I wore Danner Crag Rats on my trip. No issues at all. This trip coming up I bought some On Cloud 5 waterproof thinking they would be good. After reading the comments, I didn’t think about the thorns. I guess since none went thru my danners. I’m packing my Crag Rats. No sense in fixing something that isn’t broke.
I wear Danner San Angelo snake boots in the South Texas brush country, where every thing seems to have thorns. Also wore them in Tanzania while on a photo safari and seemed quiet enough to sneak around pretty well. The sole is soft, but thick enough to protect the foot on sharp rocks. The soles are fairly soft and cushy, so do pick up and hold some thorns, but in years of wearing them, never had a thorn go through and penetrate inside of the boot. There is a fairly thick hard leather (or plastic?) layer the sole attaches to, which must stop them. I use the pliers on a Swiss Army knife or a multitool to remove thorns now and then. I just picked up the boot to take some photos and lo and behold, there is a typical mesquite thorn in it as usual.
I enjoy the higher upper on this boot, which comes up to just below the knee. The tall upper protects the lower leg from thorns and grass burrs, and keeps sand and water out in addition to snake protection. So there is no need for gaiters. They are a very comfortable boot once broken in and quieter and more comfortable than hard rubber Vibram sole boots.
fwiw - when new, a heavy coat of Obenauf’s Heavy Duty Leather Treatment or Oakwood leather treatment heated up and soaked into the leather softens them up a bit speeding up break in and making them more comfortable, as well as providing water repelling.
As a plus, this model is assembled and finished in the US with some imported components according to Danner. So helping maintain some craftsmans’ jobs here too.
Bottom line - I definitely can recommend these. Very happy with them.
