How to Choose Hiking Boots
Danner Mountain Light Cascade Hiking Boots - Women's
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Featured in the Fox Searchlight Pictures release 'WILD,' the women's Mountain Light Cascade hiking boots are a tribute to the iconic Danner style from the early 1970's.
Shop similar productsKey Details
Upper
Full-grain leather
Weight (Pair)
3 pounds
- Made in the USA, the Mountain Light Cascade boots are believed by many to be the greatest backpacking footwear of all time
- Built on the classic Danner Mountain Light silhouette
- Water-resistant, 1-piece, full-grain leather uppers offer durability and a classic look
- Handcrafted stitch-down construction offers a wide platform for increased stability on uneven terrain
- Water-resistant Cambrelle linings
- Airthotic half-length molded polyurethane insteps cup your heels; fiberglass shanks support your arches
- Vibram® Kletterlift rubber outsoles are specifically designed for comfort, stability and shock absorption
- Retro-inspired flat red laces
- Each pair comes in a vintage Danner box, the exact box used in 1995 when Cheryl Strayed set off to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail
- Boots can be resoled
Made in USA.
View the Danner Mountain Product LineView all Danner Women's Backpacking Boots| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Footwear Height | Over-the-ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Upper | Full-grain leather |
| Lining | Cambrelle nylon |
| Midsole | Polyurethane |
| Support | Airthotic polyurethane heel cups/fiberglass arch shanks |
| Outsole | Vibram Kletterlift rubber |
| Can Be Resoled | Yes |
| Weight (Pair) | 3 pounds |
| Gender | Women's |
Danner Footwear - Women's
| 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Women's | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 |
| U.S. Men's | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | ||
| EU | 34.5 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 |
Sizing Notes
This size chart is meant to be a guide only, as Danner styles are built from various lasts that fit each foot differently. Generally, most people size down a half to a full size when buying Danner boots as compared to their shoe size from other major footwear brands.
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Boots to last a lifetime (or at least half of one)
M210 years ago
I bought these boots (or whatever similar version existed back then) in 1990 to backpack and hike throughout southern California and other areas in the region. I do remember getting blisters on my first couple trips breaking them in backpacking through Zion Canyon and up to San Gorgonio but after the break-in and the right socks they were good. I am now 50 getting ready to take them to the Black Hills and Glacier National Park. They have seen many many miles. For any of you out there concerned about the price, know that these boots could last you a life time (or at least half of one). Perhaps I'll update this review when I'm 70.
M2
Minneapolis, MN, United States
385 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
If you consider yourself a serious hiker, do NOT b
pandaclouds10 years ago
If you consider yourself a serious hiker, do NOT buy these boots. After reading so many wonderful reviews, I decided to buy these boots for a summer of hiking through different national parks. I broke them in by hiking 3-5 miles every other day through my neighborhood park for about 2 months. They felt fine and I was excited to wear them over the summer. As we hiked our first park, I wore them for 10+ miles on the first day and 10+ miles on the second day. On the third day, I started to feel intense soreness through my achilles tendons. My husband thought they just weren't broken in enough so I continued to wear them for a few more days. The pain just kept getting worse and worse, to the point where it was unbearable to hike in them. I switched to my Chacos and was able to hike many miles in them without any pain. I took a two week break from the Danner boots during the trip, thinking that my tendons just needed some time to heel and strengthen. The second I started walking in the boots again the pain flared up. I went to a nearby REI to get other boots to finish my trip in. I spoke with two different employees about the Danner boots and both said how horrible they were. People were constantly returning the shoes because they made the same mistake I did. While these boots look adorable, the technology is archaic, the soles are flat, and they are super heavy. They are NOT good boots if you plan to do any actual hiking!
pandaclouds
48 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
CityGirl
New York
Issue with soles... and Danner support.
6 years ago
Giving a heads up that my Mountain Light soles were defective. Danner acknowledged this in an email exchange and then offered I buy another pair at a discount. This happened at less than two years of mild use. The sole replacement is $130 plus shipping. That would have made for an over $500 investment. My last pair of $120 Dr. Martens went five years without a hitch!!
No, I do not recommend this product
Maddie
Michigan
AWFUL quality for the price tag
1 year ago
I purchased a pair of these boots in November 2021. I only wear them for short walks during the colder months. Have never hiked in them any more than a walk through the woods. They are not even close to broken in, probably have about 50 miles on them. The first year wore them maybe 2-3 times before putting them away for the season at the end of the winter. When I pulled them out in fall 2022 the eyelets were rusted. Bummer, but probably my own fault for not drying them off enough or something. Wore them a few times and put them away again at the end of the winter. Fast forward to today, I pulled them out only to discover the sole has come apart on one shoe. I'm shocked by the poor quality given the cost of these boots and the fact that they are made in the USA, but I expect to be able to return them or have them fixed under warranty. But REI changed their return policy to 1 year and Danner's warranty only covers repairs for 1 year. You know it's a bad sign when they don't even stand behind their own product! So despite having hardly worm these shoes and spending $300 on them, I now have to pay to get them fixed. And now they're even more expensive than they were when I purchased. DO NOT waste your money on this poor quality product sold by companies that won't even stand behind their products. Pathetic. And they're not even comfortable!!
