Danner Jag review

We believe that the Danner Jag can become your ultimate outdoor companion if:

• you are drawn to the retro aesthetics of this hiking boot
• you need a semi-casual boot to transition from the trails to the streets comfortably
• you want a leather/suede boot that doesn't take long to break in
• you need reliable waterproofing for puddles, creeks, and heavy rains

The Jag has many virtues but we don't think they are enough to make it a perfect option for longer adventures on technical terrain.

For challenging multi-day hikes, you will need a better cushioned and more rugged boot with deeper lugs. Our top recommendations in this category are the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX and the Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX.

The Danner Jag has a moderately thick platform. Our caliper shows that its heel stack comes in at 32.7 mm which is a few millimeters lower than average.

Even though our feet felt close to the ground during the wear test, there was enough underfoot protection too. We didn't notice stepping on sharp rocks and roots.

The forefoot stack also proved to be lower than average in the Danner Jag. According to our caliper, it is 19.2 mm thick.

This resulted in a little better ground feedback but didn't compromise protection under the balls of our feet.

The difference in height between the heel and forefoot wasn't very drastic in the Danner Jag. At 13.5 mm, it is just the same as the average.

This setup elevates the heel slightly above the toes taking the pressure off the Achilles. It creates a more supportive in-shoe feel.

If you are used to cushy shoes with a generous amount of plush foam, the Danner Jag is going to feel vastly different.

Actually, It is one of the firmest hiking boots we've ever tested!

Pressing our durometer against the boot's primary foam, we got 51.6 HA. That's a whopping 50% firmer than hiking boots on average!

It makes the boot more stable for sure but it does detract from comfort in the long haul. In case you need that cush, Hoka boots are the complete opposite of the Danner Jag.

Having cut through the Jag, we found that it uses two types of foam.

But measuring its secondary foam under the heel, we found that it is just as firm as the primary cushioning. The durometer showed 52.5 HA which is nearly the same as the other foam.

On the bright side, firm boots rarely get any firmer in cold weather.

After spending 20 minutes in our freezer, hiking boots get about 20% harder in the midsole. The Danner Jag, however, only got 5.3% firmer!

Luckily, the boot features a generously padded insole on top of the hard platform.

It is a 7.1 mm thick OrthoLite footbed with a pleasantly soft touch and open-cell design for better airflow.

Unlike most hiking boots, the Danner Jag has a rather close-fitting and sleek profile. For our medium-width feet, it felt like a one-to-one fit.

Measuring the widest part of the toebox with a caliper, we got 97.5 mm. It is a few millimeters narrower than average but not critically.

We were pleased to discover that the boot's toebox doesn't taper much toward the toes. It leaves a little room for the toes to splay and feel comfortable all day.

Our caliper shows a welcome 80.1 mm of width where the big toe ends.

Inspired by stiff leather boots of the past, the Danner Jag pulls cues from their highly stable construction too.

The boot gave us a very solid footing on uneven terrain. We never felt off-balance and not even close to twisting our ankles.

Despite not having a shank, the Danner Jag features a very high level of torsional rigidity.

In our manual test, we could barely give it the smallest twist! Its platform is just that stiff. On a 1-5 stiffness scale, we confidently gave it a score of 4.

The boot made us feel surefooted even with our heavier backpacks on.

Our heels and ankles remained fixed in place thanks to the boot's extra sturdy heel counter.

Giving it a push-and-squeeze in our manual test, we rated the heel counter stiffness with the highest score - 5 out of 5!

A stiff TPU clip around the base of the heel also contributes to a secure feel. We experienced ZERO slipping or shifting around in the rearfoot.

Following the old-fashioned boot silhouette, the Danner Jag gets a bit narrower than average in the platform. But luckily, not at the cost of stability!

In the widest part of the forefoot, our caliper showed 103.3 mm which is about 9 mm narrower than average. Not critically narrow but right on the edge, we would say. 

The platform narrows towards the back, showing only 82.7 mm in the widest part of the heel. Once again, that's about 5 mm narrower than the average of hiking boots.

Considering the slightly curved shape of the sole, we think that people with flat feet and severe overpronation might feel tippy in this Danner boot. There is not much platform to lean on the inner side of the boot.

When Danner reintroduced the Jag, the intention was to make the boot more versatile and consequently, more flexible too. We discovered that the Jag indeed became more flexible compared to its former backpacking boot self.

Measuring how much force it would take to bend this boot to a 90-degree angle, we found that it takes about the same as the average of hiking boots (44.6N).

Compared to other Danner boots, the Jag is about as flexible as the Mountain 600 but is a whopping 80% more flexible than the Mountain Light!

