danner mountain trail. this model was originally...

danner mountain trail.

this model was originally for sale in the 1970’s, just prior to when the team at danner invented the gore-tex bootie insert for footwear. it was about the only patent that w.l. gore and associates ever let slip by them, and became a case study in what to avoid when working with third party consultants. funfact: danner is the only footwear brand in the world who is allowed to use gore tex without stamping its product on the exterior with “gore-tex.” the boots now come with an optional lace badge, but are not embroidered or silkscreened with gore’s trademark.

when danner did begin with gore-tex, they retooled the mountain trail, and introduced the mountain light, which has become the iconic style that is enjoying re-found popularity here in the states. eventually, the style got lightened up with the infusion of nylon side panels, and the danner light- particularly popular in japan during the last decade- was born.

the leather lined mountain trail, though, had become obsolete. it was all but forgotten, except by aficionados who remembered its supple all-leather interior that formed perfectly to the wearer’s feet over time- until eggie got a gig at a museum/bacpacker’s paradise in boston, massachusetts, called hilton’s tent city.

deep in the mountain of deadstock that is warehoused on tent city’s jaw dropping 5 floors, i found an unwearable size 5 of original, 1970’s danner mountain trail boots. they were pristine, new in their original box. more than a year ago, the danner crew came to boston, doing a little field research with old and new accounts to lay down the framework of this year’s stumptown release. tent city had carried danner for nearly 40 years, and i had just begun my excavation of deadstock gear that spurned the creation of eggs and wool. we showed the danner team around the store, and surprised them with our old gems; they piled up six or seven pairs of vintage styles they just had to have, and we were all happy to see them go back home (though, to be fair, some of these styles had been produced back in chippewa falls, wisconsin, where the company used to share production facilities with chippewa boots, and got its start). the size 5 mountain trail i’d found was among their must haves.

the team promptly gave the mountain trail to their pattern maker, who in turn, ripped them apart, and made an exact pattern based upon a perfect original pair. pretty cool, huh?

so, the danner team told me what they had been able to accomplish with the boot i salvaged from my beloved tent city, and i have been so anxious ever since!

well, the boots are amazing. no gore tex, so they are cool and breathable. the eyelets are also different- fewer, for a sloppy fit that, personally, i love. i would have changed one thing, though- they look dynamite now that i’ve swapped the green out for red laces.

thanks for reading!