My ideal trip usually involves checking into a five-star hotel in the heart of a great city and then tackling at least one epic summit hike nearby. But as someone who is firmly a carry-on only type of traveler, that combo always creates a packing dilemma: how do I bring both hiking boots and city-friendly footwear? The truth is, I can’t—so I go minimal and bring one pair of boots that can do it all.
When I saw that Danner’s Adrika boots promised to be good for “days that begin with running errands in town and end with a sunset hike,” I knew I had to test them out. Here’s my honest review.
Overview
Made out of a combination of full grain nubuck leather and lightweight nylon, the Adrika’s feel lightweight and breathable like a sneaker, but are durable, protective, and waterproof like a serious hiking boot.
I opted for the jet black color, and appreciated that the boot comes with two shoelace options. The black on black shoelace makes these boots look pretty casual, so you can definitely get away with wearing them off the trail.
Specs
| Weight | Height | Insulation | Waterproofing |
| 29 oz per pair | 5” | Non-insulated | Yes |
Features
Despite the light weight, the Adrika’s have plenty of important features, including:
- Danner Dry Waterproofing: The boots have Danner’s proprietary waterproof barrier, which keeps your feet dry from the outside while also allowing moisture out. I can verify that I stayed dry through a river crossing while wearing these.
- Nubuck and Nylon Upper: The blend of durable suede and abrasion-resistant nylon gives it that stylish, almost streetwear-friendly look.
- Removable OrthoLite Footbed: Made from multiple layers of varying density, the footbed offers a solid level of cushioning and support, plus utilizes open-cell polyurethane for better heat dissipation and air circulation.
Pros
- Aesthetics: The Adrikas are undeniably a hiking boot, but in the black color, you can get away with wearing them around town without looking out of place.
- Minimal Break-In: I wore these for a 5-mile hike straight out of the box and can report they were comfortable straight away.
- Waterproof: The Danner Dry barrier genuinely works, holding up against rain and river crossings.
- Lightweight: At around 29 ounces (per pair), they are notably light, making them great for longer hikes.
Cons
- Fit: The Adrikas run slightly big, and Danner recommends sizing down a half size if you’re normally in-between sizes. I’m generally a size 6.5 or 7 and went down to a size 6.5 and it fit great.
Price
The Danner Women’s Adrika Hiking Boots cost $160. At the time of writing, they were on sale on Danner’s website for $80, which is an amazing deal for boots of this quality.
