Hello all,

I am wondering what is your favorite pair of Danners? I am thinking of getting a pair for big game "Out West" hunting. Thanks for the help and opinions.


ddj

I've got a pair of their RAT cold weather mountain boots. They're made for the Marine Corps and Danner sells overruns of them in their factory outlet store in Portland. Good, uninsulated, boots. I like uninsulated boots because I can determine for myself how warm my feet will be by changing socks, whereas with an insulated boot you're locked in to that level of warmth regardless of sock choice.

I have put many miles on in my danner pronghorn boots and will be buying another pair when I wear these out

I'm a fan of the Trophy. After break-in they are like a second skin. I wear them from 60F down to -20F with no comfort issues.

And where is the best place to buy Danners? Cabelas?

I need a pair of medium weight boots of good quality. Not sure if Danners will fit the bill but I had a pair a long time ago that I liked.

I think I am going to buy one of the American made pairs of Danners, just not sure which pair?

http://www.danner.com/boots/#activity=53&features=79


ddj

Danner vs Meindl - any opinions?

I've put a LOT of hard vertical miles on my Danner Elk Hunters, but they are a very heavy boot.

Salmonella, are the Elkhunters today the same as the ones of 10 yrs ago? I had a pair of older ones. Great boots, but Cabelas only lists them as uninsulated and too cheap to be true.

Of the current Danners, the Raptor GTX seems to be what the Old Elkhunter used to be. Looks like a good boot.

I'd like to find Meindl's Island Active but only in Europe and for more than $400 a pair, I might pass. Be nice to find them more local and cheaper (of course).

Same here. Mine are 6-7 years old and still going strong. I have wide feet, and the design and lacing system really get them snug around the ankles, unlike other boots. I really like them for sidehilling. My wife tried on a pair this year but she didn't like them because one of the bones on her foot was right under one of the grommets and they hurt. (That's why I would never mail order boots.)

I am sorry to hear this. I thought the Elk Hunters were made in America the same way they always were made. Mine have 600 grams of Thinsulate. I would consider calling Danner. The ones we saw in the store this year were old stock in the bargain cave and appeared to be the same as always.

So far my Danner pronghorns have lasted 4 years and still going strong, found a pair of Danner Montana hunters for the colder seasons, will have to see how they do!

I have an older pair that looks a lot like the Raptor, but without insulation. They have worked very well and I'd buy more. My feet have grown enough that they don't fit well now. What size are you looking for? I'll send them free for the shipping if you want them and they'll fit. They are size 8-1/2....

I used several pair of the "Grouse" model for years hunting elk, mulies, bear, etc, but now that I have the Lowa Tibet's, there is no way I would go back to the Danners.

trouthunterdj;
I ran a pair of these Hood Winter Lights for years here in southern BC.

http://www.danner.com/hood-winter-lighttm-200g-hunting-boots.html

In fact I wore out the original soles and had the Danner factory repair folks up here in BC do an excellent resole job on them.

I'm not a super heavy fellow - 160lbs - so perhaps I don't go through boots as fast as a 250lb chap might? Anyway I seem to recall these giving better service than any boot I've tried until then.

For reasons that aren't entirely clear to me at this point, I bought a pair of Meindl Canada Pro boots - yes the Canadian ones and not the Cabela's ones - about 3 years ago.

To be honest I have a bit of buyer's remorse on the Meindl boots as they were a bear to break in. The Danner's were literally good to go when I left the store in Oroville, WA.

A buddy of mine bought a pair of Santiam boots about the same time as I bought the Meindl's and he's very happy with them. He spent much less than I did too....

Anyway, we hunt the south central section of BC where were in pretty rough terrain most days and although it can be wet, it isn't like the coastal jungle by any means.

Hopefully that was some use to you and good luck on your upcoming hunts this fall.

Regards,
Dwayne

Buy them direct from danner. when i did a few months ago they were offering free shipping and free shipping on returns. so i bought 3 different pairs to help me decide between style, size, etc. and send 2 of them back.

Haven't looked in a while but i think the uninsulated grouse hunters are what i have been wearing for about 10 years when i am not wearing knee high rubber of snake boots. Still have the original pair and while they stink to high heaven they are still perfectly functional

The Danner 'Sierra' has been my three season hunting boot since 1984. Not heavy nor lightweight - inbetween. Gortex and 200 grams Thinsulate. I buy them one-half size bigger than my 10 shoe size.

When they get a lot of mileage on them I send them into Danner to rebuild. Recycle them once then discard.

On the plains, in the mountains, Missouri breaks, Wisconsin hills the boots have served me well.

Some of you may recall, I believe it was last year a fire member, got hold of a Danner/Lacrosse employee discount code number. It was half price on all footwear and I ordered three pair of the Sierras...one each for my son and nephew and of course, for myself. The discount was meant only for employees but Danner honored it.

