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The men's United By Blue x Danner Boot. United By Blue

Outdoor startup and relative newcomer United By Blue teamed up with legendary Danner Boots to make a more sustainable Danner Light Boot.

The United By Blue x Danner Boots Collection includes boots for men and women, socks, and a beanie. Each product uses sustainably sourced byproducts of the bison meat industry.

Priced at $398, the boots are expensive, but they're made in the USA with quality designed to last a lifetime. I put them to the test and I stand behind my recommendation despite their high price.

For more than 85 years, Danner has been one most dependable brands for outdoor boots made to last. But it was in 1979 when they introduced the Danner Light Boot that the company's standard for durability and quality was solidified.

With an unchanged design that's stood the test of time, the Danner Light Boot is durable and rugged, but still lightweight enough to hike long distances — a shoe that seemingly needs no improvements. Yet United By Blue, a relative newcomer in the outdoor space, has partnered with Danner to breathe new life into the boots with a collaboration that's bringing sustainability to the forefront.

Handmade in Danner's Portland, Oregon factory, the United By Blue x Danner Boot Collection features sustainably-sourced, premium full-grain Horween bison leather uppers, 100% waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX liners, and rugged, shock absorbing Vibram Kletterlift outsoles. A brown, tan, and green colorway is available for men, while a tan, brown, and blue colorway is available for women.

In addition to boots, the collection includes limited-edition bison down socks and a beanie.

The men's United By Blue x Danner Boot (left) and the women's United By Blue x Danner Boot (right). United By Blue

The United By Blue collaboration achieves a higher level of sustainability by utilizing bison products. Both the leather hides used on the shoes and the down used in the socks and beanie are a byproduct of the bison meat industry, so they're less impactful on the environment than other products derived from animals raised specifically for hides. On top of that, for every United By Blue product sold, the brand will remove one pound of waste from the world's oceans. To date, they've removed more than 1.1 million pounds of waste, and the effort is still in progress. (If you'd like to participate in a cleanup, you can sign up here.)

Nearly a year after I got a glimpse at a prototype version of the boots, United By Blue gave me a pair of the final design to test out. I can say that they're by far the best-made boot I've ever owned, and my shoe collection spans more than 100 pairs.

The women's United By Blue x Danner Boot. United By Blue

The stunning brown and tan upper accented by green laces looks better than any hiking boot on the market, even those that lean on the side of fashion. What I like most about the United By Blue x Danner Boot is the fit and on-foot feel. They're undeniably rugged, yet surprisingly lightweight. After a full day of wearing them, my feet weren't fatigued.

I personally am not a hiker, but I love a good boot during the fall and winter. Having a lightweight design makes them wearable on a daily basis. Compared to the many other hiking or work boots that I own, these are the best fitting, and since they're not so heavy, wearing them isn't a task. I haven't had the opportunity to put them to the test in heavy rain or snow, but from my experience with other Danner and GORE-TEX products in general, you will have absolutely no problem handling the elements.

The United By Blue x Danner Boots only come in full sizes, so if you're in between sizes, I would recommend going down for a good fit. If you plan on wearing very thick or multiple pairs of socks, you can go with your true size. The lacing system allows for a great amount lockdown on the foot, so you won't have to worry about them being loose.

Priced at $398, the United By Blue x Danner Boots are a bit more expensive than the average boot, but they're worth every penny. They're made in the USA and they're built to last a lifetime. You can take a look at the production process here. Even if something were to happen to your boots, they're completely re-craftable at a Danner factory store. That means you can have the midsole, outsole, hardware, liner, laces, and stitching replaced and the leather refurbished.

I'll be wearing my pair all fall and winter long. If you're looking for a durable boot to handle everything from hiking to inclement weather, the United By Blue x Danner Boot is the way to go.