American bootmaker Danner enjoys much acclaim and an almost reverent status stateside. It’s not so popular in Europe because this part of the world already has its legendary bootmakers. That said, Danner is present here and those who have used its hiking boots will know how capable they are.
We’ve tested a number of Danner models over the years, one of which picked an esteemed Gear of the Year award from us (the impressive Trail 2650 hiking shoe). The Danner Crag Rat Evo, a crampon-compatible mountain boot, has also impressed us.
Danner’s standard Mountain 600 is what we’d call a crossover: a beefed up sneaker with many hiking boot features (Gore-Tex lining, full leather upper, Vibram sole) so it can tackle trails if required (and it does so markedly well – we've used it on hikes in the Yorkshire Dales and Cairngorms).
Admittedly, though, it's lacking the burly build you want and need for years of demanding hikes. This was a shame because we found the Danner Mountain 600 to be extremely comfortable.
You can imagine our pleasure then, when we were informed Danner had performed a kind Pimp My Ride-type job on the Mountain 600 and made a proper trekking version it called the Mountain 600 EVO.
Most notably, you get redesigned uppers made from just three panels of full-grain leather. This means fewer stitched seams and therefore less chance of failure or leakage.
In addition, the lining has been upgraded from Danner’s own in-house waterproof membrane to a Gore-Tex version. And underfoot, the Vibram sole unit has been improved too, with a more technical lug pattern designed to offer more efficient grip on a wider range of terrain, with dedicated braking and contact grip zones at the heel and forefoot.
Naturally, we had to try it out.
LFTOglobal.danner.com
Pros
- Surprisingly, no break-in time
- Regular and wide fits available
- Loads of grip
- Can be resoled
- Durable and well-built
Cons
- No proper toe bumper or rand
- Tongue isn't the plushest
| RRP: | £250 / $250 |
| Upper: | LWG gold rated full grain leather w/ Gore-Tex lining |
| Sole: | Vibram Fuga + Traction |
| Men's sizes: | US 7 - 15 |
| Women's sizes: | US 5 - 11 |
| Weight (per boot): | 567g / 1lb 4oz |
Design and features
In terms of looks, the Mountain 600 EVO is just as handsome as the standard model, with on-trend heritage styling. It looks and feels like a premium boot. And on the heel of the Mountain 600 EVO sits a trio of industry heavyweight logos: Danner, Gore-Tex and Vibram.
It doesn’t have a full height cut – the cuff sits just above the ankle, so it’s more like a ‘mid plus’. This delivers decent protection, structure and support, but for technical use, boggy ground or backpacking with heavy loads, some might want a higher ankle design.
The tongue and cuff are modestly padded, with a soft but durable fabric lining that’s definitely more resistant to wear and tear than that used on the standard Mountain 600. The tongue is gusseted but only up to the first lace hook, which doesn’t give a particularly impressive flood height.
Lacing uses all-metal hardware in the form of D-rings and speed hooks (Danner also supplies a spare set of laces with each pair). It extends most of the way down the boot, which tends to ensure a more precise fit. The tongue is only modestly padded but is fitted with webbing cord that integrates with the laces to stop it from sliding around.
Although Danner makes synthetic footwear, its material of choice is leather. As such, the Mountain 600 EVO has a full grain leather upper paired with a Gore-Tex lining (though the version we tested had a brushed nubuck finish).
The panelling has been redesigned, which means a number of seams have been eliminated compared to the standard Mountain 600. In our eyes this is a definite improvement.
With the standard boot, there are two prominent seams across the midfoot that are prone to wear and tear. In contrast, the Evo uses a single piece of leather for the whole forward and outer section of the boot, leaving just one seam at the instep and a small panel at the heel.
The Evo employs a Gore-Tex waterproof liner rather than relying on Danner’s own in-house tech, like the standard 600. There might be a slight benefit in terms of overall breathability and possibly long-term durability, but the main advantage is that the Gore-Tex membrane is greener, since it is made from 45% post-consumer recycled materials.
Underfoot, you get an OrthoLite ECO Footbed made from recycled rubber and Bio-Oil, which isn’t anything special but is a bit thicker than the flimsy insoles supplied as standard with most hiking boots.
The midsole is Vibram SPE, a rubberised EVA foam that is supposedly more durable and won’t break down as easily. That’s a plus for lifetime value, especially since this boot can be resoled.
Speaking of which, the outsole is a Fuga Traction design made from the Italian company’s renowned Megagrip compound – which we’ve historically found is one of the most versatile performers for outdoor footwear, delivering balanced durability and tackiness for reliable grip.
It still features quite beefy 4mm lugs with Vibram’s latest ‘traction lug’ tech: a series of tiny nodules on the sides of each lug that supposedly increase surface area (and therefore overall traction) by up to 25%.
You might expect all this tech to add weight, but the EVO isn’t as heavy as it looks. It weighs 567g per boot in a men’s UK 9, which is comparable to leather rivals like the KEEN Pyrenees and Scarpa Moraine Mid Pro.
It also undercuts a lot of burlier leather boots like the Salomon Quest 4, the Altberg Nordkapp and the Meindl Bhutan, though it’s a lot more flexible and less supportive underfoot than any of those models.
Performance and comfort
Most all-leather boots, especially those made from nubuck or full-grain leather, require a little break-in time. The Mountain 600 Evo is the exception.
