Danner Trail 2650 Hiking Shoes Review
When Merrell Moabs are too heavy, and Altra Lone Peaks are too light
Our Verdict
The Danner Trail 2650 is a durable, lightweight hiking shoe for long-distance hikes with challenging trail conditions. It is a good option for rocky and/or wet conditions that quickly break down typical trail runners.
Like any other gear, hikers should choose their footwear to best suit trail conditions. I usually hike in trail runners (Topo Mtn Racer 3 or Topo Pursuit and previously Altra Lone Peaks); however, light trail runners are not the best option for me in extremely rocky, wet, or rough conditions, such as the Arizona Trail or Oregon Desert Trail. My Altra Lone Peaks did not last 350 miles on the ODT. The uppers were ripped, toe caps delaminated, and the footbed compressed – even after pre-treating them with AquaSeal to improve durability.
These Altra Lone Peak shoes were pre-treated with AquaSeal to improve durability. As you can see, the pre-treatment did not help, as they failed after 350 miles on the Oregon Desert Trail.
This spring, I hiked a 600-mile route through Arizona and New Mexico. The route is very rocky, with dozens of river fords. I knew a single pair of trail runners was unlikely to last the hike; therefore, I used the Danner 2650 hiking shoes. The Trail 2650s survived the route. The uppers were intact until the final stretch of Gila River fords at the end of the trip. The Vibram sole was worn down but intact. Unfortunately, the footbed was compressed and provided little cushion after about 500 miles.
The Danner Trail 2650 after 600 miles of tough hiking.
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Specs (Trail 2650)
Price: $170 (Waterproof GTX version +$20)
Weight: 24 oz/pair
Heel to Toe Drop: 8 mm
Outsole: Vibram 460
Midsole: EVA foam
Uppers: Leather and textile with holes for airflow and water drainage
Sizing: Mens 7-15 (D-Medium Width) 8-14 (EE-Wide), Womens 5-11 (D-Medium)
Men's
Women's
What We Liked
Durability
The toe cap protected my toes and never delaminated throughout the 600-mile hike. The uppers only began ripping after 550 miles and dozens of river fords. The footbed is the area where the Trail 2650s are not very durable. The 2650s footbed lost much of its cushion after around 500 miles.
Stability
The Trail 2650 feels low to the ground and responsive to rocky and challenging terrain. It feels “nearer” to the ground and more stable than Merrell Moab 3s, especially in rocky conditions.
Toe Protection
The toe cap was severely scuffed but remained intact and provided good protection throughout the hike.
The toe cap provided excellent protection. Despite subbing my toes daily on the 600-mile hike, I never suffered jammed toes. Although the toe cap became severely scuffed, it never lost its protective value.
Breathability and Water Drainage
The shoes were breathable. My feet never felt hot or sweaty despite desert conditions. I was also very impressed by how quickly the shoes drained and dried following river fords or walking through snow fields.
The holes in the suede uppers quickly expelled water after fording a river.
The Danner Trail 2650s after a river ford. The holes provided quick water drainage.
Comfort
The Trail 2650s were comfortable out of the box and did not require a break-in period. There is an ample toe box and secure fit. The shoes breathed well and remained comfortable in hot conditions. I did not have any blisters.
What Needs to Be Improved
Style/Appearance
The Trail 2650 bears a resemblance to bowling shoes. They look more like leisure wear than athletic wear.
Footbed/Midsole
Danner Trail 2650s use an ultra-lightweight EVA foam midsole to cushion while minimizing weight. The footbed started losing cushion 300-400 miles into the hike. By 500 miles, the Trail 2650s had very little cushion, and I experienced foot soreness in rocky conditions.
Best For
The Danner Trail 2650 is ideal for challenging hiking trails that require good grip and stability. It is also an excellent option for folks who require wider sizing options.
Details
Fit/Comfort
I found the Trail 2650 comfortable out of the box. The toe box felt roomy, but the shoe kept my feet secure. The fit remained comfortable and secure over the 600-mile desert hike, and I never had any blisters.
The shoe has an 8mm drop and is available in wide (EE) sizes.
Cushioning
The Trail 2650 has an ultra-lightweight EVA midsole and a removable OrthoLite footbed. The cushioning felt comparable to a typical mid/high cushion trail shoe. The midsole and footbed lost much of its cushioning after 400-500 miles, which is a little longer lasting for most of the trail shoes I use.
Grip and Traction
The Danner Trail 2650 models use Vibram 460 outsoles with Megagrip technology. The shoes provided good grip and traction throughout the majority of the hike. However, near the end of the 600-mile end, the sole was intact but significantly worn down. I would occasionally slip on steep, gravel descents.
The brand new Vibram soles.
The soles after 600+ miles on the Mogollon Rim Trail.
Versatility
The Trail 2650 performs well in challenging hiking conditions. I wore the Danner’s across 100s of miles of very rocky conditions, across snow fields, and forded rivers dozens of times. The shoes remained comfortable and secure. The 2650 does not have the look and clunky feel of a hiking shoe like Merrell Moab 3. The Danner 2650 can be worn for casual, non-hiking activities.
Responsiveness
The Trail 2650 feels low to the ground and responsive to rocky and challenging terrain. I felt confident when wet and/or loose rocks.
Break-in Time
The Danner Trail 2650 felt comfortable out of the box; it did not require more of a break-in period than a typical trail runner.
Durability and Longevity
The Danner Trail 2650 is more durable than a typical trail runner. The suede uppers never torn on the sides like the uppers of my trail runners do after several hundred miles.
The toe cap is incredibly durable. It never delaminated and provided excellent protection over 600 rocky miles.
My biggest issue was with the footbed. 300-400 miles into the hike, the footbed started losing cushion. By 500 miles, the Trail 2650s had very little cushion, and I experienced foot soreness in rocky conditions.
