Indonesian Digital News Archive

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of testing a pair of Danner Crater Rim hiking boots and came away very impressed. The boots were comfortable, durable and provided plenty of support on the trail. They ended up being one of the biggest surprises that I've had all year in the way of gear and after sufficiently breaking them in, I was regularly hitting hiking trails with very happy feet.

Part of my surprise came from the fact that the Crater Rim boots looked rather uninspiring when I first took them out of the box. They had a very classic look about them that appeared dated when sitting next to other hiking boots from Danner's competitors. That staid look wasn't great for first impressions, but the Crater Rims made up for that when I got them on my feet.

A few weeks back I received a new set of boots from Danner and based on my experience with their previous offering I was eager to open it up and see what was inside. This time I found a pair of hiking shoes that had looks to match their performance. The new Crag Rat boots update the classic good looks of the company's other hiking shoes with a splash of color and a more modern design. But these shoes aren't just about good looks, they also happen to maintain Danner's high level of performance.

Built from Nubuc leather, these boots require a bit of a break-in period as well, but once the leather has loosened up, they become a flexible, comfortable trail shoe. Danner lined the boot with Gore-Tex which keeps them waterproof and warm - a bit too warm for summer in Texas I might add – although I'm sure they'll be fantastic in the fall when the cooler weather sets in. The Crag Rats also features a Vibram outsole that works nicely with Danner's patented Dynamic Response System to create a protective barrier for the foot that also happens to provide plenty of stability on unstable ground. Inside they've placed a soft footbed that molds to the foot, becoming more comfortable over time.



Putting these boots through their paces only served to reenforce my positive impression of Danner. The Crag Rats are incredibly well constructed and resistant to wear, absorbing every bit of punishment I threw their way. The pair I tested look like they just came out of the box, aside from a bit of mud and dirt from the trail and despite using them on the rocky Texas trails, there is nary a scratch or scuff on them.

I aslo appreciated the high ankle support these boots provide, which when coupled with Danner's speed lacing system, cinched up nicely around my feet. Since spraining both my ankles in the Costa Rican rainforest last year I've had particularly sensitive and tender ankles. But the Crag Rat boots not only cradled them extremely well, they prevented me from rolling them and re-injuring them again.

One of the elements that stood out for Danner when I tested the Crater Rim boots a few months back was the fact that they were handmade in their factory in Portland, Oregon. The company is clearly proud of its heritage and the fact that their boots are made in the USA. The pair of Crag Rats that I received included a stitched in label that noted that they were made in Vietnam however and I'm not sure if that is a new direction for Danner or if the pair I've been using are simply an advanced prototype built overseas before production is moved stateside. While I really didn't detect a huge difference in quality between the two boots, I still thought that this little element was worth mentioning considering Danner's reputation.

Unfortunately I haven't received any word on when these boots will be available for purchase or at what price they'll be introduced to the market. The Crag Rat boots are an incredibly high quality pair of boots that hikers and backpackers will find very enticing, but for now we'll all simply have to wait for their arrival in stores to discover these final pieces to the puzzle. If I were willing to bet, I'd guess these are scheduled for release this fall, when I think they'll be a popular choice for outdoor adventurers.

The 2012 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market gets underway later this week and most of the gear manufacturers will be on hand showing off their latest creations. The bi-annual event is a busy and wild  affair featuring more backpacks, boots and jackets than you could ever possibly hope to see. But it is also an opportunity to mean some very interesting people, network and talk outdoor adventure for a few days. In preparation for the oncoming gear-pocolypse, several websites have begun posting previews of what we can expect in the way of new gear.

Over at Trailspace.com there are previews of new climbing equipment and backcountry camping gear. Amongst the items that will be enticing you to spend money when they hit stores is the new Black Diamond Vapor climbing helmet, which weighs in at just 6.6 oz (187 grams) and a new rope bag from Millet that keeps your gear nicely organized. Campers will be interested in new tent lines from both Eureka and Mountain Hardwear, not to mention a new sleeping bag from Therm-a-Rest who enters that market for the first time.

Trailspace always does a great job of reporting OR news directly from the show so be sure to keep an eye on their Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2012 Coverage page.

The Gear Junkie has also posted an early look at some of the gear that will be on display in Salt Lake City this week with some unique and interesting items catching his attention. For instance in his first preview we get a glimpse at Kelty's new air-pole tent that features an inflatable frame to keep it in place and a minimalist hydration pack from Platypus designed for cyclists. Gerber has a new flashlight powered by a crank, while a company called Biolite introduces a cook-stove that generates power to recharge your cell phone as well. GJ's second preview includes other intriguing gear such as  Mountainsmith's new lightweight, three-season tent that uses trekking poles to keep it suspended. We also get a look at new alpine boots from Scarpa – designed by Ueli Steck no less – that promise to shed bulk and weight while remaining comfortable. Granite Gear introduces a new backpack with a host of features that mountaineers are sure to love which will be available later in the year too.

