Best Danner tactical boots for men – reviews of top 3

It’s been years since we first put together the guide on the best Danner tactical boots and shared the reviews of the top rated Danners and the pattern is obvious to the point where updating the guide (bi-monthly) stopped a popular task around the office.

Why?

Because, to be blunt, it became boring. The Acadia is our current top pick among Danner tac boots.

The current problem with finding good Danner boots

Most of the boots we looked at for this update are either unavailable or available in limited sizes.

For you, that means that your best bet is scrolling down when you get to Amazon and looking at the similar products section. That’s where you find boots similar to Danner, often at a lower price.

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The TOP 3 Danners

EVER SINCE we first compiled it, the top 3 boots have been the same in almost every update – the mighty Acadia and the cool modern Tachyon in two different versions – the regular and the waterproof GTX.

Before we move on to the individual review, for the less patient ones, we’re presenting the winners.

TOP 3 BEST RATED Danner tactical boots

Picture	Model	Compare prices
	Danner Acadia
	Danner Tachyon 8"
	Danner Tachyon 8" GTX

As we said, the Acadia and the Tachyon are ruling supreme with a chunk of the market for each pair. The Acadia is the “mightier” boot but it comes with a price to match and the Tachyon is the more versatile option, lighter and more flexible.

Now that we’re past the “tension” of listing the best rated, let’s move and deliver on what we promised – individual reviews of the top rated Danners out there:

Here’s what to expect in the rest of the guide:

• We’ll go through the info sheets of each boot
• We’ll provide excerpts from the user and tester reviews, the positives and negatives, the PROS and CONS
• We’ll sum that up in a synoptic way, rating each boot in 10 different categories to get to the Overall Rating (the one that we’ve already seen in the table)

So, let’s get to cracking on those digest reviews of top rated Danner military/combat boots…

Review of Danner Acadia 8 inch tactical Boot

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The specs:

• High-quality leather and Cordura fabric
• Completely US-made
• Sole – Vibram trademark
• Breathable and waterproof – combo of full-grain leather and Denier nylon
• GoreTex lining and fiberglass support
• Recraftable construction – Stitchdown (Danner trademark)
• 8 inches high for optimal support and durability
• Stability platform
• The fit of the boot is narrow and the profile is slender. This allows the boot to be snug and provide unparalleled support
• Lining       – patented engineering for dry feet
• Dimensions – 12 / 8 / 4 inches
• Weight (shipping) – 7 lbs

Excerpts from the positive reviews of this Danner tactical:

• Just one look at these boots and I forgot about the step price. The most comfortable thing I ever put my foot in…
• Support of a jump boot and the feeling of a trail runner. This one is for life, I just ordered a second pair in case they run out or stop making these for some stupid reason…
• I am a very skeptic and cautious buyer, and that goes double when it comes to footwear. After reading countless reviews, I decided to go with the Acadia. One of the best buying decision this year, it’s just the right balance between comfort and support for demanding jobs…
• I was hesitant with these because of the hefty price tag, but that all went away after I got these. I’ve been wearing tactical boots for over a decade now and the quality of this Danner is just in a category of its own…it boots the boots I use to wear to shame and it’s worth every penny
• There’s no doubt in my mind, if you get these it will be the best pair of boots you ever bought or will buy…period.
• Right out of the box you can feel and see that this is one of those boots that you wear until they disintegrate. I might be wrong and time will tell, but the overall feeling of the tac boot is superior to anything I’ve ever worn.
• This is my 4th pair of Danners and second pair of Acadia. My job requires me to walk 5-10 miles over double shifts and, at the end of the day, I have no complaints to think of.
• They are sturdy but crafted so well that there’s no blistering while breaking them in, which is always a serious issue for me…
• Support of a jump boot and the feeling of a trail runner. This one is for life, I just ordered a second pair in case they run out or stop making these for some stupid reason…
• It’s been a month since I got these and I have just one regret – I’ve been “circling” around this boot for almost a year never having enough money and making excuses. I finally got these and truly see what all the fuss is about. I just wished I haven’t gone through all of those cheap boots for the last year or so…
• I am a Danner guy and I love the fact that this boot is US-made. I read like 1000 reviews of different Danner models in pursuit of the best and kept getting back to the Acadia. It’s superior in every aspect that matters, superior to pretty much any other boot I know of…
• The protection is just as good as in my old steel-toe tactical boots, and these are half the weight…
• The uppers are so durable that I am sending my Acadias for a 4^th resole…
• I had serious feet pain problems and a mild case of Plantar Fasciitis. I used to go through boots like candy bars, not one lasted longer than 6 months against my 15 hours shift in Corrections. Then one of my colleagues recommended the Danner Acadia, I read the reviews and got it the next day. It changed my life, no more heel pain, I’m light on my feet but feel the safety of the amazing ankle support.

