Boot lifespan? Danner Pronghorns not holding up

[tormenter]

The just don't make good boots like they used. Basic hunting boots 30years ago lasted for years -like everyone is agreeing we are doing good to get more than a year or two out of them. I like Danners but they sure don't last very long.

I usually turn my elk boots into pheasant boots after a season or two to help justify the costs.

 

[belshawelk]

I was a Danner guy for years. Wanted to support a local Oregon company. Last two pairs were horrible. Starting leaking and breaking down after just a couple years. Spent the extra money and went to Kenetrek. Best decision I made.

 

[winmag]

Doesn’t seem to matter what brand I wear, they lose their waterproofness after a year or less. I’ve never had seam or sole issues in that time period though. For many years I’ve been wearing Scarpa. They come with a 1 year warranty, so I submit a claim after 11 months, get another pair for free, to essentially get 2 years per purchase.

I wear older boots that have already lost their waterproofness when around cactus. Some of these are approaching 10 years old and the construction is still good.

Boots are consumable. They’re like brake pads. They’re not going to last forever. I don’t mind spending the money to take care of my feet.

 

[Irrelevant]

Many years is the answer for most of my boots. I typically see the soles lose the "grippiness" before I actually wear through them. But I also spread my use over 3-4 boots at a time based on activity. I haven't heard anything good about danner in a long time

 

[mtmuley]

Doesn’t seem to matter what brand I wear, they lose their waterproofness after a year or less. I’ve never had seam or sole issues in that time period though. For many years I’ve been wearing Scarpa. They come with a 1 year warranty, so I submit a claim after 11 months, get another pair for free, to essentially get 2 years per purchase.

Vortex boots. I couldn't do that. mtmuley

 

[winmag]

Vortex boots. I couldn't do that. mtmuley

Same results with the high end Lowa, Kenetrek, and Zamberlains I wore. If you hunt in the mountains and rocks nothing lasts.

I bet I could get 10 years out of a pair if I just walked to my tree stand from my side by side though.

 

[mtmuley]

Same results with the high end Lowa, Kenetrek, and Zamberlains I wore. If you hunt in the mountains and rocks nothing lasts.

I bet I could get 10 years out of a pair if I just walked to my tree stand from my side by side though.

You can wear out a pair of high end boots in one year? mtmuley

 

[peterk1234]

You guys must be hiking some terrain that is much rougher than where I go. My Beartooths are almost five years old and going strong. I probably wear them 200 days a year. Granted some days it is a simple hike. But they have helped haul out 21 deer, three elk and two pronghorn. I walk through creeks with them, done countless miles of side hilling, and walk through plenty of scrabble. Soles are losing their tread but I swear that the boots get more comfortable every year. I keep up with leather treatment so they are staying waterproof. I'm thinking it is worth putting new soles on them within the next year.

 

[TheJason]

I get about 3-4 years out of a pair of boots. I'm rotating two pairs now, so we'll see if they last longer. My last pair of Hoffmans died at three years. The sole was shot, rand was pretty cut up, and the waterproofing long gone.

I'm impressed if I can get more than three years out of a pair of quality boots the way I wear them.

 

[Sytes]

Modern Danner Pronghorn boots:

Country of Origin: Vietnam
Manufacturing: Imported

They fly a U.S. flag for those manufactured in the U.S. however, modern pronghorn quality is the result of Portland manufacturing no mas, off to Vietnam.

Meh, pay more for the U.S. label. Price of competing with cheap foreign labor. Get what you pay for.

I have a set of Oboze. Made in Bozeman... until they get bought out such as what occurred to Mystery Ranch. Big boys buy out to reduce quality competition vs quantity of repeat lack of quality sales...

 

[David58]

Danner used to be among the best.

Went to their store in Portland a few years back, bought some socks (had a pair of their boots aready).

A man came in, his boots had failed at the toes. They refused any refund because he admitted to wearing them without socks. I was listening carefully due to the disrespect shown to this man from the second he placed the boots on the counter.

Now, I wear socks, and English is my first language, but the guy behind the counter was an ass.

I will never buy another Danner product again.

David
NM

 

[D4570]

I use my boot at least 3 days a week, more often 4. I average 30,000 steps a day, not all out in the wilds but a LOT. I got a pair of Kenitrec 400 mountain boots 24 years ago. I had to send them in to be re-soled and they fixed any other problems 4 years ago. I still wear them for about the same amount of time, I expect them to go as long as I will last. PS I'm Old.

 

[Boarmaster]

I bought a pair of pronghorns years ago. I hated them. Hard to get on and off and uncomfortable for my feet. They also leaked around the tongue. I gave them away I didn't even want them for spares. Replaced with Meindels. Love those and been wearing them ever since. I’m in the east so not exceptionally hard on boots.

 

[Boarmaster]

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.

Rockys are another brand that went to heck in a hand basket.

 

[wa_archer]

precisely why i finally upgraded to Kennetrek's about 3 yrs ago, I figure im probably ahead of the game money wise already. Plus they still look brand new. I keep them clean but use them year round for hunting and hiking. Once broken into my feet they are like slipping on a pair of tennis shoes they have molded to my feet so well.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

The pair of zamberlan Wasatches I have are easily the best boots I have owned in comfort and durability. Think I am on year three heading into four. I use them hiking in the spring and summer and of course for hunting. Still in pretty good shape.

 

[Talk2elk]

I have Kenetrek Mountain Extremes and Schnee Beartooth, both have held up for several years hunting SW Montana.

 

[thomas89]

Yeahhh if there's one thing I wished I did sooner rather than later, it was upgrading to a nice pair of boots.

The extra cash I had left in my wallet from buying cheap boots didn't do much to help my aching feet on some hunts.

 

[jt13]

I had some Danner Pronghorns about a decade ago. They are not a mountain boot but more of a couch to tree stand boot, too soft.

I was over the moon with my first pair of Crispi Nevadas - I did no maintenance, waterproof until the end, and wore the tread off of them after about 3 years. The second pair I bought was more temperamental, needed quite a bit of conditioning and waterproofing to get two seasons out of them. I am on a third, and likely my last, pair of Crispis. They fit different, they feel "cheaper", glue is already failing in places, and waterproofing was bad out of the box.

 

[bowhuntmontana]

Forgot about your waterproofing question. Best thing I have found for waterproof treatment on my boots is Snow Seal. I've used Obenauf's too but found it didn't last nearly as long. I now used Obenauf's on my dress shoes/boots and Snow Seal on my hunting and work boots. Works for me.