Danner Mountain 600 Leaf Gore-Tex - Women's Review

The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX is a sleek and nimble modern hiking boot that combines the springy cushion of a trail running shoe with the traditional leather upper you'd expect from durable and burly boots of the past. The boots require a very limited break-in period and supply comfort, especially for those with narrow feet, right out of the box. The full grain leather upper is waterproof, supplies additional durability, and remains flexible enough to offer full range of motion without any discomfort in the forefoot while navigating the trails. Whether you're out for a day hike or extended backpacking trip, these boots are stylish and functional for most endeavors, so long as you stick to the trail.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The 600 Leaf GTX is comfortable right out if the box. These boots feature a full grain leather upper that provides structure yet remains flexible enough for full range of motion, without any uncomfortable pinching at the forefoot, while moving on the trail. Our lead tester has a narrow foot with high arches and found that her normal size (a US women's 8.5) was a perfect fit, even leaving a little extra space in the toe box (which measures 3 inches across) for those with more of a wide foot profile. In fact, this is more of a longer and narrow design, Danner recommends sizing down if you find yourself on the cusp. Danner also made this boot available in both wide and regular widths to accommodate a variety of foot shapes and sizes.

The boot design features a higher ankle cuff that is padded just enough to cushion the lacing system around the ankle and the tongue rests nicely between each side of the cuff. The midsole is also rockered, which makes for a springy and heavily cushioned feel under your foot so that you can protected from debris and rock encountered on the trail. Perhaps our only complaint in this metric is that the 600 Leaf GTX favors those with narrow feet, however, as we mentioned before, it is also available for purchase in a wide width. Keep in mind that this boot runs hot and would likely cause a ton of discomfort when hiking in the desert during the heat of summer.

Support

Although a very aesthetic design, the 600 Leaf GTX is also highly supportive. The six-inch ankle shaft effectively stabilizes the ankle and locks it into place, while the TPU heel provides additional support. The Vibram SPE midsoles supply both the same rubberized comfort and support of a standard EVA sole, but, they offer far more comfort and durability. These midsoles are also responsible for that “springy” feedback you receive with every step. Danner also included Ortholite footbeds feel great underfoot.

The support of these boots is somewhat of a combination between a modern trail running shoe (due to the rockered and heavily cushioned outsole) and a traditional hiking boot. This means that they are a great option for those looking for a hybrid that remains supportive enough to also support the weight of a heavy backpack, though they do not provide the same stiffness and burly exterior of a traditional hiking boot. Think of shorter backpacking trips with tons of style and lasting support, comfort, and stability, especially on well-maintained trails.

Traction

The 600 Leaf GTX performed surprisingly well on a variety of terrain. The Vibram Fuga outsoles feature a specially formulated Vibram Megagrip construction that allows the boot to supply confidence underfoot on everything from slippery trails and polished rock slabs to wet surfaces like muddy trails and mossy creek crossings. The medium density outsoles offered all-around adequate performance on the majority of trails, both on hardback and soft ground, while the softer rubber in the design allowed for the outsole to offer more contact with the surface below.

Though the 600 Leaf GTX did offer adequate performance on most terrain types, we did notice some failure when moving through overly wet surfaces and small rocks over hard surfaces. To be fair, we haven't found many other boots capable of navigating these surfaces very well, but there is also a noticeable shift when wearing these boots because they perform so well on other surfaces. If you're looking for a boot to perform on a variety of trailed terrain, this boot will likely get the job done just fine.

Water Resistance

The 600 Leaf GTX is perfectly waterproof, thanks to a breathable GORE-TEX lining. While our testers can confirm the boot's ability to prevent water from getting inside the design, the boot wasn't as successful at preventing moisture build-up inside the boot. The fully leather upper combines with a six-inch ankle shaft to keep your feet above the elements, supplying one of the highest ankle cuffs that we tested for this review. Whether we were moving through the snow (in September!), crossing rivers, or fully submerging inside a bucket of water, these boots that supply a 4 1/2-inch flood height never sprung a leak once.