The uppers remained fully intact after 600+ miles of hiking in Arizona and New Mexico.
Price and Value
The Danner Trail 2650 costs $170. The Campo edition costs $160, and the waterproof editions cost around $50 more. This is a little more than a typical trail runner's cost. However, I was able to get nearly 50% more miles out of my Danner Trail 2650 than I would typically get from my Altra Lone Peak trail runners.
Features
Volume
The Danner Trail 2650 felt roomy yet secure. Despite the inevitable foot swelling, the toe box felt roomy throughout the 600-mile hike. My feet never felt constrained in the shoe.
Weight
The Danner Trail 2650 weighs 24 ounces. For comparison, Altra Lone Peak trail runners weigh approximately 21 ounces.
Heel-to-Toe Drop/Stack Height
The Danner Trail 2650 has an 8mm drop and 3” stack height.
Style
The Danner Trail 2650 is available in various colors and materials. Most have two-tone uppers that resemble bowling shoes.
How We Tested
I wore the Trail 2650 for a 600-mile hike through Arizona and New Mexico in Spring 2024. The route included the entire Mogollon Rim Trail (Cottonwood, AZ to Alma, NM), a section of the Grand Enchantment Trail from Alma, NM to the Gila Hot Springs area, and the Continental Divide Trail Gila Alt. to Silver City, NM. The route was extremely rocky, with travel on trails, forest roads, and cross-country. The route also included travel across snow fields and dozens of river fords.
Other Trail 2650 Versions
The Danner Trail 2650 comes in several versions.
The Trail 2650 Campo edition is a desert-oriented version with synthetic leather and a lightweight mesh upper that is dust gaiter compatible. The Mesh edition has a mesh and textile upper. The three editions also come in waterproof (GTX) and mid versions. There is even a Danner + Filson Mid GTX version with a waterproof leather and textile upper. The following table outlines the specifications of the different versions.
| Model | Price | Waterproof? | Height (inches) | Uppers | Outsole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail 2650 Men's Women's |
$170 | No | 3 | Suede or leather, textile | Vibram 460 |
| Trail 2650 GTX Men's Women's |
$190 | Yes | 3 | Suede or leather, textile | Vibram 460 |
| Trail 2650 Campo Men's Women's |
$160 | No | 3 | Leather, textile | Vibram 460 |
| Trail 2650 Campo GTX Men's Women's |
$200 | Yes | 3 | Leather, textile | Vibram 460 |
| Trail 2650 Mesh Men's Women's |
$170 | No | 3 | Mesh, textile | Vibram 460 |
Other Hiking Shoes to Consider
Merrell Moab 3 Low
Price: $120 (Waterproof GTX version +$40)
Weight: 33 oz/pair
Heel to Toe Drop: 11.5 mm
Outsole: Vibram TC5+
Midsole: Super Rebound compound
Uppers: Leather and mesh
Sizing: Mens 7-15 (D-Medium Width) 7-14 (EE-Wide), Womens 5-11 (D-Medium)
If you need something a little burlier, the Merrell Moab 3s are worth a look. They're significantly heavier than the 2650s, which is noticeable when they're on your feet. They also have a much higher heel-to-drop of 11.5 mm. Again, it's noticeable – especially if you're used to minimal or zero-drop shoes. As with the 2650s, the Moabs come in seemingly endless varieties, such as non-waterproof, waterproof, Gore-tex waterproof, low, mid, eco, tactical, 8" tactical zip, thermo, edge, etc.
Read our long-term review of the Merrell Moab Mids here.
View the Merrell Moab 3 Low
Salomon X Ultra 4 Low
Price: $140 (Gore-tex version +$20)
Weight: 27 oz/pair
Outsole: Contagrip MA
Midsole: EnergyCell
Uppers: Synthetic and textile
Sizing: Mens 7-14 (D-Medium Width) 7-14 (EE-Wide in Gore-tex version), Womens 5-11 (D-Medium)
The Salomon X Ultra series has long been a favorite among hikers. With their boot-like sole and protective yet lightweight uppers, they're similar in many ways to the Trail 2650s. We know many hikers who love the excellent traction, comfort, support, protection, and on-trail performance of the X Ultra 4s. However, I've found them to be too narrow for my feet, even in the wide version.
View the Salomon X Ultra 4 Low
Keen Targhee IV Vent Hiking Shoes
Price: $145 (waterproof version +$10)
Weight: 38 oz/pair
Outsole: TPU
Midsole: Luftcell polyurethane
Uppers: Nubuck leather
Sizing: Mens 7-15 (D-Medium Width) 7-15 (EE-Wide in waterproof version), Womens 6-12 (D-Medium)
The latest model in Keen's Targhee line, the Targhee IV are similar but heavier than the Danners. With the IVs, Keen guarantees that their new technology will not delaminate – a common problem with hiking shoes, including the Danners. Keen also claims that the midsole resists compression, something we plan on testing.
View the Keen Targhee IV Vent Hiking Shoes
About the author / why you should trust us
Mike Unger left his high-stress corporate job to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2006. That experience forever changed him, and he purposefully re-arranged his life to allow for as much adventuring as possible. Today, he’s closing in on 28,000 miles on North American long trails and is one of a handful of people who is Double Triple Crowner, having hiked the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails each twice.
He’s also hiked the John Muir Trail, Great Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Arizona Trail (twice), Oregon Desert Trail, Mogollon Rim Trail (twice), and the first known thru-hike of the Blue Mountains Trail. He’s also picked up another passion along the way: long-distance bike packing, including the 1,850-mile Pacific Coast route. When he’s not hiking or biking, he’s probably planning his next trip and/or researching gear. You can see all articles by Mike Unger on his Treeline Review author page.