Age:25–34
Weight:100–125 lbs.
Height:5'3"
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 7.5
No, I do not recommend this product
M2
Minneapolis, MN, United States
Boots to last a lifetime (or at least half of one)
10 years ago
I bought these boots (or whatever similar version existed back then) in 1990 to backpack and hike throughout southern California and other areas in the region. I do remember getting blisters on my first couple trips breaking them in backpacking through Zion Canyon and up to San Gorgonio but after the break-in and the right socks they were good. I am now 50 getting ready to take them to the Black Hills and Glacier National Park. They have seen many many miles. For any of you out there concerned about the price, know that these boots could last you a life time (or at least half of one). Perhaps I'll update this review when I'm 70.
Yes , I recommend this product
vantwinkle
Georgia
Comfortable and tough
8 years ago
These boots are awesome. They do not have insoles, so I had to buy some superfeet insoles in them, and once I did that they fit like a glove. There will definitely be a breaking in period because they are stiff, but are already molding nicely after a few days of walking around in town. Looking forward to taking them on a hike once I have them broke in. They were loose before the insoles. I called REI customer service and they suggested buying the insoles. They also told me to wear them for a few weeks and if they still felt too big then I could return them, even if they were dirty. You can't beat that when paying high price for a pair of hiking boots.
Yes , I recommend this product
Anne J.
Within 2 weeks of wearing,
2 years ago
Within 2 weeks of wearing, one of the ‘D’ rings for the laces pulled out of the leather. Not what I wanted to experience from an expensive boot made in Portland, Oregon.
Originally posted on Danner
Kat Hiking n00b
NYC
Sizing feedback
10 years ago
FYI - I read numerous reviews about the sizing of the boots and decided to go true to size. I have regular width feet--maybe a bit on the narrow side, but I never buy narrow shoes since most shoes have worked out for me out of the box. These Danners feel half a size too big out of the box. I added the insteps that were included in the box, but I think I have to go buy some insoles in order to perfect the fit. I'm wearing socks, and my feet slip a bit inside the shoe when I walk, which is disconcerting. The good news is they're totally stunning and worth every penny.
Yes , I recommend this product
Docsavage
Houston, TX
comfortable out of the box
10 years ago
I bought these specially for the norwegian welt manufacture. Like pretty much everyone, I've had a hike ruined by EVA breakdown. My previous boots were Vasquez Sundowners. These boots compared to those. These boots-no springy EVA feel. The leather is soft, almost like deerskin. The first time I wore them in a break-in, the heel slipped bigtime. The second day, with lace adjustment, not so much. I wear a size 8.5 normally (EU 39). I bought the size 8 in these boots and they fit well with my Smartwool light hike socks. I plan a full breakin, minus the water, but I don't think I'll need to do much more to make these hike ready.
Yes , I recommend this product
fatunicorn
San Jose, CA, United States
Gorgeously stylish boot, but not ideal for me
8 years ago
I got this hoping that I would love it. I loved the leather and it is so stylish. However when giving it a try I found that I had to get a size smaller (8) then what I usually wear (9). I was really bummed that when going up and down a hill my foot kept sliding inside, there wasn't really any cushioning or inside. The boot is heavy and would need time to break the leather in. I really loved the look and I wanted to love the feel but just didn't. I'm sticking with my marmot ones, that are better ventilated and more suitable for someone like me who has flat wide feet
Yes , I recommend this product
M Tom
Los Angeles, CA, United States
So cute, but so uncomfortable
10 years ago
I immediately fell in love with the aesthetics of this shoe. I am usually a size 6.5, and despite all the other reviews, I thought I knew better, so I ordered a half size up. The 7s were too big even with thick Smartwool Socks, so I had to order my usual size of 6.5. I have wider feet, and the shoes did not feel too narrow. However, the back lip of the shoe kept weirdly hitting the bone on the back of my left ankle. I thought about keeping it for the sake of aesthetics and hoping that the issue would remedy with more wear, but I realized it is too expensive, and too uncomfortable for me to take that gamble. I returned it.
No, I do not recommend this product
Skippy the Squidlet
Los Angeles, CA
Feet pillows
10 years ago
Such fantastic craftsmanship. The leather is soft, and the shoes are padded so your feet are cushioned. I'm usually a size 8, in these I did size down to a 7.5. I tried on both sizes and walked around the store, but the 8's were too loose even with thick socks. There is some stiffness on the shaft, so I'm going to break these in on short hikes before I take them out for a long trek. I read these are limited edition, so I'm super happy I got them before their gone forever. Plus it always feels good to purchase quality products made in the USA.
Yes , I recommend this product
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