Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Danner Elk Hunter

I've been shopping for new boots before this fall gets any closer . I've been looking for something lightweight and still stiff. We hunt in some serious steep country at about 11,000 ft. My Midwestern lungs need all the help they can get regarding weight. We take horses in , not backpacking .I've been leaning to something like Salomon or Crispi, but I've found Danner Elk Hunters on sale for about the same price. USA made and a great reputation . About a pound a pair heavier than what I've looked at. Are they worth the extra weight ?

I’ve heard numerous not so good remarks about Crispi. Hard to beat Kenetreks if you prefer “stiff”. My personal favorite are Lowa Renegade GTX’s. Best boot I’ve ever hunted in. Zero break in, very comfortable, hold up very well. Stiff...but nowhere near as stiff as others. I’m on my 4th year and won’t need a replacement pair this fall.

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I want a pair to last .

BigPine: I sure enjoy my Danner Elk Hunters.
I care for them carefully and religiously anymore because I thought for a time they were discontinued?
Anyway I have my main pair and two other pairs of Danner Elk Hunters in reserve!
I bought these at different times 15 to 20 years ago and they were factory returns (all three pairs).
I have since lost my source for factory returns so these (I am sure!) will last me the rest of my life and one of the VarmintSons lives.
I have NO experience or expertise with Salomon or Crispi boots because all I have ever used are Danners of various models for the last 50 years or so!
I have a couple of pairs of Danner lighter weight boots for Antelope and archery Elk seasons but come Elk Rifle season the Danner Elk Hunters are my go to boots.
Many years ago I ruined a pair of Danner boots by having to cross a nut sack deep river 12 times in two days packing out a Bull Moose - we had not way to dry our boots or oil them and that did them in in short order.
I have heard that Danner Boots, because of their "construction/design" can NOT be re-soled?
I don't know?
I recommend the Danner Elk Hunters for warmth, ankle support, water resistance (under typical conditions) and comfort.
And they are (were!) American made.
Other boots may be better - you just could not prove it by me.
Best of luck with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thanks Varmintguy ,
One of the guys I hunt with swears by them , and same as you, he's had nothing else for 30 some years of elk hunting . I mostly will be elk hunting in archery season , American made is ideal and they are respectable. I'm only second guessing them to try and save weight. We camp at about 11,000 feet and hunt down into the drainage's to about 10,000 feet. Hard on the legs , mine anyway.

BP

I used to love Danner boots.
If "elk hunters" are USA made, you have a chance.
Personally, if I am walking in boots and there is any chance of moisture (dew, frost, puddles, rain) I wear my Kennetrek Mtn. Extreme.
Anything with a stitched on sole won't keep out water very long.
If I greased my last Danners every night in hunting camp and caked grease on the seams, I might have dry socks at lunch on a damp morning.
Funny, I just gave those Danners to the tracker I had in Namibia last week. They are comfortable and it is a tad dry in Africa, so he was thrilled.
I won't be buying another pair of Danners.......ever.

Slave ,
I can appreciate that , but $400 to almost $500 is not in my budget . I usually do treat the seams every night in camp , or at home after a day of hunting .

BP

Anything Danner is pure trash. They may work for the casual elk hunter of ranches and flat ground, but for steep country and heavy loads they will fail.

Lowe, Kennetrek, Meindl, Crispi are the way to go. Buy once, cry once.

I have a pair of Crispi Idaho’s and there by far the best boot I have ever owned. I used to where Danners but had to many bad experiences between friends and family.

I bought a pair of Danners almost 25 years ago and still have them and love them. I bought the Pronghorns, all leather, not the 1/2 leather, 1/2 cordura type. They have been everything I've ever wanted in a hunting boot. The country here in Utah can be TOUGH on gear, but these Danners have held up well. The need to be re-soled and Danner will re-sole them for a fee. I need to get them sent in for the work so I'll have them back before our elk opener in early October. If I live long enough, I won't be surprised to get another 25 years out of them.

I appreciate all the input. Tough choice for me

I used Danner Canadians and Elk Hunters for years. A few years back I went with a pair of Meindl Alaskans. Much lighter, better support, more comfortable and the water liner actually works. I see no advantage to Danner boots.

The older Danner's were great boots, the newer ones are not the same quality. Good, but not as good as they used to be. Bought boots last year, looked at all of them and decided on Irish setters. Elk Trackers, a bit heavy but are sown soles not glued. Only one year on them but love them.

if i was still a young man and could still run the mountains Kenetrek boots are by far the best boots !

If you want boots to be waterproof, (and nothing is waterproof unless rubber boots) they need to have a Gortex lining. One hunt last year was wet and sloppy, the Irish Setters did not give me wet feet.

I ran Danner Elk Hunters for 10 years or so. Also had a pair of older Canadians. They were good boot after they were broke in. I've had a couple pairs of Cabelas Meindls. I find the Mendls comfortable.

Having said all that, I now have 3 pairs of Crispi - Wild Rock, Guide, Wyoming. I wear the Guide the most. I find them really comfortable. They do get into my heels after a day or so but solved that with a piece of Leukatape to the heel. Nary and issue after. I have that issue with most boots when elk hunting with a pack/load on my back and doing alot of climbing up steep slopes.

Black Ovis is/was running a sale on Crispis.

As I get older, the balls of my feet have spread. The only boots I've found that really fit me well are Keenes. I have a pair of their Targhees that fits me great and should last me as long as I can still elk hunt. They probably aren't as rugged as many of you like but fit is crucial.

Kennetreks are a very stiff, hard boot and are very uncomfortable. About like walking bare foot on ball bearings. I base this on the pair I got for free from my employer. They sit in the closet for the most part.

I found exactly the opposite for me. I have 3 pairs of Kennetreks that I use 9 months out of the years for the past 10 years. Easy to break in and comfortable as any boot I have ever worn. I use them harder than most and usually with a load so maybe that’s the difference. You could give me a truck load of Danners or Irish Setters. Well maybe if I was an upland bird hunter they might work on flat ground.

If kennetrek hurt your feet you may want to try Keen or Hi Tec.

I’ve had a pair of Danner Elk Hunters for 15 yrs+. I don't use them for real mountains as I have Scarpas for that. However, for the usual Western terrain in MT and CO I’ve used the Danners - 400 gram Thinsulate - and like how they work. Good for the plains and occasional use in steeper terrain, but they are not intended to be real mountain and rock boots. My soles are pretty worn but still good enough of occasional use.

Kennetreks are probably a better bet for steep terrain. I haven’t used them but saw my guide on a tough BC goat hunt use them last year - they work. I had my Scarpas and was glad for them.