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)

In the last couple of years there has been a lot of hoopla about rubber hunting boots such as the iconic Wellington. Although unpractical and clunky, Wellington boots typify the heritage movement that has captured the imaginations of fashionistas and bloggers the world over. Despite their symbolic heritage, I never felt like dropping 140 dollars on uncomfortable, knee-high boots to wear twice a year and avoided the silhouette altogether.

I stumbled across these short rubber boots at a sailing outfitters on the central Maine coast. I really like the Short Cruising Boots made by the nautical company Gill. Based in Nottingham England, Gill makes market leading technical sailing equipment based around the ethos, Respect the Elements. Although not as classic as the Viking by Harvik 10 inch , pictured bellow, the Short cruiser is a technical boot anchored in functionality and performance. It has removable soles and a quick dry polyester lining. They come in European sizes and are available here for $47.