Danner Mountain 600 Insulated - Women's Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Quality leather construction, warm, waterproof up to the cuff, beefy traction, stylish for town or city wear, great trail performance
Cons: Smaller volume through the toe box requires a half size up
Manufacturer: Danner
Our Verdict
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Danner Mountain 600 Insulated winter hiker has a unique city look that also performs well on the trail. This boot looks great with a pair of skinny jeans and will keep traction on the worst surfaces. This boot is built for performance, comfort, and warmth.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
Stuffed with 200 grams of PrimaLoft insulation that'll keep your feet warm, even when wet, this boot is quite warm for most winter conditions. We wore it during single-digit weather (down to 0F) and felt nice and cozy with a single pair of wool socks on.
During the day, we hiked in streams and over icy trails. Through it all, our feet kept warm and comfortable all day long. The dry membrane is also breathable with a quality brand of leather for protection that does everything you need to stay dry. While this isn't the boot we'd recommend for standing around all day in the coldest of weather, we used it mostly for active days or the daily commute and were more than satisfied.
Weather Protection
Built with high-quality leather construction and a waterproof lining, the Danner Mountain 600 stood up to all our weather tests. Protecting up to the cuff (6 inches) from puddles, you can expect dry feet in all conditions. We wore this boot for almost 30 miles of hiking through our initial testing period, and never once did our feet feel wet. The only thing we'd wish for that it's lacking is a gaiter adaptor to make it more functional for winter hiking in deeper snow.
Comfort & Fit
This boot features a specific fit that is quite supportive through the length of the footbed and the shaft. It's not as rigid as other boots in our test, which many of our testers enjoyed. However, while the fit is true to size, it has a narrower profile through the toe and a little less volume through the body of the shoe, which many of our testers didn't love. We found that a thinner wool sock works best as a thicker sock almost feels a bit too much. If you're on the fence for fit, we'd recommend sizing up a half size, especially if you prefer to wear thicker socks through the winter.
For comfort, the 600 features a low-pile liner that wicks away moisture and feels good around the boot's cuff. When wearing mid-rise socks, with skin rubbing against this cuff, it still felt good. On colder days, we'd wear taller socks, which also worked just fine. The boot is surprisingly flexible, making it an excellent hiking or walking option if you're going to be on your feet all day. Overall, it offers superior all-day comfort with a fit that's a teensy bit smaller than most hiking winter boots we've tested.
Ease of Use
Pulling this boot on and off is pretty simple but requires lacing. It can't be kicked off or easily slipped into. Luckily, it only has two eyelets for lacing and features a one-pull tightening system that'll cinch the boot into place. The boot doesn't loosen over time and keeps your foot in place while moving through the snow or over the trail.
Traction
The beefy Vibram outsole of this boot competes for one of the best outsoles tested in this review. The 4-mm lugs are deep and hold to the trail well. While hiking up steep hills, we experienced no slips. Over rocks, the malleable rubber conforms to the surface while the outsole almost "smooshes out" to provide a more stable platform. For walking town streets or country trails, the traction is prime. It works well with a pair of snowshoes and is compatible with a pair of microspikes as well for enhanced protection on icy days.
Value
This is an incredibly durable and high-quality leather boot. The initial price might seem high to some, but after 30-miles of testing, kicking rocks, and scuffing up the exterior, it buffs clean and still looks like new. Just be sure to upkeep the leather to ensure longevity and waterproofness. We think this boot is appropriately priced with a good overall value. We just wish there were more color options!
Conclusion
The Danner Mountain 600 Insulated is a winter hiking boot that offers a nice balance of stylish appeal and excellent traction. It'll easily keep your feet warm in most cold weather. The foot box isn't the roomiest, so we recommend sizing up a half size if you prefer to wear thicker socks in the winter. Overall, this boot is well constructed with full leather construction and a breathable membrane, making it a great value.
— Amber King