Field-Test Journal for the Danner N45

Ice & Island Lakes • San Juan Mountains, CO
10 mi • +2,800 ft

New Boots, Big Hike

This was my first “big-boi” outing in the new Danner N45. I’ve logged daily wear, travel, and shorter trails since the boots launched in April, but I’d been waiting for a real spring thaw to push them hard.

Trail Context

Route: Ice & Island Lakes, between Silverton and Ouray
Start: 7 a.m.
Stats: 10 miles, 2,800 ft gain (AllTrails)

For comparison, I usually hike in Danner Lights—heavy leather, high ankle, bomb-proof waterproofing that lets me turn off the brain and bulldoze up or down anything. The N45s shed that extra weight for a Kevlar-woven upper and soft rubber outsole.

1 / Waterfall Crossing

Within the first quarter mile the trail forces a slick log crossing below a 75-foot waterfall.

Concern: Wet feet for the next two hours.

Outcome: Bear-crawled the logs

—soft rubber stuck to the ice, waterproof booty kept out the spray. Dry feet, big confidence.

2 / Gravel Switchbacks

Steep, loose gravel demanded traction. The softer outsole layered over nitrogen-infused Endurofoam felt noticeably springy. I was rock-to-rock instead of slog-to-slog.

3 / Stream-Soaked Meadow

Spring runoff turned portions of the trail into ankle-deep trickles. Normally I’d just charge through in the Lights; here I hop-skipped to stay on the high-dry spots. A fresh reminder of how agile the N45 feels.

Quick sock-off creek crossing downstream: Kevlar upper dried fast in the sun while I lounged in the grass—zero moisture soak.

4 / Snowfield & Ice Lake

Higher up, the trail became a shallow stream, then a knee-deep snowfield near Ice Lake. Again, less moisture pickup than I’d expect from a fabric boot, and the socks dried quickly on a rock break.

5 / Exposure Crux

A narrow, south-facing ribbon carved across a steep slope—one misstep would be a 150-yard tumble. Here, the nimble N45 silhouette and soft rubber gave precise feedback on tiny footholds. I’d have felt clunkier (and less certain) in my Danner Lights.

6 / Island Lake & Descent

Island Lake was still iced over, but turquoise water bled through the thaw. On the descent, the weight savings really shone. Softer rubber and Endurofoam cushioned rock-hops, sparing my knees. Kevlar upper flexed on steep downhills, avoiding the toe-jam I get in the Lights.

Bottom Line: The N45 trades a little tank-like invincibility for a lot of spring and precision. For big day-hikes with mixed terrain—water crossings, snow patches, sketchy ledges—those grams saved and that soft rubber pay real dividends.

After ten miles and 2,800 feet, kicking them off felt good, but nowhere near the relief I expect after a day in heavier leather.

Field-Test Journal for the Danner N45

New Boots, Big Hike

This was my first “big-boi” outing in the new Danner N45. I’ve logged daily wear, travel, and shorter trails since the boots launched in April, but I’d been waiting for a real spring thaw to push them hard.

Trail Context

Route: Ice & Island Lakes, between Silverton and Ouray

Start: 7 a.m.

Stats: 10 miles, 2,800 ft gain (AllTrails)

For comparison, I usually hike in Danner Lights—heavy leather, high ankle, bomb-proof waterproofing that lets me turn off the brain and bulldoze up or down anything. The N45s shed that extra weight for a Kevlar-woven upper and soft rubber outsole.

1 / Waterfall Crossing

Within the first quarter mile the trail forces a slick log crossing below a 75-foot waterfall.

Concern: Wet feet for the next two hours.

Outcome: Bear-crawled the logs

—soft rubber stuck to the ice, waterproof booty kept out the spray. Dry feet, big confidence.

2 / Gravel Switchbacks

Steep, loose gravel demanded traction. The softer outsole layered over nitrogen-infused Endurofoam felt noticeably springy. I was rock-to-rock instead of slog-to-slog.

3 / Stream-Soaked Meadow

Spring runoff turned portions of the trail into ankle-deep trickles. Normally I’d just charge through in the Lights; here I hop-skipped to stay on the high-dry spots. A fresh reminder of how agile the N45 feels.

