Danner Women’s Mountain 600 EVO Hiking Boots Review

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Danner hiking boots are the industry standard when it comes to durable rugged footwear for adventure, exploration and work in the outdoors. My husband has been sporting Danner boots for years, and I have been very jealous! Just last year he checked out both the Mountain Overlook and Logger Moc 917 GTX . That is why I jumped at the chance to try out the Danner Mountain 600 EVO hiking boot this spring and summer. Living in the Rocky Mountains and traveling with our family, we love to get outdoors and hike as much as possible. Even with our kids in tow (and on our backs) we have been hitting the trails this hiking season, and I have found the Danner Mountain 600 EVO to be an excellent supportive hiking boot that should last me for years to come.

Initial Impressions

Danner’s Mountain 600 EVO is an evolution of the original award-winning Mountain 600 hiking boot. This updated version was designed for longer day-hikes and carrying more weight, while maintaining all-day comfort. 

Full-grain leather upper

The Mountain 600 EVO has the look of an all-leather classic hiking boot. Danner ensures high quality of the full-grain leather used in their boots, selecting only the leather that can withstand six tests of durability and strength. In addition to the leather upper, the soles of the Mountain 600 EVO stand out as heavy-duty and rugged. The Mountain 600 EVO uses a Vibram® Fuga Traction Outsole made of a Megagrip compound and increased surface area on the outsole to promote traction on wet and dry surfaces.

Vibram® Fuga Traction Outsole

In addition to the durability of the materials, the Mountain 600 EVO is recraftable, meaning the boots can be resoled and reconditioned to increase the lifespan of the boot. While durability often means heavy in the hiking boot world, these boots feel quality and solid but not heavy. Each pair weighs in at 32 ounces.

The women’s Mountain 600 EVO comes in two classic colors. I chose the Tin Gray/Island Green, which has a light gray tan leather surface and comes with two pairs of bright green shoe laces, both round and flat laces. 

Flat and round island green laces

Comfort and Fit

I’ve been hiking in the Mountain 600 EVO for the past couple of months and what strikes me most is the comfort and stability I feel in these boots. The all-leather hikers I have used in the past took forever to break in, but straight out of the box the Mountain 600 EVO felt comfortable. The specific materials and design of the footbed and midsole enhance the comfort and support of these boots.

Comfortable all day long

The footbed of the Mountain 600 EVO is a removable OrthoLite ECO Footbed. My feet were well cushioned and felt fully supported by the three layer footbed made of recycled rubber and Bio-Oil. Further cushioning and support of the foot comes from the rubberized EVA midsole, a Vibram® SPE Midsole, which is more durable than other EVA midsoles.

I have a women’s size 7 Medium, which fits true to size. The Mountain EVO comes in half and full sizes from size 5-11 in both Medium and Wide. I have a fairly low-volume foot and the Medium width fits like a glove. I could imagine someone with wider feet might need the extra volume of the Wide width.

Excellent fit

Hikers for All Conditions

I have hiked with the Mountain 600 EVO on a sweltering summer day in the Cascades, frigid mornings in the Rockies, and wet coastal trails in Oregon. These boots can hold up to any condition, keeping my feet cool enough on the hot days, warm enough on the cool days, and dry on the wet days.

The OrthoLite ECO Footbed made of recycled rubber and Bio-Oil are designed to help dissipate heat and allow for air circulation, which helps keep temperatures from climbing inside the boot. In addition, the GORE-TEX liner made of 45% post-consumer recycled materials is breathable while being 100% waterproof. The breathability is key on those sweltering days. And I found the boots to keep my feet completely dry when tromping through shallow streams and in misting conditions on the coast.

Staying dry in coastal streams

No Slipping

I was impressed by the grip of the Mountain 600 EVO outsoles. Even hiking over slippery wet rocks on the Oregon coast I avoided slipping. The self-adapting lugs and Megagrip compound of the Vibram® Fuga Traction Outsoles really held up and did their job. It was awesome to trust each step even on mossy wet rocks.

Great grip on slippery rocks

No slips on wet rocks

Supports Extra Weight

It feels like I’m going backpacking on most of our family day hikes these days due to carrying our toddler in a hiking pack along with extra gear, snacks, and water. The 30-plus pounds of extra weight wear my legs out quicker than normal, but Danner’s Mountain 600 EVO boots increase my stability hiking over rocks and up and down steep inclines. My precious cargo benefits from my increased stability and trust that each step sticks.

Support and stability with extra weight

Ecologically Friendly

I love my gear to keep a low carbon footprint when possible, and was impressed by Danner’s commitment to making a product using recycled materials (the GORE-TEX waterproof, breathable liner, the inner liner, and collar of the boot are all made of at least a portion of recycled materials). Another way to reduce the ecological impact is to make a product that lasts. The Mountain 600 EVO not only is a quality product that I imagine will hold up well over time, it is fully recraftable. The Danner Recrafting team will resole and recondition your worn boots to extend the life of these boots.

Eco-friendly hikers

Features and Specifications from Danner

• Recraftable – this boot is eligible to be resoled and reconditioned
• Durable full-grain leather upper
• GORE-TEX waterproof, breathable lining uses 45% post-consumer recycled material
• Cushioning open-cell OrthoLite® Eco footbed
• Inner liner made from 100% recycled content
• Vibram® SPE midsole with reground SPE content for maximum rebound, comfort and support
• Custom TPU shank and integrated heel cup evenly distributes weight underfoot and provides torsional rigidity for stability on rugged terrain
• Exclusive Vibram® outsole with Megagrip compound and Traction Lug technology offers unparalleled grip on wet and dry surfaces
• Men’s Size D: 7-15 (1/2 thru 12); EE: 8-15 (1/2 thru 12)
• Women’s Size M: 5-11 (1/2 thru 11); W: 5-11 (1/2 thru 11)
• Weight: 38oz per men’s pair (size 10) and 32oz per women’s pair (size 7)
• MSRP: $250

Final Thoughts

If you are in the market for a sturdy, rugged hiking boot that promises miles of comfort in variable terrain, look no further than the Danner Mountain 600 EVO. With a classic all-leather hiking boot style, water-proof breathable liner and high traction lug outsoles, these boots are at home on the trail. The Danner Mountain 600 EVO is a great choice for long days, hiking or backpacking variable terrain, providing comfort and stability to your backcountry adventures. For more info or to pick up a pair for yourself visit www.rei.com or www.amazon.com.