Great news: These hiking boots are also available in a men’s fit.
Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Extremely comfortable fit for both longer and shorter trails
- Boot can be repaired and mended easily
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Can run a little large and are more suited to normal to wider feet
- Not suited to those looking for a vegan shoe
We’ve always been really impressed with Danner’s range of hiking shoes and boots, and they often come up top in our reviews – the Mountain 600 Leaf GTX is no different – we loved it straight out of the box. The moment you put the shoe on your foot, you can feel how extremely well padded the interior is and how well cushioned the midsole feels. We found this shoe extremely comfortable on shorter and longer treks with very little fatigue after long days on the trail.
What’s more, it’s lightweight and we love that this hiking boot can be repaired easily meaning it’ll last you a long time – not that there are any worries about its durability. It is built strongly and to last. It’s waterproofing in the form of Gore-Tex also means you can be worry free throughout the seasons. This boot performed so well in our tests and was a firm favorite in our best hiking boots guide.
Editor’s note: This article is part of our guide to the best hiking boots, be sure to check out the rest of this guide for our top buying tips:
Compare to Similar Products:
Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX | Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof | Salomon Quest 4 Gore Tex | Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped | Zamberlan 996 Vioz GTX | Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex | Lowa Renegade GTX Mid | La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX | Hoka Kaha 2 GTX | Vasque Breeze Waterproof Hiking Boots | |
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Buying Options | ||||||||||
Our Ratings | Best Overall Women's | Most Comfortable | Best for Mountain Walking | Best Budget | Best Waterproof | Best for Summer/Hot Weather | Best Leather | Best for Day Hikes | ||
Pros | Extremely comfortable. Wears in quickly. Excellent fit for wider feet | Excellent comfort. Excellent durability | Sturdy and ready to take on anything. Good toe placement and great ankle positioning | Very comfortable, pretty much straight out the box. Great price point | Excellent build quality. Can be resoled | Low weight. Good build quality | Available in three widths and a variety of sizes. Extremely comfortable | Cutting edge materials, good breathability to waterproofing ratio | Extremely supportive and comfortable. Stylish. | Excellent durability. Rigid build |
Cons | Not great for narrower feet. Sizing for buyers outside the United States can be limited | Slightly confusing product range. The design looks dated. | Break in takes a little while. Rigid. | Isn't as breathable. Could do with a more robust sole | Expensive. The design may be too utilitarian for some | Ankle cuff not as supportive as some others. Wider toe box may not suit those with very narrow feet. New | Expensive. Isn't visually that striking | Expensive for what they are. We don't find them suitable for longer treks | Expensive. Leather feels cold after walking through significant water. | Dated design. Stiff upper may not be to everybody's taste. |
Traction | Excellent | Very good | Medium/deep thread pattern | Good - but not as good on technical terrain | Excellent | Excellent | Vibram outsole - excellent | Excellent | Excellent - uses Vibram Megagrip | Very good |
Breathability | Good | Very good | Gore-Tex upper and well insulated | OK | Low | Good | Good | Excellent | OK | Very good |
Ankle Support | Good | Very good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
Arch support | Regular to good | Good | Average | OK | Average | Good | Average | Regular | Average | Average |
Fit | Fits a little large, size down a half size if in-between, available in a single width | Fits true to size. comes in standard and wide widths | Suits normal to wider feet | Standard fit, runs small - best to go up a half size | Standard fit - runs small | Fits true to size. Comes in standard and wide widths | Comes in standard, narrow and wide fit options and wide range of sizes | Runs narrow | Standard fit | Runs a little small. Available in standard and wide fit |
Materials | Grain leather upper, metal lacing hardware and synthetic/rubber soles | Synthetic and pig suede upper. | Leather and synthetic | Upper leather and suede and synthetic | Mostly leather with synthetic lining and rubber sole | Fully synthetic | Leather and synthetic | Leather and synthetic | Leather and synthetic | Nubuck leather and synthetics |
Appearance | Modern hiking boot | Slightly dated design | Modern | Modern hiking boot with traditional feel | Traditional hiking boot | Modern hiking boot | Modern hiking boot | Modern hiking boot | Modern hiking boot/trail hybrid | Slightly dated design |
Durability | Excellent | Very good | Excellent | Sole feels quite lightweight | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Average | Good | Excellent |
Water Resistance | Gore-Tex membrane | In-house waterproof, breathable membrane | Gore-Tex membrane | Waterproof (Omni-Tech) | Gore Tex lining and water resistant coating | Gore Tex membrane | Gore-Tex membrane | Gore-Tex Surround membrane | Gore-Tex lining | In-house waterproof, breathable membrane |
Weight (pair) | 900g/2lb per pair | 800g/1lb 12oz | 1070g/2lb 6oz | 791g/1.8lbs per pair | 1.28kg/2lb 13oz | 740g/1lb 10oz | 950g/2lb | 900g/2 lb. 1 oz | 1015g/2.5 lbs | 990g/2lb 2oz |
Insoles | Standard insole | Padded insole | Padded insole | Standard insole | Padded insole | Padded. shaped insole | Standard insole | Standard insole | Standard insole | Padded insole |
Break-in Period | Minimal | Minimal | Some break in needed | Very minimal | Some break-in required | Minimal | Minimal | Slightly longer than average | Minimal | Medium |
Lacing system | Regular laces with metal lacing hardwear for durability | Standard laces | Standard laces | Standard/regular laces | Standard/regular laces | Standard laces | Standard lacing system | Standard/regular laces | Standard - eyelet with grip lacing around the ankle | Standard laces |
Toe Protection | Rubberized toe rand | Rubber rand around toe and small toe cap | Rubberized toe rand | Rubberized toe rand | Substantially reinforced toe offers excellent protection | Rubber rand on toe and small toe cap. | Substantial rubber toe rand | Rubberized toe rand | Rubberized toe rand with reinforced stitching | Rubber rand around toe and small toe cap |
Analysis and Test Results
The hiking boot market is pretty saturated, so it can be hard to stand out, the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX hiking boot did that for us. We’d say this is a great hiking boot for beginners and more seasoned hikers alike due to its combination of performance on the trail, comfort and durability. Like us, you’ll be reaching for this hiking boot time and time again. The Leaf GTX provides a great level of waterproofing, so they are suitable for all seasons, and if combined with a gaiter can provide excellent protection even in heavier rain for a bullet proof solution.
