That opinion is: they're okay.
Are you thrilled?
The boots are pretty much your average pair of hiking boots. I've got another really nice pair I bought at REI at home. In fact, I like the REI boots more. The Danners would benefit from a good pair of custom insoles, but they fit my feet well. Others weren't so lucky and many people had to get the wide size because they felt the boots ran narrow. I find Danner boots run a little small and both my Danner's are 10.5, where I normally wear a 10. Although my feet could be getting bigger as I get older. My first pair of Army boots, 20 years ago, were 9.5s.
Speaking of those other Danners, (the TFX boots from this post,) I bought Aaron a pair before he left on his deployment. He says he loves them. Since he's a grunt and has been carrying a heavy load on multiple foot patrols, I'd say that's a pretty good endorsement. I'd bet I'll wear the TFX boots the most, until it gets hot. Then it'll be the Blackhawks.
But the Danner Mountain Boots are cool because they were free and you only get them if you are in the Army getting ready to go to Afghanistan. So when I'm wearing them as motorcycle boots a few years from now, I'll feel cool 'cause I have boots very few other people have.
Unless Danner starts selling these to civilians...
Which is likely. I can see the ads now: Troops marching through the Hindu Kush, burdened with heavy packs... shot closes in on one Soldier's boots - the Danners... As the shot widens back out, it's the same Soldier, wearing the same boots, hiking through the Colorado back country.
"When your life depends on your boots...
Available at your local outfitter..."
I should be on Mad Men.
