I used to be a Merrell hiking boots fan, but after a few pairs that didn’t last as long as they should, I switched over to Danner Boots. The Danners tend to be a little more expensive than Merrells, but the last pair of Danners I had lasted me more than a year, and I’m really hard on boots.
Not only are the Danners durable, they’re comfortable. I tend to lean toward the heavier styles, because I know I’m going to be rough on them, but even the bulky versions I’ve worn have felt more like tennis shoes than clod-hoppers.
They’re also made in America. Portland, Oregon, to be precise. In a time when most footwear is put together overseas, finding good boots made right here in the USA is pretty rare.
And they’re not as expensive as I thought they’d be. The pair I just bought ran me $140, which is about what I used to pay for Merrells that were made in Asia. I got mine at Sportsman’s Warehouse, and they had quite a few other styles of Danners for under $200. I opted for the hiking style, rather than a hunting boot, because I tend to wear my hiking boots just about every day.
One of these days, I’ll head back to Sportsman’s and get a pair of Danner Pronghorns, though. The people I know who hunt in Pronghorns say they’re the toughest, most comfortable hunting boots they’ve ever worn, and you can get them in an uninsulated version for $200, or with a 400-gram insulation for $210. That would keep your toes warm on a frosty October morning, for sure.
Now that I’ve found I can afford Danners, I don’t think I’ll ever wear anything else. They’re tough enough for hunting, but nice enough for everyday use. And they’re built to last, right here in America.
Be the first to comment