Danner Designed Its Lightest Hiker Ever: Here’s Why

We know now’s not the time to be out on the trail, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t daydreaming about it. Danner’s Trail 2650 is a summer hiker inspired by its namesake trail, with plenty of street smarts to stay at home in the meantime.

The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,650 miles of varied, rugged hiking. And Danner wants to help everyone from weekend warriors to seasoned hikers prepare for every step.

Made with a perforated leather outer, a breathable mesh liner, and a grippy outsole, the Trail 2650 is Danner’s lightest hiker to date. Inspired by super-lightweight hikers and trail-running shoes, these boots are built to withstand serious mileage, even if that means hot laps around the neighborhood for the time being.

These crossover hikers offer in-town looks and comfort with a pedigree of trail credibility. Whenever the timing’s right to get back out there, you’ll want to be ready to say yes to adventure.

Danner Trail 2650: Lightweight, Breathable, Adventure-Ready

However you wear it, the Trail 2650 is made with the quality materials and thoughtful design synonymous with the Danner name. The brand has been crafting boots since 1932. It puts these years of knowledge to work in this latest offering.

In the Trail 2650, weight is important. The leather hiker is just under 12 ounces per shoe, and Danner is proud of that. The brand has never made a hiker that airy.

And let’s not overlook what happens when you wear these lightweight hikers on the trail or in the city: compliments. These Danners are downright good-looking — and totally appropriate for everyday wear.

Cooling technologies work from under and above the foot. A lightly padded mesh liner keeps air moving, especially on warm summer days. Likewise, the midsole’s molded ports promote airflow and drainage underfoot.

And strategic perforations in the leather upper add even more airflow on the move. But while this lightweight hiker helps you stay quick and cool on the trail, it does so without giving up important stability.

For the Trail 2650, Danner worked with Vibram, the leader in high-performance soles. The hiker uses an exclusive Danner-designed Vibram 460 outsole for its deep, multidirectional lugs as well as the unrivaled Megagrip rubber compound. The combination delivers grip confidence on a wide variety of terrain and better overall traction whether it’s wet or dry.

The Danner Trail 2650 repels the elements with a combination leather outer that dries quickly thanks to the removable open-cell footbed and those aforementioned perforations. For wetter times, there’s also a GORE-TEX version, making the Trail 2650 a year-round footwear option.

How the Danner Trail 2650 Fits and Moves

Now that you know what the new Danner Trail 2650 looks like, you might be wondering how it moves. The short answer is more like a trail-running shoe than a hiking boot.

The low-profile hiker took its fit inspiration from the trail-training world, which is increasingly overlapping audiences with the growth of the ultrarunning segment.

Moreover, the speedy Trail 2650 comes with a modest 8mm offset from heel to toe, as well as some extra width in the forefoot for stability. There’s even an extra-wide (EE) size for those with naturally broad feet or who like lots of room for the toes to splay.

Plus, helpful technology called the EXO Heel System locks the heel in place for a snugger fit when you’re moving faster.

The Danner Trail 2650 retails for $150 and comes in several color choices for men and women.

This article is sponsored by Danner. Check out their other offerings here.