Alex Roddie takes the Danner Mountain Light boots out on test and finds them comfortable once broken in. Find out more.
The Danner Mountain Light boots look straight out of the 1970s, complete with one-piece full-grain leather uppers, a retro Vibram sole, and hand-stitched construction. Despite (or possibly because of) the Mountain Light’s quirks, I unashamedly love these boots – and if looked after carefully they should offer a lifetime of performance, helping to offset the eye-watering price tag.
Alex Roddie’s Best in Test
It’s worth considering the beautiful (and functional) retro charm of the Danner Mountain Lights. Sometimes classics are classic for a reason.- superb quality
- grippy sole
- clasic retro styling
- heavy
- expensive
- require breaking in
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: $470 | £430 (available from Clutch Cafe) Weight: 1828g/pair, UK 10.5 Materials: one-piece full-grain leather upper, fibreglass shank, Vibram 148 Kletterlift outsole Features: handmade, stitchdown construction, metal lacing hardware, resoleable (if boot sent to Danner in Oregon), retro aesthetic Sizes: UK 5.5-12.5 (EU 39–46) Women’s version: yes www.danner.com |
The fit and finish are superb, but you do need to break them in, and they are heavy. The Danner Mountain Light was first introduced in 1979 and the basic design has changed little since. They perform brilliantly in the mountains, but Danner say that you need to break them in before tackling major hikes. It’s recommended to start with short, easy walks and use conditioning cream until the uppers mould to your feet. That leather upper has minimal seams and a cleverly folded tongue to minimise water ingress.
The sole has deep lugs that don’t clog, and the footbed is flat – something to bear in mind if you have high arches. Unusually, no insoles are supplied or (it’s claimed) needed. I haven’t missed them. The ankle cuff is mid height and offers excellent freedom of movement. On these boots’ first outing I unwisely pushed them on a multi-day Lake District hike, and the stiff leather uppers led to a blister. After this I decided to break them in as advised.
Danner’s Boot Dressing is the recommended conditioning product. Like Lucy Wallace enjoying the ritual of waxing her Altberg Ladies Tethera boots, I genuinely believe that taking the time to clean the Mountain Lights and rub dressing into the leather has helped to form a bond with them. Or, put another way, I’m often guilty of failing to look after hill footwear, but I feel more invested in keeping these boots in good condition. The breaking-in period involved longer walks as the leather softened and developed a distinctive patina. Now, months later, the uppers are buttery soft and they feel incredibly comfortable, while still being stiff and supportive.
They perform superbly on rough mountain terrain, including wet rock, and are even okay at scrambling due to the crisp sole edge. Like all lined leather boots, they run a bit warm, although less so than others in this roundup. There’s also the weight. I favour lightweight trail shoes on long-distance trails, but they wear out quickly. Increasingly, I look for buy-it-for-life products. The Danner Mountain Lights fit that description, but they feel heavy on the feet until you get used to them.
The sticker cost is, let’s face it, extremely high and some users might not have the patience for the traditional breaking-in process. If you do – if you’re willing to invest a bit more into your gear for a long-term relationship – then it’s worth considering the beautiful (and functional) retro charm of the Danner Mountain Lights. Sometimes classics are classic for a reason.
Testing Conditions
Alex Roddie tested his boots on a variety of autumn mountain walks as well as lower-level winter walks, including multi-day hikes over challenging terrain in the Lake District and Scottish Highlands. This review was first published in the May 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.
