Danner claims its Breathable Hikers line beats the heat wherever the trail might lead. At the forefront of this line stands the N45 Men’s Timberwolf and N45 Women’s Ghost, which are among the first hiking shoes sporting recraftable soles. If Danner’s newest shoes deliver on the brand’s promises, this could be a big step for comfort and sustainability.
First in Recraftable Hiking Shoe Soles
While the N45 line isn’t Danner’s first recraftable shoe (GearJunkie’s Most Sustainable pick for Women’s Hiking Boots is the Danner Mountain 600 GTX, which is on Danner’s recraftable list), these Breathable Hikers are the brand’s first low-rise hiking shoe with a recraftable Vibram sole.
That means when you’ve hiked so hard and hit the pavement so much that your soles deteriorate, there is no need to throw them out and buy a brand-new pair. Instead, Danner encourages sending your shoes to its headquarters in Portland, Ore., for a refresh on what you’ve already broken in.
It will take a few weeks — wait times were 3-4 weeks at the time of publishing — but that wait could be worth the hassle of breaking in new hiking shoes. And recrafting the sole will keep the shoe out of the landfill much longer and save you money.
What Piques Our Interest
Hiking shoes hit the sweet spot: they’re light, easy to trek in, and great for hot summer days when a hiking boot feels like overkill. While a low-rise hiking shoe loses some ankle support, for a quick city jaunt or a long-distance hike where every ounce counts, they can reign supreme.
Danner states this Breathable Hikers line checks the boxes. It emphasizes sustainability and durability with the Recraftable program, allowing users to resole shoes with the Vibram N45 Outsole.
For breathability, Danner uses a proprietary Perspair membrane in each shoe’s upper. It claims it’s quick-drying, durable, and abrasion-resistant, without adding excess weight. It also made each tongue and gusset with foam-core fabric to prevent hot spots.
Removable OrthoLite footbeds offer varying densities, giving your feet the cushion and support they need without trapping heat.
Danner N45 Hiking Shoes
Danner’s N45 Men’s Timberwolf shoes weigh in at 22 ounces, lighter than several competitors in GearJunkie’s Best Hiking Shoes roundup. Its N45 Women’s Ghost shoes come in at just 19 ounces.
Additionally, Danner boasts that one of its most prized technologies resides in the EnduroFoam midsole: a nitrogen-infused supercritical foam. EnduroFoam, it says, provides greater energy return, much like a marathon runner’s super shoe or a tricked-out trail runner.
Like those long-distance kickers, the men’s Timberwolf utilizes an 8mm drop from heel to toe. Danner claims they maintain a more laid-back aesthetic and a touch more stability than traditional running shoes with wider forefeet.
In the women’s Ghost, Danner says it uses a truer fit to the biometrics of women’s foot shapes rather than paring down a men’s design. This Precision Fit approach, it says, is built with a narrower heel, less drop from heel to toe, and a wider toebox.
The N45 sports refurbished soles, better breathable uppers, and durable cushion for the long miles. If Danner’s claims for its Breathable Hiker N45 series live up to the hype, they could be a strong performer on the trail.
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