Danner Trail 2650 GTX Review

The Danner Trail 2650 GTX is a comfortable, casual shoe that also can hit the local trails, an important distinction considering that most of the shoes in our review are hiking shoes that might work as everyday shoes in a pinch. It scored reasonably well in all of our metrics, most notably in comfort.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Trail 2650 is a dream to slip on and walk around in. The pliable blended leather/textile upper material has a soft and reassuring feeling around the foot, and there will be zero break-in period required to make these shoes trail-ready. The fit is roomy, and the additional room created by the Exo Heel System cradles the heel.

The Danner PlyoGo EVA midsole does an adequate job of cushioning, though we felt that this was one of the softer shoes in our review, and we felt a lot of rocks poking through on rougher trails. The molded rubber toe cap does a great job of protecting the toe against roots, rocks, and other unforeseen obstacles.

Support

To impart support and structure to this shoe, an ultralight EVA midsole called PlyoGO cushions the foot, and a TPU shank adds stability. We found these structural components to be less rigid than many other models we tested. Certainly softer underfoot, these shoes do not provide as much support or protection as others, though this makes them more comfortable in less demanding situations. While we wouldn't prefer these for backpacking trips, they were great on the local trail systems around town.

Traction

These shoes use a Vibram Megagrip outsole, a well-known and trusted rubber compound from one of the most utilized developers of shoe rubber around. We have no complaints about the stickiness of the rubber; it works well in both wet and dry conditions. The lug pattern is on the shallow side, so there is not much bite available in looser conditions like sand, snow, or mud. These will be better suited for trail-based trips where firmer conditions allow the lugs to better contact the terrain below.

Water Resistance

This shoe utilizes a waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex membrane to ensure that water stays on the outside where it belongs. The flood height of this is low (up to 2.75 inches), making deeper puddles a bit of a risk, though that holds true for virtually all of the shoes in this category.

Weight

With an almost unbelievably low weight of 1.73 pounds, the Trail 2650 are nearly the lightest pair of shoes in our test. No wonder we hardly even noticed them when they were on our feet. These weight savings are easily felt and appreciated on longer hikes, especially when the trails are relatively smooth.

Durability

Durability is one area where this hiking shoe should have a leg up on the competition. The upper material is classically the most vulnerable to degrading first with hiking shoes. So the choice to use a durable material like leather/textile is a good one regarding this shoe's longevity.

Should You Buy the Danner Trail 2650 GTX?

The Danner Trail 2650 GTX is one of our favorite shoes to slip on to take on day hikes, and it's also a favorite walking shoe of ours and comfortable enough to wear around town. Simple, with casual styling, they are a good choice if you don't plan on doing much aggressive hiking. Despite having some name-brand technologies such as a Gore-Tex lining and a Vibram sole, these shoes are a bit spendy based on their lack of overall solid hiking ability in more demanding terrain.

What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?