Danner Factory Store Revisited

Danner Mtn Lites (Japan model on left, stock US model on right)

DJ Dakatons in orchid and green

1970s era Danner refurb (nfs)

Aspirational footwear via Ku:nel magazine

On Sunday, to cap off a long day at Ikea, we visited the Danner Factory Store in Portland, Oregon. A Restless Transplant and I have already reported on the DFS. In essence, if you show up at the right time, you'll find factory seconds from the Japan-only Danner Japan ("DJ") collection mixed in with standard issue military, law enforcement and fire jumper boots.

We intended to spend only a few minutes looking, but for once there were boots in our sizes. The store closed and we lingered, trying to decide between the various models. One of us is now the proud owner of a pair of Horween chromexel DJ Mountain LT.

I may be returning to the Danner store next weekend (11/14). So, if you're dead certain of your Danner size, and fall in the available size range (Women's 5-6.5, and some larger sizes; Men's 6-10, 12-15), I may be able to help connect you with a pair of these amazing boots. Email me and we can talk.

In turn, if you stop by the store, keep an eye out for men's size 6 (euro 39) DJ Mountain Lights in this colorway. I'm also stalking these styles (yet to been seen at the DFS).

Shopping from Japan: Danner Trample

The Trample is an interesting Danner Japan "lifestyle" model I'll be hunting for during my next field trip to the factory seconds store. For prompt delivery, and more plausible size availability, order your pair here.

A Danner classic loafer and Tirolean walking shoe are also on my expedition list.

Archival Field Trip: Danner Factory Store

Thanks to Foster H. of A Restless Transplant for blogging about the Danner factory store. After reading Foster's post, A Trip to the Danner store, I immediately planned my own follow-up field trip. My main motivation was to see (if not purchase) some of the Japan-only styles that Foster documented in his blog.

At the factory store, I was hoping for more ah-ha moments of shopping from Japan (by way of Airport Way in Portland). The DJ (Danner Japan) models are mixed in with forestry, utility and hot weather military boots. It's fun to hunt for the DJ models amidst the more boring, US only boot and shoe options. While Sara tried on some two-toned Super Rainforest 8" boots, I got sidetracked by a "the making of" Danner boots industrial film (footage of folks chalking up stacks of leather hides to indicate quality levels, etc).

The one DJ model I did find in my size was a variation on the Danner Mountain Light II Hikers in a tan, roughout leather w/a white crepe sole. Though the boots fit OK, they felt pretty blocky when I actually tried to walk forward (like wearing boots made out of legos). For the same price point, I'd prefer 6" Red Wings, or better yet, customized, "My Danner" boots based on the vintage models on display in the main reception area.

Next Archival Fieldtrip: Danner factory tour!