Trail-Tested in the Pacific NW: My Danner Mountain 600 Boots Review
Trail-Tested: Danner Mountain 600 Boots Review
Best Hiking Boots for Women: Danner Mountain 600
When I was researching hiking boots, I came across an overwhelming amount of articles listing all sorts of hiking boots and shoes. And although they all sounded great, with its excellent traction, breathability, durability, etc. I wasn’t sure which hiking boots were right for me. I’m a casual day hiker looking forward to spending more time with nature. And although I have no plans to go backpacking - like Reese Witherspoon’s character in Wild - I did plan on hiking different levels of difficulty trails. But, what I was sure about, I was looking to invest in some quality hiking boots with excellent grip, waterproof, and withstand my hiking style. And by hiking style, I mean tripping over rocks and twisting my ankles with every other step I take. Oh, but also cute. After much research, I decided to pull the trigger and got the Danners Mountain 600 – ok, I may have been swayed a little by its look. Still, they turned out to be fantastic hiking boots even for serious hikers.
I took the Mountain 600 on my Montana, Washington, and Oregon trip. I went through a mixture of conditions, rocky and muddy trails, puddles, and even ice. In all of those terrains, the Danner performed. And when it comes to comfort, I hiked more than 50 miles within two weeks without any sore spot, bruised toenail, or blisters. Personally, I call that a win! But what made me realize how great these hiking boots are, was how they performed compared to my friends’ hiking boots on the trip.
How good is Danner’s traction?
In short, very good! The sole is actually manufactured by a different company, Vibram, specializing in manufacturing sole. It is widely used by many high-end brands to create hiking shoes and boots. It’s also the most used soles by mountain climbers! On Danner’s website, the Mountain 600 sole is described as following “The entire outsole is infused with Vibram’s Megagrip rubber technology for ultimate hold on wet and dry terrain.
But how do they perform in real life? Well, on the Mount Storm King trail, our hiking boots were put to the test. Towards the end of the trail, there’s a section that isn’t maintained. It’s very rocky, steep, and you have to climb up with the help of a rope at one point. Going up and down with my Danner was a breeze – and it turned out to be my favorite part of the trail. But it wasn’t as easy for my friends as they slipped and struggled to get a good grip, especially while going downhill.
Is The Danner Mountain 600 Waterproof?
The short answer is, yes! They are lined with Danner Dry – described as “100% waterproof barrier allows moisture to escape without letting water in”
I wore them to go kayaking on Lake McDonald. While I was getting the kayak into the lake, I stepped in the water for a few seconds – without completely submerging them - and my feet stayed dry. I also washed them with a water hose, and the inside stayed dry. I haven’t tested them in heavy rain, but I assume that water will seep in through the top no matter how waterproof the shoes are.
Is the Danner Mountain 600 comfortable?
The Danner boots are so comfortable, I wore them almost every day on our trip! Even on days we were not hiking. Unless you count walking around my backyard, there’s no break-in necessary. One of the things that I love about Danner Mountain 600 is the toe-box. It’s very roomy so, your toes won’t hit the boots while hiking down – no bruised toes! It’s also very stiff, especially compared to my friends’ boots. This is great when you trip over a big rock or accidentally drop a 50 lbs. luggage on your foot; you won’t feel a thing! On top of that, the Danners Mountain 600 offer excellent ankle support.
How durable are Danner boots?
Danner’s website mentions that the boots have “superior abrasion-resistant qualities would hold up to the rugged Pacific Northwest.” Which I can confirm is true! Even after all the abuse, these hiking boots went through, they still look new! I’m sure that wouldn’t have been the case if I had worn my Sorel boots. I would have destroyed them before the end of the first week.
How Does The Danner Mountain 600 Perform In Cold Temperatures?
These boots are not technically insulated, but they did keep my feet warm at 30° F with just a regular pair of wool socks. I also stepped on ice, and it was fine as well. I would consider the Mountain 600 Insulated version if you are expecting temperatures below 20° F.
How do Danner boots fit?
When it comes to sizing, I read mixed reviews. Some say they are true to size, some say they run big, and some even say they run small. In my opinion, they are true to size. I’m technically a size 6.5, but not all shoes come in half sizes, so in those cases, I go for size 6. For the Danner Mountain 600, I got them in size 6.5. Do keep in mind that the toe-box is roomy, and you want that extra space because when you go downhill, your feet will slide a little to the front of the shoes. And if you don’t have enough wiggle room in your toe box, you will bruise your toenail - which is what happened to my friend with her boots. At first, her boots fit nicely. But when it was time to hike down she would complain her toe was getting bruised. After a week, her toenail was black! Luckily, it wasn’t as bad as Reese Witherspoon’s toenail in the movie Wild - spoiler alert: she lost her toe nail.
Is the Danner Mountain 600 right for you?
From my research, I found out that the Danner Mountain 600 are considered “lightweight boots” or “day hiking boot.” Meaning, they are light and flexible but tough enough for long day hikes or short backpacking trips. However, they lack the same durability and support that “heavyweight boots” or “backpacking boots” offer. Unless you are planning to hike in extreme weather condition, long-distance backpacking, or very demanding trails, the Danner Mountain 600 is an excellent option.
During my research, I also came across Merrell Moab 2 Mid Waterproof and wasn’t sure which one to get. They have great reviews, similar specs with the Danner’s, and have the same Vibram sole, although different designs. But like I mentioned before, I may have been swayed by the classic look of the Danner Mountain 600.
You can get the Danners Mountain 600 at Backcountry.com where I got mine.
Quick update from my travels: my all-time favorite hiking boots have been through it all and still come out on top. But, plot twist: I left them behind in the US after trekking in Grand Teton. So, I grabbed a pair of Salomon X ULTRA 4 MID-GORE-TEX for my Norway hiking trip, super hyped up in the reviews.
Turns out, they weren't all that. Light and comfy, yes, but they lacked grip, making my descent during a hike particularly challenging. I even slipped on an easier hike in Barcelona. So, a heads-up – they might not be the best pick. I'm even thinking about getting them resoled. TL: DR The Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots are still my favorite.