Tuesday 23 October 2012

Danner - More than the Acadia!

Most people probably know the flagship Danner Acadia Boot which is the top of the line Danner tactical boot hand made in the USA, but they also offer a more affordable range of mass produced boots aimed at the more every day tactical user.

The Danner Acadia boot does boast some impressive spec incorporating the classic stitchdown platform construction which improves stability and distributes pressure more effectively when the wearer is also carrying a load.   This also means that any Danner boots which have the stitchdown construction can be re soled which is quite a plus if you have forked out ~£250 to start with.  The sole is a Vibram (as you would expect) Kletterlift which offers fantastic grip, comfort and longevity in wet or dry conditions. The upper is a full grain leather around the toe (which polishes up well) and lower part of the foot with a 1000 denier nylon upper section around the sides and back of the ankle. The Acadia boot has a Gore-Tex membrane lining making them waterproof and breathable with a good lifespan.

The Danner Acadia is however just one boot in the Danner range.  Excluding their large fashion range the Kinetic boots are a more affordable option for your average police or security officer and still pack a lot of Danner quality into their price!  The Kinetic boots come in 4 styles.  There is a 6inch ankle height version which is available in Gore-Tex and non Gore-Tex as well as an 8inch version which again is available in Gore-Tex and non.  Other than that the Danner Kinetics are largely the same in construction offering full grain leather and rip stop nylon uppers with Ultralon footbed and a well cushioned midsole built on the multi-directional low lug "Kinetic" outsole.  Complete with nylon shank, the Danner Kinetic boot is an ideal light weight response boot that will also suit most foot patrol offices.  Where the Acadia ran to ~£250 the Kinetics start at much more reasonable £88.99 for a 6inch non Gore-Tex and £112 for an 8inch full Gore-Tex version.

One last thing to mention is the proper care of a pair of Danner boots.  Although standard polish will do, Danner offer their own specialist "Boot Dressing" which is specifically designed to nourish an maintain the leather whist leaving the breath-ability un affected.  It is a bit more expensive than a standard polish, but is also acceptable to be used on the Gore-Tex membrane where other boot polish products are not recommended.

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