Customer Reviews Danner Mountain 503

PROS: Clean look and design overall. Waterproof. Leather. Lightweight. Cushy and comfortable. Smooth-walking and quiet flat outsole design. CONS: Doesn't appear to be durable to match price point; thin canvas at tongue, and liner and insole are lower quality materials; glued-on midsole and outsole. Lacing system is clunky; difficult to keep laces tight at front while you tighten next ring upward. Slightly narrow forefoot area. Outsole heel is overly wide; causes heel to catch opposite leg's pant cuff while walking. Look like hiking shoes but likely not well suitable for hiking or work use.

I love these shoes. They have great, classic style. They're supportive enough to use for "real" hiking without looking like something I'd wear while walking behind a tank in 1940s France. I'd definitely buy them again. Not that I'll need to, because they last forever, especially with the extra laces that come with them.

I am very happy with these boots so far. Having read some reviews about the leather near the tongue digging in, the tongue needs to be properly tucked the way it is designed. The other review about the laces not staying tight when trying to tie your boots is absolutely right.. However, that is how any boots with these metal eyelets and hook eyelets were designed. That is what they are supposed to do, it's a speedlace system. Pull hard on the laces and keep pressure until you secure each running end in the last eyelet.. I can tell these will be very comfortable after they are completely broken in (which takes months). I can only question the durability of the sole where it is glued to the upper. Time and lots of abuse will answer that question. All in all, the look of these and the hybrid boot-tennis shoe was what I was after and found that with these. I have had Danners that are still going strong after 20 years. Do I think these will last 20? No. But I'm willing to bet I can get a few years out of them, and that's good enough for me.

I like the boot or shoe so far only time will tell if they last over a year. Only thing to point out like one reviewer said that not enough cushioning or shoe tongue so it is more comfortable near the ankles and also that the metal loops for the shoe strings make them hard to stay tight while lacing your shoe. They also are not vary breathable after wearing them for a long day your feet can get pruny looking.

These are a great option for those who want hiking boot-type footwear, but don't need a true hiking boot to walk around in on weekends. The upper is a legit, waterproof leather hiking boot upper, although definitely not as tough as my real backpacking boots. The same holds true for the sole, which is almost a running shoe-like affair (I view this as a positive thing). They are cut lower than a real backpacking boot, with fewer eyelets, which I like for everyday wear. They also weigh much less than real backpacking boots, which is a bonus if you're not backpacking. The downside to these, and the reason for my low rating on comfort, is where the tongue contacts the inside of my ankle. The boot really bites my ankle badly there. This has been a problem I've had in everything from Red Wings to Allen Edmonds, but it has always gone away with a good break in. I've done about 50 miles of light hiking in the state parks since I bought them (in addition to regular wear) and the problem has not gone away. Overall impressions? Give them a shot. They're one of the only hybrid boots of this style from a real boot manufacturer, and they fill their niche market very well. However, if they still bite the inside of your ankle after you've worn them around the house for a few hours, look somewhere else. I would have returned them for this reason, but I decided to persevere instead, in hopes things would improve.