SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs 
Danner Trail 2650 GTX Hiking Shoes are lightweight leather and textile hiking shoes lined with waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex. They’re a good shoulder season (late fall, early spring) alternative to mesh trail runners when you want footwear that’s warmer than trail runners and provides more moisture protection. They run narrow but they’re also available in wide sizes. This same model is also available in all mesh, partial mesh/leather, and nonwaterproof leather shoes as well as mid-height hiking boots so you could use the different models in different seasons if you wish.
Specs at a Glance
- Upper: Leather
- Waterproof/Breathable: Yes, Gore-Tex membrane
- Height: 3″
- Drop: 8mm
- Sole: Vibram Megagrip
In addition to added warmth, I decided to try these Danner hiking shoes because I’ve finally gotten sick of replacing my mesh trail runners when the toe box gets ripped up from hiking the rocky and mountainous trails in New Hampshire and Southern Maine. I love the breathability, grippy soles, and drainage provided by mesh trail runners, but I’m tired of replacing them after only 200-250 miles because they get so badly holed, well before the soles get close to wearing down. I’ve put up with these durability issues for over 10 years with La Sportiva Ultra Raptors and now with Saucony Peregrines, but I’ve been on the hunt for trail runners or hiking shoes that last longer. I can’t afford to spend $800 every year on new trail runners. There has to be a better way.
The Danner Trail 2650 GTX has leather uppers that are perforated along the sides to enhance ventilation. They have a burly toe kick up front and a toe cap that extends down the sides of the toe box for increased abrasion resistance. The Vibram Megagrip soles are flat without an arch but have a slight front and heel rocker that makes them easier to walk with. The lugs are moderate in length with grooves cut into the soles to help shed water. The sole has a TPU shank for support and EVA foam for cushioning. The heel is well protected and the tongue is attached to the mesh-lined inner shoe, with the sock-like fit you find in many trail runners.
I’ve found the Trail 2650 to be a very stable shoe that sits low and flat on the ground without a tendency to roll. It’s warmer than my mesh trail runners on cold mornings when there is frost on the ground, but comfortably so without feeling too warm. They repel water nicely when we have to plow through wet leaves and mud. I have to say I’m very impressed with the Gore-Tex lining since the shoes dry quickly, even after a complete soaking if you have to continue hiking in them. I never thought I’d say that about any Gore-Tex-lined shoe.
Despite their suede leather uppers, these Danner Trail 2650 hiking shoes need virtually no breaking in. You can wear them out of the box for hiking, but the uppers take about 10 miles to soften up completely, allowing the forefoot to flex more when scrambling up rock. Similarly, the grip of the soles improves once you’ve roughened the lugs up naturally.
When I got these Danner 2650’s, the first thing I did was modify them by sticking a big piece of velcro on the heel so I could wear dirty girl gaiters with these shoes. There’s not a super flat place on the back of the shoe to do this, but my velcro strips are still holding on pretty well despite this. The warmer-weather Danner Trail 2650 Campo and Danner Trail 2650 Campo GTX models come with factory heel gaiter attachments.
The next thing I did was to remove the cheapo factory foam insoles and replace them with Superfeet insoles that have a higher arch to prevent Plantar Fasciitis. The shoes themselves do not have an internal arch at all. I’m susceptible to Plantar Fasciitis and will do just about anything to avoid it. It can occur when your arch doesn’t have enough support or your heel moves around too much. A good insole prevents both of those triggers.
The laces on the Trail 2650 GTX are standard flat textile laces, but there isn’t an elastic strip or pocket to tuck them into to keep them out of the way. I just triple-knot them and cover them with my gaiters to prevent them from coming unraveled. That works well enough.
The fit is decidedly narrow in the mid-foot, but the toe box provides enough room for your toes to splay out and relax. Wide sizes are available, however, in the Trail 2650 GTX as well as the other non-waterproof, mesh, and warmer weather variants of this shoe that Danner offers.
