Every week a different FADER staff member will pick a clothing item or accessory that he or she has lately been spending a lot of time with—or would like to—and write a little love letter to it. We would’ve done a column on who we’re dating but that seemed a little bit much. This week Alex Frank talks about his new Mountain Light Overton boots from Danner.
I love these boots. I loooooooooooooooooove these boots. They're beautiful. The laces are the color of the best autumn leaves, but it's about way more than aesthetics. This Sunday, I put them on for the first time and hiked all over Manhattan, the only time I've done that since the summer heat ended and walking long distances began to feel comfortable again. Before most of my friends were even awake, I'd walked 17 blocks up Broadway. The leather around the interior rim is thick and taut, and the Danners were stiff, at first, rubbing tough above my Achilles' heel. I considered stopping at a bodega to buy Band-Aids, but that felt cheap so I kept walking. I could feel myself winning by sheer will, holding out until they were whittled down to become comfortable and worn. By the time I made it to 22nd Street, mini-blisters had formed, but they weren't sensitive, more just markings of a good expedition. By 30th Street, my Danner's felt great. At that moment, when the boots' hardness became soft, they were instantly mine, a happy part of my closet.
People in the men's clothing trade are always talking about buying quality pieces that will last forever. In fact, that's one of the keenest ways to market products to guys—preach about toughness, strength, heritage and give them a lifetime guarantee, and we'll buy what you're selling. Companies aren't always telling the truth about those strengths, but Danner is. As we've told you before, they make these for the US Army! And I could feel the beginnings of them becoming a boot that I'd have a long time that would collect the years well. You want boots as prepared for the journey as you are.