Danner Pronghorn boots are fast becoming one of the most popular lightweight boots Danner produces. Owners often rave about the fit and comfort. They come with a rugged outsole and are available in several grades of Thinsulate™ insulation or without any insulation at all.

These boots are very versatile and can be used for almost any type of game hunting but are especially useful for bird hunting.

Here is a quick rundown of the Pronghorn boot styles available.

The basic brown Pronghorn GTX® style No. 42212 and style No. 42234 for women’s sizes, features Gore-Tex® lining that is 100% waterproof. (Only the inside liner is waterproof. The outside of the boot is water resistant. See note near the end of this article.) In addition, the Terra Force™ stability and support technology is utilized in this boot as with all Pronghorns. This helps the boot stay lightweight but remain very stable in any terrain. This Danner hunting boot is outfitted with the Danner Predator® outsole to reduce slipping risk. The upper part of the boot is a full-grain leather and 1000-Denier nylon to resist abrasions and dries quickly. It is an 8” boot weighing only 49oz. They do not appear to be insulated. Wear a thick wool sock for more warmth and comfort.

There are three models of Pronghorn boots offering different grades of Thinsulate™ or Thinsulate™Ultra insulation. There are some slightly different camouflage designs for each. Each features the 100% waterproof Gore-Tex® liner, Terra Force™ support system, Danner Predato®r outsole, CamoHide® camouflaged leather, a durable full-grain leather upper, and 1000 Denier nylon upper for quick drying and abrasion resistance.

The Pronghorn CamoHide® GTX® (1000g) hunting boot is insulated with 1000 grams of Thinsulate™Ultra. This style No. 42218 and the women’s Style No. 42230 offer the most insulation you can get from a Danner Pronghorn hunting boot. These 8” boots weigh in around 61oz for the men and slightly less for the women. They also feature a Mossy Oak® pattern of camouflage.

Next in Thinsulate™, weight is 400 grams for the Pronghorn GTX® Insulated (400g) Hunting Boots. These boots of style No. 42216 women’s sizes style No. 42233 again offer the Thinsulate™Ultra insulation as well at the other features listed above. The camo pattern for these is the Realtree® design. The boot height is 8” and weight around 57oz.

200 grams of Thinsulate™ Insulation are offered in the next boot which is the Pronghorn GTX® insulated (200g) boot style number 42224. This 8” boot weighs about 61oz and does not appear to come with a camouflage design.

Danner offers an 18” Pronghorn GTX® uninsulated snake boot. This boot shares the CamoHide®, Predator® outsole, 100% waterproof Gore-Tex® liner, Terra Force™ support, 1000 Denier nylon uppers of all the Pronghorn boots. This style number 42240 also offers a Mossy Oak® camouflage and snakeproof protection. We do not know exactly what that snakeproof protection is in these boots. Kevlar and Cordura® are two common lightweight materials used by boot manufacturers making snakeproof boots but thick leather will stop most snake fangs from penetrating your skin.

The last Pronghorn boot offered is uninsulated style number 42214. The Pronghorn GTX® Realtree® Hardwoods Green HD® hunting boot features all the same features of all the Pronghorn boots but this 8” 49ox boot comes in the Realtree® camouflage design to help you say undetected.

Overall feedback on the Danner Pronghorn boots has been positive. Many people love the fit and comfort this boot delivers. These boots do not need break-in time for most people. Foot fatigue is minimal or non-existent for many people even on 10-mile hikes. Reviewers like the nimbleness of movement they feel when wearing these boots as well as the versatility they offer for almost any hunting conditions. Many have commented on the excellent traction that these hunting boots deliver when dragging a heavy kill.

Negative feedback has centered on leaking issues or perceived faulty waterproofing. However, we feel this is brought about by improper use or misunderstanding on the part of the consumer. The boots are not 100% waterproof. They are not claimed to be 100% waterproof. Only the Gore-Tex liners are considered 100% waterproof. We wrote Danner’s customer service and asked them to clarify this point. This is what they said…

“In general the only fully waterproof part of the boot is the Gore-Tex liners. The outsides are not waterproof, but the leathers of the boot are water resistant. We do recommend using waterproofing sprays or gels every once and a while. This will help the outside of the boot stay water resistant. However, make sure you only use water soluble or silicone based products because animal fat, mink oils, or bees wax products can eat away at the proteins in the boot and cause them to leak.”

We hope this clears up this point for people. Several customers claim they had no issues while trudging through 18” of snow so plenty of people understand how to use the boots correctly.

Other small concerns have been tread wear and leather scuffing. The boot has a lightweight softer tread and any boot with tread of this type will wear faster. That is just a fact. Leather scuffing occurs with softer leathers but with some protective care much of this can be subdued.

The Pronghorn boot collection is not made in the USA but instead overseas. This does not put us off because economic and competitive markets demand that companies take measures in order to compete and survive. It is the way things are and we experienced it first hand at a clothing company we previously worked for. Therefore, we understand and sympathize.

Danner still makes many boots in the USA. You can identify USA made Danner boots by the small American flag at the top of each boot. USA made Danner hunting boot styles include: Hood Winter Light, Canadian, Grouse and Sierra. These models can be repaired and resoled due to their down-stitch construction. These boots will also last much longer but cost you more up front. However, it could be an excellent investment for you if you are particular about the “made in USA” issue.