Quick sock-off creek crossing downstream: Kevlar upper dried fast in the sun while I lounged in the grass—zero moisture soak.

4 / Snowfield & Ice Lake

Higher up, the trail became a shallow stream, then a knee-deep snowfield near Ice Lake. Again, less moisture pickup than I’d expect from a fabric boot, and the socks dried quickly on a rock break.

5 / Exposure Crux

A narrow, south-facing ribbon carved across a steep slope—one misstep would be a 150-yard tumble. Here, the nimble N45 silhouette and soft rubber gave precise feedback on tiny footholds. I’d have felt clunkier (and less certain) in my Danner Lights.

6 / Island Lake & Descent

Island Lake was still iced over, but turquoise water bled through the thaw. On the descent, the weight savings really shone. Softer rubber and Endurofoam cushioned rock-hops, sparing my knees. Kevlar upper flexed on steep downhills, avoiding the toe-jam I get in the Lights.

Bottom Line: The N45 trades a little tank-like invincibility for a lot of spring and precision. For big day-hikes with mixed terrain—water crossings, snow patches, sketchy ledges—those grams saved and that soft rubber pay real dividends.

After ten miles and 2,800 feet, kicking them off felt good, but nowhere near the relief I expect after a day in heavier leather.

Field-Test Journal for the Danner N45

New Boots, Big Hike

This was my first “big-boi” outing in the new Danner N45. I’ve logged daily wear, travel, and shorter trails since the boots launched in April, but I’d been waiting for a real spring thaw to push them hard.

Trail Context

Route: Ice & Island Lakes, between Silverton and Ouray

Start: 7 a.m.

Stats: 10 miles, 2,800 ft gain (AllTrails)

For comparison, I usually hike in Danner Lights—heavy leather, high ankle, bomb-proof waterproofing that lets me turn off the brain and bulldoze up or down anything. The N45s shed that extra weight for a Kevlar-woven upper and soft rubber outsole.

1 / Waterfall Crossing

Within the first quarter mile the trail forces a slick log crossing below a 75-foot waterfall.

Concern: Wet feet for the next two hours.

Outcome: Bear-crawled the logs

—soft rubber stuck to the ice, waterproof booty kept out the spray. Dry feet, big confidence.

2 / Gravel Switchbacks

Steep, loose gravel demanded traction. The softer outsole layered over nitrogen-infused Endurofoam felt noticeably springy. I was rock-to-rock instead of slog-to-slog.

3 / Stream-Soaked Meadow

Spring runoff turned portions of the trail into ankle-deep trickles. Normally I’d just charge through in the Lights; here I hop-skipped to stay on the high-dry spots. A fresh reminder of how agile the N45 feels.

Quick sock-off creek crossing downstream: Kevlar upper dried fast in the sun while I lounged in the grass—zero moisture soak.

4 / Snowfield & Ice Lake

Higher up, the trail became a shallow stream, then a knee-deep snowfield near Ice Lake. Again, less moisture pickup than I’d expect from a fabric boot, and the socks dried quickly on a rock break.

5 / Exposure Crux

A narrow, south-facing ribbon carved across a steep slope—one misstep would be a 150-yard tumble. Here, the nimble N45 silhouette and soft rubber gave precise feedback on tiny footholds. I’d have felt clunkier (and less certain) in my Danner Lights.

6 / Island Lake & Descent

Island Lake was still iced over, but turquoise water bled through the thaw. On the descent, the weight savings really shone. Softer rubber and Endurofoam cushioned rock-hops, sparing my knees. Kevlar upper flexed on steep downhills, avoiding the toe-jam I get in the Lights.

Bottom Line: The N45 trades a little tank-like invincibility for a lot of spring and precision. For big day-hikes with mixed terrain—water crossings, snow patches, sketchy ledges—those grams saved and that soft rubber pay real dividends.

After ten miles and 2,800 feet, kicking them off felt good, but nowhere near the relief I expect after a day in heavier leather.

Car Camping over the years