Danners Mountain Light II is a hiking boot with a very long heritage, going back to 1957. Before then, hikers used quite a lot of work boots or very expensive European mountain-climbing boots.

The Mountain Light II is in the so-called "stitchdown" method, also known as the Norwegian world. The upper leather flares, where he was in the midsole, and the two parts are combined with stitching, which is visible all around the outer edge of the shoe. This method has a number of advantages: it makes the sole of the boot slightly wider than the top, a wide base for stability. If the sole finally, is he simply replaced. Disadvantages are that boots designed this way can be harder than boots, in which the soles are cemented.

Upper parts are made from a single piece of leather, with a vertical seam in the Achilles tendon, for a reinforcement of the heel counter. The tongue is interesting that with a leather deposits, which opens in the direction of the outer side of the boat, which serves and close the gap between the tongue and the upper part. Shoelaces through five sets impressively strong D-rings, then two speeds hook. All the hardware seems to last forever, in other words, still far above the soles and leather, and then re-installed on a new pair of boots from several decades.

Soles are dual-density Vibram "Kletterlift", with a very solid soles for traction, and a little more comfortable middle class to absorb some shock when you walk.

The entire interior of the boat is equipped with a Gore-Tex fabric, and it is waterproof to the depth of water above the level of the tongue wedges. The boat is about 5 cm high, it looks pretty good freedom of movement, if we walk, and while still protecting the ankle bone. For some people, this is "not a good ankle support" and prefer a boat with more height. I did not feel that a close fit around the ankle allows the muscles and tendons to work smoothly.

Walking in these boots bear after foam padded "sneaker boots" can be confusing at first. Danners start feeling very narrow and stiff, as if there is no flexibility at all. In addition, there is no foam padding everywhere, only Gore-Tex in contact with your feet, surrounded by leather, with a very slight give at the foot of height. The debris guard on the tongue feels very thick and pushes on the instep. I really do not know how someone like this enough in the store to buy and take home, unless, as I have read positive ratings from previous owners and gave them a chance.

As one wears the boat for short walks, an interesting thing is to be observed. The flex soles to start where they need to under the ball of your foot. This corresponds to the foot of height gradually the contours of the bottom of the foot. The leather on the instep to the heel and toes slowly begins to flex and stretch until it fits the foot as the boots were custom fitted kitchen for you. After a few weeks, you will reach a point where the boat is ON your foot, but no attention to itself, because it fits so well. Each sweat from the feet is very efficient evil away from your socks by the Gore-Tex lining, the feet remain dry and pleasant.

With each pair of shoes, Danner offers its well-known "Airthotic" insert a flexible plastic ventilated heel and arch support, allows the user responsible for the fine-tuning of the desired level of arch support. I experimented with and without Airthotic, and with different thicknesses of socks, finally settling on no insert, along with medium or heavy weight hiking socks. For me, this is a good fit, with no pressure points, and a good measure of pillows around my foot.

In sum, the Danner Mountain Light II is a classic design with excellent processing, updated with some modern materials to waterproof it, and therefore offers a good climate for the feet carrier under a wider range of conditions.

Although initially not very comfortable, they quickly reach a very high level of comfort, which in some ways the comfort of many other boots. I am not wear at work, because I have to wear steel toe boots. However, if I at home, I often pass them on to wear around the house. The fit is so good, I enjoy wearing it, while eating dinner or watching television. I also wear it casually with jeans and khakis, sometimes even in the church.

Durability appears to be very good, many users report, the years before re-soling wear, with several resolings possible if the leather is properly maintained and, Their appearance is enough, in contrast to other hiking shoes that people notice them, and offer spontaneous compliments.