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鈥檚 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, 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鈥檚 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鈥� 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鈥檚 midsole鈥攐ne 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鈥檚 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, at the brand鈥檚 factory in Portland, Oregon, extending their life and adding to the shoe鈥檚 sustainability story.
Of course, long-lasting soles won鈥檛 matter if the uppers don鈥檛 hold up. The N45鈥檚 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鈥攁nd more surface area means better grip. 鈥溾€嬧€媁hen 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,鈥� Kaneda says.
Comfort
You can鈥檛 have maximum comfort without a great fit, which is why the women鈥檚 version of the N45 is built specifically for the anatomy of a woman鈥檚 foot. That means creating a new last, or foot mold, which requires countless hours of research and design. led to a precision fit for the N45, with a narrower heel and wider forefoot, reflecting how women鈥檚 feet have changed in the modern era. This women-specific fit is also used in the , which is highly breathable and cushioned and retains Danner鈥檚 legendary craftsmanship.
Add it all up, Kaneda says, and with the N45, 鈥測ou get a lightweight hiker that provides more stability, grip, and durability than trail runners while still having the benefit of lightweight, plush cushioning.鈥� Not too hard. Not too soft. Just right.
For nearly a century, has crafted boots with purpose and integrity, footwear to equip those who choose the unlikely path鈥攖hose 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.