TreeLineBackpacker

Danner has a long history of building durable boots that can be repaired. Today that legacy trickles down into their lightweight, fast hikers, the N45. Breathable and weighing just 22 oz, the spec sheet looks great. But how are they on the trail? My review:

Let’s start with Danner’s “recraftable” concept. Generally speaking, shoes that are in their recraftable line can be repaired to some degree. The outsole, or tread as most call it, is basically a guaranteed repairable option. Other shoes, namely those created from leather, can have the materials re-conditioned, hardware swapped, laces replaced and more. It varies per shoe, with lighter-weight trail runners generally just offering the outsole as the repair option, given the thickness and difficulty of repairing the feathery fabrics. The N45 is one of those lighter-weight shoes. Meaning, the outsole can be repaired from Danner themselves either in or out of warranty, but not likely the fabric upper.

The N45 is built on a tacky Vibram outsole with a breathable, fully synethic upper. Inside lies an EnduroFoam midsole which provides a quick rebounding platform designed to absorb fast, hard impacts repeatedly without flattening out. The upper of the shoe is built from Perspair, a lightweight, breathable, quick drying fabric. It also features a foam like tongue for extra padding, an 8mm offset (a wider toe box) and a one year warranty. They weigh on average 22 oz. per pair and retail for $200.

Hiking in the N45 has honestly been a real treat. These are hands down some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn, especially trail shoes. The body is soft, conforming, and has a little bit of a neoprene like stretch/hug to it. It provides a gentle pressure across the foot that feels like a warm hug. With only two days of light break in, I was able to do 8 miles of trail with no issues at all. It felt like I had been wearing them for months. I don’t actually recommend doing this, but hey, it was for science. Mile after mile on the trail I’ve found the EnduroFoam midsole to take a beating, happily absorbing the impact of rock, roots, dirt and pavement. I found it to be quite supportive and yet a touch cushy, thanks to the fast rebounding foam. I was very impressed.

Trail stability is good. The Vibram outsole is really doing most of the work here. It is relatively thick and robust for a lightweight shoe, allowing it to hold form well in rougher conditions. It also allows it to flex well enough to stick to small wet roots, slimy rocks and mud without much issue. The tread patter is absolutely focused on forward movement with triangular, angular lugs pointing ahead at all times. This is when these shoes perform their best. As long as the wearer is pushing against the tread the acute angles are biting into to dirt and debris on the trail. The rubber is flexible and more than willing to provide excellent purchase is most conditions. The shoes can slide just a bit side to side in rare scenarios. Imagine stepping on a wet root with pressure laterally against the tread. Thankfully, this is a fairly rare scenario and hasn’t been a problem for me. Braking downhill is also surprisingly good, with the tips triangular lugs digging in quite readily on declines. The shoes do rock horizontally a bit despite the reinforced midsole, but so far hasn’t resulted in any stability issues for me. Given the flexibility and stretchiness of the upper this is expected.

Breathability of the shoes is great. The upper does an excellent job of allowing hot and out and cooler, drier air in. I paired them with some relatively heavy weight wool socks and was impressed with how dry my feet stayed. The only catch is the EnduroFoam sole does seem to trap heat against the bottom of the foot. The body keeps circulating air, but my feet always stayed a little warm. This was especially true while stationary. Moving seems to flush the air out more quickly, alleviating this buildup.

Durability seems quite good. The outsole is of course tried and true Vibram, while the toe, sides and heel are all wrapped and laminated in an abrasion resistant synthetic that can really take a beating. I’m curious to see what the upper fabric does over time, but given the high thread count and how few seams it has, I suspect it will hold up nicely.

Overall

The N45 from Danner is a very unique shoe. It’s lightweight, tactile, and provides excellent trail response that feels like a trail runner, while performing like a hiker. They provide excellent shock absorption and traction, good stability, and solid breathability. The foam inner does get a bit warm, but seems a fair tradeoff given the rest of the package and the comfort it provides. The recraftable promise is also a real win. Being one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever tried, it is very easy to recommend these.

Highly Recommended

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Big thanks to Danner for sending this over for review. We couldn’t do this without their support.

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