Kate Agathon

In a season dominated by retro-inspired styles, the Danner Inquire Chukka is my favorite throwback look. They remind me of a pair of Bass suede chukkas that I had in junior high school.

While some vintage trends (i.e. stirrup pants) I would care not to revisit, I’m definitely onboard with reliving the 1980s with the Danner Inquire Chukkas.

Available in three colors (Iron/Picante, Gray/Plum, and Black) I chose the Gray/Plum color because they were closest to the color I wore as a youth.

Fit

One of the reasons I like Danner is because they are one of the few brands that carries a ladies size 5.

As soon as I put them on, I was delighted with how well they fit. Comfortably snug, there was no breaking in time whatsoever.

I was absolutely surprised and delighted with how comfortably cushy they felt while wearing them. They were a stark contrast to a different brand’s hiking boots that I had worn the previous day.

To be honest, I hadn’t intended to wear the Danner Inquire Chukkas for hiking (even though they are a hiking boot). I wanted them more for fashion and style than function. However, after wearing them on the hiking path behind our home, I definitely am rethinking my hiking boot choices. The Danner Inquire Chukkas were unbelievably cushy!

Look

The retro preppy chic Danner Inquire Chukkas are versatile and can pair with leggings, joggers, straight leg pants, turned up jeans, and shorts.

What other footwear can be worn with such a variety of styles?

They are appropriate for business casual. They are appropriate for the fall farmer’s market. In fact, there are very few places where the chukkas would be out of place.

Constructed from lightweight, durable suede, the Danner Inquire Chukkas differ a bit from conventional chukkas in that they have a sportier rubber sole, rather than a leather soul with clearly defined heel. They also feature a pop of color in its lavender laces and subtle vented design along the sides.

Tech

Inspired by polo boots, chukkas made their first appearance in World War II. Ever since then, the so-called desert boots have gone from being a preppy wardrobe staple to beloved retro-inspired boots embraced by outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

Speaking of recreating outdoors, let’s look at all the tech that’s packed into the Danner Inquire Chukkas.

More than just trendy footwear, the Danner Inquire Chukka is also designed for being outdoors.

Tech features such as Danner Dry 100 percent waterproof barriers keep your feet dry, while the Custom Vibram® Megagrip outsoles keep you stable on wet or dry surfaces with multidirectional lugs and adaptive heels.

Don’t worry about support, the chukkas offer no less than three layers of varying density to provide maximum cushioning and support (a feature that you will notice immediately).

Plyolite midsoles absorb shock, while lightweight Trailguard TPU shanks provide support and stability on uneven surfaces.

Overall Impression

This is the boot you want for your fall refresh.

The Danner Inquire Chukka is a must-have this season for its retro vibes and versatility. Extra points for its practical features for outdoor recreating.

As a side note, I spend my weekends working in shipping and receiving at the REI warehouse. Recently, a large portion of the orders I fulfilled were Danner Inquire Chukkas. In my mind (and I ship countless pairs of footwear every weekend), it pretty much cements the Danner Inquire Chukka’s status as the footwear of the season.

The Danner Inquire Chukkas are currently available for 50 percent off in the REI Labor Day sale through September 2.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.