While we appreciate the waterproof performance and the 45% recycled material that Danner included in the construction, we can't confirm their breathability. For those of you considering hikes during the peak heat of summer at elevations, this boot could be your worst nightmare. That being said, for those hiking in the alpine during the summer months, early spring, or late fall conditions, you will be grateful for the fully waterproof and attractive leather design.

Weight

We'll be honest: this is one of the heaviest boots that we tested. Weighing in at 2.18 pounds for a US Women's size 8.5, there are few boots in the entire review that are heavier than these. Let's consider why. The full leather design that both increases the aesthetics, waterproof performance, and durability of the design certainly up the weight on the scale, but our testers would consider these a worthy trade-off. The additional weight of metal eyelets and metal ankle hooks on the cuff are much heavier than the mesh eyelets of other boot designs, but these heavier features will offer more lasting performance.

Although a heavy design, these boots also supply a rockered design in the midsole that literally supports and encourages a spring in your step. The suede leather is also flexible and offers a different feel directly out of the box. It is not stiff nor rigid but flexible and supportive, creating a lightweight feel underfoot. There's no two ways about it: this is a heavyweight design that boasts a rockered, lightweight, and supportive feel underfoot.

Durability

Our testing team is happy to report no durability issues during our extensive testing period. The suede leather design supplied a ton of confidence when moving through the trails and the beefy metal eyelets on the lacing system as well as the ankle cuff will certainly outlast their mesh counterparts. Danner even boasts not one but six different durability tests they subject each boot design to, in order to guarantee that these boots are made with some of the strongest and more durable leather around.

Although we didn't experience any major issues with this cute hiking boot construction, we can't help but throw out a few key considerations. The outsole is comprised off both a Vibram Fuga with Megagrip technology that offers excellent traction, there is also a softer rubber above that Vibram outsole which is susceptible to punctures from sharp rocks and trees. The design is also lacking a beefy toe box or protective rand over the toes, again maximizing aesthetics but also limiting protection on the trails. The leather, though more durable than some of the thin, mesh boots that we tested, is also easily impacted by trail debris, therefore we do not recommend these boots for technical or off-trail terrain.

Should You Buy the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf Gore-Tex?

Are you interested in a modern hiking boot that combines the stability of traditional boot with the modern cushion and rockered design of a trail running shoe, without sacrificing style and performance? Look no further than the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf Gore-Tex that supplies all-day comfort thanks to a flexible and durable full-grain leather upper. The boot is fully waterproof but doesn't breathe like a mesh-lined boot. And while we didn't experience a ton of durability issues beyond cosmetic scuffs on the leather and dents from sharp rocks in the soft rubber above the Vibram outsole, these boots are best for those who plan to hike on well-maintained trails. The sleek design is a little pricier than other models in this review. However, these boots offer a ton of value, whether hiking with girlfriends or planning an extended backpacking trip.

What Other Women's Hiking Boots Should You Consider?

The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf Gore-Tex is the perfect combination of comfort, stability, and style. These boots are available in both wide and regular widths, are fully waterproof, and are supportive enough to handle the weight of a backpack thanks to their cushy and springy soles. If you like the idea of the trailer runner and traditional hiking boot combination, you'd love La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX. The Ultra Raptor is similar in its rockered midsole and minimally padded ankle cuff, though it offers better traction and a wider toe box for additional comfort. If you like the sounds of a thickly cushioned boot, check out the Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX or the Hoka Kaha 2 GTX. The Anacapa is a sleeker boot with mesh included in the upper, while the Kaha has a larger profile and a full nubuck leather upper. Looking for something for affordable? Check out the Merrell Moab 3 Mid WP. These aren't near the same quality but make a great entry-level boot for those who are seeking more support than a trail running or hiking shoe.