6 Best Men’s Hiking Shoes Under $150 (2023 Buyer’s Guide)
Are you on the hunt for the best men’s hiking shoes? This guide will help you find the best brands and shoes to get you hitting the trails as soon as possible!
Whether you’re looking for yourself or for the perfect gift, this buyer’s guide will give you a clear picture of the best options available.
As an avid hiker myself, I’m well-versed in the best hiking brands out there. I’ve been through countless hiking boots and shoes and with a lot of trial and error, I’ve learned how to pick the right ones. Most of my hiking trips have been with my two older brothers, so I included their guidance on the best men’s hiking shoes.
You’ll find that the most popular brands, like Merrell, produce amazing lineups for both genders. So many of the best hiking shoe brands are the same for men and women.
There’s a wide variety of options from many different brands which can make the selection process overwhelming. This guide has everything you need to make the best choice!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.
Best Men’s Hiking Shoes: QUICK LOOK
- Best Men’s Hiking Shoe Under $150 Overall: Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX
- Best Waterproof Hiking Shoes Under $150: Merrell Moab 2 Mid WP
- Top Men’s Hiking Boot Under $150: REI Co-Op Flash
- Best Lightweight Men’s Hiking Shoes Under $150: Altra Lone Peak 5
- Top Traction Men’s Hiking Shoes Under $150: La Sportiva TX4
- Best Men’s Hiking Sandals Under $150: Chaco Z/1 Classic
- Best For Those That Don’t Like Boots Under $150: Merrell Moab Speed Low
What To Expect From A Men’s Hiking Shoe Under $150
Since hiking shoes come in different price ranges, you might be wondering exactly what features a shoe under $150 can provide.
Choosing an option in this price range will give you more of a shoe-type fit. There are some boot options under $150, but most of the selections will be a shoe style.
There are also some excellent choices for hiking sandals under $150. Whether you go with boots, shoes, or sandals, the choices under $150 will provide ultimate comfort and durability. Many of the choices will also provide great traction and waterproof materials.
Are There Good Men’s Hiking Shoes Under $150?
If you’re planning to hit the trails soon, you might be wondering how much money you have to shell out for new hiking shoes. Or, You might wonder what a good budget is to spend on the best men’s hiking shoes.
The good news is that some of the most popular hiking shoe choices are $150 or less. A boot or shoe in this price range will have a comfortable fit with a rugged and durable design.
A pair of men’s hiking shoes under $150 can also easily last you a year or longer, depending on how often you hike.
Best Brands For Men’s Hiking Shoes Under $150
When searching for a men’s hiking shoe either for yourself or as a gift for someone, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the brand options. As with any hiking product, some brands are better than others.
Check out the following three brands if you’re in a pinch and need to find the best shoe or boot quickly. You can’t go wrong with any of the choices sold by these brands.
Merrell
Merrell is a top brand for men’s and women’s hiking shoes. It offers rugged, durable, and well-ventilated boot and shoe options.
REI
REI’s hiking shoes are fashionable and functional. As one of the most popular brands in outdoor gear, REI is a one-stop shop for hiking shoes.
Salomon
Salomon has a huge line of hiking shoes with all different colors and designs. All of their shoes and boots offer a secure and snug fit that’s perfect for any trail.
Features Of The Best Men’s Hiking Shoes Under $150
When choosing a hiking shoe for yourself or someone else, make sure they have at least half of these features. The exact features you look for will depend on where you hike and how often you hike.
Waterproof
No matter where you plan to hike, getting waterproof hiking boots is a safe bet. You never know when you might get caught in a huge rainstorm or have to traverse through puddles.
Gore-tex hiking boots (GTX hiking shoes) are a great option when looking for waterproof shoes. They are made with special technology to make sure your feet are always dry.
You can buy shoes directly from Gore-tex, or you can find them from other brands when you see the GTX letters after the name of the shoe.
