Danner N45s shoe review: a tough, grippy pair of hiking shoes with a few frustrating comfort issues

First impressions

Danner's latest low-cut hiking shoes are built for sunny, warm-weather hikes along tough trails and dusty desert paths. The N45s aim to balance breathability and protection with airy Perspair polyester uppers and plenty of exterior protection.

Inside, your feet are cushioned by removable OrthoLite footbeds and bouncy EnduroFoam midsoles. The dense footbeds are made from heat-dissipating open-cell polyurethane, while the midsoles feature nitrogen-infused supercritical foam. Both aim to support your feet and absorb any abrasion you might encounter on the trails.

Underneath, the N45s feature grippy Vibram outsoles, which dig into uneven paths with an aggressive array of rubber lugs.

As they're designed with the warmer months in mind, these hiking shoes don't boast the waterproofing you might expect from a sturdy four-season shoe, although they're effectively quick-drying.

Danner N45: on the trails

For the past two months, I've been testing the N45s in the pleasant, mostly sunny weather of the English spring, navigating all manner of dusty trails and unpredictable terrain to see if they stand up to Danner's lofty claims.

Here's how they performed:

Fit and comfort

The Danner N45s are a mixed bag when it comes to comfort.

On one hand, the OrthoLight footbeds and EnduroFoam midsoles are supremely supportive and effectively abrasion-resistant. I had no discomfort in the soles of my feet while trekking along rough, debris-laden trails, thanks to the bouncy footbeds and protective midsoles.

The Perspair polyester upper and FoamCore gusset are genuinely comfy and never felt too tight as they wrapped around the bridges of my feet. They're also breathable and kept my feet decidedly cool over many miles of hot weather hiking.

Frustratingly though, these supportive features are let down by two major comfort issues that all but ruin the N45 hiking experience - rigid, blister-inducing heels and a narrow, restrictive toe box.

I'll start with the heels, which were evidently uncomfortable from my first hike. Unlike most parts of these hiking shoes, the heels feature little support and fail to effectively lock your feet in place.

This resulted in constant rubbing, which left me with a small blister after my first couple of hikes. I initially put this down to the breaking-in process, however, the issue persisted and resulted in further blisters and discomfort with every trek.

The narrow toe-box was also a persistent issue, forcing my toes together and making for an uncomfortable hiking experience, especially over long distances.

It's worth noting that I have particularly wide feet – this tight toe box might not be as irking if you have narrow feet.

Weight

At 22oz (624g) per pair, the N45s don't quite qualify as lightweight hiking shoes, although they're certainly on the lighter side compared to other pairs.

True lightweight models like the Keen Hightrail EXPs typically weigh about 7oz (200g) less, but don't feature anywhere near the level of protection on offer with the N45s. They're also unlikely to have the same lelve of grip, favoring smaller lugs to cut weight.

Instead of going all-out in the pursuit of a minimal weight, these Danner hiking shoes provide excellent protection and grip without becoming too bulky.

They're not as unnoticeable as some lightweight models, but certainly won't weigh you down on the trails, and feel light as a feather in comparison to other, heavier models which offer a similar level of protection.

Traction

Vibram has been crafting grippy and reliable outsoles since its founding in 1937. Over the years, the Italian brand has earned a stellar reputation and is now used by multiple major hiking and trail running outfits like Merrell, Hoka, and The North Face.

True to form, the N45s' grippy Vibram outsoles proved faultless. Their aggressive lug patterns dug into uneven underfoot terrain and kept me consistently upright as I navigated the spring trails.

These outsoles were designed specifically for dusty, dry trails, but I found them to be equally as effective in the rain, providing ample traction when the heavens opened and the terrain turned to mud.

Waterproofing and protection

As they're designed for the summer months, the Danner N45 hiking shoes don't feature the same waterproofing that you'd expect from a decent four-season pair. This was apparent on the trails, as water quickly rushed through the Perspair uppers and into my socks after just a few minutes of rainfall. In heavy rain, my feet became very wet, very quickly.

But the N45s aren't built for wet conditions – their lack of waterproofing isn't a design flaw and it improves the the shoes' breathability. But it's worth considering if you're based in an often rainy country or looking to trek outside of summer. They do, however, dry out very quickly.

Price

At $200 (£158.83) per pair, these Danner hiking shoes are a little more expensive than other, better-rated pairs like the Adidas Terrex Sky-Chasers or Merrell Moab 3s, which cost around $60 (£45) to $100 (£74) less.

These models feature similar levels of breathability with added waterproofing and none of the troublesome comfort issues prevalent with the N45s.

While $200 (£158.83) certainly isn't a rip-off, and some comparable models cost a lot more, with cheaper, better options on the market, it's worth considering if they're worth the extra cash.

Also consider

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