What Canadian Meindl's? Meindls appear to be German and have been for over 300 yrs according to their webpage.

I'm thinking the buy from Danner direct is the best idea.

Meindls or Kenetrecs...You can have the Danners...

I am just finishing up my 6th year with my Pronghorns. They aren't pretty, but they fit like a glove and are still water tight.

My favorite boot is the Schnees Beartooth, but I have Danner Sierras as well and like them too.

For the past 7 years my go to boots have been Danner pronghorn GTx made in the USA and they have been great, sorry to say their current pronghorn has changed and are made elsewhere. I keep cleaning and conditioning them hoping to get a few more years out of them

When I was doing field work as a plant ecologist, I wore out several pairs of different Danner hiking/hunting boots. In 2000 bought a pair of uninsulated Elk Hunters from Cabelas. Wore these for three summers working in western Wyoming. They are great boots, the bob sole really grips in almost all conditions (never wore them in wet mud).

BrentD, I have a pair of Meindl Perfekt Hikers that are excellent boots. Sometimes I wear them instead of the Danners, and they also seem to grip very well. But I haven't had them as long or tried them in as many places as I have the Elk Hunters.

I know from experience that the Elk Hunters with the bob soles grip better on "pucker-up" slopes than the standard Vibram lug soles I wore for years. Normally I wanted a sharp, well defined heel to help while descending steep rocky slopes, but the Danner bob sole is the best I've experienced.

CKW,
I looked at my old Elk Hunters. They say Made in America. Great boots for sure. But the new ones are not in the list of Made in American Danners that trouthunter posted. So, the Raptors seem to be close however. They have the same bob-soles. I agree they work really really well.

The Schees are a good looking boot though. Decisions decisions...

When I first moved to Alaska those were the same boots I used for about 3 years but the Hood Lights I had also had a synthetic membrane on the sides which made them lighter. I'd buy them again is they are built as solidly as they were back then.

I bought a pair of china pronghorns in 07, they were junk in 08. leather ripped apart from the tennis shoe sole

My boots have got to be BOOTS. Made out of boot parts with boot construction. No more camo cross trainers for me.

My USA Danner elk hunters are older than the pronghorns and still going strong. I believe mine are 400 or 600 grams insulation. the elk hunters are some heavy mothers and do expect some break in time, but they are good boots.

I also have an uninsulated pair of black service boots (USA danner) and they do well for me too.

Uninsulated grouse hunter would be my preference color wise, but they come with lace eyelets to the ankle, then hooks to the top and they end with an eyelet at the very top.

Why the [bleep] do they do that??

If you are gonna do hooks with the ankle portion of the laces then go hooks all the way to the top, or just do eyelets from top to bottom.

But eyelets from the toe, then hooks.... then back to a final eyelet at the top?

So I went with the black service boot which is identical to the grouse in construction but it uses eyelets from top to bottom.

I even called Danner to see if they could make me a pair of grouse hunters with either all eyelets or a set of hooks at the very top instead of the 2 eyelets at the top.

They said "No soup for you! Back of line!"

BrentD;
When I refered to "Canadian" Meindl boots it was in part linked to this thread discussing whether or not there was a difference in the boots sold in the US by Cabela's and the ones sold in Canada.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth.../1/Cabela_s_Meindls_vs_internatio#UNREAD

As far as I'm aware all Meindl boots are indeed still made in Germany.

Hopefully that clears up the statement I made, which was of course more than a little tongue in cheek.

Good luck in your upcoming hunts.

Regards,
Dwayne

Huh, I just looked at danner's site.

They have a new boot that I would buy if I was in need today. USMC RAT

I'd get it uninsulated in their "hot" offering (no gortex bootie)

like the santiam gtx boots i have great for mud snow and steep climbs and in the saddle!

I'm on my second set of Elk Hunters. First ones lasted a good 20 yrs.(still have em for backups) I have about 6 yrs. on the new ones. Comfortable and grippy. Don't know how the brandy new ones are though.

http://www.danner.com/santiam-400g-7849.html

+1

Those Elk Hunters look very light and comfortable.

My Danner's are Quarry GTX and Fort Lewis.

My favorite Danner boot is The Super Rainforest.

Gore tex with 200 grams of Thinsulate.

Avoid the Jackal II. They are really light, really waterproof, and they ripped the [bleep] out of the back of my heels. The stitching protrudes above the back of the heel making it very rough. I had 3/4 inch diameter, quarter inch tall blister on each heel within a mile and I haven't had a blister there in decades. (If your heel bones don't protrude very far, they may be ok for you.)

My favorite Danner boots were, I believe, uncatalogged. A friend in the air force got them from the PX at Fairchild AFB. I wore them for 10 years or more, then the threads rotted out 'cause I'd trapped water in them w/ snow seal and they disintegrated on me. The tread was pretty well gone.

