Best Budget Hiking Boots for 2026

Budget hiking boots make sense for cash-strapped hikers and for those who don't do a ton of hiking—especially now that most of the best hiking boots cost $200 or more. The thing is, most cheap hiking boots are, well, cheap. But you can find a few budget hiking boots in the $150 range that do a decent job, especially if you're primarily a dayhiker (not a backpacker). As someone who hikes more than 1000 miles each year testing hiking footwear, I've personally tested or sold most of the budget hiking boots on the market. For 2025, the best budget hiking boots for men and women are the Nortiv8 Armadillo, Columbia Newton Ridge Plus, Merrell Moab 3, adidas TERREX AX5 Mid, and Salomon X Ultra 360. 

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Best Budget Hiking Boots

NORTIV8 ARMADILLO ($67) 

Best Cheap Hiking Boot

If there's a cheap hiking boot worth buying, it's the Nortiv8 Armadillo. Most hiking boots that cost $100 or less are basically brown sneakers that don't provide enough support for hikers, but the Armadillo is a happy exception to that rule. I tried out the Nortiv8 Armadillo on a few test hikes and was pleasantly surprised by its stiff soles and substantive ankle collars—enough support for backpacking and more difficult day hiking. Experienced hikers will be able to tell that it's not a premium hiking boot. But the Armadillo has more support than some popular hiking boots that cost twice as much. That means the Nortiv8 Armadillo 2 provides plenty of value. It's my pick for the best cheap hiking boot. 

COLUMBIA NEWTON RIDGE PLUS II ($100)

Best Hiking Boot for $100

Columbia is a popular brand for hikers on a budget, so it's no surprise that the Columbia Newton Ridge Plus ranks as one of the best budget hiking boots. This boot's coated leather uppers provide water resistance for muddy trails and rainy days, and its relatively light construction won't weigh you down on the trail. Another plus, it's available in both a medium and wide fit. That being said, the Newton Ridge doesn't provide much in the way of foot and ankle support. It may look like a traditional hiking boot, but its build seems best suited for casual hikes and groomed hiking trails. If your budget maxes out at $100, the Columbia Newton Ridge Plus may be a small step up from your sneakers or cross-trainers. 

For years, I've recommended the Oboz Sawtooth as the best value in hiking boots. The Sawtooth Ascent is an even more affordable version of that long-time best seller. New for 2025, the Sawtooth Ascent features Oboz's high-quality insoles, decent support and waterproofing, and Vibram outsoles. In spite of this, it's still in the $150 range—today's budget price point. Oboz's fit is another plus. It's snug in the heal (to prevent slippage) and standard (regular size) or roomy (wide size) in the toe box. The Sawtooth X is not quite as much boot at the original Sawtooth X or the flagship Oboz Bridger, but its one of the few boots on this list that can handle moderately difficult hikes. I got my hands on these in Summer 2025 and quickly added them to this list of the best budget hiking boots.

"The world's best selling hiker" is by far the most popular budget hiking boot for men and women. The Merrell Moab 3 Mid is known for its moderate price, wide fit, and "out of the box comfort." I've personally tested and reviewed the Moab and sold a ton of them to budget-strapped hikers when I ran footwear at Appalachian Outdoors. That being said, "out of the box comfort" is a classic marketing phrase that means below average ankle support, and the Moab doesn't have the best track record for durability or waterproofing, either. Still, many men and women love its approachable feel, and its price point is tough to beat. If you're a day hiker or looking for a cheaper hiking boot that you can wear from the summit to the sidewalk, the Merrell Moab Mid is one of the best budget hiking boots.   

ADIDAS TERREX AX5 GORE-TEX ($140)

Lightweight Budget Hiking Boot

I sold several AX4s when I managed footwear at Appalachian Outdoors, and the new adidas TERREXAX5 looks like a solid upgrade that slides in below the $150 price point. The entry-level hiking boot from adidas TERREX, the AX5 has a more athletic build than the other boots on this list. It also boasts premium GORE-TEX waterproofing—which is great value for this price point. Another bonus is that the AX5 is available in more interesting colorways than most budget hiking boots. Listed $60 below most hiking boots I recommend, the TERREX AX5 Mid has value for fast hikers with light packs, day hikers, and urban hikers. 

Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid ($160)

Best Hiking Boot on a Budget

The X Ultra 360 lets budget-oriented hikers get into a more affordable version of Salomon's best-selling X Ultra series. The X Ultra 360 looks and feels similar to the award-winning X Ultra III—which many people considered the best overall hiking boot a few years ago. It's a hiking boot that balances agility with stability while boasting waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX waterproofing and aggressive traction for steep trails with mud, gravel, and loose sediment. If you're looking for a versatile hiking boot that's both lightweight and supportive, the Salomon X Ultra 360 is the best hiking boot on this list. It just misses my $150 cut-off but still sells for $40 less than most of the hiking boots I recommend. 

buy the best budget hiking boots

Thanks to inflation, tariffs, and supply and demand, it's now difficult to find a decent pair of men's or women's hiking boots for less than $150. This short list of the best budget hiking boots highlights the best options for 25-50% less than the going rate for good hiking boots—most of which now cost in the $200 range. 

The other alternative to buying budget hiking boots—which is something I've done a lot—is to time sales to buy higher end hiking boots on deeper discounts. Savvy shoppers can afford the best hiking boots if they don't buy during peak season and instead target end of season and (especially) out of season closeouts on past seasons' styles and colors. Over the years, I've bought plenty of $200 hiking boots for around $100. Here's when and where to buy best hiking boots cheap.

You can also save money by switching to hiking shoes—low-cuts usually cost about $20 less than their mid-cut counterparts. Plus, in many cases, the best hiking shoes will be as supportive, or even more supportive, than budget hiking boots (even though they are low cuts). 

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