A major theme behind A Restless Transplant is the idea that "People are defined by what they can leave behind." By this I mean, if you can afford to leave it behind when you travel, then it's not a defining part of who you are. For example, I enjoy playing Xbox but if push came to shove, I could easily do with out it. With this motif in mind, I take my Danner Mountain Light II boots wherever I go.

My mom gave me my pair a little more than a month ago, on my Trip To Factory Store (ART), as an early birthday present, I turn 21 on the 19th. They haven't left my feet since.

Danner boots are built in my home town, Portland Oregon, and are known for their classic outdoor heritage and top notch quality. Danner hasn't changed the design of the Mountain Light II in over forty years and are just as at home with contemporary hikers as they were in the sixties and seventies. I prefer the outdoor heritage of Danner Mountain Light II to the work wear origins of Red Wing and Timberlands because frankly, I would rather be hiking than laying Concrete. Tintin put it well in a recent Trad post, "I busted my ass for 20 years so I wouldn't have to wear the clothes he (Michael Williams of ACL) loves so much. If I was allowed to "do what I want" years ago, I'd be a deputy sheriff somewhere in Florida with a wood porch attached to my double wide trailer filled with kids and a pissed off wife working part time at Denny's." Hiking is much cooler, don't you think?

Here are some original photos of my Danners:

Here are some more links,
Danner Mountain Light II,
Trip To Factory Store (ART),
Danner Factory Store (Archival Clothing),
1976 Backpacker (Archival Clothing,
Danner Recrafting,
Reviews (Trailspace.com)

I have always heard that Japan gets all of the cool stuff, but never believed it. A recent visit to the Danner factory store, in Portland Oregon, confirmed what I had hitherto denied.

In search of a new pair of boots at a bargain price, I headed to the Factory Seconds part of the store. Nestled on the lowest self, I stumbled across these two pairs of Japanese only Mountain Light II Hiking boots.

Danner Japan boots come in varying leathers and sole options unavailable in other markets. For example, the Mountain Light II Hiking boot only comes with the a Vibram Kletterlift sole in American but the Japanese market can decide between the Kletterlift and Laramie slip resistant sole (like on the Red Wing 875).

According to the Danner saleswomen, Danner Japan shoes (abreveated to DJ) are so exclusive, that even Danner employes can't order them. In addition, these shoes are only made in sizes 6.5-10 US, well smaller than my foot. So sadly, I will never be able to get an official pare of Mountian Lights with a crepe sole in size 12...

However, For 90 dollars, Danner will rebuild a boot with the a Vibram sole of your choice. This means, that if some one is deadset on getting a Mountain Light with a crepe sole, they can buy the standard Mountain Light with the Kletterleft sole and then have it resoled with a Laramie crepe sole for 90 dollars. Maybe I will do that to mine some day...

The Mountain Light II in Black, Avaliable only in Japan 6.5 to 10 US