• It’s only after 5 years of Florida woods and swamps I’m sending these for their first resole. Nothing like this boot out there…

What people didn’t like about the Danner Acadia in their reviews:

• These are too hard, I do have wide feet but the break-in time shouldn’t be this bad in a boot that costs this much…
• I know that according to the reviews this Danner is supposed to be the best, but it doesn’t work for me. I have wide flat feet and I can’t bother experimenting with width options
• These get boiling hot when exposed to sun for a longer period. Seems like a well-made boot, but not for me
• I have a bunion and I though that getting the Acadia in wide option will do the trick. No such luck, it simply hurts and I’m still in the market for something wider and softer…

Category and Final Ratings

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Review of Danner Tachyon tactical boot – 2^nd top ratings

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The info sheet – as Danner lists it:

• Materials – fabric upper and a rubber sole for optimized traction
• Measures of the boot – platform / heel / shaft * 0.75 / 1 / 8.5 (inches)
• Reinforced toe cap for abrasion resistance
• EVA midsole (foam) – extremely lightweight
• Trademark Danner outsole – slip-resistant Tachyon
• Dimensions: 12 / 8 / 4 inches, weight 4 pounds

What users and testers liked and told us in their reviews:

• This are holding in pretty well with the abuse I’m putting them through, surprising durability having the materials in mind. I have no complaints…
• The Tachyon is as light and as comfortable as boots that cost twice as much.
• When they changed the regulations for the Air force footwear, I started the pursuit for a boot that’s just right. I went through 2 Rocky boots and one 5.11 before finally getting the Tachyon. It’s a whole class above any boot in this price range, I’m sticking with it…
• The lightest tactical boot I ever had, and yet there’s just enough support in the ankles for free movement. As far as I am concerned this as close as you get to a perfect combat boot…
• I love the quality finish, it looks great and quality laces…
• I stand for 7-8 straight sometimes and I’ve tried pretty much every brand of work and tactical boots that’s out there. I also owned a few Danners in my time and this is by far the best. My feet have never felt less tired at the end of a day…
• Flexible, light, great speed laces and a good fit, I just wish they had a sturdier toe protection…I got these in desert sand to fit the codes and couldn’t be more happy with the purchase…
• Well-made footbed which is all that matters in the end, it kind of molded around my feet the same day (I could literally feel the change), so no break-in period blisters or anything of the sort…
• They fit like a tennis shoe, so light and comfy…you do sacrifice a bit of support because of the light material, which is important for me in certain situations. So I got these in the GTX version as well, more support and allow for a nice shine…
• I own these in both versions, the shiny GTX one and this one and there’s simply no better police duty boot…
• Tachyon rocks. I generally like Danner boots and have worn a few pairs over the years with the Air Force but this boot is lighter and more comfortable than any of those…
• I like the simple, tactical design…looks much better than those clunky bricks I got as a standard issue during AF training…

CONs – experts from the negative reviews:

• Too light for my taste, it feels like I’m walking around in extra cushioned rubber socks…
• There’s a squeaking noise they make for weeks while they’re new…
• The sole is starting to separate from the boot at the heel only after 4 months, not acceptable for this price. If you are doing demanding work, I suggest you keep looking…

Overall Rating (and Category Ratings)

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Review of Danner Tachyon 8″ Black GTX – 3^rd best rated

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How Danner describes them – the fact sheet of the Tachyon GTX:

• Materials used – mix of a quality (full-grain) leather and denier Nylon in the uppers and durable rubber for the sole
• Measure arch to shaft – 9 “
• Speed laces
• Comfortable footbed (EVA foam and polyurethane)
• Tachyon sole for slip-resistance

PROs as per the user reviews:

• I am extremely picky and particular about my boots and this hands down the best boot I’ve ever had and I’ve worn dozens over the years
• My brands of choice use to be Magnum or Nikes until a few years ago when I started feeling heel pains and developed a bunion. It became a problem; my feet were obliterated after a shift.

I complained and a friend mentioned these, so I got them the day after. I can work double shifts in these and still feel nowhere near as tired as I used to

• Very agile and comfortable and yet durable and water-resistant. I’m satisfied with the purchase, it’s just what I was looking for…
• After a few heavy-duty 5.11s, I was looking for something that wouldn’t feel like I’m moving cement blocks with every step a few hours into a shift. This Danner is just right and feels just right for prolonged working hours…
• True to size and a great fit right out of the box
• Great value for money with these boots. I used to sport boots that were about the same in quality and cost around 50% more
• After reading the reviews and ordering these, I was expecting them to be light, but I didn’t expect them to be so supportive at the heel and toes. I’m pleasantly surprised…

CONs – what users didn’t like about the Danner Tachyon:

• It can be shined unlike the regular Tachyon, but nobody tells you that it takes hours and layers to shine them up to academy standards the first time. It’s a good thing they hold a shine well…
• It might be my walk but I have a persistent issue of the liner falling into the footbed
• I am seeing some stitches coming undone after only a week of use, I am sending these back for a replacement and hoping it’s not a structural issue but rather just a faulty pair…
• Practically no arch support. To me, these are unusable without an added gel foam insole

Review conclusions – quality aspect ratings and an overall rating

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Danner – a few words about the company

The story of Danner started in 1932 when Charles Danner started a company despite the economy decline. He did so with a simple belief – that quality and high-end craftsmanship can be the selling point that will keep his boot-making company in business.

He was obviously right because Danner boots not only weathered the difficulties but grew into one of the most trust boot brands both by people of the US and the American military.

Conclusions and final thoughts

Here at Sole Labz, we are dedicated to bringing only the most relevant information about specialized footwear to an increasingly confusing market.

How is an average person supposed to tell quality fro marketing and a waste of hard-earned money?

Simple – by looking at reviews of people specializing in the field, testing the footwear and other users. What better way to judge a product?

That’s the bottom line of what we do, we like to believe that we’ve elevated the search for the perfect boot to a level of science and that we are rarely wrong. We stay on top of market changes and the potential impact on footwear quality these might carry and report on it.

On top of it all – we update our guides on a bi-monthly basis to ensure the info we present is reliable and fresh.

We like to say we’re protecting good people from bad shoes.

Stay smart and safe