Men’s Danner Crag Rat USA Hiking Boots Review – American Made Footwear
From heavy hiking to hunting through harsh terrain, you can bet the Crag Rat USA boot from Danner will live up to virtually any outdoor task. Built to take a severe beating, these Danner boots excel in conditions where packed snow, slick ice, loose dirt and high-pitched rock are the norms.
Seriously, throw anything you can at these boots, and they will keep exceeding your expectations. They did mine! Beyond the premium GORE-TEX membrane and Vibram outsole, every inch of the Crag Rat USA offers some form of craftsmanship to appreciate.
Beyond the beautiful leather, American flag detail, GORE-TEX badge and Vibram outsole that you see on the exterior, the Crag Rat USA boot features a brilliant level of comfort thanks to the Dynamic Response System. I’ll tell you more about it alongside all of the features I’ve found below in my men’s Danner Crag Rat USA boots review.
Quick Highlights:
- Danner Dynamic Response System for enhanced stability
- 59 oz. per pair (3lbs 11 oz.)
- 7-inch height
- Removable OrthoLite footbed with open-cell polyurethane
- PU midsole with polypropylene board for superior foot support
- TPU (Thermoplastic urethane) arch shank
- 851 Last type
- 100% waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX lining
- Rugged Vibram Tsavo outsole for high-pitched elevation terrain
- Made in the USA with Imported Components (Danner’s Portland, OR factory)
- Athletic and supportive fit true to size
- Tall Nubuck leather uppers
- 360 abrasion-resistant Vibram rubber rand
- D-ring hardware with double hook for custom lacing
Brown/Green Men’s Danner Crag Rat USA Hiking Boots Review
If you’re wondering why there’s an American flag stitched into the rear of these boots, the story starts with their construction in Portland, Oregon. There you’ll find the Crag Rat USA boot coming alive in the Danner factory.
As each boot rolls off a line with hands-on quality control, you’ll find a beautiful construction to envy. Premium full-grain leather, double stitching, and a full rubber rand all come together. Though, those are just a few of the many things to get excited about.
To start my field test, I laced up the d-rings from toe to ankle for the perfect fit. While moving up the mountain, I noticed the heavy-duty Vibram outsole offered a remarkable level of traction over everything from snow to ice, hard rock and so on.
While these boots do have some deep lugs for planting each footstep firmly, they feel surprisingly natural to walk with. In reality, for what you get in exchange for the end weight, I’m surprised Danner managed to pull the Crag Rat USA boot off. For unstable ground conditions, these are precisely what I want!
During my ascent up the mountain, the GORE-TEX membrane kept my feet dry and comfortable from the frigid and wet exterior. Thanks to their higher profile, keeping the snow and ice out with steps sunk into the frozen ground was no problem at all.
Most notably, the unique Dynamic Response System Danner has incorporated into the Crag Rat USA left me satisfied when it came to foot comfort. The system offers a springboard return with a dual-density polyurethane midsole for exceptional shock absorption. When you’re going over rocky and loose terrain for hours on end, the comfort the system offers in return is heaven-sent. Of course, the peace of mind knowing you’ve got excellent underfoot stability is a plus too.
Now, while some boots begin to give up during cold condition reviews, the Danner Crag Rat USA kept performing. From the bottom to the top of the mountain, the support, comfort, confidence, and fit remained close to perfection. The feedback these boots provide to the feet is consistent regardless of the condition.
On the descent back down, I took note of how well my heel locked in alongside the nice to have, double lace hook. With no adjustments to make, and the thought of blisters not even remotely crossing my mind, I continued my trek onwards.
After taking a look at the boots post-hike, I can safely say I’m going to get a lot of life out of this pair. While they look incredibly sharp and handsomely masculine from the outside, the real test is always the build quality.
Luckily, Danner has once again managed to impress me with their truly top-notch construction quality highly. For backpacking, hiking, hunting, and light mountaineering, these men’s Danner Crag Rat USA boots are definitely one of my favorite pieces of gear to go with.
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