Recommendation
The Danner Trail 2650 GTX is a lightweight waterproof/breathable hiking shoe that’s one step up from mesh trail runners in protection and durability, but less rigid and “blocky” than other hiking shoes including the Merrill Moab 2 or Moab 3. If you’re looking for a hiking shoe that’s not as cold as a mesh trail runner for shoulder season hiking and provides better moisture protection, the Danner Trail 2650 is a slam dunk. It’s very comfortable, agile, and requires very little break-in time. It even looks good off-trail too!
Disclosure: The author purchased this product.
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A shoe named after the PCT mileage. Not bad.
They’re really great – durable with a lot of toe protection, but feel like a trail runner.
Thoughts on the longevity of the tread? I don’t expect things to last forever but getting really tired of replacing trail runners every 300-400 miles because the tread is worn to nothing. There’s the cost factor but it also just seems incredibly wasteful.
The sole is a little harder and not as grippy so I’m optimistic that I’ll get 300-400 on them. I’m showing some wear on the heel at 200 miles, but it’s not too bad. But my problem with trail runners was the mesh uppers. The whites just destroy them way before the soles wear out. But I’m really pleased with the durability of the uppers on these. No sign of wear and I’ve been doing a lot of big gnarly peaks the past few weeks for the grid with lots of abrasion.
Thanks – will definitely add these to the list to explore!
thanks for this write-up, philip. any useful info comparing to your ultra raptors? i looked at these and solomon x ultras before buying a pair of la sportiva spire. the spires are the heaviest of the three but fit my foot more comfortably than the others. i also appreciate the more protective toe kick for hiking in the colorado high country. i found i didn’t need to replace the insole to keep my PF from flaring up. last, there are more than a few reports of sole separation for the 2650’s but there is no way to know how those shoes were used or stored (hot car?). fwiw i also hike/backpack in bushido ii’s when i want a lighter, more flexible shoe (which is most of the summer).
I’ve had a pair of the leather non breathable ones that I have really enjoyed. They dry pretty fast for leather (the mesh liner helps them feel drier) and have been super comfortable. They managed extremely well hiking out the morning of a surprise foot of snow in CO with bread bags in them.
The black layer on the toe is peeling off but overall they are holding up really well. I hope these will last longer for you!
They’re great. A real find for me.
This is a great shoe. So is the non-Gore-Tex version. And, yes, they do last longer than similar shoes. I did the whole AT using only two pairs. Thx for the review
Interesting review BUT… IMHO WPB hiking footwear only make sense it they are over-the-ankle boots, not low cut shoes. Boots are more easily covered by WPB gaiters.
I have MERRILL MOAB WPB boots and plainness low cut shoes. The low cut mesh shoes ae great for desert wear and for walking in ankle-deep Coyote Gulch in Utah.
The WPB boots WITH 3 mm closed cell neoprene divers socks (VBLs) over thin poly liner socks are warm for lat fall and early winter hiking/backpacking (if tents are above 15 F.
Unless you want the agility of a low hiking shoes instead of a mid. Then it makes perfect sense. You simply have much better range of motion with a low shoe.
I have the non GTX version of these and after thoroughly soaking them courtesy of my dogs choosing to go in a stream they did dry faster than I expected for a leather shoe. They are quite comfortable also. The sole I think it’s supposed to be Vibram Megagrip but it’s not that sticky.
They still wouldn’t be my first choice for really warm or wet weather but they are quite versatile otherwise.
A couple years ago, I bought a pair of Danner 2650 in the mid height boot. I like them a lot. But, I did have to cut the tongue gusseting down a couple inches on each side, because I could barely force my foot down in the boot, it was so tight. Once in, my 10-1/2 foot fits fine. Hated to cut up the boot, but it helped to get them on.
Coming back to this thread after using the non GTX version of these along the Hoka Speedgoat Mid GTX. When it came to rock scrambling and exploring canyons in the southwest area, I preferred the Hoka for the superior grip and security. Comfort is similar and the mid part doesn’t take away much flexibility, the event membrane is as breathable as one can hope. Not enough to assess the difference in durability. Of note, I have the previous version that has hooks for the laces at the top.