We tested the Mountain 600 Leaf GTX hiking boot in a whole variety of terrain, and they held up exceptionally well against slippery rocks, challenging surfaces and loose debris. They feel very sure footed and confidence boosting. Add to this their lightweight feel and you get a sense of effortlessness when hiking, which reduces fatigue.
Danner have always had a commitment to quality, and this is evidenced in the strong construction of these hiking boots – all the way through to the details such as the metal lacing hardware. We think if you decide to go with this hiking boot, you’ll find it reliable, dependable and extremely comfortable.
Performance Comparison
Traction
The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX feature a Vibram outsole which we found to offer a great level of traction on most terrains.
In our tests we found that slippery rocks, light alpine, light snow, rainy stream beds and all the way through to deeper mud were handled extremely well. They allow for sure footing which increases confidence and therefore can make these a great hiking boot for newer hikers and those wanting to gain more experience. If you are however looking for a hiking boot that is much more able to handle more extreme alpine conditions, we’d recommend either the Salomon Quest 4 GTX or the Salewa Alp Trainer 2.
Breathability
One area we did feel was a little let down on the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX was its breathability. One thing that is often the case with waterproof boots is that they’re just not quite as breathable as their non waterproof counterparts. So, it really is about working out what is more important to you.
However, for the majority of hikers, these boots will be more than fine in terms of the breathability they offer. If you’re hiking in much hotter temperatures or the desert for example, you may find them a little like overkill. That said, in slightly cooler climbs, these boots feel fantastic.
Ankle Support
The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX hiking boots provide a great, comfortable level of ankle support, sitting nicely above the ankle with a well cushioned pad to prevent any rubbing.
We found that they protected well from ankle rolls and we felt confident in rugged terrain and uneven trails, leading to a quicker ascent in many scenarios and a lighter feel.
Arch Support
These hiking boots offer what we’d say is a moderate level of arch support, which is going to be suitable for a good selection of hikers.
The insoles Danner provides with these boots are very well cushioned and we found that they really boosted the sense of foot and arch support relative to many of the other boots we’ve assessed. This, in turn, improved comfort on long hikes. Our reviewer noted that their feet felt less achy than they would have expected after wearing these boots on lengthy treks and put some of this down to the plush insoles and the foot and arch support they provided.
If you have high arches, you may want to look at adding specific insoles to provide more comfort and support, but generally, the level of support offered in these boots feels extremely comfortable.
See the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX in more detail:
Fit
The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX hiking boots were noted to run a little larger, and so we sized down a half size when ordering. This worked out well, as when they arrived, they were the perfect size for our tester’s feet.
If you have wider feet, these are also a great option and provide a roomy toe box as well as excellent lace control which can give a tailored fit. If you have ‘normal’ feet you should find these hiking boots very comfortable, but those with a narrower foot may find them a little too roomy.
This can be changed by altering the insole from the standard one included, which can be picked up for very little either online or at a shoe store or grocery store.
Materials
These hiking boots make use of LWG certified full grain leather for the main boot construction. The outsole is made in partnership with Vibram and uses their Megagrip technology – this is synthetic and rubberized with an enforced toe rand at the front.
The boot liners and collar are 100% recycled and made of synthetic materials which we found fairly breathable considering their waterproofing liner (which is Gore-Tex). You’ll also find metal lacing hardware used, which will and does help with the long-term durability of the Mountain 600 Leaf.
Whilst many hiking boots are opting for fully synthetic processes and materials, Danner have opted for an animal-based product for these boots. So, if you’re looking for a vegan or plant-based hiking boot, these boots will not be suitable for you. You may be interested to look at the Hoka Trail Code GTX if this is the case.
Appearance
The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX are an updated design from one of Danner’s most well respected (and well purchased) hiking boots, so if you’ve ever bought Danner boots before or are aware of their iconic design, you will like the look (and feel) of these hiking boots.
