North Star
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I just thought I'd share my experiences with Danner boots, seeing as they are reputed to be some of the best combat boots out there. I currently own three pairs: a Danner Desert Acadia (no GTX), an all-leather Acadia Elite (GTX), and an Original Striker (GTX). I had them procured for me by the system because my prescribed insoles weren't working in the issued boots. As for my military background, I am currently in a non-infantry trade but have an infantry background, so hopefully these observations will bridge the gap between comments about comfort and durability.
First, a general observation. Whatever you do, try on a pair of the Danner's you are looking at before ordering from the website. My Strikers are 9.5D, while my Desert Acadias at a 10D and my Acadia Elites a 10EE. Because the Strikers are made in China a different last is probably used compared to the US made models (the Acadias).
Now for each boot:
1) The Desert Acadia. I went to the sandbox with the Desert Acadia and a Swat Desert Boot. I rotated the boots every day, working mainly in KAF with the odd trip for a few days to the FOBs. The Swats were pretty much done by the end of the six months, and I could feel every little pebble I stepped on . The Acadias were still going strong, despite some wear in the liners about where the heelcup ends. The soles were pretty tough, although the boot itself was warmer than the Swat. I ended up wearing the Danners outside the wire, since they simply felt sturdier when I had all my kit on. Putting my old infantry hat on, I would probably not recommend the Acadia for infantry work due to the additional heat and weight, although in other roles they would be fine. Go for a lighter, more comfortable boot even at the cost of durability, and chuck it at the end of the tour.
2) Striker. When I got back from tour, I picked up a pair of Strikers despite the fact that my old pair of Swats turned me off to Chinese-made boots. However, I must say in retrospect my prejudice was unwarranted. The Striker fit my feet very well, and was very lightweight. Although I don't think it has a shank in the traditional sense, it does have a layer in the sole that provides the durability my old Swats completely lacked. The only problem was the durability of the leather. Although I was mainly working in an office, I managed to rip off chunks of the leather making the boot look a lot older than it really is. In addition, the sole wears easily. I often wonder what this boot would look like if I used it for dismounted infantry-work. In my opinion it's a good boot for police and garrison work, but I would hesitate to take it into the field.
3) Acadia Elite, All Leather. Personally, I love this boot. I've spoken to many people who don't, but this one just works for me. The leather is supple enough to not require extensive break-in, but tough enough to not flake like my Strikers. The construction is quite impressive, with consistent stitching doubled-up everywhere. It is a tad warm owing from the Gortex, but as a personal choice I'm willing to put up with that now that I'm no longer doing infantry work. If I were back in the infantry, however, I'd definitely look at the hot weather version without the Gortex. The sole and shank are tough enough to stand up to work in a field environment, although the one upset that I have is that the Acadia Elite has a "Duralogical" Vibram sole instead of a more aggressive Vibram sole. Regardless I think these boots will last a long time and provide a relative degree of comfort.
To sum it all up, I think that Danners are worth the extra cash. However, don't expect them to be the ultimate boot. You have to weigh numerous factors when deciding on a boot, and it almost always involves a series of tradeoffs. The Acadias sacrifice weight for durability, while the Strikers appear to be the opposite. For the sandbox, if you are likely to be working mainly in garrison the Desert Acadias are pretty good. However, if you are going to be in the field you may want to examine lighter options and sacrifice the durability.
First, a general observation. Whatever you do, try on a pair of the Danner's you are looking at before ordering from the website. My Strikers are 9.5D, while my Desert Acadias at a 10D and my Acadia Elites a 10EE. Because the Strikers are made in China a different last is probably used compared to the US made models (the Acadias).
Now for each boot:
1) The Desert Acadia. I went to the sandbox with the Desert Acadia and a Swat Desert Boot. I rotated the boots every day, working mainly in KAF with the odd trip for a few days to the FOBs. The Swats were pretty much done by the end of the six months, and I could feel every little pebble I stepped on . The Acadias were still going strong, despite some wear in the liners about where the heelcup ends. The soles were pretty tough, although the boot itself was warmer than the Swat. I ended up wearing the Danners outside the wire, since they simply felt sturdier when I had all my kit on. Putting my old infantry hat on, I would probably not recommend the Acadia for infantry work due to the additional heat and weight, although in other roles they would be fine. Go for a lighter, more comfortable boot even at the cost of durability, and chuck it at the end of the tour.
2) Striker. When I got back from tour, I picked up a pair of Strikers despite the fact that my old pair of Swats turned me off to Chinese-made boots. However, I must say in retrospect my prejudice was unwarranted. The Striker fit my feet very well, and was very lightweight. Although I don't think it has a shank in the traditional sense, it does have a layer in the sole that provides the durability my old Swats completely lacked. The only problem was the durability of the leather. Although I was mainly working in an office, I managed to rip off chunks of the leather making the boot look a lot older than it really is. In addition, the sole wears easily. I often wonder what this boot would look like if I used it for dismounted infantry-work. In my opinion it's a good boot for police and garrison work, but I would hesitate to take it into the field.
3) Acadia Elite, All Leather. Personally, I love this boot. I've spoken to many people who don't, but this one just works for me. The leather is supple enough to not require extensive break-in, but tough enough to not flake like my Strikers. The construction is quite impressive, with consistent stitching doubled-up everywhere. It is a tad warm owing from the Gortex, but as a personal choice I'm willing to put up with that now that I'm no longer doing infantry work. If I were back in the infantry, however, I'd definitely look at the hot weather version without the Gortex. The sole and shank are tough enough to stand up to work in a field environment, although the one upset that I have is that the Acadia Elite has a "Duralogical" Vibram sole instead of a more aggressive Vibram sole. Regardless I think these boots will last a long time and provide a relative degree of comfort.
To sum it all up, I think that Danners are worth the extra cash. However, don't expect them to be the ultimate boot. You have to weigh numerous factors when deciding on a boot, and it almost always involves a series of tradeoffs. The Acadias sacrifice weight for durability, while the Strikers appear to be the opposite. For the sandbox, if you are likely to be working mainly in garrison the Desert Acadias are pretty good. However, if you are going to be in the field you may want to examine lighter options and sacrifice the durability.
