TreeLineBackpacker

Classic styling meets modern engineering with the EVO 600 Hiking and backpacking boots. A fusion of recycled synthetics and repairable organics, these rugged, waterproof boots are designed to endure the harshness of any trail. My review:

The Evo 600 from Danner are heavy duty boots with both hiking and backpacking in mind. The upper is constructed nearly entirely out of a single, seamless piece of full-grain leather, with a breathable GORE-TEX membrane layered underneath. The midsole is traditional EVA with a removable Ortholite Eco footbed on top. The outsole is Vibram Fuga, which balances excellent grip and long lasting durability. The shoes are “recraftable” which means it can be completely re-soled and re-conditioned to extend it’s trail life. The boots come with two pairs of laces, flat or round, to suit the user. The boots are available in brown/black and mocha/red color variants, weigh 40 oz. per pair (2.5 .lbs.) and retail for $250.

What I liked

Starting out with comfort, the Evo 600 feels quite nice on the foot even after long, brutal days on the trail. The boots are constructed with a single, smooth, high quality leather body with only a single seam that’s hidden under padding inside the heel area, making the interior feel like a continuous piece of material with no friction points or seams. The interior is lined with smooth, low friction synthetic fiber within a spacious toe box that provides ample room for foot shifting and toe wiggling. The body is soft, conforming, and flexes easily (after the break in period) while walking and climbing, with no pinch points or areas of high pressure. They truly feel like they were molded to the foot. On the trail they provide good impact absorption, with a sturdy EVA footbed with a removable Ortholite layer that provides extra padding, or extra room if you remove it. I found that the boots did a good job of soaking up bumps, impacts, and toe impact from rocks and roots thanks to the reinforced toe and rugged outsole that acts as a bumper. The eyeletes are well padded and the tongue is soft and conforming, and does a good job of protecting the foot from the laces, even when cinched down tight.

Trail stability is also good. The heel has a built in shank that runs down the back of the foot and terminates within the sole, which provides some extra stability and ankle reinforcement, which reduces ankles rolls and pronation but doesn’t entirely prevent it. The ankle and shank were more flexible than some other boots I’ve tested in the weight class, which provided added flexibility and agility, but somewhat reduced it’s ability to recover on unstable ground or while tripping. While they did perform well, I could see some improvement in this area as they lack robust reinforcement around the ankles, which I prefer for backpacking with heavier packs. Still, they’re solid enough for hiking and backpacking with moderately weighted packs over rough terrain without any real issue, and the flexibility translates into a certain nimbleness on the trail that I appreciate.

Traction as a whole is impressive. The Vibram Fuga sole is one I’ve tested on a few different boots now, and it always performs great in a wide range of conditions. It has deep lugs, a soft compound, and an emphasis on grip over efficiency. The perimeter lugs alternate between tight narrow teeth that provide excellent smooth surface traction over rocks and hard pack, while deeper, more angular lugs are spaced near the center for burying down in mud, sand, and organics. The heel has a built in braking pad, which helps provide extra grip in slippery conditions while going downhill, while the the toes have step like diamonds that grab rocks and roots well on the climbs. Even in wet, soppy conditions, the soft compound flexes and sticks to slick objects without issue. The flexible body of the boots only improves on the situation, as it allows the boot as a whole to conform to the conditions below, maximizing contact and thus traction. This pays dividends on slick river rocks crossings and mucky logs.

Build quality is also excellent. Danner didn’t hold back when choosing the materials on offer. The full-grain leather is incredibly smooth and well finished, which helps provide long lasting durability, scuff resistance and water proofness. The Vibram sole is time tested and holds up well to miles and mile of wear and tear, and the included laces and eyelets are high quality nylon and steel, respectively. The stitching is basically flawless with smooth, barely identifiable seams and glues with no gaps or separating, even after months of heavy use. Internally, the GORE-TEX waterproof membrane has held up perfectly, with no signs of insurgent water or moisture while crossing streams, wet fields or muddy pastures. These boots were definitely built with care and designed to last many years.

Visually, I really appreciate the simple, to the point aesthetics on display. The smooth, high quality leather does most of the speaking with only simple flourishes like the stamped tongue and subtle highlights on the heal and along the sole standing out. It’s function over form in the purest of sense, and it works.

The boots include both round and flat laces, which is a thoughtful addition. Round laces are easier to lace, look more modern, but can feel abrasive on some peoples feet. Plus they can slip over time. Flat laces look a little dated, are a little harder to adjust once laced up, but they tend to stay in place and distribute weight across the foot better. Here, you have your pick.

Other positive notes include great toe protection, a comfortable tongue, good breathability for a water proof boot, and they’re easy to clean and recondition.

What I didn’t like

I have went back and forth on if this is a con or not, but I didn’t have much to complain about so I suppose I’m putting it here. Realistically, this is something every boot deals with to some extent, but it was particularly challenging with the EVO. The break in period for these is fairly long, which is typical for heavy duty boots in general. While that in itself isn’t a bad thing, the issue was that I experienced a lot of heel slip during the initial break in period, which wasn’t fun to overcome. Climbing steep trails in particular created a lot of friction that caused some fairly pronounced and uncomfortable hot spots routinely over my first 5 or 6 hikes. So, proper break in time is mandatory and challenging. Even after break in time, I recommend bringing Mole Skin along with thick socks, or expect discomfort and likely blisters. In my experience it takes about 50 miles to soften them up to the point that the heel stays in place on climbs. Afterwards, however, they feel great.

Overall

There has been a recent change in trends within the outdoor industry. Many companies are now moving away from disposable, unrepairable equipment that is designed to only last a few years, and instead moving towards sustainable, longer lasting equipment. That’s how we ended up with the EVO 600. They’re stout, high quality boots that are designed to take a beating, season after season, while also be repairable via Danner’s “Recraftable” program which allows new soles to be placed on worn in boots. Once they’re broken in they’re comfortable, provide good protection on the trail, and they’re light-weight enough to be used on long, fast trails, but supportive enough for backpacking and just every day use. This is my kind of boot, making them an instant recommend.

Highly Recommended

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