Feb 23, 2026 7 min read

Reviews Danner Hiking

Danner N45 Mid GTX hiking boots review: the “trail runner” hiking boot Danner needed

Light, springy, and properly waterproof, with a Vibram Megagrip outsole and Danner’s rebuild option to keep them going when the miles add up.

I'm going to be bold and just say it; there are two types of “lightweight hiking boots”.

The first is basically a chunky trail shoe with a waterproof liner. It’s comfy, but it can feel a bit vague once the trail turns rocky or off-camber.

The second is a boot that claims to be light, but still walks like a more traditional hiking boot.

The Danner N45 Mid GTX sits in a more interesting middle ground. It’s built with modern, runner-ish foam and a flexible feel, but it’s still got real underfoot protection, a mid-cut collar, and the big Danner selling point: you can send them in to be resoled/rebuilt when the outsole is toast.

And in the Jet Black / Imperial Blue colorway that I have, it looks more “wear anywhere” than “I’m about to summit something”; that could be important to many if you're going to spend $250 on a pair of boots.

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Key specifications

Price: $250 at REI
Weight: 14.6oz / 414g for a US 9 (my pair)
Drop: 8mm
Collar height: 4.5" mid-cut
Upper: nylon/polyester mesh with leather reinforcement points
Waterproofing: GORE‑TEX Invisible Fit
Midsole: EnduroFoam (nitrogen-infused “supercritical” foam)
Outsole: Vibram N-45 Megagrip + Traction Lug tech
Underfoot protection: TPU shank + protective plate/rock plate (varies by how reviewers describe it, but the point is: there’s structure)
Footbed: removable OrthoLite
Recraftable: yes (but the GTX liner isn’t replaceable)

Fit and sizing

They fit true-to-size in length, but with a secure fit through the midfoot and toe box.

That snugness is going to be a double-edged sword for some:

If you like a precise fit on uneven ground, it can feel reassuring.
If you have wider feet (or want lots of toe splay), you’ll want to try them on first because wide widths don’t seem to be offered for the GTX versions.

The collars that cover your ankles feel a bit too “present” at first, especially on high steps, but it has definitely started to wear in and settle.

Performance review

That ride feel: balanced with a little bounce, not mushy

The consistent theme is that EnduroFoam gives the N45 a springy, energetic feel.

Not plush in a max-cushion way, more like a responsive trail runner that happens to have boot structure.

If you’re the kind of hiker who naturally picks up the pace on rolling trails (or you like covering distance efficiently), this boot seems well built for that.

Most of my hiking nowadays is pretty stop start when we have our little one with us. 😄

Stability and protection: enough for real trails, not a pack-mule boot

The “mid” cut adds a touch of ankle structure without turning the boot into a stiff cuff.

It's certainly a crossover of sorts that's stable enough within reason, but not intended for proper scrambling or heavy-duty mountain days.

Underfoot, I notice the protective TPU rock plate/shank doing a solid job of taking the sting out of sharp rocks on the trail.

So you get protection… but the overall flex and feel stays closer to a hiking shoe than a traditional backpacking boot, that's what I prefer.

Traction: Megagrip confidence, with one small downhill caveat

With Megagrip + Traction Lug tech, you’d expect strong grip, and that’s pretty much what I have experienced so far. It's very secure on loose gravel, dry rock, grass, and mixed terrain.

The heel brake isn’t super pronounced, so on very steep descents, I wouldn't mind a little more bite but it's enough for most hiking.

Waterproofing and breathability: unusually good for a GTX boot

The Invisible Fit construction is the big story here.

Because the membrane is bonded to the upper, the boot tends to feel less “baggy-liner-ish” and more natural on foot.

Based on my experience with Invisible Fit technology on trail running shoes, they should sustain rain and shallow stream crossings, no problem.

Breathability surprisingly good considering this is a Gore-Tex waterproof boot.

This lines up with why the N45 Mid GTX makes sense for warm-to-cool conditions where you still want waterproofing, not insulation.

Everyday wear is going to be one of the main reasons to buy these

This is the quiet win. The N45 Mid GTX doesn’t look bulky, and the black/blue colorway blends well into normal life. I have been wearing them around town without feeling like they’re clomping around with that “big boot energy”, you may expect from a hiking boot.

If you want one pair that can do trail days and behave like a decent daily shoe, that’s very much the lane here; it acts like a city-to-trail hybrid, not dissimilar to the HOKA Transport 2, in that respect.

Long-term value

Most lightweight hikers tend to be less durable than traditional hikers, and once the outsole is cooked and the midsole has lost it's response, you’re done.

Here, with the N45 being recraftable, the 'value-for-money' math changes.

Danner’s recrafting page lists resole services around $100–$140, and a current turnaround time of 5–6 weeks (plus more extensive rebuild options); so it's not cheap but at least yo get to keep wearing your broken-in, perfect-fitting, trusty hiking boots.

Two realistic expectations to keep in mind:

Recrafting is a huge perk if the upper still has life in it (and my early durability impressions are solid).
The GORE-TEX liner isn’t replaceable on this construction, so if a membrane fails years down the line, that’s the one part you can’t “renew”, right now but the upper is usually the last thing to go anyway.

Pros and cons (the honest version)

Pros

Light and agile for a mid-cut waterproof boot
Springy, energetic cushioning that doesn’t feel sloppy
Excellent wet/dry traction from Megagrip + Traction Lug
Waterproofing that doesn’t feel overly swampy for GTX
Recraftable outsole extends the life of the boot
Looks clean enough for travel + everyday wear

Cons

snug toe box fit won’t suit wide feet
Not the boot for heavy loads, constant scrambling, or “relentless abuse” terrain
Recraftable is awesome, but the GTX liner isn’t replaceable
Premium price

My verdict

If your hiking style leans fast, efficient, and varied (day hikes, long weekends, moderate backpacking loads, mixed weather, travel), the N45 Mid GTX has a really compelling “do-it-all” profile: light on foot, properly waterproof, grippy, and comfortable enough that I enjoy wearing it even when the hike is over.

Shop at REI

I’d skip it if you need a wide fit, or if most of your adventures are technical, rocky, and pack-heavy, where a stiffer, more traditional backpacking boot makes life easier.

For everyone else, this is one of the more convincing arguments I’ve seen for the “modern hiking boot” category, especially because you’re not locked into a two-season lifespan once the outsole wears down.

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