Customer Reviews Danner Mountain Light™ II

These boots have several issues: 1. The leather is cheaply tanned, meaning that the dye do not go very deep into the leather. Consequently, when the boots are scuffed-- as will eventually happen at the top coating comes off revealing a lighter leather beneath and not very nice to look at. The scuffed leather sometimes has "flaps" with it too, another sign of cheap leather. One would expect $300 boots to have deeply tanned and thick leather. These boots do not. 2. The lowest inner shoe lace rivet digs into both big toes. I had these boots for a couple of years and the gouging is still an issue. I can no longer comfortably wear these boots. 3. The boots do not have a footbed. They come with small plastic "airthotics" but they do not do much. Positive points are: 1. The boots are classically stylish. You can wear them to the office on inclement weather days. 2. The boots have comfortable padded tongues.

I am glad I did not read these reviews when I purchased the original Mtn Lights back in 1979. I had them resoled 6 times during my treaking years and finally ruined them pheasant hunting in wet sugar beat fields without taking care of them afterwords. I bought a replacement pair in 2004 and they saved an Elk hunting trip in 2007. I had another brand of expensive hunting boots and was using the Mtn Lights as camp boots. Hunting in cactus and lava fields shredded the other brand and the Danner's saved the day. These are now on their third sole and I will have them as long as I am alive.

This is a Made in America Company. These are incredibly durable boots. To break in the boots, it is a process (must bend the sole back and forth a few times).

Such a cool boot! Top notch, high end, hence the price...does not feel uncomfortable as far as I could tell even though I put them on right out of the box (Danner recommends rubbing some lexol over the leather to soften them a bit as they do need a break-in period)...despite the need for a break-in period that even Danner states, these were very nice straight upon getting...they are supposed to mold to your foot like a glove over time so I guess it will even get better. As for looks, really the reason I got them, they are like something out of a Bond movie, or the Eiger Sanction...very cool with a classic 40s/50s old school design. However, I'm not just a poser, I do use urban hiking boots for long photo treks (I'm a photographer) in either the city (hard pavement) or elsewhere...these are so high end and with such great, wide ground stability due to the large gripper sole, I feel very safe paying attention to my photos rather than worrying about tripping...and they have very good shock absorption too...right out the box. Just no comparison to less expensive brands, though I can understand paying less if you don't have the bucks...but if you can swing it, these not only are more than worth it, they should last for decades (according to many reviews, and how the quality looks to me). Plus you can get them resoled by Danner when the time comes. Also, made in the USA and made out of 1 piece of leather on the top, so much more durable, not having all those seams all over the place. A total winner!

I've had these boots for several years now and still going strong. They are almost ready for a re-sole now after being worn nearly every day. The only "complaint" I have is that they are very stiff when new so I wore them every other day for a couple of weeks before they had conformed to my feet. After that they provided good protection from sticks, rocks etc. while hiking. The build is superior and it seems like the uppers will last forever. I rate comfort as good, getting better with use, as they aren't tennis shoes. They offer great protection from the elements though. They are totally waterproof, even standing in shallow water. I would recommend these boots to anyone wanting high quality of build and materials that will last a long time. I liked them enough to buy them for my sons.

I have returned these shoes three times before getting this right. First off sneaker size, they went full size larger. My second pair came too narrow and I have narrow women like feet. Then the third pair got the sizing right with wide. One piece Leather is soft and smooth, so nice that you almost do not want to ruin it. I did not have any break in period issue but the ankle section I was never able to get the shoe tight. When I tie my boots, I made it tight, then notice in few hours, it will come feel loose. I never return a shoe for so many times. Almost give up on it. Danner should really update and fix their last that everyone been complain that it is too narrow for majority of folks.

After the painful break in process, these boots should hold up for many years. Don't expect to be able to wear these on a regular basis until you've broken them in. It took me a month and some very bad blisters on my Achilles heel. Comfort rating based on post break-in.

These are my fourth pair of the "made in the USA" with sew up sole Danner boots. Love the look, quality and made here. The leather is soft, as described in another review. I wouldn't confuse this with substandard or cheep. One must choose between comfort and bombproofness. These are supple right out of the box. Minimal break in. They could be made from leather so hard that it would never sctatch, but it would take four and a half years of bloody feet to break them in. Most humans couldn't survive that. My only beef is the plastic half length insoles that Danner provides with the boots. Do yourself a huge favor...when ordering these boots also order your favorite insole, install them as soon as they arrive and be happy with these for the next thirty years or three re-sole jobs, whichever comes first. Take the insoles that Danner provides with the boots and put them where they belong, in the trash.

Good-looking water-resistant hiking boot but heavy and stiff. It definitely needs considerable break-in. The ankle padding felt rough and uncomfortable compared to other boots I own (it probably needs heavier socks than I wear). I normally fit well into a D width but I found these rather narrow for my foot. For my purposes--mostly city walking when streets are icy or slushy--they're stylish but too heavy and expensive. There are other brands for almost half the price that are better on all counts.

These are the best looking and most uncomfortable boots that I have ever owned, the design looks great but the folded leather on top of your foot is so uncomfortable that they are unwearable.

I have many different styles of Danner boots. with the exception of these boots love them all. These boots are very uncomportable. I have two blister on the back of my heal very pain full. I am donating these boots to goodwill.