Done a search online for affordable hiking shoes but not really found that answered? Our guide has you covered.
As hikers, we’ve been frustrated so many times by trying to find budget friendly hiking shoes only to be presented with options well over $200/£200. When we say affordable, we mean roughly $100–140/£80–130 price point.
We’ve hiked hundreds of miles through just about every weather condition you can imagine in the shoes we recommend below, and they still feature predominantly in our gear rotation.
Whatever your reason for wanting budget hiking shoes, our guide below covers five of what we personally think are the best affordable hiking shoes right now.
Each hiking shoe has been personally tested by us, on real hikes for well over a year so we can confidently say that they’re still performing well and offer great value. They just happen to be affordable too.
We don’t just focus on specs and jargon; we focus on what matters most – how a hiking shoe handles on hiking trails. We’re everyday hikers like you, just with a passion for making sure you get the lowdown on what gear is worth it or not.
We don’t believe that budget or cheap should mean flimsy or something you’ll have to throw away in a year’s time. Our personally selected favorites below will last.
So read on for our no fluff guide to affordable hiking shoes. And if you want to dive deeper, this guide is designed to sit in complement to our larger guides: best hiking shoes and best waterproof hiking shoes to give you plenty of other options.
KEEN Women’s Hightrail Waterproof Hiking Shoe
Tested by Fay Doyle
Type: Waterproof hiking shoe
Sizing: Tested in women’s fit, men’s version available here
Best used for: Perfect three season hiking shoe for rain and shine, light to medium intensity trails.
I’m pretty confident to make the claim that I think the KEEN Hightrail are the best affordable hiking shoes for women (and men) on the market at the moment. I have practically lived in them since I got them and find it hard to want to put any others on.
The reason for my lack of wanting to take them off is because they are unbelievably comfortable. I have slightly wider feet, and I find they complement my foot shape perfectly. The fact that they’re budget hiking shoes is just a bonus.
The KEEN Hightrail hiking shoes get an incredible balance between being lightweight (at around 453g per pair at my size) and having a KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber outsole. This has meant that whilst hiking, I can move swiftly with confident foot placement and only feel very prominent rocks through them.
The rand around the toe is also fantastic for keeping your feet well positioned whilst you hike, and I’ve found this particularly comforting for steep downhills. They’re also fully waterproof, making use of their in house KEEN.DRY Waterproof technology.
I’ve used these shoes through all conditions apart from heavy snow (more to do with insulation) and have stood up to deep puddles and low stream crossings. In summer, I’ve never found my feet sweaty, and they are very breathable.
They’ve been with me to the Albanian Alps, Northumberland, Scotland, hiking in my home Lake District mountains, on trails like the Easedale Tarn walk where my picture below illustrates, some of our hikes in Vietnam and China.
For me, the KEEN Hightrail gets it right: affordability, durability, comfort and waterproofing. If you want to see how they compare to other waterproof hiking shoes we’ve tested, read our full best waterproof hiking shoes guide.
My take:
- Great, all round spec for the price
- Extremely comfortable
- Durable and extremely good value
Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Shoes
Tested by Fay Doyle
Type: Offered as both a waterproof and non-waterproof hiking shoe (waterproof costs more depending on retailer, which is why we’ve only provided an Amazon link as on places like REI, they fall over our budget).
Sizing: Tested in women’s fit, men’s version available here
Best used for: When you want real comfort and perfect for hikers who need extra support in this area. The waterproof version is really well sealed, but don’t confuse them with the non-waterproof version!
At this point I’ve had a couple of pairs of Merrell Moab’s over the years as they are incredibly comfortable. The only caveat with them is that Merrell do seem to price differently based on your shoe size. They also cost more at some retailers if you want the waterproof variant.
As we are sticking within a budget for this guide to good affordable hiking shoes, we’ve provided only the Amazon link as actually, places like REI do not quite offer the same value for the waterproof option.
The Merrell Moab 3’s are some of my favorite hiking shoes and I think they are some of the best budget hiking shoes for both women and men out there. Moab’s are well known for the comfort they offer, and they do just that. They’re a pretty iconic hiking shoe, and it’s not without reason.
I know so many hikers who have these shoes it’s not even funny, they’re even my father in law’s favorites’ too.
They are one of the only pairs of budget hiking shoes I’ve put on straight from the box and they have been comfortable to go hiking right away. I generally advise against this, but the Merrell Moab’s are different.
This comes from the Super Rebound Compound and Merrell Air Cushion that provide shock absorption and help keep your feet stable.
