Review: Danner Trail 2650 Women’s

Danner Trail 2650 Women’s Review

From Danner

Before getting into our review, we always like to see what the brand is saying about their product. About the 2650, Danner says, “Whether you love taking in the view from a ridge or seeing cactus flowers blooming in the desert, the Pacific Crest Trail has something for everyone over its 2,650 miles.”

Here is a bit more on the specs before the review:

Price*

$170.00

Sizes*

Women: 5-11 (*based on availability)
Width: Medium

Colors*

Timberwolf/Bone Brown (shown), Brown/red, Gray/blue/Spectra yellow, Bronze Wheat, Black Shadow, Painted Hills, Desert Taupe/Picante

Style

61300

Closure

Lace-Up

Height

3″

Insulation

Non-Insulated

Color

Brown/Red

Footbed

OrthoLite

Shank

TPU

Heel-to-Toe Drop

8mm

Last Type

DT-6

Lining

Non-Waterproof

Liner

Mesh

Outsole

Vibram® Black Sands

Recraftable

No

Country of Origin

Vietnam

Manufacturing

Imported

All information from Danner Website and subject to change. Check the website for full details and options.

As a disclaimer I would like to mention that I was given these products so that I could write this review. All opinions on this page are my own and based on my own experiences with these products. I’m not compensated for the opinions on this review. Your experience with the product may be different. 

What I liked about Danner Trail 2650

Damn, Danner! I didn’t expect to like these trail shoes as much as I did. Why I say that is that it was my first time using the brand and I always felt like Danner was a popular Instagram shoe. I’m not saying that to discredit the brand (AT ALL!) but I do say that because anything that is heavily pushed by influencers- in general-I’m naturally skeptical of. I know it was not this shoe in particular, but I initially had my doubts about the brand despite always hearing good things about them. 

I will start off this review by saying this is now one of my new go-to trail shoes. I have been a loyal customer of another brand for 5 years and I still love them, but this shoe sit right alongside them in my closet. I know the importance of stepping outside my tried and true products, but I still have a hard time ever veering away. I know the consequences of trying something new in unknown territories and terrains. Regardless of the abuse these shoes have already endured, they are- indeed- still intact. As well as my feet, legs, and I.  We are all happy as a clam! And that already says all I need to know about what I feel about these shoes.  

Fit and Comfort 

The Danner 2650 came immediately out of the box and into my luggage to head to the Adirondacks (ADK) in Upstate New York. If you read most of my reviews, it just so happens that I receive all new products right before heading there. I may be a broken record, but I’m glad that I get to test out any product in ADK vs my normal playgrounds. The extreme terrain/ temperatures and steep, muddy, rocky trails really give all of these companies a run for their money on what they claim their product can do.  

Immediately upon wearing these shoes, I noticed how comfortable they felt. I was putting a lot of pressure and weight on my body climbing up rocks, roots, and ascending large elevation gains in short distances. ADK is known for muddy terrain and that only added to my challenges and calculated steps heading up those large elevation gains in short distances.  These shoes were good for offering me a relatively fast pace while remaining/feeling lightweight. They were well- cushioned without compromising support and had a good grip and traction getting me up those slippery hills.

I’ve been to the ADK twice in the past 4 months and also have hiked the hills of PA. I don’t have narrow feet, but they’re not super wide. I’m right in between. These shoes have never compromised comfort or made me feel I’d end up with a bunion from the fit, as they provide enough room in the toe box. They allow my feet to breathe even with heavier socks. 

Support and Sturdiness 

Upon initial use of these shoes, I realized that the overall structure of the Danner Trail 2650’s felt sturdy but not rigid. This is coming from someone who was climbing mountains in a lightweight, cloud- like shoe.  As much as I loved a lighter shoe, I also realize that more structure and sturdiness has been very helpful on my long treks and something I value more. One thing I know from doing massage therapy in my past is how much weight you put on every footstep you take aka YOU BETTER HAVE GOOD SUPPORTIVE SHOES or you and your body will suffer! 

I can’t say if these shoes would be sturdy enough to hold me up in extreme hiking terrain or conditions, but I don’t think they are made for that. They are not Goretex (GTX) or waterproof and more of a trail shoe. Regardless of those things, I feel their support and sturdiness for my hiking has been more than enough. I typically tackle moderate- hard hikes and backpack, as well. My legs and ankles have always felt supported in these shoes, no matter the length or difficulty of the hike. 

I feel like in the hiking world there will always be a huge debate of low top shoes vs hiking boots vs trail runners vs any shoe. I believe it all to be subjective and everyone is so different! I’m personally someone who has never preferred anything above the ankle. And that could be because in my experience the shoes feel heavier and it was more weight for me to carry, as well as feeling I was so much slower.  I have always felt confident in this shoe since the second I put it on.

Durability

I use and abuse the heck out of shoes. I’m heavy footed, in general, and my feet take a beating daily. I’ve put in serious mileage on these shoes already, as well as tackled several terrains. These shoes are in great condition considering! I couldn’t tell you how, but it’s usually never the case for me. 

I’m also shocked because lightweight hikers, in my experience, tend to scuff and scratch easier. I feel the 2650’s have been extremely durable in my adventures. They are a very well built shoe considering being more lightweight. I’m not sure how they would hold up on bigger backpacking excursions/ thru hiking, but in the 4 months I’ve been using them (at least 3-4x a week) they have done well! 

Weight, Fit, + Style 

These shoes are certainly on the lightweight end of the spectrum. I loved that despite being light they handled all sorts of uneven terrain very well and did so without sacrificing stability and protecting my feet.  The fit of the shoe ran pretty true to size though I felt aired on the narrow side. My feet are not wide nor too narrow- just in between. The shoe always allowed for breathability (even with heavier socks!) and didn’t have a tight toe box. They have never felt too much, too tight, or too uncomfortable.

You can’t help but love the style of the shoe. Aesthetically, this shoe is one good looking mofo and easy on the eyes! It’s a great neutral shoe that goes with literally everything. They look a little more leisurely than an average hiking/athletic shoe, but I loved the versatility. Am I going for a hike or am I aiming to be as  fashionably cool as the fancy schmancy Internet sensation, Fatmanlittletrail?!? YOU MAY NEVER KNOW!

What I didn’t Like

It’s  hard to find something that I didn’t like about this shoe. For all of my needs, it checked all of the boxes. The only “trouble” I really had with these shoes is when I took them out in the rain. When they do get wet, they are slow to dry. I’m not surprised by that as they are not waterproof or GTX, but I feel it was slower than a lot of shoes I’ve tried. This is only a deal breaker if you think you’ll take them out in all weather conditions. Otherwise, buy the waterproof version and you’ll be ok! 

Wrap Up of the Danner Trail 2650 (Brooke) 

I think I have a thing with shoes that allow me to move light and fast and these shoes do the trick! I’m a fan- for sure. With that being said, I wanted to mention that I only used them on long, moderate- hard day hikes. I did not take them on backpacking trips or overnight. I say this because my experience with them is coming from a limited place and I’m not sure how they’d perform with a big pack out there on the trail for days. My opinion could be completely different! 

But I think for a general consumer and every day hiker, these lightweight shoes have been great for me!  They are extremely comfortable right out of the box and on the trail- no need to spend time breaking them in.  They give me the essentials of what I value in a good shoe- comfort, traction, and breathability- and are light enough on your feet while offering adequate support and durability. I’d avoid taking them out on harsh weather days, as they are non GTX and are slow to dry.