Shaping the Past and Present of Hiking Boots

Danner

Danner’s Director of Lifestyle Talks Design, Field Testing, and His Dream Hiking Trail

“For Loggers, Cruisers, Farmers, Hunters, Sportsmen, Miners, and General Heavy Work” claims a 1915 poster from the predecessor of Danner Boots, L.W. Shoe Company, founded by William Weyenberg.

Weyenberg’s son-in-law, Charles Danner, chose to tread down a similar path, establishing his eponymously named brand in Wisconsin in 1932. Moving to Portland, Oregon, shortly after, with the goal of making rugged logging boots in the Pacific Northwest, Danner became one of the industry’s early footwear specialists, with early catalogs describing the brand’s “Western-made” logging as well as engineer models with the claim “There are no finer boots at any price!” Danner is still made in Portland to this day.

By 1956, the brand had set its sights on hiking with models like the Vibram-equipped “Elk Hunter,” and Danner cemented itself as the first outdoor bootmaker to manufacture in the USA. Later in the 1970s, boot technology was rapidly evolving, moving towards more modern and lightweight designs. To meet the moment, in 1979, Danner – then helmed by Charles Danner’s son Bill – created the very first GORE-TEX hiking boots, with the Danner Light.

This deep heritage – and the simple fact that Danner has helped shape modern outdoor boots – are part of the reasons that names like Patta, JJJJound, and Engineered Garments have collaborated with Danner, one of the longest-standing marks in the American outdoor market.

Below, we speak with Yoji Kaneda, Danner’s Director of Lifestyle Apparel/Footwear and New Concepts, to learn about the then and now of Danner.

What do you think makes Danner’s design ethos and history unique?

I think there are legendary heritage brands and innovative tech brands, and Danner sits uniquely between them.
Looking back, this has always been our approach. From the 1950s, when we adopted Vibram soles, to the 1970s when we embraced GORE-TEX, Danner has always merged craftsmanship with innovation. We channel that same spirit from Bill Danner and Willie Sacre, thinking like boot makers, but always pushing forward.

What are Danner’s most popular products today?

I’d say the Mountain Light and the Mountain 600. The Mountain Light traces back to the Mountain Trail, which debuted in the early 1960s. The Mountain Light, introduced in the 1980s with GORE-TEX, has been in continuous production for over 60 years, and it’s still one of our most popular boots. It’s worn by everyone from true hikers and forest rangers to celebrities like Daniel Craig and Tyler, the Creator.

The Mountain 600 carries the same DNA but with modern construction, softer underfoot feel, lighter weight, and the same waterproof durability. It’s a perfect evolution of what Danner stands for, which is heritage craftsmanship and modern performance.

Where does Danner start with creating its modern footwear models? How does Danner’s history of design inform the brand’s catalog of modern outdoor boots?

We start from what we know best, building durable boots, and combining that with a constant search for innovation. That’s been part of Danner’s DNA since day one. In the mid-1950s, Bill Danner created the Elk Hunter, one of the first recreational outdoor boots made in the USA using a Vibram Montagne sole and a cushioned foam insole, both cutting-edge at the time. In 1979, our designer Willie Sacre launched the Danner Light, the first successful GORE-TEX boot. With the new N45 series, we wanted to make a functional light hiker with the best performing material possible, so we used nitrogen-infused Super Critical Foam for the cushion, and because we want it to be repairable, we worked with our recrafting department to create a resoleable construction.

What do you feel makes Danner appealing to Japanese consumers?

In Japan, Danner is known for two things: legendary durability and all-weather function. During the rise of Ame-kaji (American casual) style, Japanese consumers sought well-made American boots, and among all the brands, Danner stood out for using GORE-TEX. That made Danner synonymous with “the GORE-TEX boot.” Since the 1980s, Danner Lights have been a staple in Ame-kaji fashion, seen as one of the most prestigious and sought-after boots. You can see their popularity even today by how high vintage Danner Lights go for on Mercari or Yahoo Auctions, it shows how deeply they’re loved.

Tell us about Danner’s field testing program. Where does field testing take place? How do you pick your wear testers?

It’s a love-hate relationship for us on the product side! It’s the best thing we do for consumers, but it’s tough for us because it often means reworking boots that are almost finished. Every new model (or model with new materials) goes through at least a four-month field test with four or more testers. We pick testers who push the product to its limits, people who live in the environments the boot is built for. If it’s a hiking boot, we test with trail workers and forest surveyors who are out every day. If it’s a work boot, we send it to construction sites. If it’s a hunting boot, we test with guides who live in the backcountry. If the boot fails, we revise and retest for another four months. It’s rigorous, but that’s how we ensure our boots perform in conditions far harsher than what most users will ever face.

If you could go hiking in one place in the world with your Danners, where would you choose to go?

Coming from Japan, I’m constantly amazed by the Pacific Northwest, especially when I can pack my fly-fishing gear and head to remote mountain lakes and creeks.
But if I could choose one dream destination, I’d hop on a floatplane to a remote corner near Togiak, Alaska, somewhere almost no one ever visits. To explore untouched wilderness like that with a pair of Danners would be the ultimate adventure.