Another boot thread:Question about Danners

Matt Shade

Matt Shade

Joined
Nov 24, 1999
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Anyone have more than one pair of Danner boots? I'm thinking about picking up a pair of their gortex lined boots for bad weather, hunting etc. I need to know if they fit pretty consistently from one style to the next. Anyone have different styles? Do they fit the same? Same size for both?

The local gander mountain carries their pronghorns in 1000 gram thinsulate, but thats it. I'm looking for something to wear instead of my normal steel toed, justin work boots in snow/bad weather. They're great boots, but can be cold in the winter and don't give the best traction in snow. I don't want the 1000 gram thinsulate though as I think that would be uncomfortable when I'm working inside the shop.

I'm hoping I could figure out the size I need trying on the pronghorns at gander mountain, and then order something else from the net. Maybe just the uninsulated pronghorns, or maybe the 8" sharptails. I need a good heavy pair of workboots, but not something big and clumsy as I drive a lot of tractors and equipment. Has to be comfortable enough to wear on concrete for 10 hours or more a day as well. The justins are my favorite boot, and I get 3-4 years out of a pair, but they aren't the best for for snow and ice.

I suppose I'm also open to other suggestions to look at if anyone has ideas. Danner seems to be highly recommended around here though. Thanks
 
Absolutely the best boots made!!!! Get Gore-Tex and thinsulate lined. I have 2 pairs over 30 years old and they look like new. Had them resoled and keep polish or leather treatment on them. They fit pretty consistently. If you buy by mail be sure to wear them inside first. Then you can return them for a different size. A pain in the butt but it works. Since you are in Ohio drive up to Cabela's in Dundee Michigan and you avoid the problem. I live 30 minutes from the store and I can go up and try them on. They have a great selection. The store is something to see, the wife and kids can find plenty to do just with the displays. Just don't spend too much money when you get there!!!
 
Thanks, thats reassuring.

I do want to hit a cabelas some time. There's one in west virginia that might be closer for me, but either way the diesel fuel eats into my fun money ;) I doubt I'll have time for that before the snow flies either, so I might have to gamble with a web order this time.
 
Just one panacea. ONLY buy the boots that clearly say MADE IN USA.

the other danners are good, but the USA boots are what the reputation was built on, just like red wings, buy the USA boots and you got something, buy the China boots and you got china boots.
 
I have worn 4 diferent styles of danners that can be resoled and they all fit nearly the same11 and 1/2 size for me 3 were american made and one overseas.
 
Thanks guys that helps out alot :D

Is there any way to tell which boots are american made without seeing them in person? This is something that really bothers me, its almost impossible to find out where anything is made anymore without having it in hand already. I like to buy american as much as possible and avoid china as much as possible. You'd think people would put "made in usa" in the advertisment/description as its usually a selling point.
 
One way to tell is the difference in soles. I'm pretty sure that the American made boots have the flat, sewn on, vibram style soles. The chinese made boots have the molded in style.
 
I find Danners run pretty much true to size, however, I've always worn Gore-Tex versions and I'm told the Gore-Tex ones run as much as 1/2 size smaller due to the lining.

I wear the same size in a GTX Danner stitch-down as I do in any other normal laced boot size, which is 1/2 a size -larger- than a non-laced boot (like an engineer or a harness boot) or a dress shoe.

My last pair of Danners lasted me pretty much 4 solid years with almost no visible ear on the upper; it needed a resoling though, and I ended up passing it along to a friend.

I will say this though... they need a -substantial- break-in period.

I've had a few pairs now and all of them were agony for the first 3 weeks or so.

Don't wear them, say, hiking, without breaking them in first. ;)

-j
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

To answer my own question from earlier, you can figure out which boots are USA made by looking at them at www.danner.com . The problem is that probably less than 1 out of 5 styles are made in america anymore. The USA boots have a "made in usa" label posted along with the basic features like goretex, vibram soles, thinsulate etc. I didn't know it before, because none of the boots I had looked at were USA boots :mad:

The site was really slow, so I didn't get through all of them but in the hunting section I only found 1 or 2 styles listed as made in USA, and in the steel toed section I only found 1 style. Everything else must be made in china, although they fail to mention that on their website.

Might have to check out some other brands now, or just stick with my Justins.
 
I've looked at whites and nick's websites before and I'm sure they're good quality, but I'm not really interested in the logger style heel. I don't think it would be all that great on concrete. Justin makes a logger boot with goretex lining too, that I was passing on for the same reason.
I guess I need to make up my mind on wether I want a boot for the shop or a boot for plowing snow, delivering hay, and trudging around in bad weather, but I'm not much for stopping and changing boots in the middle of the day either....
 
Matt Shade said:
I've looked at whites and nick's websites before and I'm sure they're good quality, but I'm not really interested in the logger style heel. I don't think it would be all that great on concrete. Justin makes a logger boot with goretex lining too, that I was passing on for the same reason.
I guess I need to make up my mind on wether I want a boot for the shop or a boot for plowing snow, delivering hay, and trudging around in bad weather, but I'm not much for stopping and changing boots in the middle of the day either....
Click to expand...

Matt,

1. I am a shoe/boot nut, and have many different kinds. I also have small, wide feet, and a high arch, so my requirements can be very specific.

2. The US made Danners fit me fine, but did not care for the styles. The offshore(Chinese) made boots were agony on my ankle bone, but the style was excellent.

3. With that said....I can make two recomendations, one offshore, one here: HiTec boots, and Thorogood boots. The quality is excellent, and they wear EXTREMELY well. If money is not a major consideration, go with the Thorogoods. You should be able to try them on at a local uniform store.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
You might also want to check out the Filson boots. I have a pair of uninsulated ones that have served me well for going on 10 years or more. They have a removable cork insole that molds to your feet. They also make an insulated with wool model. Though I don't have those, I have heard good things about them. I haven't had to resole them yet, but I plan on getting a new pair of cork insoles for this upland season. www.filson.com
 
Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm checking them all out. It turns out that Justin makes a boot identical to the ones I wear now, only with a goretex lining. I'm thinking that might be the way to go. They're alot cheaper than the other boots I've looked at, and I know they will fit my feet well.
 
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