I'll be headed out to Salt Lake City for the show on Wednesday and I'll be there when the doors open on Thursday morning. Like last year I intend to share as much stuff as I can directly from the show floor, so if you're interested in checking out the new gear as it's announced follow me on Twitter at @KungFuJedi. I promise to include photos of the gear as often as I can so you'll have an idea of what to expect when this stuff hits the market in a few months time.

The hiking boot market is one of the most competitive and crowded in the entire outdoor industry. There are literally dozens of companies producing a wide variety of footwear designed to fit the specific needs of climbers, trekkers and backpackers everywhere.

Italian boot manufacturer AKU is one such company. For more than 30 years AKU has been designing and testing mountain footwear in the Alps, and over those three decades the company has grown from a small workshop to a large scale operation. The brand is well known in Europe and other parts of the world, but now AKU is coming to North America and their bringing their high quality boots with them.

I recently had my first experience with AKU boots when I put their SL Trek GTX to the test. Lightweight and durable, these shoes are built for hiking. Their design incorporates an intriguing blend of AKU's traditional mountaineering heritage with a mix of modern, high tech elements that make them a great choice for trekking trails in the backyard or the far side of the planet.

One of the first things that struck me when I started hiking in these boots was how comfortable and breathable they are, even in very warm conditions. Hiking Texas trails in the summer heat can be brutal on your feet, but the SL Trek GTX managed to keep my feet dry, happy and blister free. No boot is perfect in hot conditions of course, but these were some of the best I've encountered, especially considering some of the other features it brings to the table.



Performance isn't limited to simply venting heat off our feet either. The aggressive Vibram sole has an impressive grip that provides stability and traction on a wide variety of surfaces, both wet and dry. These boots are obviously well suited for the trail but I found they were equally adept at scrambling up a smooth rock face or across a field of loose scree too. This level of performance and versatility is obviously a cross over from AKU's line of mountaineering boots but considering how unpredictable trail conditions can be, it is nice to know you're wearing a pair of boots that are up to the task.

One of the more unique aspects of AKU's design is a polyurethane exoskeleton, which wraps around the exterior of the boot. That exoskeleton is meant to provide an extended level of stability without adding bulk or weight, and for the most part it works. This feature does give the Trek GTX a certain rigidness however, which made for an extended break-in time. As is generally the case with a pair of new boots, they did eventually loosen up and became more very comfortable but it took a bit longer than I expected.

Other features of the AKU SL Trek GTX include a Gore-Tex liner that helps keep moisture out, a memory foam footbed that molds to the foot the more you wear it and a sole that provides excellent cushioning from the rigors of the trail. All of these elements work well together to create a lightweight, comfortable boot that is durable enough to last for years.

AKU has a winner on their hands with these boots. They not only perform at an extremely high level but they also have their own unique look and feel as well. If you're in the market for a new pair of hiking boots for serious alpine trekking or backpacking, I highly recommend giving these boots a try. Just be prepared to give them ample time to loosen up and break in and you're likely to find you have a fantastic pair of boots that will accompany on far flung adventures for a long time.

(MSRP: $329)

One of my all time favorite pairs of shoes are a classic pair of sandals from Keen. I love them because they are comfortable, durable and versatile. I've worn them on light hiking trips, visits to tropical destinations or simply kicking around town. They've always scored big points for being highly packable as well, so they have often ended up being one of the pairs of shoes that I take with me when I travel. So when I was offered the opportunity to test the new Turia sandals, it was with both excitement and trepidation that I accepted. After all, these new shoes had a lot to live up to.

The new Turia has a classic Keen look while still managing a style all of their own. With a breathable synthetic airmesh upper, a soft, molded footpad and a rugged close toe, the shoe manages to provide plenty of protection for the foot while keep them well ventilated as well. The no-slip soles provide great traction, even on slick surfaces, and the quick-lace system is still a convenient way to adjust the fit of the shoes to your liking. In short, the Turia is a nice mix of the classic Keen design with a few subtle improvements.

Primarily built for use in warm environments or around water, the Turia is a fantastic travel shoe. Their compact design make them a perfect choice for throwing in a backpack or luggage, even when room is at a premium and they're equally at home in base camp as they are around a resort pool. There aren't many casual shoes that can go from trail to beach to town with such ease, but the Turia can accomplish that get and more.