Proven Tread
Certain trails can contain large rocks or slippery surfaces. Having a boot with tread on the bottom will ensure you don’t take a nasty fall.
Durability
Whether you plan to hike every day or just a few times a year, a durable shoe is a must. Who wants to get stuck on a trail with broken shoes? Good hiking boots will be able to last you for at least several months of hiking or more.
Comfort
Let’s face it—hiking can be miserable with uncomfortable shoes. Always choose a hiking boot or shoe that feels comfortable and snug around your foot. Some may take a little time to break in, but it should still not be uncomfortable when you try it on.
Arch Support
Everyone has a different foot arch. The best hiking boots will have an insole that can support high and low arches and adapt to each foot uniquely.
Secure Fit
A hiking shoe should fit securely around your foot without feeling too tight or slipping off. If you choose a boot design, it must fit securely around your ankle and foot.
Best Men’s Hiking Shoes Under $150
Below, I’ve outlined the five best men’s hiking shoes based on their pros, cons, and other important items.
Each shoe is unique and might be suited for certain people based on where you hike or how often you hit the trails. Some are also better for people with wide feet, while others might be a better choice if you have a narrow foot.
Most of the choices go by your regular shoe size. This standardization makes it easy to order online to get the right size without returning or exchanging. Regardless of which one you choose, you’re going to have a great shoe to last you through your next year of hiking.
Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX
- Pros: Waterproof, lightweight, great traction
- Cons: Doesn’t have the best breathability, so your feet may get hot, depending on your climate
- Extra padding: The extra padding in the collar and tongue makes your feet extra comfortable throughout the entire day
- Traction: New technology has solid rubber grips, making for easier hiking on slippery surfaces and when going downhill
Despite the fact that the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX is a shoe and not a boot, it still offers maximum stability. It’s great for short backpacking trips where you don’t want too much weight on your feet. The exact weight will depend on the size you get, but none are much over a pound.
The Ultra 4 GTX is completely waterproof, so you can go through puddles or snow without feeling wet or cold. The major complaint with this shoe is its breathability.
If you are a cold-weather hiker, your feet definitely won’t feel cold during long winter hikes. If you hike in warmer weather, though, your feet can get uncomfortable and hot in this shoe. Unlike some other more expensive options by Salomon, this isn’t an all-season hiking shoe.
Merrell Moab 2 Mid WP
- Pros: Waterproof, mid-boot style for added stability, thick padding
- Cons: Traction is not the best
- Mid-boot design: This isn’t a full boot but does give you more ankle support than hiking shoes
- Well-designed lacing system: Shoes are easy to lace up. The metal eyelets are very secure and strong, keeping your shoes in place.
If you’re looking for a boot-style hiking shoe, this is an excellent choice for less than $150. It will cover your ankle and make sure you don’t end up with swollen or rolled ankles.
A major complaint with this shoe is the weight for only being a mid-boot. At almost 2.5 pounds, it will add some weight to your backpack or suitcase if you’re traveling with them.
The padding around the ankle and tongue is thick and breathable, giving you an extra cushion in the more sensitive parts of your foot during a long hike.
The traction on this shoe is rated as average to good. It’s perfect for most hikes but might not be the best choice if you’re hiking on particularly rough or slippery terrain.
REI Co-Op Flash Hiking Boots
- Pros: Classic boot style, great value for the money, environmentally-friendly production
- Cons: Comfort is lacking for those with wider ankles
- Cushion Sock Feel: The inside is fluffy and feels great on your foot
- Great Ankle Support: Even though this boot sits a bit lower than traditional boots, you still get excellent ankle support
At a price point of less than $130, this boot gives you great value for money. They weigh slightly more than 2 pounds, which is also an excellent weight for a cheaper boot.
The main complaint is the pressure felt around the ankles. If you have wider or thicker ankles, you might find the boots a bit snug and uncomfortable after a few hours of wearing them.
The boots are surprisingly comfortable, with thick insoles offering excellent arch support. The boot is flexible in all the right areas and stiff where needed. As with some cheaper-made boots, the traction is also not the best on these boots if you’re hiking rugged terrain.
