Into the wild with the Danner Trail 2650 Campo

Presented by Danner

It seems summers have been getting longer, hotter and dryer here in Northern California. This fact, alongside an unpleasant prior hiking experience, where I was surprised by the weather and not properly geared up for it, turned me into a bit of a preparedness nerd.

Gear and equipment will not do the work for you, but they will certainly make the experience far more enjoyable--not to mention, more safe.

Good shoes for the weather and terrain make a world of difference.

You’ll know it only takes one set of blisters, ankle twists or toenail losses to drive the point home. And the most important part of finding the right match? Size and fit.

At 5’ tall, I’m a shot-glass chica with little feet. I wear a size 5.5 and though sometimes I can get away with sizing up to a 6, finding shoes that fit, in a style I like, is rare. Picture me frowning next to the kids’ shoe section.

Enter, Danner!

I knew Danner offered options for petite feet. However, my experience with the brand was limited to the sturdy, everything-proof, badassery boots like the Danner Mountain Light series. I was thrilled to see this lighter side of Danner that was new and unknown, at least to me.

Unboxing the Trail 2650 Campo

I had chosen a bright and delightfully sunny orange color (official name ‘Yam’), because life’s too short to wear brown all the time.

My first thought when picking up my new “Yammies” to put them on was “holy cats, they weigh nothing!” I was fascinated and curious at the same time, wondering how such a lightweight hiker would be able to protect my feet and keep me from any unrehearsed descents on the trail, especially when hiking with a 70 lb Husky/Shepherd mutt.

Fit and here for it

The fit was a little tight on the way in, partly due to the sock-like construction. Though it wraps around my foot snuggly, my toes and the balls of my feet have plenty of space and are very happy about it. The cushioning felt so good, even just standing in my living room, which told me I probably waited too long to replace my old trail shoes (oops).

In the wild

I took my Campo “Yammies” on a classic summer hike, a local go-to for Willow (my dog) and me. Along a 6 mile route, we go from pavement to gravelly, dry/dusty trails graduating from flat to stair-master steep. A visit to the pond at our halfway point is a must for Willow to cool off - same for me, since I inevitably end up standing right next to her when she shakes the water off.

My life, both personal and professional, is filled with dogs and dirt. So, any shoe that comes to live with me must be ok with the three D's: dirt, drool and drive.

I may have to add a fourth D for Danner now.

Through it all, the hikers felt amazing. Comfortable, cushioned and grippy--and if you’re somewhat of a Hobbit holding on to a leash attached to a 70 lb Direwolf trotting down a steep hill towards the promise of water bliss, trust me--grippy is important.

My feet stayed cool throughout and when splashed, dried super quick. The sock-like fit, paired with good socks, kept pesky rocks and spiky seed pods out. I took my time and picked up the pace. Regardless of the terrain, I felt safe, light on my feet, and most importantly, stayed upright!

I look forward to many more summer hikes, properly decked out in my Trail 2650 Campo "Yammies."

Cover Photo: Natalia Martinez