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Growing up in California, a morning hike was how I took in the great outdoors, got my heart pumping, cleared my head. But when I moved to New York City a few years ago, that AM ritual went the way of In-N-Out and sprawling national parks; the steepest incline I encountered was my fifth-story walk-up. That all changed once I laced up a pair of the Danner Mountain Light hiking boots.
Danner’s flagship silhouette traces its roots to the Pacific Northwest, where founder Charles Danner made a name for himself among the rough-and-tumble loggers who called the region home. In 1932, Danner set up shop in Portland, Oregon, churning out rugged footwear that could withstand the unpredictable weather and sludgy landscape.
In 1979, his eponymous brand introduced what would become its most enduring silhouette: a high-quality boot crafted from a single piece of leather, and equipped with a then-pioneering flourish—Gore-Tex liners. The Mountain Light has set the standard ever since.
That little tidbit of menswear arcana is nice to know, of course, but it doesn’t quite explain the silhouette’s enduring appeal. Prior to owning them, I never really imagined I'd be the type of person who chooses to wear hiking boots anywhere but the trails—and then, a month or so after I first laced them up, that’s exactly what happened, time and time again.
How do they look?
You know that old chestnut about judging a book by its cover? It’s still mostly true. When it comes to boots, though, scrutinize like you’re a gavel-pounding member of the local appellate—looks matter, and the Mountain Light delivers ‘em in spades. Unlike their more technical counterparts, Danner’s boots are handsome enough to throw on without feeling like you got lost en route to the mountains.
Their retro styling—beefy lug sole, D-ring eyelets—feels perfectly in-line with this moment’s renewed appreciation for classic, capital-M Menswear, without veering into early 2010s lumberjack cosplay. The Mountain Light would look right at home jostling for page space in an ‘80s-era mail-order catalog packed with nylon shorts and fleece jackets, exactly the vibe you should be cultivating in the new year.
Their full-grain, butter-soft uppers are crafted from a single piece of leather cannily folded to keep the elements out, which are then lined with rivets for corded laces and stitched down to a Vibram Kletterlift sole. I consider myself fairly balanced (literally and figuratively), but when things got a little shaky (literally and figuratively), I appreciated their ultra-durable build more than I anticipated.
Speaking of appreciation: It’s hard to describe just how practical that waterproof Gore-Tex liner really is. Decades after the flourish endeared the Mountain Light to loggers of the Pacific Northwest, the detail still feels like a godsend; caught in a sudden rainstorm during a mid-afternoon walk, my feet stayed drier than a Saharan desert.
How do they fit?
In my experience, the Mountain Light fits true to size. The pair I’ve been wearing are a size US 8 (EU 39), and they fit snug with a little breathing room at the top, allowing me to push off without hitting the toe box. I have narrow feet, and tend to wear these with midweight calf socks for added cushioning and insulation; if you have wider feet and want to do the same, buying a half-size bigger than usual might be the move. It's also worth noting that the footbed is flat—I have low arches so it's not a dealbreaker for me, but if your arches skew higher, consider investing in a couple of insoles, too.
How do they wear?
To state the obvious: boots will never be as comfortable as sneakers. Don't expect these to feel like running shoes fresh out of the box. That’s hardly a knock on the silhouette, though—the Mountain Light starts out a bit stiff (it’s hard to compete with mesh anything), but the time spent breaking it in is short and mercifully blister-free.
Over the months that I’ve worn them, they’ve come into contact with all manner of dirt, debris, and sinister-looking subway discharge, and they’ve managed to emerge unscathed each time. (Danner puts its leather through six different durability tests before it’s deemed fit to send to production.)
If your least favorite part of lacing up hiking boots is the sweaty, straining process of taking them off, relax: Danner’s criss-crossing hook system makes it simple. Slipping the boots on and off is almost suspiciously easy, and I like that I can adjust their grip on my feet by unhooking the laces at the top, avoiding the dreaded rigmarole of unlacing them at the end of a long, exhausting day.
Are they worth it?
I wouldn’t be writing this if they weren’t. I’ve never been a huge fan of hiking boots, mostly avoiding them over the years for the reasons you’d expect: too clunky, too technical, too occasion-specific. Danner’s are the exact opposite of all that, and I love them for it. The leather is rugged and hardy, but they don’t weigh down my feet. The look is retro the whole way through, but they still boast all the elements-trouncing prowess of their techier counterparts.
That Goldilocks combination also means they’re far more versatile than I anticipated; they might be billed as hiking boots, but I consider them lifestyle shoes of the highest order, well suited to whatever terrain and/or occasion you throw at them. (I’ve yet to avail myself of Danner’s comprehensive repair policy, but whether you’re a hardcore trekker or a recreational hiker, knowing you have the option guarantees a certain peace of mind.) The Danner Mountain Light might not promise the restorative powers of a morning hike, but it's one of the most compelling reasons I’ve encountered to really get out there—even if “out there” means braving the steps of your walk-up on the way back.