets near the toes and riveted hooks above the ankle. This is great for applying even pressure on the laces, but the most noticeable upgrade is a sewn in tape with loops that secure the laces where they cross. I found this boot placed the tongue consistently every time, and the tape spread the pressure of the laces evenly.
The collar and tongue create a pretty good seal against debris getting into the boot. The tongue gusset goes all the way up to the Achilles v notch of the boot, making this product perfect in muddy terrain. I had the opportunity to wear this boot in the first monsoon season in 50 years in California, and breathability inside the boot was excellent. This is a true waterproof boot and they are very easy to maintain.
The Danner 600 is slip lasted, which means the foot bed is sewn directly to the upper, while it on a last. Running shoes are built this way for three qualities: reduced weight, comfort and flexibility. This operation is generally done by hand or using only a machine assist, which means the important part of this boot really gets the scrutiny of the human eye.
Slip lasting also relies on the cushion of the sole and midsole for rock protection. This area is very flexible, but stiff enough prevent rock damage to the foot. There is enough progressive cushioning between the foot and the sole for packing with a reasonable amount of weight on the back, but the boot is as light as a trail running shoe. Most users will find what I found: The Danner 600 fits like a running shoe, but has enough protection for technical trails.
The heel counter is recessed and reinforced. There is also additional reinforcement for the heel cup itself. I found zero heel slippage in all applications, including walking and traversing sloped areas. Danner tops off the package with an open cell foam Ortholite insole.
The Danner Mountain 600 features the Vibram SPE (Specialized Performance Elastomer) midsole and Vibram Fuga outsole. The Fuga outsole consists of groups of triangular shaped lugs arranged in patterns to make the grip omnidirectional. Each set of patterned lugs has a series of flex lines that are perpendicular to the direction of travel. I found that the boot flexed with my foot, particularly at the ball of the foot. When tasked to stay on the trail that has some lateral force, they definitely gripped. The tread compound itself, which Vibram calls Megagrip, is softer than many other hiking boot lugs and on surfaces that are slippery when wet. The sole of this boot is wedge shaped, made of copolymer synthetic natural rubber and EVA. That is, there is no defined heel.
The Danner Mountain 600 is not one of their “stitch down” designs. Rather, it has a bonded midsole and outsole. Danner can rebuild stitch down boots, but not one of these. The price reflects this. If hiking is your hobby, this is cheap for a premium boot whose quality is top notch.
The MSRP of the model I tested is $180.