With this in mind, I’ve found myself reaching for these hiking shoes when we have a long hike planned. I’ve worn these shoes to go on multi day trails in places like Lassen Volcanic and Shasta. I’ve been on backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada in them, and I never have a doubt that they’ll be comfortable.
They are not the most technical hiking shoe, but their comfort and durability make them a great all rounder. They’re very grippy, making use of a Vibram TC5+ outsole, what this means in reality is that they’re perfect for taking on a whole variety of terrain, as I’ve experienced.
I’ve tried both the waterproof and non-waterproof version of these shoes, and I genuinely think that in terms of waterproofing, they’re on of the best budget waterproof hiking shoes on the market.
However, this does come at a slight compromise, they do feel a little sweaty, especially on longer trails in warmer places. For me, this trade off to have full waterproofing and trail versatility is worth it.
If you don’t need waterproofing and hike mostly in dry conditions, then the non-waterproof version provides exceptional breathability from it’s mesh lining. They also dry our very quickly too.
If you’re interested in this pair, you should read our full review of the Merrell Moab 3 hiking shoes which goes into more detail on their specific performance. If you want to compare them against other shoes, they’re also included in our best hiking shoes guide.
My take:
- Some of the most comfortable hiking shoes out there, you can’t go wrong and they’re also excellent if you’re short on time to break them in.
- Really affordable option that will last for years.
- Make sure you double check whether you’re buying the waterproof or non-waterproof version depending on your needs!
Adidas Terrex AX4 Hiking Shoe
Tested by Matt Doyle
Type: Waterproof hiking shoe, robust and structured.
Sizing: Tested in men’s, women’s version available here.
Best used for: Great for colder weather and winter (without extreme temperatures or heavy snow). Very grippy!
I’ve always loved Adidas Terrex’s offerings, and I’ve tested out a good number of their hiking shoes at this point. I love that they create a lot of affordable hiking shoes under $100 that actually perform well. The AX4 is one of them.
I’ve been wearing these hiking shoes in my rotation for over a year at this point and they’ve become one of my favorites for mixed trail use. I have been impressed by their grip from the start thanks to their Continental outsole.
In my home Lake District mountains, we experience heavy rain at times. In shoulder seasons and into winter, this can lead to mossy rocks on mountain trails that become very slippery. Whenever I wear the Terrex AX4’s, I have a lot more confidence in my foot placement.
They also have a very protective toe rand, which is helpful when heading up into the mountains too; the combination of grip and toe protection add a lot of confidence when I’m coming down steep slopes.
Their waterproof lining, provided by a Gore-Tex membrane adds to this, and I’ve used these hiking shoes for trails right up until the point where things start to get quite snowy and icy. They’ve handled deep puddles, rocky crossings and low streams – basically anything you can expect to find in varied terrain.
I am a great fan of more rigid hiking boots, and I think one of the main reasons I love these shoes is because they feel rigid in a similar way. In fact, in many ways, they feel similar to the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX Hiking which we’ve also tested in detail and reviewed (and that I loved for the same reason).
I love the extra support this gives me and if you’re a hiker that often needs that extra boost, I think you’ll find them a great option. I think that these AX4’s are some of the best affordable hiking shoes for men and women out there, without a doubt.
If you’re interested in the Terrex AX4’s, you should read our full review of them here. You’ll also find more options in our larger waterproof hiking shoes guide, which this guide to the best budget hiking shoes sits in compliment to.
My take:
- These hiking shoes have all the quick movement of a shoe but the rigidity of a boot.
- They’re very waterproof and also quite well insulated, meaning they’re pretty good for most the way through the year.
- They are built to last and very comfortable once broken in well.
The North Face Hedgehog Fastpack
Tested by Fay Doyle
Type: Waterproof hiking shoe
Sizing: Tested in women’s, men’s version available here
Best used for: Great for serious hill walkers, hikers and fast and light hiking. Can be used in three seasons.
I have been wearing The North Face Hedgehog hiking shoes since I first got into hiking in one shape or form. They were actually the first hiking shoes Matt introduced me to, and we’ve both had various pairs of them over the years. So, we’ve been testing these for well over 15 years at this point.
One of the reasons for this is because we both think they are some of the most comfortable hiking shoes on the planet. They fit extremely well, and I think we literally walked our pairs at the time to death in covid when all we could do was walk straight from our front door.
