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If you are looking for a quality pair of hiking boots, then we have you covered. We have 5 quality hiking boots for men, and 5 for women. This means it shouldn’t be that difficult to find a pair that it is going to be perfect for you.
Before we dive into our hiking boot reviews, we want to give you a few tips on finding the right hiking boots for your feet.
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How to Choose the Best Hiking Boots for Under $100
It can be difficult to find a pair of quality hiking boots under $100. This is because you will be dealing with a rather limited budget. Most hiking shoes will go for well in excess of that. However, we do think that we have a good number of tips that you can use to work out which shoes are going to be perfect for your hiking trips.
What type of hiking are you doing?
There are two main types of hiking. You have hiking shoes and backpacking shoes. Both for hiking, but both serve a completely different purpose:
- Standard hiking shoes will likely have either a low or a medium cut. This means that they are lightweight, although they will not provide much support if you are walking while carrying a backpack. Their mid-soles are flexible. This means that they will be best for traversing soft terrain.
- Backpacking Boots: if you are planning on hiking for long periods of time, the hiking boots are the route to go down. They have stiff soles, which means that they are good at all types of terrain. They also sit higher, which provides ankle support when carrying heavy loads for a long period of time.
Since it is difficult to find quality backpacking boots under $100, we are mostly going to be focusing on standard hiking shoes here, although many of these options can still be used on the multi-day hikes without any issues.
Quality of the material
While $100 hiking boots are going to offer nowhere near the same quality as something that is 3x the price, you can still find some that have built with decent materials.
The quality of the material is going to be vital when you are choosing a pair of shoes. If you are using your hiking boots properly, then you are really going to be putting them through their paces. You don’t want them to fall apart, do you? On this page, we have tried to ensure that we only include the toughest shoes in the sub-$100 range.
Rands
If you look on hiking shoes, you will often notice small strips of plastic. These are known as ‘rands’. They are there to ensure that your shoes are a little bit tougher. They are vital when you are out there walking. If a pair of hiking boots doesn’t have rands, then they are not going to be a decent pair of hiking boots at all.
Waterproof
Unless you are incredibly lucky, it is going to rain at some point when you are out there walking. This means that you want a pair of hiking boots that will keep that water out. The only thing worse than hiking in the rain is having your boots filled with puddles.
The Sole
There are a lot of things that you need to think about when it comes to the sole of the shoe.
Obviously, you want the sole to be made from a tough material. When you are hiking, it is likely that you will be navigating a lot of rocky terrain. Rocks can wear down the soles of shoes rather quickly. If you purchase a cheap pair of hiking boots, then it won’t be long before holes start to form in the soles. At that point, the boots will be pretty useless.
The soles should also have deep grooves on them. This will provide decent amounts of traction when you are walking, even on slippery surfaces.
Tongue
The tongue needs to be gusseted. This means that the tongue of the hiking boot shouldn’t only be connected at the bottom of the tongue. It needs to be connected on both the sides too. This will help to ensure you aren’t dealing with small stones and the like getting into your boots while you are walking.
Breathibility
Finally, you will want to look for a pair of breathable shoes. You don’t want your feet to be sweating while you are walking miles and miles, right? Not only is this uncomfortable, but it can increase the risk of blisters.
Best Hiking Boots for Men
1. GRITON Men’s Hiking Boots
If you hike a lot in wet conditions, then these boots from Griton are going to be a fantastic bet for you. We believe that they are some of the most waterproof boots on this list. In fact, they are so waterproof that they could probably keep your feet dry or 24-hours, even in heavy downpours. According to the manufacturer, you can also work through water for a long time before your feet are going to get wet.
The sole of these shoes is made of a thick rubber. This ensures that the heel has been built to last. It has the perfect amount of hardness to it too. This ensures that the Griton boots can be used in all hiking conditions.
These boots will provide a huge amount of protection for the upper ankle too. This ensures that you will be able to walk for hours and hours with them, even when you are carrying heavy loads on your back.
The real highlight for us, however, is the quality of the insole. The insole uses elastic rubber. It moves as you walk. This provides a much more comfortable hike. So, if you normally struggle with tired feet after walking for hours and hours on end, these may be a brilliant option for you.
2. EYUSHIJA Men‘s Waterproof Boots
These waterproof boots are going to be among the cheapest boots on this list of the 10 best hiking boots under $100. However, if you look at them, they look very expensive. This is all due to the quality faux leather that they offer. This faux leather has been treated properly. This ensures that it is fully waterproof.
Comfort has clearly been at the forefront of the designer’s mind here. You have padding around the collar. This helps to add a bit of extra comfort when you are hiking longer distances. Once laid up, these boots are very comfortable. You feel as if your feet are sitting nice and snug. They don’t move around at all. The wide feet means that these shoes are going to be perfect for those that have wider feet.
Now, at this sort of price, you cannot really expect the soles to be the best quality imaginable. However, for the price, you really do get a lot of bang for your buck. You probably won’t be able to enjoy days and days of hiking in these boots, particularly in more treacherous conditions. However, if you are doing a spot of day hiking here and there, then they are going to be ideal for you.
3. Timberland Flume Men’s Hiking Boots
Normally, you don’t find Timberland hiking boots at this low of a price. Now, we are not going to lie. The Timberland Flume is not going to be as rugged as some of the other products in the Timberland range. However, they are still of a decent quality. For those that want Timberlands without the premium price tag, then these shoes are going to be perfect.
