Danner Sharptail 17-inch snake boot review

Our standing disclosure, which applies to every snake boot: Danner's snake-protection claim for this boot is Danner's own. There is no independent standard for snake protection, we have not tested penetration resistance, and no boot is bite-proof. What we can assess is everything else - and on everything else this is the best boot in the category.

The Sharptail and its two closest alternatives

Priced live, so you can see what the premium actually costs you.

#1 · All-day walking in snake country

$359.95·Amazon

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Danner Sharptail 17-inch Snake Boot

Danner

8.7/10★★★★◐

The snake boot that walks like a hunting boot. A side zip, a real Danner platform, and 17 inches of coverage - which is why it is the one most upland hunters settle on.

Published specifications

Protection claim	Snake protection to full shaft height (manufacturer)
Shaft height	17 in
Upper	Full-grain leather and 1000D nylon
Waterproofing	Waterproof (manufacturer)
Closure	Lace-up with side zip

Specifications per Danner published specifications.

What it does well

• The side zip means you can get a 17-inch boot on and off without a fight
• Walks better than any other snake boot here - laces, a real last, a supportive midsole
• Danner's construction quality is the reason this survives multiple seasons of briar

Where it falls short

• The most expensive snake boot in this registry
• Hot. Seventeen inches of snake-resistant panel does not breathe, whatever the marketing says
• The guard is stiff for the first few outings and will rub a high instep

Our rubric

Coverage

9.2

Comfort

8.8

Waterproofing

8.8

Durability

9.4

Value

7.4

#2 · The value pick in leather snake boots

$159.85·Amazon

$184.99 14% off

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Rocky Lynx Snake Boot

Rocky

8.4/10★★★★☆

A waterproof 16-inch snake boot at roughly half the price of the premium options. The compromise is the platform underneath, not the protection.

Published specifications

Protection claim	Snake-proof construction to full shaft height (manufacturer)
Shaft height	16 in
Upper	Leather and nylon
Waterproofing	Waterproof (manufacturer)
Closure	Lace-up with side zip

Specifications per Rocky Boots published specifications.

What it does well

• The cheapest side-zip waterproof snake boot from a known maker
• 16 inches is adequate coverage for most ground

Where it falls short

• Buyers consistently report less arch support than the premium boots
• Nylon panels wear faster in heavy briar

Our rubric

Coverage

8.8

Comfort

7.4

Waterproofing

8.6

Durability

7.8

Value

9.2

#3 · A straightforward leather snake boot

$249.95·Amazon

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LaCrosse Snake 17-inch

LaCrosse

8.6/10★★★★◐

LaCrosse's plain-spoken snake boot: 17 inches, full-grain leather, nothing clever. It does the one job and costs less than the Danner.

Published specifications

Protection claim	Snake-proof construction to full shaft height (manufacturer)
Shaft height	17 in
Upper	Full-grain leather and nylon
Waterproofing	Waterproof (manufacturer)
Closure	Lace-up

Specifications per LaCrosse Footwear published specifications.

What it does well

• Noticeably cheaper than the premium snake boots with the same coverage height
• Laces, so it can be tensioned for a long walk

Where it falls short

• No side zip - lacing 17 inches twice a day gets old
• Heavier than the Sharptail

Our rubric

Coverage

9.2

Comfort

7.8

Waterproofing

8.6

Durability

8.8

Value

8.4

A 17-inch lace-up snake boot with a side zip, built on a Danner platform in full-grain leather and 1000D nylon, waterproof per Danner's spec, with snake protection claimed to the full shaft height. In the category it is the expensive option and the comfortable one.

1. It laces. Almost every alternative in this price range is a pull-on, and a pull-on cannot be tensioned to your foot. Over a mile that is a blister; over a season it is why people stop wearing snake boots.
2. The side zip makes 17 inches practical. Lacing a 17-inch boot twice a day gets old in about a week. The zip means you open it once and lace it once.
3. The platform underneath is real. There is support, there is a proper midsole, and your arch is not resting on a flat sheet of rubber. This is the difference between a boot for two hundred yards and a boot for eight miles.
4. It survives briar. The nylon-and-leather upper is the right combination for the cover you wear snake boots in, and Danner's construction quality is the main reason this is a multi-season purchase.

• Anyone who wants a pull-on. If your objection to snake boots is the lacing, the Danner San Angelo is the same maker's pull-on answer.
• Anyone on a budget. The Rocky Lynx makes the same coverage claim at roughly half the price, and the compromise is the platform rather than the protection.
• Anyone whose snake exposure is occasional. Gaiters cost a fraction as much and come off when the ground changes.
• Anyone who needs knee-deep water. This is waterproof to the lace line, like every leather snake boot: snake boots against rubber boots.

Buyers consistently report it runs true to length and snug through the forefoot, which is normal for a boot with a protective panel taking up volume. Wide sizes are offered and are the ones that go out of stock. Size over a midweight sock rather than a heavyweight - this is not a cold-weather boot and a thick sock will make it tight. Sizing guidance, and break it in properly before a real hunt.

If you hunt snake country regularly and you walk while you do it, this is the boot. The premium over the Rocky Lynx buys comfort and lifespan rather than more protection - and because comfort is what determines whether a snake boot is on your feet in August, that premium is doing real work rather than buying a badge.