I recently took my pair of Turias with me to Jordan where they were put to the test on the streets of Amman, hiking through the ruins of Petra and in the wilds of Wadi Rum. Considering that country is both warm and incredibly dry, I was extremely happy that I brought them, particularly when we hit the blistering desert sands. The fact that these shoes are comfortable to wear, easy to hike in, and allowed sand to pass through without filling them up, made them a great option for that journey, although they performed equally well while visiting both the Red and Dead Seas.

As with most new shoes, I tend to spend some time breaking them in sufficiently before I take them with me to another country. During that process I found the underside of the airmesh upper to be a bit abrasive on the tops of my feet. They didn't actually manage to cause any blisters, but they rubbed them just enough to be uncomfortable at times. Fortunately the more I wore them the less of an issue this became, although I'm not sure if it was because the fabrics smoothed out some with use or if my feet simply became accustomed to wearing the sandals. In the long run this hasn't been an ongoing issue, but the first few times I wore them I was a bit concerned.

Aside from that one issue, the Turia Sandals were quick and easy to break-in (a common trait with Keen shoes I've found) and have been very durable thus far. I've been wearing mine multiple times a week for several months and they still look like they just came out of the box. Considering how much mileage I've put on them already, that bodes well for their long term durability.

Keen's Turia Sandals come with a $100 price tag, which is a good price for a pair of shoes that you can take with you practically everywhere. I think you'll find they make excellent travel shoes but are just as comfortable for when you're at home too.

There are a lot of companies that make hiking boots these days, many of which have no business doing so. They stock their line-up with way too many options and colors and they seem more designed for fashion than function. That isn't the case with Danner however, a company that has been around for 80 years and has maintained a reputation for creating boots that are durable, rugged and comfortable even in the most challenging of conditions.

I recently received a pair of the company's new top-of-the-line Crater Rim hiking boots and to be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed when I first took them out of the box. With their simple, classic design these boots don't look much different than something you would have found on store shelves twenty years ago, although that isn't necessarily a bad thing. In terms of looks, this is the quintessential hiking boot, but when you're use to testing shoes that come in increasingly unique colors and designs, the Crater Rim did little to set itself apart.

Of course, I'm of the mind that looks don't mean much in a hiking boot, it's performance on the trail that really matters. With that in mind, I was eager to slip into these boots and take them for a test drive. When I did that however, I was once again a bit underwhelmed. The boots were a bit stiff and they felt somewhat cumbersome on my feet, for lack of a better word. As I walked around my apartment testing them out for the first time, I wasn't sure what to make of these boots with the unassuming looks and the uncompromising fit.

Then a funny thing happened. The longer I wore them the more they started to feel good on my feet. The nubuc leather began to loosen up just enough and my pair of Crater Rims started to become more flexible.  Even better, it felt like they were cradling my feet quite nicely and before I knew it was enjoying these new boots more than I had initially thought possible. By the time I drove to the trail I was more than ready for a good long hike.

While on that hike Danner's hand crafted boots, put together in their Portland factory, continued to impress. The thick soles – the same ones that I found cumbersome not long before – proved to be a great at protecting my feet on the rocky Texas trails and the waterproof Gore-Tex liner remained highly breathable, keeping my feet dry throughout the day. The only hitch in the entire trek was that the boot rubbed my ankles in the early miles of the hike, although like the rest of the boot that loosened up over time.

Make no mistake, Danner's Crater Rim boots are a hard core option for those who demand a lot out of their boots, Their rugged looks are not just for show and the boots have worn very well even after a number of hikes. My pair still look practically new, which bodes well for their longterm health. Be warned, the boots do come with a hard core price tag as well. Ringing in at $300, they may be a bit more expensive than most people want to pay, but from my experience they are worth the money. After all, they're made by hand, right here in the U.S. and the quality shines through.

Whenever I test a new pair of boots I invariably compare them to my favorite pair of Asolos that have accompanied me on trips to Everest, Kilimanjaro and beyond. Those boots are comfortable and very durable and love the way they feel on my feet. They also happen to cost less than the Crater Rims. That said, this is the first pair of boots I've found in years that can actually perform on the same level of those boots and may actually surpass them for long term durability. I'll need to wear them on a few globe trotting adventures to be sure, but at this point I have a really great feeling about that.

If you're in the market for a new pair of hiking boots, and you're looking for something that can handle just about anything you throw at them, then look no further than the Crater Rim by Danner. Quality costs money but it'll also pay off over the lifespan of the shoes, and your feet will thank you on your next long distance trek.

Just don't let your initial impressions turn you off to these boots. This is definitely a case of not judging a book by its cover. Great boots for great adventures!