Nothing challenges a shoe like thru-hiking a long trail. On the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, you need the Goldilocks of hiking footwear: comfortable, breathable, lightweight, and durable. If that sounds like a tall order, it’s because it is, and most thru-hikers compromise by choosing comfort over durability, using trail runners that need to be replaced at least four times on the journey from Mexico to Canada.
But the days of compromising are over. The designers at Danner have come up with the new N45, a hybrid shoe that marries the breathability, comfort, and lightweight materials of trail running shoes with the durability, stability, and traction of more traditional hiking shoes. The goal was to create an option that’s more appropriate for a months-long thru-hike, says Yoji Kaneda, a product line manager at Danner.
Durability
Kaneda says the Danner team studied how various shoes break down in order to make the N45 more durable. They found that on long thru-hikes, other shoes’ midsoles lose cushion over time. After that, the rubber outsole begins to deteriorate. With that in mind, designers found the sweet spot for the N45’s midsole—one with high rebound yet more durability compared to the soles used on typical trail running shoes. The midsole foam is also nitrogen-infused supercritical foam, which adds more cushion and rebound than what’s found in a lot of hiking shoes, so they feel springy despite having a more durable construction.
Eventually the soles will show wear, as even the most durable rubber deteriorates after enough miles. To help remedy this, Danner will resole the N45 at the brand’s factory in Portland, Oregon, extending their life and adding to the shoe’s sustainability story.
Of course, long-lasting soles won’t matter if the uppers don’t hold up. The N45’s uppers are made with cut- and abrasion-resistant Perspair, a PU-coated nylon thread woven to create a material that is extremely lightweight and breathable yet incredibly durable.
Performance
Traction is also top-notch, thanks to Vibram Traction Lugs, which flex to increase surface area by 50 percent—and more surface area means better grip. “When I was hiking in Sedona earlier in February, the Vibram Megagrip compound did really well on hot, dry rocks and also on partially snowy forest floors,” Kaneda says.
Comfort
You can’t have maximum comfort without a great fit, which is why the women’s version of the N45 is built specifically for the anatomy of a woman’s foot. That means creating a new last, or foot mold, which requires countless hours of research and design. New studies and in-house fitting sessions led to a precision fit for the N45, with a narrower heel and wider forefoot, reflecting how women’s feet have changed in the modern era. This women-specific fit is also used in the Trail Trainer, which is highly breathable and cushioned and retains Danner’s legendary craftsmanship.
Add it all up, Kaneda says, and with the N45, “you get a lightweight hiker that provides more stability, grip, and durability than trail runners while still having the benefit of lightweight, plush cushioning.” Not too hard. Not too soft. Just right.
For nearly a century, Danner has crafted boots with purpose and integrity, footwear to equip those who choose the unlikely path—those who cut fresh trails, those who pioneer. Whether you want to hike, work, or simply walk around town, Danner boots are meant to take you somewhere. Lace a pair up and Go There.
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