REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Good waterproofing
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very supportive
Average traction
Danner Trail 2650 GTX Review
This is a great shoe for light hiking and all-around casual use
Credit: Backcountry
By Ryan Huetter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ June 14, 2023
RELATED: The Best Hiking Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
The Danner Trail 2650 GTX is named after the famous Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from Mexico to Canada. While a trail of that length is beyond the hiking ability of this mid-range shoe, we like it for its simplicity, comfort, and durability. Our reviewers appreciate its easy-going, casual appearance and soft and plush leather/textile upper material. This is a great choice for the weekend day-hiker, and it performed well on trails, though it did not have the structure nor support that we would desire for longer backpacking trips, especially when heavier packs are involved.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on June 14, 2023, to refresh our recommendations for other considered products.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Danner Trail 2650 GTX | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Hiking Shoe |  Best Technical Hiking Shoe | Best for Scrambling |  Best Bang for Your Buck | |
| Price | $123.47 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $180.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $170.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $131.21 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $69.99 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This casual hiking shoe is a good choice for shorter day hikes and is soft and comfortable | Unbelievably comfortable and supportive, these awesome hiking shoes can do it all | This hiking shoe's blend of weight, traction, stability, comfort, and water resistance makes it a great choice for those who like to explore off-trail | This is a supportive hiking shoe that is perfect for scrambling and peak bagging | This inexpensive but good quality hiking shoe is a perfect choice for just starting out on the trails |
| Rating Categories | Danner Trail 2650 GTX | Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX | Salomon X Ultra 5 G... | Salewa Mountain Tra... | Columbia Crestwood |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Danner Trail 2650 GTX | Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX | Salomon X Ultra 5 G... | Salewa Mountain Tra... | Columbia Crestwood |
| Measured Weight (per pair, size 11) | 1.73 lbs | 1.99 lbs | 2.1 lbs (size 14) | 2.16 lbs | 1.83 lbs |
| Upper | Suede, textile | Recycled mesh, nubuck leather | Synthetic with Matryx Kevlar weave | 3F System with Kevlar® Cables, Armoured Mesh, Protective TPU rand | Suede leather, mesh, webbing |
| Lining | Gore-Tex membrane | GORE-TEX Invisible Fit | Gore-Tex membrane | Gore-Tex Extended Comfort | None |
| Flood Height | 2.75 in | 3.0 in | 3.86 in (size 14) | 3.5 in | 1.5 in |
| Last Board/Shank | TPU | Not specified | ADV-C chassis | Nylon | Not specified |
| Midsole | EVA | EVA (30% sugarcane) | EnvergyCell EVA foam | EVA | Techlite |
| Outsole | Vibram 460 with Megagrip | Vibram Megagrip rubber | Contragrip MA rubber | Pomoca MTN Trainer Lite | OmniGrip |
| Width Options | Regular, wide | Regular, wide | Regular, wide | Regular | Regular, Wide |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Danner Trail 2650 GTX is a comfortable, casual shoe that also can hit the local trails, an important distinction considering that most of the shoes in our review are hiking shoes that might work as everyday shoes in a pinch. It scored reasonably well in all of our metrics, most notably in comfort.
The molded toe bumpers on the Trail 2650 give added protection against roots and other objects on the trail.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Comfort
The Trail 2650 is a dream to slip on and walk around in. The pliable blended leather/textile upper material has a soft and reassuring feeling around the foot, and there will be zero break-in period required to make these shoes trail-ready. The fit is roomy, and the additional room created by the Exo Heel System cradles the heel.
Good looking and comfortable, the Trail 2650 is a great shoe for daily use.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
The Danner PlyoGo EVA midsole does an adequate job of cushioning, though we felt that this was one of the softer shoes in our review, and we felt a lot of rocks poking through on rougher trails. The molded rubber toe cap does a great job of protecting the toe against roots, rocks, and other unforeseen obstacles.
Support
To impart support and structure to this shoe, an ultralight EVA midsole called PlyoGO cushions the foot, and a TPU shank adds stability. We found these structural components to be less rigid than many other models we tested. Certainly softer underfoot, these shoes do not provide as much support or protection as others, though this makes them more comfortable in less demanding situations. While we wouldn't prefer these for backpacking trips, they were great on the local trail systems around town.
Reasonable support for general light hiking use, the Trail 2650 felt a bit overmatched in more aggressive hiking terrain.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Traction
These shoes use a Vibram Megagrip outsole, a well-known and trusted rubber compound from one of the most utilized developers of shoe rubber around. We have no complaints about the stickiness of the rubber; it works well in both wet and dry conditions. The lug pattern is on the shallow side, so there is not much bite available in looser conditions like sand, snow, or mud. These will be better suited for trail-based trips where firmer conditions allow the lugs to better contact the terrain below.
The Vibram Megagrip sole provides good grip even on the smooth rocks found on the PNW beach.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Water Resistance
This shoe utilizes a waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex membrane to ensure that water stays on the outside where it belongs. The flood height of this is low (up to 2.75 inches), making deeper puddles a bit of a risk, though that holds true for virtually all of the shoes in this category.
As long as you stay below the 2.75-inch threshold, the Gore-Tex membrane does a great job at waterproofing this shoe.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Weight
With an almost unbelievably low weight of 1.73 pounds, the Trail 2650 are nearly the lightest pair of shoes in our test. No wonder we hardly even noticed them when they were on our feet. These weight savings are easily felt and appreciated on longer hikes, especially when the trails are relatively smooth.
We are impressed by the very low weight of the Danner Trail 2650.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Durability
Durability is one area where this hiking shoe should have a leg up on the competition. The upper material is classically the most vulnerable to degrading first with hiking shoes. So the choice to use a durable material like leather/textile is a good one regarding this shoe's longevity.
This shoe should hold up to normal use for some time, and the leather can be treated periodically to keep it protected.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Should You Buy the Danner Trail 2650 GTX?
The Danner Trail 2650 GTX is one of our favorite shoes to slip on to take on day hikes, and it's also a favorite walking shoe of ours and comfortable enough to wear around town. Simple, with casual styling, they are a good choice if you don't plan on doing much aggressive hiking. Despite having some name-brand technologies such as a Gore-Tex lining and a Vibram sole, these shoes are a bit spendy based on their lack of overall solid hiking ability in more demanding terrain.
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
For an all-around great hiker with versatility, you can depend on the Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX. This shoe is supremely comfortable and very supportive. Overall, it is a better shoe than the Trail 2650 GTX, no matter your hiking goals. If you want the best for lightweight adventures, the Salomon X Ultra Gore-Tex is our top choice for those looking for a light and capable shoe.
—Ryan Huetter
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