Unlike many of the other hiking boots on this page, these shoes use real leather. So, you have a pretty solid construction right there. The leather has been treated in order to ensure that the shoes are completely waterproof.
The gusseted tongue on these shoes will help to keep out stones, twigs, and all of those other annoying, small items that you will often find out there on the trail.
The midsole feels just like a Timberland pair of hiking boots should feel like. They offer brilliant absorption from shocks, and they will provide a huge amount of comfort, even if you have been hiking for days and days on end.
The sole of the shoe is far better than it deserves to be at this price. They offer a huge amount of traction, and these soles will provide a huge amount of use, even if you are regularly hiking over tougher terrain.
4. Columbia Men’s Waterproof Breathable Men’s Hiking Boots
These shoes are made from a combination of leather and suede. This means that not only do they look amazing, but they are also very tough. They can put up with most conditions.
The midsole is among the most comfortable at this price range. This is because Columbia has put a lot of effort into producing a midsole that is not only incredibly comfortable while you are walking but is very lightweight. This means that you can walk for hours and hours on end without worrying about your hiking boots wearing down your feet. In fact, the midsole on these are so great that we reckon that they would be great for people that are heading out for a few days at a time.
With a solid, rubber sole. These shoes are clearly built to last. They could probably last a couple of years, even if you do regular hiking. While the traction isn’t the best, they should still be tough over most surfaces.
5. Free Soldier Men’s Waterproof Hiking Boots
We are going to wrap up the men’s list of hiking boots with this offering from Free Soldier.
These shoes are made from a TPU material. This is incredibly tough. It is virtually puncture proof, while remaining lightweight. This means that you can hike in all conditions with it.
These shoes also have increased strength around the toe cap and the heel. This ensures that they are going to last even longer, even if you are walking for hours and hours over rocky terrain. To give you an idea of just how tough these hiking boots are, the manufacturer states that they can be used both in the jungle and in the desert. So, you could really hike anywhere in the world with these on your feet.
The midsole is flexible and lightweight. This ensures that it will provide comfort, even after you have been walking for a couple of days.
Best Hiking Boots for Women
1. Hi-Tec Women’s Skamania Waterproof Hiking Boot
The suede that these Hi-Tec hiking boots are made from is not only tough, but they are waterproof. This means that these boots are going to be perfect for walking through almost all conditions.
One of the real highlights of this hiking boot is the steel shank that sits just beneath the midsole. You won’t be able to feel this while you are walking. So, don’t worry about it being uncomfortable. However, if the terrain that you are walking on is uneven, it is going to provide you with a small amount of extra stability. The midsole is cushioned and provides a decent amount of support, even on the longer hikes.
Out of all of the women’s hiking boots, these have probably the best soles. They will provide a huge amount of grip when you are walking on most surfaces.
2. Hash Bubbie Waterproof Women’s Backpacking Boots
While these hiking boots do have a rather odd name, we can assure you that they are of an incredibly high quality.
These shoes have been built for those that enjoy the outdoor life. While you are not going to be able to walk over the rockiest of terrain with these, the quality sole is going to ensure that you can walk for miles and miles in most conditions with ease.
You should have no problems wearing these shoes for days on end. While the inner sole is comfortable, the real highlight is the amount of comfort these shoes offer around the heel. It provides a huge amount of support on the heels. Again, this will help you when you are walking for huge distances.
To cap it all off, these shoes are water-resistant on the top. This means that you can keep your feet nice and dry, even if that rain starts coming down thick and fast.
3. Fracora Women’s Winter Combat Boots
If you do a lot of your hiking in the colder weather, then these winter combat boots are going to be perfect for you. This is all due to the warm, faux fur lining. While they may be a bit too warm for summer weather, you won’t find anything warmer at this price point when the darker and colder nights start to roll in.
This is another pair of shoes that should provide you with a decent amount of support around the ankles. This is because the ankle part of the sole has been made to be a little bit thicker. By all accounts, this can help to reduce the chance of blisters.
You won’t be able to walk over the most treacherous terrain in these. So, you can rule out tons and tons of rocks. However, for basic walks in colder weather, you won’t find anything better than these.
4. Fracora Waterproof Lightweight Backpacking Boots
These Fracora boots are almost exactly the same as the previous boots on this list. However, they do not have a fur lining. So, while you won’t be walking in colder weather with these on your feet, they are going to be great for warmer weather hiking.
Constructed from solid PU leather, the top of the shoes are water resistant. This means that your feet will stay mostly dry while walking. Some water may get in during the heavier downpours, but it is rare.
These shoes are highly breathable, lightweight, and well-cushioned. This means that they will feel exceedingly comfortable, even when you are out on the trail for many days at a time.
5. Hi-Tec Women’s Bandera
We are going to wrap up our list with another offering from Hi-Tec. This should probably come as no surprise, really. They do offer the best range of women’s hiking shoes out there.
The thick rubber sole is ideal for all situations. It is perfectly arched to ensure that your feet get all the support that you need, even if the surface you are walking on is a little bit unstable.
These shoes are a leather textile mix. This means that you know that these are going to last you for a long time, while at the same time being breathable and waterproof.
The comfortable padding on this shoe ensures that not only are you going to be comfortable, but your feet will be well-protected when the terrain gets a little bit too treacherous.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Ten high quality hiking shoes under $100. Whether you are a man or a woman, and no matter what type of hiking you do, we are positive that you will find a hiking shoe here that is perfect.