This Danner boot doesn't stiffen up in low temperatures either.

After keeping the boot in the freezer for 20 minutes, we found that it only got 3.1% stiffer. Most hiking boots in our lab get about 26% more rigid.

Having tested the Danner Mountain 600 (18.7 oz/529g) and the Danner Mountain Light (28.3 oz/802g), we are genuinely surprised with the lightness of the Danner Jag!

Tipping our scale at 17.0 oz (482g) in a men's US size 9, the Jag is even lighter than the average! It did feel pleasantly light on our feet too.

A series of breathability tests convinced us that the Danner Jag is ONLY meant for the cold season.

The boot features a solid upper that doesn't let the heat escape so easily. Even when we filled its interiors with smoke, not a single streak came out on the other side.

The shoe on the right demonstrates what a breathable mesh upper looks like in contrast to the Jag.

Even when we hovered the boot's half-cut upper over the light, it didn't reveal any secret ventilation holes. The boot's textile panels don't promise any breathability.

Looking at the fabric through our microscope, we saw incredibly thick, sturdy, and tightly woven threads. Paired with the boot's waterproof lining, it eliminates the airflow for good.

Rating the Danner Jag's breathability on a 1-5 scale was very easy. The boot just got the lowest score of 1.

We have put the Danner DRY waterproofing through several outdoor scenarios: heavy rain, deep puddles, creek crossings, and muddy streaks. 

Not a single time did we come back with wet feet! Even when we stepped ankle-deep into the water, the boot kept all moisture at bay.

The Danner Jag's upper durability varies depending on the material used in a given boot.

Some models are made of full-grain leather and Cordura fabric (priced at $200) and promise a more hard-wearing upper. Others are made of suede and nylon or textile (priced at $190) which may not be as wear-resistant but are still durable.

In this review, we are testing the boot's suede-and-textile option. We use a Dremel with a sandpaper tip to check how much damage it will cause to the upper in 12 seconds compared to other hiking boots.

Considering Danner's pride in quality, we expected nothing less than excellent! Even the boot's unprotected textile panel got away with a minor scuff.

On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most durable, we confidently rated the Jag's toebox with 4.

The inner lining of a waterproof boot is just as important as the outer shell. That's because a single tear in this lining will compromise the boot's overall waterproofing ability.

To see how it holds up, we applied our Dremel to the inner side of the boot's collar and drilled it for 4 seconds.

The result was quite reassuring as the damage was notably smaller than what we often see in hiking boots.

Assessing the Jag's heel padding durability, we gave it a solid 4 out of 5.

Another crucial part of any hiking boot is of course the outsole. Losing it means that you lose the initial grip and foot protection.

To our delight, the rubber on the Danner Jag proved to be incredibly sturdy! It is one of the hardest compounds we've seen in hiking boots which is a surefire sign of wear resistance.

Our durometer showed a reading of 92.1 HC which is harder than 99% of our lab-tested hiking boots!

To put the boot's outsole through its paces, we turned up the Dremel speed to the relentless 10K RPM. We also held its tip against the rubber for a longer time of 22 seconds.

As you can see from the video above, the Dremel tip barely shaved any rubber off the outsole! There was no tread loss whatsoever!

The Danner Jag showed some of the best results in the outsole durability test - the damage was as shallow as 0.5 mm! This hiking boot guarantees a longer-than-average shelf life, even if it is regularly exposed to abrasive trails.

Based on our caliper measurements, the Jag's outsole is a bit thinner than average at 2.6 mm. But considering how hard-wearing it is, we think it's enough for the boot's long and happy life. 

Danner uses moderately deep lugs to make the Danner Jag more versatile for trail-to-town wear.

Our caliper shows that the lugs are slightly shallower than average at 3.7 mm.

The boot also features a retro waffle outsole pattern which makes it comfortable on the pavement but grippy enough on the trail.

There are no reflective elements on the Danner Jag given its old-fashioned hiking boot design.

The Jag's tongue is sufficiently padded to create a cozy wrap around the instep and prevent lace bites.

Measuring its thickness with a caliper, we got 9.3 mm which is typical for a hiking boot.

The boot's tongue is fully integrated into the upper. It is a necessary feature for a waterproof boot as it prevents water and debris from getting inside.

We also found that it contributes to a very secure lockdown around the ankle. 

There are no pull tabs or finger loops on the Danner Jag. But thanks to lace hoops, it is very quick and easy to unlace and put on.

The boot's OrthoLite insole is easily removable in case you need to boost comfort with a custom orthotic.