The original Danner Mountain 600 is one of the iconic brand’s most popular boots—and while it’s more than capable on day hikes, continued testing and customer feedback helped the Portland bootmaker realize it needed a little more oomph if it was going to withstand the wear and tear that comes with the extra weight of a backpacking trip. So, Danner created a new version of the Gore-tex boot—the Mountain 600 Evo—designed specifically for backpackers.
I’ve tested this backpack-ready, waterproof hiking boot on the local trails around my Southern California home as well as backpacking through Yosemite National Park, and have a few thoughts on the Mountain 600 Evo’s capabilities—as well as its drawbacks. Keep reading for my full Danner Mountain 600 Evo review.