Best Hiking Shoes on a Budget 2026

We all dream of buying good, cheap hiking shoes. But the price point for budget hiking shoes in 2026 has ballooned to about $150! That's not a typo—the best hiking shoes now average almost $200. Thanks to Trump's tariffs and trade wars, many hiking shoes cost $40-50 more today than they did six months ago. This means my list of the best hiking shoes on a budget has shrunk considerably for 2026. 

That's the bad news. The good news is that men and women can still find a few good values in $100-150 range. Over the past few years, I've personally tested and reviewed several cheap hiking shoes and entry-level hiking shoes from the best brands. Based on my first-hand experience, the best budget hiking shoes for 2026 are the

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Best Budget Hiking Shoes

adidas TERREX Skychaser AX5

Best Hiking Shoe for $100

The adidas TERREX Skychaser AX5 is the best hiking shoe you can buy for $100 (non-waterproof). Unlike most budget hiking shoes, it's actually supportive. Plus, you can get GORE-TEX waterproofing ($120), which is extremely rare for the budget price point. I've tested my pair on legit mountain trails, and they Skychaser AX5 had plenty of backbone and traction to handle steep switchbacks and rocky sections. The AX5 is an entry-level hiking shoe—the budget version of the regular TERREX Skychaser—but it's good enough for the average day hiker. In my opinion, this is the best value in hiking shoes. 

KEEN Voyageur 

Non-waterproof Hiking Shoe on a Budget

KEEN's recent price increases have bumped the brand out of the budget bracket. But the Voyageur still sneaks in below that $150 price point. It's a well cushioned hiking shoe with KEEN's big toe bumper to protect your toes and give them more wiggle room. Keep in mind the KEEN Voyageur is NOT waterproof—it's more or less the best-selling KEEN Targhee but costs $25 less (due to the lack of waterproofing). The KEEN Voyageur is a good budget hiking shoe for day hikers who don't want waterproof protection. It also has the widest fit among the shoes on this list. 

Merrell Moab Speed 2

Lightweight Budget Hiking Shoe

The Merrell Moab Speed 2 is a good budget hiking shoe for casual hikers and budget-conscious day hikers who move quickly on the trail. It's the lightweight version of Merrell's best-selling Moab (which is now priced well above the budget price point). I actually preferred the Moab Speed 2 to the regular Moab 3 when I tested them side by side last year. The Speed 2 is not as protective as the original Moab, but it's more athletic and currently costs less than $150 (if you buy the non-waterproof version). Like most Merrells, the Moab Speed 2 is not a true hiking shoe. It's more of a "sniker"—a cross between a casual sneaker and a hiking shoe. This means the Speed 2 can pull double-duty as a budget hiking shoe and everyday shoe.

Learn more in my full Moab Speed 2 Review.

Salomon X Ultra 360

Best Budget Hiking Shoe 

The Salomon X Ultra 360 is the entry-level version of the X Ultra 5, which is arguably the overall best hiking shoe out there. Like the flagship X Ultra, the X Ultra 360 is a lightweight yet supportive hiking shoe with aggressive traction for steep trails on soft or loose surfaces. It's very similar to the old X Ultra 3—many people's favorite version of the X Ultra—with a slightly more comfortable build. I've personally tested the Salomon X Ultra 360 and consider it the best budget hiking shoe overall. The X Ultra 360 is athletic enough for fast hikers and sturdy enough for harder trails. It's also appropriate for all-around outdoor wear, too. (Pro tip: 360 means "all around" in Salomon-speak.) If this shoe fits you, it's the best hiking shoe on this list, quality- and performance-wise.

SALOMON X ULTRA 360 EDGE

Budget Hiking Shoe for Day Hikes + Urban Wear

The Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge is another variant of the best-selling X Ultra. It's lighter than the flagship X Ultra 5 with younger ("edgier") aesthetics than the X Ultra 360 above. Like its siblings, the X Ultra 360 Edge is athletic enough for fast hikers and sturdy enough for harder trails. Plus, it features "sportstyle" fashion that's popular in many cities. If you're after an athtletic hiking shoe with some fashion cred, the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge has sidewalk-to-summit credibility. Learn more in my first-hand review. 

Are you feeling these budget hiking shoes?

It sucks that men and women now need to shell out $200 for the best hiking shoes. But the 5 budget hiking shoes on this list are solid—and cost $50-100 less than most hiking shoes on the market. 

These entry-level hiking shoes may be good enough for the average day hiker and weekend warriors who need to watch their budgets. Plus, each of my first-hand recommendations work as "trail to town" shoes for hikers who want an outdoor lifestyle shoe for everyday performance.

Have you found a budget hiking shoe that you like? If so, please consider purchasing them through the affiliate links above. That doesn't cost you anything, but that gives me a little back for all the hours I've spend creating free content to help people find hiking shoes that fit their feet and match their hikes.

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Happy Hiking!