Tom

I've wore the Elk Hunters as my late season boot for the last 3 or 4 years. Like others have said, very high quality boot, and the Bob soles just plain work.

The two big downsides for me are the weight and ankle support. They're just too heavy considering the lack of ankle support on them.

They're a good boot, but not a backpacking boot by any means.

I believe, not 100% sure though, that Danner made the Matterhorn boots for the military. I have had good luck with those holding up. I had saved two sets of issue matterhorns and they have lasted me until just two years ago. Eighteen years aint bad for two sets of boots. Granted I wore them in the fall and winter only. I believe they also made a set of "mountain boots" for the military that were extra stiff in the ankle and the sole was cut so you could step into a cross country ski binding. I wish I still had those boots. I literally stepped on a 16 penny nail and watched it bend over. Those boots were tougher than hell.

I have been using a pair of Cabela's Elk Hunters for 8 seasons now and just love them. Comfy! Mine are the 400 gm, I believe. I have a backup pair that I picked up when Cabela's was having a great sale but haven't had to go to them yet. I also have a pair of Santiams but haven't used them yet. I just don't see my current pair of Elk Hunters failing any time soon.

Cabela's still lists all 3 versions (uninsulated, 400 gm, 600 gm) as made in the USA. They're not listed on Danner's website as they're sold under the Cabela's brand.

If you get them, you will not be sorry. Just make sure to order a EE if your foot runs on the wider side. Whatever you do, avoid the imported models - if you search reviews of Danner boots, you'll find many complaints of the imported ones having issues with waterproofing and delaminating of the soles. You'll pay more for a US made boot up front, but the money is well worth it - and most of the US models can be resoled when the time comes.

Went through two sets of Ft. Lewis and a Elk hunter since the early nineties. Have another set of Elk hunters about ready to go and a backup pair of Rain Forests still going strong. I have a set of desert Mendles I've ran in combat and like them a bunch. Was thinking highly of running GoreTex Mendles or Lowas for my next pair. The Brits that had both lowa and mendle always liked the lowas more. The ankle support is impressive for both.

+1

About the best $150 investment I've made value-wise, and 400 gram has served me well for uses ranging from late-season muzzle loading in snow to spring turkey hunting in mud and even Wyoming pronghorn hunting in the dust, cacti, and high temps!

Close second would be the (old, Italian-made) Vasque Sundowners I bought in college... $200 and lasted longer than my hard core backpacking career (which I suppose isn't really saying much )

Trouthunterdj: I have at least 10 pair of Danner boots currently - my favorites are the Antelope Hunters (for early season Hunting) and the Elk Hunters (for late season).
Best of luck with whichever model you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

For clarity - That code was a friends and family code that was good for one day online. Anyone could use it. They were trying to clear a ton of inventory. Which they did. I also got one and passed it along to every hunter I knew. Saved lots of people a ton of money. If they do it again I'll post it on the fire. I was only a lurker last year when it came out.

I'm on my second set of leaking pronghorns. Swamp foot the first hour in the field. I'm currently waiting for Danner customer service to get back to me. I will say the they are great until the water started pouring in!

That's not exactly correct. They were not expecting the code to hit the web like it did. I contacted their customer service when I couldn't order my boots and had to let them know which Danner employee gave me the code. This year they are giving their buyers and dealers a certain number of codes to give out to friends and family. This is the reason I am asking the question.

Thanks for all the opinions guys. I need to purchase a pair from the website so the Elk hunters frpm Cabelas are out. I have a pair of Kenetreks Mountain Extreme with 400 grams of insulation that I love. The Kenetreks can be a bit stiff at times for Iowa hunting so I may go with a pair of Santiams or Trophy.

Thanks again


ddj

I have used both the Danner Canadian and the Trophy model and each is made in the USA! I love them both but use the Trophy all the time now. It's a great boot. I use Obenauf's or Montana Pitch Blend on them to help waterproof them once in a while and I'm good to go! Yes they are waterproof, but that just helps preserve the leather and protect it.

Danner Trophy!! Great boot with great traction.

my mistake.

No worries. I was trying to inform.

ddj

I like the Danner Canadian the best followed by the Elk Hunter. They made a shortened Canadian at one time that was my all time fave, but my last pair crapped out after two resoles and over 10 years of use.

I have the older Acadia Military style and the pronghorns,
I like the Acadia better. Both wear very well. Both waterproof
so far.

I've had good luck with the USA made Danners. Have had a couple pairs of Acadias, desert Ft. Lewis (uninsulated), Hood Winter Light and the Canadians.

My favorite all around are the Hood Winter Lights (have two pairs). Also like the Canadians.

Important to get the USA Danners, built better, fit better (to me). Last year, they had an online sale, one day only, 50% off. I bought a couple more pairs. Don't know if they will be doing it again; believe it was December.