It's always exciting when a brand you love starts making a new product for an activity you love. Back in August of this year, just such a scenario came to fruition, as Danner, a renowned purveyor of rugged yet stylish work, hiking and lifestyle boots, moved into the motorcycling space.
We have long felt like some of the brand's hikers, notably the Danner Light II, could function pretty well on a moto in a pinch, but two moto-specific releases, the Moto GTX and Moto Wedge GTX, are eminently qualified for the job.
Crafted in consultation with motorcycling experts, both boots feature 5.5-ounce leather uppers with an added layer of leather at the toe, medial abrasion-resistant "clutch guards," and D3O foam inside the collar to keep your feet fully protected and comfortable as you switch gears, brake and generally rip around town or far off into the great unknown.
We are particularly stoked to see D3O, a thin, lightweight substance that stiffens upon impact to absorb shock. In testing, we've found it works fantastically well in the ankle region of Dainese's Street Rocker moto sneakers, and Danner seems to be employing the technology in a similar fashion here.
The boots also boast waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex liners, grippy Vibram Kletterlift outsoles and durable stitchdown construction. They are eligible for Danner's recrafting services, which can significantly extend their lifespans.
The only major difference between the two boots is stylistic. The Moto GTX model is brown with a standard black outsole and the Moto GTX Wedge model is black with an off-white wedge outsole. We hope to test-ride a pair soon, so keep an eye out for additional notes down the proverbial road.
