Danner is pleased to announce its Crater Rim hiking boot, part of Danner’s Spring 2012 line, was recently awarded as “Gear of the Year” by leading industry publication Outside Magazine. This prestigious honor, combined with its extensive Spring 2012 offering, positions the brand well to expand its presence in the outdoor industry.

Crafted entirely in its Portland, Oregon factory, the Crater Rim is a 100% USA Made premium backpacking boot modeled after a popular style built for the U.S. Army deployed in the mountains of Afghanistan. Catching the eye of Outside Magazine, the Crater Rim’s superior craftsmanship and unmatched durability landed it the title of “Best Trail Shoe 2012” as part of the publication’s esteemed Gear of the Year awards in their Summer Buyers Guide. Awarded to the premier products in the outdoor market, the Gear of the Year awards notes the Crater Rim surpassed its competitors as the finest boot in its category.

Additionally, the all-new Mt. Defiance heavy-duty hiker was recently featured in Backpacker Magazine’s Spring Gear Guide, identified as having the “best support” in the “heavy duty” boot category. “We’re honored to have received the Gear of the Year award and to be recognized by such highly regarded publications as Outside and Backpacker,” said Joseph P. Schneider, President and CEO of LaCrosse Footwear Inc. “These acknowledgments further demonstrate the quality and functionality of our new products and will help drive the success of the Danner brand in the outdoor market.”