• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • Photoroom_20250531_143432Pyramyd AIR’s Springfield Hellcat Pro CO2 BB Pistol Is the Ultimate Dry-Fire Trainer
        • image-112d3d00Helwan Brigadier 9mm Range Report
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
        • m142Too Tough to Die: The M14
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
        • The Gallagator 10 day pack on the shoreline next to a hiking trail.Day Pack – Mystery Ranch Gallagator 10 – The Best Yet?
        • PXL_20240209_171721326Pic of the Day, It’s Graduation Time
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
        • craft holstersCraft Holsters Makarov Tuckable IWB Holster Report
        • rs3CIVIVI RS71 Review : Big Blade Energy
        • civivi2Civivi Brazen Review: The Best Budget EDC Knife under $75?
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Footwear

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

March 8, 2017 by Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer Leave a Comment

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

If you’ve served in the US military or have spent significant time hiking trails across North America, I’d bet dollars to doughnuts you have at least a passing familiarity with Danner footwear.  While in 2nd Ranger Battalion out of Ft. Lewis, I was issued a set of Danners (the Acadia I believe) as my cold weather boot.  They were such an improvement over the jungle boot, I kept wearing them long past winter, trekking all over Afghanistan and Iraq in them even in the dead of summer.  They held up through 5 deployments and countless miles, missions and mountains.  Now that I’m living just a short drive from the factory, I had to arrange a time to stop by.

Charles Danner started the company in 1932.  Originally in Wisconsin, Danner moved to Oregon when Charles saw the future of the company’s sales in logging boots.  Having eventually moved into hiking, military, duty and lifestyle markets, the company’s pedigree and reputation for toughness remains.

I met up with Pamela Lo at the Danner booth during SHOT show while I was drooling over their new Tachyon; she arranged for Erin Braun to give me a tour of the factory near Portland International Airport.  I went into the tour knowing that Danner made some kick-ass boots, but came out having a great deal more respect for the craftsmanship and hard work put into every pair of boots and shoes that rolls off the factory floor.

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

It all starts with the slabs of leather shown above.  They are tested a few different ways while they’re still almost a full cow-length.  Any that don’t meet the stringent requirements for pliability are immediately sent back.

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

A giant “cookie cutter” form is placed on the leather sheet and hydraulically stamped down.  Each piece is cut from the piece of leather that corresponds to the appropriate measure of thickness and flexibility.

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

Some of the sewing (triple-stitch) is still done on a machine far older than anyone reading this article.  The stamp on this machine reads 1893 from Puritan MFG out of Boston and yet it is still in service nearly every day.

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

Machines and craftsmen work hand-in-hand every step of the way.  I didn’t see a single automated process the entire day.  From stitching, punching in eyelets or affixing the midsole to the Gore-tex booties, very little of the process has changed over the years: nearly everything is measured out by hand and fit to exacting specifications.

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

Above is the work of that antique triple stitch sewing machine.

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

An employee runs each boot through the sewing machine by hand in just a handful of seconds.

Danner Footwear | Factory Tour

A finished boot, shaken not stirred.  This is one of Danner’s “famous boots”, the Mountain Light II worn by James Bond in Spectre.  This is a company that embraces every aspect of their history.  Ancient logging equipment, antique tools and the flags of every branch of the US military adorn the factory. From hunting footwear, to size 150 boots for an injured elephant, these dirt slappers have been around the world.

Although Danner has a long and storied history to lean on, this isn’t a company content to rest on accolades from years past.  I’ve seen what they’ve been working on at the factory and I’ll be testing out their newest boot, the Reckoning, as well as the one that caught me eye at SHOT show, the Tachyon.

Stay tuned..

(all images in this article were taken by the author with the exception of the featured image, courtesy of Danner.com)

Share This

About the Author

Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer is an Alaskan Expatriate living in Oregon with his wife and kids. Growing up on commercial fishing vessels, he found his next adventure with the 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt. After 5 tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, he roamed about the west coast becoming a commercial diver, rated helicopter pilot instructor (CFII) and personal trainer before becoming a staff writer with Loadoutroom.com

See All Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • ARES Watch Company Diver-1 & Field Watch: Unstoppable Tactical Watches for Land & Sea
    ARES Watch Company Diver-1 & Field Watch: Unstoppable Tactical Watches for Land & Sea
  • Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
    Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report
    My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report
  • The Citizen Promaster Dive: Built Like a Bunker, Priced Like a Bivouac
    The Citizen Promaster Dive: Built Like a Bunker, Priced Like a Bivouac
  • M4A1 Block I: The Special Operations Origins of an American Icon
    M4A1 Block I: The Special Operations Origins of an American Icon

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Ajita Sherer on Vakarian Plate Carrier Review: Elite Comfort and Modularity for Under $300
  • Josiah on Vakarian Plate Carrier Review: Elite Comfort and Modularity for Under $300
  • Woox Store on Tommy Gun Madness: The Thompson Submachine Gun

Latest From SOFREP

Military History

Medal of Honor Monday: James P. Fleming – The Huey Pilot Who Flew Into Hell and Back

News

Morning Brief: USS Harry S. Truman and USS Stout Return After Intense 8-Month Combat Deployment

News

Evening Brief: Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Strike Into Russia, Dozens Killed in Gaza Aid Incident, UK Preps for Huge Defense Spending Increase

Air Guns

Train Like a Pro: The Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro CO₂ Air Pistol with Air Venturi Red Dot Sight

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...