The best hiking shoes now cost $150 or more. That's more than many of us can spend. Fortunately, hikers on a budget can find some bargains and gems in the $100 - $140 range. That's still plenty of money. Realistically, though, that's the minimum price point to pick up a hiking shoe that's clearly a step up from a sneaker or cross trainer that's not made for hiking. If you're looking to spend less on a decent pair of hiking shoes, the best hiking shoes on a budget are the
These budget-friendly hiking shoes are more than enough for many day hikers. They also make good "trail to town" shoes that you can wear for both hiking and everyday wear. Scroll down for more on the best budget hiking shoes.
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best hiking shoes on a budget
adidas TERREX AX4 (best hiking shoes under $100)
Main Benefits:
You won't find the best hiking shoes for less than $100. However, the Adidas TERREX AX4 is a pretty good shoe for the price. Adidas upped its hiking game a few years back when it purchased Five Ten--a good climbing shoe company. The AX4 is a respectable hiking shoe made with mesh uppers and Continental rubber outsoles. It's more or less an average hiking shoe with decent support, breathability, and traction at a decent weight. And that's not bad at all for a shoe that sneaks below $100 (non-waterproof). This budget hiking shoe should be good enough for many day hikes, and its colors look great against denim or khakis.
KEEN Voyageur (budget-friendly hiking shoe)
Main Benefits:
KEEN's recent price increases have bumped the brand out of the budget bracket; however, the Voyageur Low 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 add some room in the toe box. The hiking shoe version of KEEN's popular Newport Sandal, the Voyageur has plenty of ventilating mesh to keep your fee cooler in warm and dry conditions. The Keen Voyageur may be a good pick for budget-oriented hikers in hotter environments who don't need a waterproof hiking shoe.
Merrell Moab 3 Low (best budget-friendly hiking shoe)
Main Benefits:
Merrell promotes the Moab as the world's best-selling hiking shoe. This budget-friendly option offers a little more support and durability than a sneaker, and its Vibram outsoles provide multi-purpose traction that's fine for average hikes and everyday use. For me, the Moab Ventilator (non-waterproof) makes a good match for desert day hikes due to its ventilating mesh and affordable price. As for fit, Moabs run wide and are available in wide sizes. The Moabs may come up short on backpacking trips and harder day hikes; however, this is by far the most popular hiking shoe for hikers on a budget.
Merrell Moab Speed (lightweight hiking shoe on a budget)
Main Benefits:
Merrell also makes a lighter version of the Moab that might interest hikers on a budget: the Moab Speed. The Speed is more of a cross between a hiking shoe and a trail running shoe. It may be a decent hiking shoe for faster hikes on well-maintained trails or a trail to town shoe for everyday wear. It's another Merrell at the entry-level price point that may interest casual hikers and hikers on a budget who prefer a lighter shoe with less stability and support than traditional hiking shoes.
Salomon X Ultra Pioneer (best hiking shoe on a budget)
Main Benefits:
Salomon's X Ultra Pioneer probably offers the best performance out of the styles that made my short list of the best hiking shoes on a budget. The Salomon X Ultra Pioneer is basically the old Salomon X Ultra 3-by far the brand's most successful hiking shoe of the last few years-with Salomon's Climasense waterproofing replacing the GORE-TEX to lower its price. This is a lightweight yet supportive hiking shoe with aggressive traction for steep trails on soft or loose surfaces. For me, this X Ultra Pionoeer is not only the highest performing hiking shoe on this list. It's also the best value, costing $30 less than the similar X Ultra 4 GTX.
Are you feeling these budget hiking shoes?
At the budget price point, hikers can find some good hiking shoes that won't break the bank. I recommend starting with the five options above. That's my "short list" of the best hiking shoes on a budget. These shoes may be more than enough for the average hiker and weekend warrior on a budget. And they tend to make good "trail to town" shoes, too, for hikers who want an outdoor lifestyle shoe for everyday performance.
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Happy Hiking!