I don’t wear my current pair as frequently as I’ve worn previous pairs, but for a long time they were the only hiking shoes I’d wear. This is because they get a brilliant combination of being waterproof (thanks to The North Face’s DryVent technology), comfortable and robust enough for varying terrain.
I have hiked around the world in The North Face Hedgehogs’. They’ve handled extremely varied trails in places like Joshua Tree, hiking near Las Vegas, the Sierra Nevada, hiking in Los Angeles, The Grand Canyon, Switzerland and the Dolomites in Italy. I even have great memories of pouring out red sand from them on days working on our project on native lands Utah and Arizona.
I love that they’re offered at under $100, and because of that, I feel that they are some of the best budget hiking shoes you’ll ever buy. They’re dependable, and comfortable immediately out of the box.
Our full The North Face Hedgehog Fastpack review covers them in more detail, and they’re also included in our bigger waterproof hiking shoes guide which this guide to the best affordable hiking shoes for women and men sits in compliment of.
My take:
- Very comfortable with track record of being really reliable.
- I don’t think really think they’re fully waterproof, but they handle anything up to heavy rain well.
- Great price point.
Columbia Men’s Facet 75 Outdry
Tested by Matt Doyle
Type: Breathable, water resistant (not waterproof) hiking shoe.
Sizing: Tested in men’s, women’s version available here.
Best used for: Most suited to late spring, summer and early autumn/fall hiking. Great in warmer and drier climates and for lower-level hikes.
I developed a real love for the Columbia Men’s Facet 75 Outdry for lower-level hikes when we visited Norway, because I think they’re a great pair of comfortable affordable hiking shoes.
When we first got hold of them, admittedly, I thought they were a bit of a wildcard, as I usually prefer more rigid hiking shoes, but I actually really loved the softness and the quick movement these offer.
Whilst they’re not fully waterproof – even though the name would suggest it (they’re water resistant) I’ve found them to offer great breathability. At this point, when I’m hiking somewhere I know will be dry and hot, they’re the option I reach for first.
This was also one of the reasons I brought them as one of my options on our Seychelles trip, as I knew it would be hot and humid.
I loved what they offered me in this hotter environment, as they kept my feet feeling really dry and comfortable on coastal hikes (I opted for another pair for wetter jungle and rainforest style hiking) and free from sweat.
If you’re looking for an all-round hiking shoe that can keep you covered for most eventualities, then I don’t think they’ll be quite right, but if you want a shoe that is great for hotter climates, then I think they are as great pair of affordable hiking shoes for men.
We go into more detail on specific features of these hiking shoes in our full review here, and you can also see them compared against other options in our best hiking shoes guide, which we’d recommend reading!
My take:
- Good hiking shoe for warmer trails as great breathability puts them ahead.
- Not good for rain as they aren’t waterproof.
- Grippy and dependable, general hiker.
Why Trust Our Recommendations
All of the affordable hiking shoe recommendations we’ve made above are our actual favorites. Really. We see our gear and equipment reviews as moving targets as we hike more, year on year.
We’re real hikers and it doesn’t make sense for us to recommend products that we don’t actually use whilst hiking.
We’ve been through endless pairs of uncomfortable hiking shoes that have made us miserable over the years. We know this pain point (no pun intended) very well! We know how important it is to be able to trust reviews, and this is exactly why we walk the talk here.
When it comes to an affordable hiking shoes review, guides often include a ‘cheap hiking shoes’ option but won’t think about their longevity. They’re seen as a disposable option.
Every single pair of shoes we’ve included has been 1+ year (some more like 5-6 years) tested by us personally. This guide is a result of years of walking thousands of miles in the same locations you see in our travel and hiking guides.
Our Final Thoughts on Affordable Hiking Shoes
As we said at the start, we don’t think that affordable needs to mean compromising on durability when it comes to hiking shoes.
Many people have this idea that the most affordable hiking shoes are the ones that will drop to pieces after a season, and we feel passionate about showing that if you choose wisely, this doesn’t need to be the case.
We’ve been testing the shoes we’ve included here for over a year at least, some even up to fifteen years, and they’re options we know perform well. We know how important this knowledge is for you, especially if your budget is tight.
As it turns out, budget doesn’t have to have those negative connotations you may be familiar with, and we actually think that come of the best comfortable hiking shoes are also the most affordable.
We really hope our guide has helped you find an option that gets the balance between performing well, lasting well and fitting your budget. And whilst this guide keeps it short and very curated to our favorite options on a budget, our guides to the best waterproof hiking shoes and the best hiking shoes cover many more options too, which are well worth reading too!
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