The Danner N45 is a new hiking shoe for 2025. I picked up a pair as soon as it was released and put it through a series of test hikes in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains to evaluate the shoes' support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and overall value. It's more robust than the Danner Trail 2650—which I've also tested and reviewed—but still a lightweight hiking shoe. It's also expensive. But I've been impressed with its performance, so far. Is it worth $200? My Danner N45 review digs into this brand new hiking shoe to help you decide if it will fit your feet and match your hiking style.
Testing the new Danner N45 in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains
Danner N45 Review
My preliminary review of the Danner N45 is based on several test hikes in the Sandia Mountains outside Albuquerque, including the Embudito trail, Oso Ridge, Bear Canyon arroyo, and 3 Guns (Tres Pistoles) trails. These moderate to difficult day hikes included some steep ascents and descents, rock scrambling, and most types of footing, which makes them ideal to evaluate the pros and cons of each pair I test. As always, my reviews are 100% independent and based on my personal hiking experience—and my experience as an outdoor industry professional who's managed footwear at an outdoor gear shop.
Testing support, comfort, and traction on 3 Guns Trail
Support
I tested this shoe's support on some steep and rocky trails outside Albuquerque. The Danner N45 has good support by hiking shoe standards. Thanks to a TPU insert, this shoe is stiff through the midfoot with moderate flex near the balls of the my feet. My feet felt well supported when I stepped on rocks and roots. The shoe's lateral stability is also good. It resists twisting, which I felt on some steep sidehill stretches that put extra pressure on my ankles. Even though I have some foot and ankle issues, I found the Danner N45 sturdy enough for my moderate to difficult day hikes.
Overall, its support is above average for a hiking shoe—which is impressive for its weight.
Weight
The N45 is not as light as the Danner Trail 2650, but it still meets my definition of a lightweight hiking shoe. My pair (men's size 12) weighed 1 lb 14 oz. (The women's is several ounces lighter.) That's similar to my favorite lightweight hiking shoes, the Salomon X Ultra 5 Low and Scarpa Rush 2 Low, and 6 ounces lighter than the best-selling Merrell Moab. You won't confuse it with a trail running shoe—it's not that light and athletic. However, the N45 should be on your short list if you're looking for a relatively supportive yet lightweight hiking shoe.
Fit
The Danner N45 runs true to size lengthwise with a relatively roomy fit in the forefoot. I normally need a wide size for hiking, but this shoe fit me fairly well. (Danner offers many shoes in both regular and wide widths, but the N45 is only available in regular at this point.)
Overall, this is a better fit for hikers with standard to slightly wide feet. It may feel too roomy for hikers with narrow feet. I got a decent hiking fit by sizing up 1/2 size from my everyday shoe size.
The N45 felt comfortable on my Oso Ridge test hike
Comfort
It's silly to rank hiking shoes for comfort since comfort has a lot to do with fit, your hiking style, and your personal preferences. In this case, however, I can see many hikers finding the Danner N45 to be a comfortable hiking shoe. It's supportive enough for those who prefer a stiffer, more supportive shoe but also light enough for those who prefer lighter hiking shoes. Cushion-wise, I found the N45 to be soft yet responsive under my hiking feet on my 5 to 7 mile test hikes. They felt cushy—not firm—but not mushy, so I didn't feel I was losing any rebound or energy. Danner's EnduroFoam seems like some good stuff.
For me, this is one of the hiking shoes that's comfortable enough to wear everyday, too. I worked in a trail-to-town testing day where I wore the N45 for an easy morning hike and then wore them in the afternoon for an event at the University of New Mexico campus and a wine bar date with my wife afterwards. They felt cozy.
The non-waterproof N45 prioritizes breathability
Weather Protection
Most hiking shoes are waterproof. However, Danner opted to make the N45 non-waterproof to lean into breathability more than weather protection. The shoe's synthetic sidewalls should shed some mud and moisture, but it's not made to keep out rain, snow, or puddles. That's a minus if value weather protection—but a potential plus in the comfort column if you mostly hike in warm weather, live in a desert (like me), or want to wear your hiking shoes as everyday shoes.
This is a good place to give Danner's Perspair uppers a quick call out. This synthetic feels super-durable, and Danner claims it's also highly breathable and quick-drying: "designed to keep you cool on a sunny city trail or on dry desert rocks." I don't doubt that, but my early spring test hikes haven't been hot enough to test those claims. I'll update this section regularly as I complete more test hikes in hot desert weather. But there's a chance this shoe could be a standout for hot and dry environments.
Traction
For most hikers, traction is another plus for the Danner N45. I've personally tested this shoe's tread on almost every surface hikers will encounter: sand, scree, weathered granite, rough rock, smooth rock, snow, and mud. The shoe's Vibram Mega Grip outsoles have been solid. The v-shaped lugs helped me dig into loose sediments and steep descents. I trusted the tread on a sketch stretch of steep gravel on my off-trail Oso Ridge hike, which really slows hikers down. This tread pattern isn't as good on solid rock, but I didn't slip as much scrambling down the smooth granite of Embudito canyon as I have in some hiking shoes I've tested and reviewed. Overall, I'd rate the traction okay on smooth rock and good on dirt, gravel, and scree.
Value
With a MSRP of $200, the Danner N45 costs more like a hiking boot than a hiking shoe. The good news is that Danner has a good track record for durability, and my review hasn't dug up any dirt on the N45. There's a lot to like about this new hiking shoe. But $200 is a lot, especially for a hiking shoe that's not waterproof.
Danner N45: Pros and Cons
Based on my first-hand testing, here are the main pros and cons of the new Danner N45:
Should you buy the Danner N45 hiking shoe?
My Danner N45 review found much to like about this new hiking for 2025—and no red flags so far. I liked this shoe more than I expected. It's the rare hiking shoe that's both supportive yet lightweight, stiff yet soft, and appropriate for both hard trails and everyday wear. If you hike in wet or sloppy conditions or can't afford this shoe's premium price, you should pass. But this shoe otherwise seems to have something for everyone, based on my first first-hand testing and reviewing. It's not my favorite hiking shoe, but I'll be adding it to my list of the best hiking shoes for men and women. It's a solid, all-around hiking shoe that could be a really good pick for day hikers, desert hikers, travellers, and men and women who want a premium hiking shoe that's wearable from the peak to the pub. If you like this shoe's look and feel and can afford it, I say go for it.
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