Review: Danner Vital 8″ Hunting Boots

I love me some good boots, and quality footwear is important for any outdoor activity. I’ve recently had the opportunity to try some new boots from Danner, and they’ve really impressed me.

The model is Vital, and I’ve been using these boots heavily for the past six months. Danner’s PR material for this model says, “Lightweight and fast, the Vital is a versatile staple for the agile hunter.”

I can’t say I’m all that agile these days, but I have used these boots for everything from walking wooded properties to clearing and building fencelines through the woods to moving and loading furniture to hunting in the rain for days on end, and they have yet to disappoint me. That’s saying a lot, because I’m notoriously demanding and selective, especially when it comes to reviews. And for once, I have nothing to complain about.

These boots are available with or without insulation; mine are style 41550, which are not insulated. Here’s some info from Danner:

• Abrasion-Resistant Leather & Textile Upper: A specialized process is used to impregnate split leather with polyurethane to create an exceptionally durable and abrasion resistant leather. We’ve paired the leather with 900 denier polyester to create a hard-wearing upper.
• Danner Dry: 100% waterproof barrier allows moisture to escape without letting water in, keeping your feet dry and comfortable all day long.
• Lock & Load Lacing System: Reengineered ghilles across the forefoot for a secure, yet quiet fit, and locking speed hooks for quick lacing.
• Open Cell Polyurethane Footbed: Our polyurethane footbed provides superior shock absorption with an additional layer of open cell construction for improved air circulation.
• Danner Plyolite midsole: All-new Danner midsole offering lightweight comfort and durability.
• Danner Vital Outsole: Multi-directional lugs provide grip on moss, rock and slick surfaces.
• Mesh Lined Tongue Construction: Features a mesh liner layered over a waterproof membrane on the tongue to help regulate both moisture and temperature where it has the largest impact, on the top of your foot.
• Multi-Density Foam: A patterning of multi-density foam eliminates hot spots and pinch points for a more comfortable upper.
• How It Fits: This boot is built on our DT4 last. This last provides an athletic fit with a tighter heel pocket and a wider toe box. The sleek, streamlined last is excellent for on or off trail hiking.

Manufacturer Specs

• Style: 41550
• Weight: 47 oz per pair (I measured my size 12s at 51 ounces)
• Height: 8″
• Insulated: No
• Color: Brown
• Footbed: Cushioning Molded PU
• Shank: Nylon
• Last Type: DT4
• Waterproof: Yes
• Liner: Danner® Dry
• Outsole: Danner® Vital
• Recraftable: No
• Manufacturing: Imported (Mine were made in Vietnam)
• MRSP: $150

In the Field

From the first day I pulled these boots on and laced them up, I was hooked. They are easy to pull on and off thanks to the speed lace hooks, which are fast and easy to use, and I believe this is the most comfortable pair of boots I’ve ever had right out of the box.

My wife and I were shopping for land, and I wore these boots to stomp around in the boonies to explore several parcels. I wore them during a hot-weather dove hunt and while doing tractor work on fall food plots, then while running a chainsaw to clean up after hurricane Irma. I wore them heavily while hunting deer, including one week in particular when it never stopped raining for days on end. My feet stayed dry, and I didn’t mind lacing and unlacing these boots, even though I had slip-on rubber boots I could have worn.

After slogging through the red georgia clay, I had to hose off my boots back at camp. This is usually when most boots will leak, but these Danner Vitals did not… and that’s impressive. The lacing system is just about perfect; I can snug the lower laces easily by just pulling them, then work the laces up the hooks. Snug that up & tie the laces, and I’m good for hours.

This outtake from my notes might say it best:

Always comfortable — and always easy to put on and take off.

Final Thoughts

These aren’t the only boots I have available to me, and I’ve forced myself to use others from time to time, to avoid placing unnecessary wear on these. But I can’t seem to stay away from these Danners, which are much more comfortable than other, more expensive boots.

All in all, it seems hard to go wrong with a pair of Danner Vitals, which feel right at home in the dirt or on a concrete shop floor.

Disclosure

A review sample was provided by the manufacturer. This doesn’t affect my review, which contains my honest opinion of the product.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.