Boot lifespan? Danner Pronghorns not holding up

[nastynate]

How much mileage do you get out of a pair of boots?

I bought a pair of Danner Pronghorns that blew apart in under a year which was replaced under warranty with the exact same pair. Pair number 2 has two hunting seasons under it's belt, including a western hunt which was wrapped up in 3 days, and 2 seasons of late season pheasant hunting... not more than 10 days a season. I probably walk 5-10 miles on a full upland day (less in the elk hills). So I probably have 25 days of walking in these boots (msrp $270), and they blew apart in the exact same spots, in under 250 miles. The stitching failed and they have gaping holes on the big toe side next to the eyelets. I'm frustrated, they are out of warranty. Should I be? How long should a pair of boots last? What do you use that is tough, waterproof and comfortable that lasts longer?

 

[WapitiBob]

Salomon Quest




Lowa cevedale pro



Lowa renegade


Oboz Bridger



Salomon X Ultra



Crispi Monoco


I didn't take pictures of:

Danner Elk Hunter 3 pair
Danner Pronghorn 1 pair
Merrell Moab 3 pair
Lowa Zephyr 1 pair

I now hunt in these when it's wet

 

[Birdbander]

Kenetrek Mt Extreme
8 yr old on left (still waterproof but beaten up)
9 months right
Can't begin to estimate the miles, very happy with them.

 

[TheTone]

Pronghorns have been crummy boots since Danner introduced them.

I tend to get a couple years of daily use out of various Lowa’s. I usually buy a couple pairs at a time and rotate them depending on type of country

 

[Moserkr]

Lower end Danners last 1 year if you hunt hard. Crispi's have lasted me 3-4 years but can be resoled. My meindl's have lasted over a decade with moderate use. All of them will have the rand separate so I just put sealant on it as soon as I get them. Apply oil at least twice a year, beginning and end of season. I only use full leather boots, the synthetics just dont last where I hunt in the granite.

My buddy loves his Kennetreks and has years off of them fighting fires and hunting. That will be the next boot I try, hear only good things about them, and the toe box is more generous than crispi.

 

[Bambistew]

I usually wear the tread off the bottom before the boots fail.

Have had good luck with Asolo, Mendle and now using Shcnee's. I've yet to have a boot remain waterproof for more than two seasons.

I learned a long time ago the more stich points the more place for failure, and get a boot with a full rand.

 

[MThuntr]

I've never had Danners last more than a few days. JUNK

I wear Hoffman Explorer Lites nearly daily for 4 years. Im not putting on the miles like i used to but they're holding up very well.

Meindl Vakkum are some of my favorites too. They were formerly known as Cabelas Denali. I had the soles rebuilt and only had to stop wearing them after almost a decade

 

[Lota lota]

How much mileage do you get out of a pair of boots?

I bought a pair of Danner Pronghorns that blew apart in under a year which was replaced under warranty with the exact same pair. Pair number 2 has two hunting seasons under it's belt, including a western hunt which was wrapped up in 3 days, and 2 seasons of late season pheasant hunting... not more than 10 days a season. I probably walk 5-10 miles on a full upland day (less in the elk hills). So I probably have 25 days of walking in these boots (msrp $270), and they blew apart in the exact same spots, in under 250 miles. The stitching failed and they have gaping holes on the big toe side next to the eyelets. I'm frustrated, they are out of warranty. Should I be? How long should a pair of boots last? What do you use that is tough, waterproof and comfortable that lasts longer?

View attachment 353777

Zamberlan. I've got eight years in a pair. That's hunting all season and working in them every day.

 

[jejack26]

Danner, are not the boots they were. Last pair fell apart. Bought crispi, sole came completely off at 6 months. Got pair of Schnees, survived well this season,but to soon to brag about them, but love them so far.

 

[Jbotto]

As a kid perusing Cabela’s catalogs I always wanted a pair of Danner Pronghorns. Finally bought an insulated pair for winter work a few years after college. They’ve surprisingly held up but haven’t been the boot I wanted them to be. Not nearly as comfortable or as tight to my foot as my Danner work boots.

I have gone through at least 6 or 7 pairs of Danner Quarry boots since 2016, with the first 4 pairs being abused for a year or maybe two each. Now my work is gentler on them so they last a lot longer but are still my preferred boot. I even put up with the alloy toe for most of my hunting since work buys them. Someday I won’t be so cheap and I’ll buy myself a better pair of uninsulated hunting boots.

 

[Dinkshooter]

20 years ago I use to wear Danners a lot. Then one day I decided I didn't like cold wet feet and I never bought another pair.

 

[dribeerfeht]

My Danner Pronghorns sole delaminated a few years ago while elk hunting....no more Danners. Replaced them with Kennetreck Mountain Extremes. Very happy with them.

 

[.270Rem]

The pair of Pronghorns I had finally fell apart in Jan after modest use over 19 years. They weren't my go to pair over that span, but I wore them quite a bit. And work paid for them so it was a shame to see them go. Nowadays I wouldn't expect that kind of durability from Danner. My current pair of regular use boots are Whites and they are in their third season and are solid, but showing some wear.

 

[MNElkNut]

2008 Schnees Beartooth. Love them. Lots of them in my family all with great results. Lots of limes elk and pheasant hunting. Cattails are hard on boots.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Pronghorns are cheap boots compared to most of the better European made boots. They are disposable. Used to think they were the bees knees compared to the $60 Rockys I grew up with and they were. But they aren’t a very supportive or durable boot.

 

[MTGomer]

Kenetrek desert guides get me one season until the soul and toe wear out

 

[Jnasa]

I went through two pairs of Danners. The last was a pair of Pronghorns that lasted multiple seasons. I went to replace them but the fit was different. I tried to break them in but I couldn’t handle it and returned them. They don’t seem to be the quality they used to be.

I finished my second season with a pair of Kennetreks. I’ve put more miles on them and they are still in great shape.

 

[Westside24]

How much mileage do you get out of a pair of boots?

I bought a pair of Danner Pronghorns that blew apart in under a year which was replaced under warranty with the exact same pair. Pair number 2 has two hunting seasons under it's belt, including a western hunt which was wrapped up in 3 days, and 2 seasons of late season pheasant hunting... not more than 10 days a season. I probably walk 5-10 miles on a full upland day (less in the elk hills). So I probably have 25 days of walking in these boots (msrp $270), and they blew apart in the exact same spots, in under 250 miles. The stitching failed and they have gaping holes on the big toe side next to the eyelets. I'm frustrated, they are out of warranty. Should I be? How long should a pair of boots last? What do you use that is tough, waterproof and comfortable that lasts longer?

View attachment 353777

Have had several pairs of pronghorn in the past but didn't last like they should have. Now have meindl's and a couple pair of kenetrek's for hunting and work. Kenetrek has a good end of year sale on ebay for returned or little used boots.

 

[bowhuntmontana]

I had bad experiences with Danner Pronghorns 10 or 12 years ago. Leaked like a sieve and traction in snow was nonexistent. Have had a pair of Asolos and two pairs of Crispis since then, none of which leaked and all of which have been excellent. Asolos were a little narrow in the toe box for me, but the Crispis fit my feet well. Still have both pairs of Crispis (Nevadas and Laponia), going strong after multiple seasons.

 

[hank4elk]

Wore Danners for work for years. Junk for the last 20. Saw a pair of Pronghorns not make a week in the Sierra's.
Had Meindels.
Now back to Lowas and Tibets. Caminos for daily work.
Just got Kenetrek Hardscabbles. Free with RMEF/life membership.