I Spent a Few Days Wearing The Huckberry Danner Mountain Moc 917. Here Are 3 Things I Loved Right Away

by Barron Cuadro  |  in Accessories  |  This post may contain affiliate links. More info

If you’re looking for a unique-looking, comfortable, yet rugged trail / outdoor boot that works in nature and on city streets, this new model could be the one for you.

The boot we’re covering today is the Danner Mountain Moc 917, a collaboration model with outdoor lifestyle goods purveyor, Huckberry.

The Mountain Moc 917 is the kind of boot you can wear on a hike in the mountains, cruising through a trail in the woods, or just wandering a city park. But you can also throw these on with chinos and a sweater and head to happy hour.

Versatility, baby!

3 Things I Noticed After Spending A Few Days Wearing The Danner Mountain Mocs

I just got these boots, but here are three things I noticed and liked after wearing them around the past few days.

1) A Hybrid Shoe I Can Get Behind

Generally, I hate the hybrid shoe concept. All the ones I’ve seen are some sort of awful looking dress shoe / sneaker combo. But the Danner Mountain Moc 917 is a hybrid shoe that I actually like, and one that makes sense.

The uppers are inspired by a Danner model from the 1960s, constructed like a classic camp moccasin. And the specially designed Vibram 917 sole is modern, light, super grippy, and it feels like you’re wearing a sneaker.

So you get the heritage, the tradition, the classic good looks of a moc or chukka up top, with the modern tech and comfort in the soles. Best of all, from a design perspective, the two parts are aligned and actually look good together.

I can’t say the same about your typical hybrid “business casual dress shoe” with a sneaker sole.

2) The Unique color and Leather combo

I’m a sucker for a tan suede boot! That tan suede combined with the smooth dark brown leather plus the contrasted stitching? It’s one-of-a-kind. You just don’t see this style often (or at all, really)

top down closeup of tan suede and brown leather boots with contrast stitching
ankles crossed closeup of tan suede and brown leather boots with contrast stitching

I’ve seen a ton of different boots, and they’re all sorta the same.

That’s not a bad thing necessarily, but if you’re like me and you have your classic options covered, you might be looking for something a bit different to add to your day-to-day rotation.

If so, the Mountain Moc 917 may fit the bill!

3) Crazy comfort

Not gonna lie, these boots are super comfortable. I mentioned this earlier, but it feels like I’m wearing a sneaker. Over the past week or so, I’ve put a few miles on them.

I live in NYC so I walked to (and through) Central Park (and back home) several times., hit up the playground with my boy, ran up and down some hills and boulders, etc. Glad to say there’s no break-in period and it was super comfortable right out of the box.

I’m gonna assume it’s because of two things: The Vibram sole—that includes the lightweight EVA Vibram midsole, plus the 917 outsole—and the removable Ortholite footbed. Super comfortable!

Things I Should Mention

While the above summarizes my first impressions of the Danner Mountain Moc 917, I do have to mention a few things worth noting here (bonus points!)

  • Stitchdown construction: Because of this particular construction, the boot feels a bit wider and more stable while wearing. Also allows for recrafting when needed!
  • GORE-TEX lining: This boot is lined with the stuff, so not only is it breathable and moisture-wicking, it’s also completely waterproof. Puddles, rain, snow? They don’t stand a chance.
  • Two lace options!: Standard nylon boot laces in the brown / tan colorway, and leather laces are included. Switch up your look depending on your mood.
  • Danner Recrafting: This model is eligible for Danner’s recrafting services. Who knows your boots better than the makers themselves? If they ever need parts replaced, leather repaired, soles restitched, etc., Danner has an option for that.
  • 365-day Warranty: Danner-backed, too!

Final Thoughts On My First impressions (lol) of The Danner Mountain Moc

So those are the three things I noticed after spending a few days wearing this Huckberry and Danner collab boot. It’s a new model Danner has never released, so it truly is one-of-a-kind. And made with love. Obviously.

Huckberry and Danner have collaborated on a few boots together and this one, to me, does not disappoint.

So what do you think? Hit me up on Instagram DMs and let me know.

This article is sponsored by Huckberry but all opinions and recommendations within are those of Barron and the team at Effortless Gent. You can read more about this here.