Our test pair was good to go from the first hike, which is a rarity. Perhaps the leather is thinner than on other similar boots we’ve tried. It does seem to crease fairly easily, though it didn’t mark or cut up on test.
In terms of overall comfort, the Mountain 600 EVO worked for us. It’s quite a broad-fitting boot though, especially at the forefoot, and fairly high volume too, which means some might find it a bit sloppy.
We tested the standard D width, but there is an EE wide fit version, too. This would be worth trying if you find most boots too narrow. On the other hand, the midfoot and heel are nicely sculpted and lock things in nicely. The toebox also offers plenty of room for toes to splay.
The EVA midsole delivers decent cushioning. It isn’t as plush as what you find on the plushest trainer-hikers from brands like Hoka and Inov8, but what it does seem to do very well is distribute weight with each step.
There’s good ground feel as well, and we came to trust the grip on the Mountain 600 EVO. It’s a boot that generally performs well on broken and uneven terrain.
Obviously, a boot with a taller ankle cuff will provide better ankle support, but we found the Mountain 600 EVO was still supportive enough.
It’s a shame therefore that Danner didn’t include a proper toe bumper or rand on the Mountain 600 EVO. It’s a boot that can happily grip on mountainous terrain, but the toe and sides of the boot are exposed to scrapes and scuffs on rock.
It’s also very flexible, which is great for high-mileage days on easy gradients, but limits stability and support on steep ground. And is it waterproof? Up to its flood level, absolutely. It's just that the flood level isn't that high.
Sustainability
Sustainability can be a double-edged sword when it comes to leather boots. On the one hand, their durability and ability to be resoled (the Mountain 600 EVO is part of Danner’s ‘recraftable’ range) is a huge plus point, since it aids sustainability through longevity, effectively extending the product’s lifespan.
On the other hand, the processing of leather (tanning) can be very polluting and there are of course animal welfare concerns, too. To mitigate these important aspects, you can opt to buy leather boots from brands that are transparent and responsible about where they source their leather.
Brands should have publicly available information on their supply chains – a third party that is worth keeping an eye out for is Leather Working Group. Brands and footwear that are members and use LWG certified leather (particularly gold-rated LWG certification) adhere to high standards in terms of sourcing and tanning leather.
Is Danner one of these brands? Danner makes a big deal out of its American made footwear, but many of its models, including the Mountain 600 EVO, are made elsewhere (the label on the Mountain 600 EVO says made in Vietnam).
Happily, the Mountain 600 EVO uses LWG gold-certified leather, meaning the manufacturer has been audited and adheres to the highest LWG standards of water and energy usage; waste and effluent management; emissions, traceability (including animal welfare); health and safety; chemical management; and restricted substances, compliance and chromium VI (CrVI) management.
Other components of the Mountain 600 EVO are recycled. The Gore-Tex lining, for example, is 45% recycled and the collar and liner are both 100% recycled.
Price and competition
Danner footwear does have a reputation for being pricey. With an RRP of £250, the Mountain 600 EVO is no exception. In terms of performance and quality, there are several European-made rivals that offer better value, from brands such as Salewa, AKU and Scarpa.
For the same price as the Danner boot you can get Scarpa’s Mescalito TRK GTX or Salewa’s superb MTN Trainer 2 GTX. Both are even more capable on tricky terrain (and feature a proper rand), though admittedly they lack the EVO’s underfoot cushioning and flexible, easy walking action.
We could rattle off some more circa £250 rivals from other brands like Lowa, Meindl and La Sportiva that outgun the Danner too – by no means does the Danner boot have it easy.
We’d also point out that one of the best value three-season boots we’ve tested recently is the KEEN Pyrenees, which shares many of the same qualities as the Danner Mountain 600 Evo but is priced at £160 RRP – that’s nearly £100 cheaper.
It’s just as well cushioned, just as comfortable and has a similarly accommodating fit. It also uses high-quality all-leather uppers, though it lacks the Vibram outsole of the Danner, so it isn’t quite as capable on tougher terrain.
Verdict
This boot was tested by both Chris Williams and Matt Jones, and they both came to the same overall score. Here's a brief verdict from both testers.
Matt said: "This is one of the most comfortable all-leather boots around, but despite its name I don’t think it’s quite robust enough for three-season mountain use. It’s expensive, too."
Chris said: "I was seriously impressed with the comfort and performance of the Danner Mountain 600 EVO. It’s truly one of the most comfortable leather boots I've tested recently.
"But omitting a proper rand and toe bumper is a mistake, I think. With them, it would be a proper mountain boot armed to tackle the tough stuff; without them, the Mountain 600 EVO still can but isn’t as tough as it could be.
"The £250 price tag is also a bit steep when compared with like rivals and what high-spec options are available for the same price."
How we tested
The Danner Mountain 600 EVO was tested by former Senior Writer Chris Williams and freelance kit testing expert Matt Jones. Chris has been testing gear for us since 2021 and has been hiking all his life (most of which was spent in his homeland of New Zealand), while Matt is the former editor of Walk magazine and Scouting magazine.
Chris tested it over the course of a couple of months in late spring and early summer. The most demanding outing Chris used the Mountain 600 EVO for was a loop over Beinn Alligin and the Horns of Alligin in northwest Scotland.
Matt put the Mountain 600 Evo through its paces on hikes in and around Snowdonia over the winter months.