The Danner Cloud Cap provides warmth, versatility, and style. Photo: Lindsay Gough/The Inertia
A good winter boot has a few non-negotiables. It should be warm, keep you dry, and be good in the snow. Furthermore, it should have solid traction to keep you upright on icy streets and trails. We examined all these metrics in our recent guide to the Best Winter Boots, where one pair stood out not only for its function, but for the fact that it felt and looked great as well — the Danner Cloud Cap ($210).
Other boots fared well in specific areas, but the Cloud Cap by Danner earned our “Best All-Around” award for its warmth, comfort, traction, durability, and looks. It’s a great boot for a number of reasons that I’ll share with you below.
| Pros | Cons |
| Comfortable and warm | Only closure is drawstring |
| Great traction | Upper boot area isn’t supportive |
| Easy on/off | Heel is not secure |
First Impressions of the Danner Cloud Cap
The Danner Cloud Cap is constructed of two upper materials. The area around the top of the foot is made of suede. This material choice brings not only a distinct look, but the soft and cozy fit that good quality suede can achieve. The second half of the boot upper (around the ankle) is an unspecified textile. And 7 inches high, the Danner Cloud Cap can trudge through most puddles and snow and keep water out.
All in all, it makes for a good combination of snug fitting down low and roomy up top. Since the Danner Cloud Cap only sports a drawstring closure, getting the boot on and off is a breeze. This feature is especially nice at the taking off stage if you’re coming in from the cold. The worst thing about some winter boots is how long it can take to undo the laces.
Another thing you notice right away after stepping outside is the warmth factor. It’s not a thick boot, so at first glance, the 400g PrimaLoft insulation is underwhelming. But as someone who has tried dozens of different insulation combinations, I appreciate PrimaLoft’s remarkably efficient size-to-warmth ratio. You get a lot of warmth out of a small package. I took these boots out in sub-zero temps and my toes never felt chilly.
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Vibram’s Arctic Grip outsole helps keep you upright on packed snowy trails. Photo: Lindsay Gough/The Inertia
Notable Features of the Danner Cloud Cap
Materials: Suede, textile
Insulation: 400g Primaloft
Waterproof Membrane: DannerDry (proprietary)
Outsole: Vibram Nisqually Arctic Grip AT
Midsole: Plyolite
Footbed: OrthoLite
Closure: drawstring
Weight (pair): 2lb, 5 oz
As mentioned earlier, the 400g PrimaLoft insulation is the real deal. My feet stayed warm in sub-zero temperatures for hours as I trudged through snow. Danner’s proprietary DannerDry membrane also works well, and whatever its durable water repellent (DWR) treatment is has endured four months of winter so far.
Another noteworthy feature of the Danner Cloud Cap is the outsole. The Vibram Arctic Grip coating is a rubber compound that feels like sandpaper to the touch. I observed that it creates solid traction even on slippery packed snow. This is, of course, not 100% foolproof. It’s not the same level of traction that wearing a secondary traction device, like micro-spikes, would achieve.
But for a rubber sole, Arctic Grip delivers some of the best traction in the winter boots category.
Danner Cloud Cap Drawbacks
The big drawback to the Danner Cloud Cap is that since it’s a slip-on, the foot isn’t as secure as it would be with a lace-up boot. That relatively loose fit around the heel determines what activities the Cloud Cap is best suited for.
I wouldn’t want to take this boot on a long hike; not just for the inability to lace it up, but also because the textile upper isn’t very supportive. As such, it’s more of a boot for walking the dog or running errands around town. There’s just a bit too much heel lift for it to be something you want to do strenuous or long-lasting activity in.
Because the Arctic Grip compound is so grippy, it’s best not to wear these boots indoors. The sole can leave a mark on flooring and actually provide too much traction — it could trip you up. This might be an issue if you have somewhere to go but aren’t able to take your boots off inside. That said, I have worn them indoors at community spaces — it’s just something to be mindful of.
The drawstring closure means easy on and off, but also a bit of a looser fit. Photo: Lindsay Gough/The Inertia
Final Thoughts
Danner’s Cloud Cap boot is an ideal boot for moderate activities in cold and snowy winter conditions. It’s easy to put on and take off, which is a huge advantage over other boots. While that does affect the fit, the suede upper wraps around the boot nicely enough for casual use. Aside from being a well-performing waterproof boot that is also warm, it looks stylish enough to wear out on the town — a big advantage over other winter boots that are bulky and are made for function over style.
If you need function, style, waterproofing, and warmth — and aren’t looking to crush some big peaks or walk through two feet of snow — the Danner Cloud Cap is an excellent choice.
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Editor’s Note: If you’d like to see other great winter boots, check out our guides to the Best Winter Boots and Best Women’s Winter Boots. And if you are headed out into the cold, don’t miss Best Winter Jackets. For more gear reviews and features at The Inertia, click here.
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