Not too long ago, Danner took four of their best-selling boots and redesigned them to accommodate the biomechanics of a woman’s foot—the Inquire Mid Boot was one of them.
While there are plenty of brilliant women’s hiking boots on the market, there are still some that undergo the ‘shrink and pink’ process, then have the label ‘women’ slapped across them. The Inquire Mid Boots from Danner don’t sit in this category. With a narrower heel, added arch support, and a slightly roomier toe box, these boots are crafted for optimal support and performance, ensuring both comfort and functionality on every adventure.
I’m a big fan of Danner and was very impressed when I tested the Mountain 600, so I was excited to see how this re-designed fit would feel. Would it really make much of a difference on the trails? Read on to find out.
Danner Inquire Mid review: Price and availability
As the Inquire Mid is part of Danner’s ‘Precision Fit’ collection—a group of boots specifically designed for the women’s foot—it’s only available for women and is available for £140.38/$170 from the official Danner website. It has a lovely patchwork design and is available in four earthy colourways.
Danner Inquire Mid review: Specifications
- Best for: Light hikes, long-distance walks
- Weight: 454g (per boot in women’s UK 5.5/US 7.5)
- Upper: Suede
- Midsole: Danner Plyolite EVA
- Waterproofing: Danner Dry
- Insulation: Non-insulated
- Outsole: Vibram Inquire
- Insole: OrthoLite insole (removable)
Danner Inquire Mid review: Design and materials
The Inquire Mid is an aesthetically pleasing hiking boot, with a suede patchwork design that comes in a range of earthy colours. It’s part of Danner’s Precision Fit collection, a line of the brand’s best-selling boots that have been redesigned specifically for women’s feet—a thoughtful departure from the traditional approach where women’s shoes are often just shrunk down versions of men’s.
Addressing the unique anatomy of a woman’s foot, the Inquire Mid has been crafted with a narrower heel for a more locked in feel, a slightly wider toe box for extra comfort, and a lower heel drop to accommodate a woman’s higher arch structure.
The majority of the upper is made from suede, which adds to the boots' aesthetic appeal. However, it is a bit of a nightmare to keep clean if you go on a really muddy hike (as I discovered). That being said, the front of the boot has quite a large rubber toe cap, which offers some protection from this, as well as safeguarding the toes.
The Inquire Mid has ‘Danner Dry’ waterproof lining, but is a non-insulated boot. Despite this, I found my feet remained cosy and warm while up on the peaks in the 10-degree sunshine, without overheating. If you do require a warmer boot, there is a (less attractive) insulated version. That being said, you might find the Inquire Mid just fine, due to its suede material and very small holes on the side.
There’s a nice amount of padding around the boot’s heel and tongue, and inside the boot is a removable OrthoLite insole, for additional support and temperature regulation. The boot also has a Plyolite® EVA midsole for lightweight comfort and shock absorption.
The Vibram Megagrip outsole, made from a special compound rubber, which Danner says provides “incredible grip on wet and dry surfaces”. Their multi-directional lugs are quite sparse and shallow, and split at the heel for “adaptive traction”
Danner Inquire Mid review: Performance and comfort
Considering I had previously got on so well with Danner’s Mountain 600 boot—which wasn’t part of the Precision Fit collection—I was very excited to test these out. Straight out of the box they slipped onto my feet like a glass slipper, with a very comfortable, contoured fit and, although quite a narrow toe box, I had still had enough wriggle room, despite wearing a thick pair of hiking socks. The laces are pretty short, just something to bare in mind if you’re a double-knotter.
I kicked things off with an easy canal walk, just to be on the safe side. Everything was off to a flying start, my feet felt supported, cushioned and there was a nice amount of energy return. Then, after about 40 minutes, my little toe on my left foot began rubbing, and I was left with a pretty bad blister (I don’t have particularly wide feet either). Naturally, I was bitterly disappointed, because I loved the style of the boots, but I thought this may just be a break-in period. Thankfully, it was as and, afterward, no more blisters were endured.
I decided to take the boots on a longer hike, and one of my favourites, the Cats Back, a 2hr 40min circular route near Hereford, with panoramic views of both England and Wales. The route has a steep incline, grassy start, but then levels off with gravel, rocky and grassy terrain, and then gradually declines back to the start.
Despite being sunny, the ground, in certain areas, was still wet and quite muddy, however, I found the grip on the boots very good, even making my way over wet stone and rocks on the way down. Naturally, I had to stomp through some muddy puddles to test out the Danner Dry waterproof lining—big tick here. However, trying to remove mud from the suede upper wasn’t so easy afterwards.
Although the boots don’t have insulation, and the temperate that day was pretty chilly, particularly being so high up and open, my feet still felt warm inside my hiking socks. I do think these boots would also be fine in much colder weather too but, anything below freezing, then you may want to opt for the insulated option, or just opt for a very warm pair of socks.
My feet were happy for the near three hours that I spent wearing the Inquire Mid boot. I particularly found the narrower heel meant I could power along with a lot more ease, as my heel was far more secure and not constantly shifting up and down. When I returned back to the car and swapped over to my normal shoes, it became even more apparent how much comfort, warmth and support these boots had given me. The changes to a women’s hiking boot may not be drastic, but they really do make a difference.
Danner Inquire Mid review: Verdict
The Inquire Mid boots have quickly become my favorite pair of hiking boots. They not only provide excellent support for the unique biomechanics of a woman’s foot, but they also look great too, offering a refreshing departure from traditional hiking boot designs.
Although they do have a slight break-in period, once you surpass this, they’re incredibly comfortable, with lots of support and cushioning in the arch area and the slightly narrower heel for a secure fit and less slippage.
If your boots become a bit battered with time, then you can use Danner’s Recrafting Service, to help extend their life for many more adventures to come. Whether you’re hitting the park to get some daily steps in, or heading out on more technical terrain, the Inquire Mid is a top choice.
