America’s Favorite Hiking Boot Finds a Home in the City

Danner might be best known for making tough hiking boots but the Portland Collection is designed for urban adventures too.

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When Danner was founded, in the midst of the Great Depression, Charles Danner’s goal was to make a sturdy, quality work boot at an affordable price. The company has evolved to become one of the best-known U.S. makers of hiking boots beginning in the 1960s, and, in line with its reputation, Danner’s commitment to making high-caliber goods has remained true.

Today, more than 80 years later, Danner’s footwear is more than just an ode to your grandfather’s boots. The company builds and supplies good-looking boots with a wide span of applications, from military use to hiking to everyday urban life. They’re versatile, they’re unpretentious and they’re made to last, whether you’re treading concrete or the trails of the Adirondacks.

Mountain 600

The Mountain 600 offers the best of both worlds. It’s equipped with a Vibram SPE midsole and Fuga outsole, meaning it has the same cushion and grip that you’d expect from Danner, but with a lighter weight. There’s also a smooth leather upper, which is completely waterproof, too. But, the sleeker design of the Mountain 600 allows the boot to move seamlessly from the mountain to the city. It performs on any terrain and looks damn good doing it — which makes this boot the ultimate two-for-one.

Get the Look
Danner: Mountain 600 $200
Nanamica: Band Collar Wind Shirt $250
3×1: M4 Low Rise Straight $265

Danner Light

The original Danner Light was introduced in 1979, the same year Danner became the first to offer waterproof Gore-Tex waterproofing in its boots. Still made by hand in the company’s Portland, Oregon factory, the Danner Light boot combines full-grain leather with ultra-tough Cordura nylon on the upper and a Vibram Kletterlift outsole, offering top-notch traction and shock absorption. Even better, it’s one of a number of Danner models that can be sent away to Danner’s recrafting service in Portland after it’s sustained some abuse. The Danner Light is a timeless classic, so you’ll want to hang on to it as long as possible.

Get the Look
Danner: Danner Light $380
Aether Apparel: Merino Long Sleeve Henley $110
3×1: M4 Low Rise Straight $265

Vertigo 917

Danner’s Vertigo 917 boot is made for city life. But just because it’s not spending every day on the trail doesn’t mean it should be any less tough. It needs to survive mud, puddles, grassy knolls, subway platforms. It needs to cover all the miles tracked in a given day while keeping a more streamlined look and feel. This more subtle take on a hiking shoe is made for all-weather purposes — it’s 100 percent waterproof and equipped with a lightweight Vibram SPE midsole for comfort, an exclusive Vibram 917 outsole with gripping XS Trek rubber compound and, of course, a Gore-Tex liner.

Get the Look
Danner: Vertigo 917 $220
The Arrivals: Niels Track Bomber $250
The Arrivals: The Arrivals Tee $65
DSTLD: Skinny Slim 12.75oz Raw Denim $75