They come in a relatively limited range of colors, but this feels understated and whilst you may think there are many more interesting designs on the market, they are very far from a boring hiking boot. They just go with any outfit – whether hiking or not.
Due to their material usage, these hiking boots stay looking good for a long time as well – even after they’ve been pounded on the trail, they still scrub up well, and if you look after them well, they should stay looking good for a long time.
Durability
We’ve been very impressed by the durability and build quality of every Danner shoe or boot we’ve reviewed, and we’re pleased to say that these Mountain 600 Leaf GTX boots are no exception. They are made from tough materials and the build quality looks to be first-rate too. This inspires confidence in these boots and we’re confident they could stand up well to the toughest conditions. In really rough or very cold weather, pairing these boots with good-quality gaiters further boosts their versatility.
They do well in mild alpine too – and actually for many hikers, these will likely cover all uses you’ll need. These boots are made from high quality materials, which are designed to last, soften with wear and get better over time.
What we also love is that these are one of the first pairs of hiking boots by Danner that fall under their recrafting service – which means Danner will resole or recondition your boots to help keep them going for years to come.
Sustainability
As mentioned above, the fact that these hiking boots fall under Danner’s recrafting service is a great move toward sustainability as this means these hiking boots will be able to be worn for a longer period of time and ultimately buying less.
What’s more, the Mountain 600 Leaf makes use of extensive recycled materials – the footbed is made from recycled rubber. The liner is made of recycled material as well as the collar and liner.
Water Resistance
These hiking boots make use of a Gore-Tex membrane and are fully waterproof. Given that they are a boot fit too, you can expect that most puddles and other shallow water crossings you come across will be handled well by the Mountain 600’s.
If combined with a gaiter, you can extend this, and we have found them to be exceptional hiking boots for muddy trails and deeper stream crossings.
We found that these hiking boots work well as a 4-season hiker, depending on the kind of winters you experience – if it snows a lot where you hike, you may want to look at something a little more robust, however for the majority of scenarios, these will be a great buddy on the trail.
Weight
Weighing in at 900g/2lb per pair, these hiking boots are not the lightest in our reviews, but they are certainly not the heaviest either – by a long shot. However, when wearing, these hiking boots have a feel of lightness and bounce. This helps them feel extremely light to wear and reduces dreaded trail fatigue.
We feel confident saying that these hiking boots would even work well as a fast and light hiker that gives you a great sense of rigidity suitable for varying circumstances due to the lightweight feel they offer and overall protection.
Insoles
The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX come with a standard insole – this will be suitable for most hikers without any specific foot or back concerns. They offer an adequate level of cushioning and seem to spring back well at the end of the day when you take them off.
If you do need some extra support, you can easily change the insoles provided for something more specialist, and these can be picked up very inexpensively at drug stores, grocery stores or online to get the perfect fit tailored to your needs.
Break-in Period
The break in period for these hiking boots wasn’t instant, but it also wasn’t long either. They are pretty much comfortable straight out of the box, but on our first couple of test hikes they did feel a little tight in some places. This is of course going to be individual to each hiker are all our feet are so different, but you should keep in mind that you will want to start wearing these a while before a big hike. Once worn in, they were and still are extremely comfortable to wear. They seem to mold to the shape of your feet and almost keep this feel for the next time you put them on.
We’d never recommend wearing any hiking boots straight out of the box on a big hike though – you should always wear them for a few training walks and shorter hikes before taking them out. Be absolutely sure that they feel extremely comfortable before anything longer to prevent problems on the trail.
Lacing System
The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX use metal lacing hardware for their laces, which is a great, durable and long-lasting solution. This is formed in a standard lacing pattern, which allows for a good level of adjustability for different lacing patterns.
We found that the fact the lace system is metal allowed for better adjustability, as it feels extremely strong and allows you to get a really tight pull on the boot to have them fit snug. This is extremely helpful on particularly steep uphill or downhill sections.
Toe Protection
These hiking boots use a re-enforced rubber toe rand for toe protection and offers a standard level of support for most hikers. We found in our tests that they handled well against bumps and knocks from the sort of things you can expect to find on the trail – especially sharp rocks and tree stumps.
If course, the rubber will wear over time, but unless you are making a point of kicking your toe repeatedly into something sharp, the toe rand will give you more than enough protection, both externally and internally.
Conclusion
We were impressed with the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX hiking boots – we think they’re a great choice for both newer and more seasoned hikers looking for a strong and dependable hiking boots that will stand the test of time.
One of their biggest selling points for us is their comfort – they are some of the comfiest hiking boots we have ever tested – by far, and that is saying something. They stay comfortable for longer treks and shorter and their cushioning and supportive fit just add to their overall great to wear fee.
We were also very impressed by the durability and high build-quality of these boots. These boots are designed to be repaired and resoled which means they could also have a very long life indeed.
All in all, we think these boots offer an excellent combo of comfort, durability and water resistance and provided you keep in mind that the sizing can run on the large side, we think it’s hard to go wrong with these boots.
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