Altra Lone Peak 5
- Pros: Great toe and foot protection, stylish running shoe design
- Cons: Best for people with wide feet
- Built With Altra’s Alter Ego Foam: This patented foam offers amazing support and cushion throughout the shoe
- Great Traction: “TrailClaw” material grips onto loose gravel, dirt, and mud
If you’re looking for more of a running shoe design that also provides traction and stability on the trails, this is an excellent option. People with wider feet will love this shoe. Even if your feet tend to swell from the heat, it has plenty of extra space.
People with slender feet might find their feet sliding around too much, though.
This shoe has 25mm of soft foam between your foot and the ground, making them a really comfortable choice. The shoes also bend and flex in all the right spots.
La Sportiva TX4
- Pros: All-season and all-purpose design, very comfortable, traction good enough for climbing
- Cons: Heavy and bulky compared to other hiking shoes
- Vibram Mega Grip: This is one of the best shoes on the market for traction. You wear these shoes uphill, downhill, or across rocks and boulders.
- High Performance: Multi-purpose travel shoe for walking, hiking, and climbing
Despite the added weight of this shoe, it still deserves a spot on the list of best men’s hiking shoes. The leather design is extremely durable, and one of the top things users rave about.
The La Sportiva TX4 has a wide toe and ankle design giving your feet room to expand from the heat and sweat.
This shoe also has a special climbing design built-in at the toe. If you want to go straight from hiking to climbing, this is the shoe for you.
The shoe can feel stiff when you first put it on, so you may need to give it some time to break in before wearing it on an extremely long hike.
With the added weight, you also want to make sure you have enough room in your suitcase. You can also consider wearing them on the plane if you’re concerned!
Chaco Z/1 Classic
With the added weight, you also want to make sure you have enough room in your suitcase. You can also consider wearing them on the plane if you’re concerned!
- Pros: Durable, amazing traction, tons of colors to choose from
- Cons: Straps cause blisters the first few times you wear them
- Adjustable straps: The straps can be fully adjusted to fit any foot width and shape
- Supportive: Supports all arch sizes
If you’re looking for men’s hiking sandals, this is a great choice. Sandals are great to wear during the warmer months. Some people also prefer to wear a sandal with good traction when hiking through water in hot weather.
These Chaco sandals come in tons of patterns and colors, so you can find one to match the hiking colors you normally wear. Like all Chaco sandals, the Z/1 Classic is extremely durable. You can easily wear these shoes for a year or more, even if you are hiking every weekend.
Since they are sandals, you can also wear them after hiking if you plan to go straight to a brewery or an outdoor venue, unlike boots and shoes.
Merrell Moab Speed Low
If you really don’t like boots and want a low-shoe option, the Merrell Moab Speed Low is a great choice. Here are the features you can get with this great shoe:
- Pros: Lightweight, shoe fashion but the same tread as boots
- Cons: Not waterproof, but you can upgrade to a waterproof model for an extra price
- Firmness: Despite looking like a traditional sneaker, the outside is firm like a boot with great traction
- Supportive: The shoe has great arch support for those who need some extra cushion
If you like to travel with just one bag or are worried about a pair of boots weighing you down while backpacking, these shoes are the perfect choice. They provide the same support and traction as boots but are a shoe style.
The only downside is that they are not as durable. After a few months of hiking, you might have to get a new pair. They still give great trail performance, though, and will give you all the support you need to have a great time hiking.
Ready to Buy One of the Best Men’s Hiking Shoes?
Know which best men’s hiking shoes you’re going to buy? Hopefully, this guide gave you some great ideas on which brands and top shoes to look for.
Going with one of the choices on this list will give you a durable and rugged shoe to keep you going on the trails weekend after weekend.
If you’re getting one of these choices as a gift for someone, you can be sure they’ll be happy with your selection. Getting someone the best footwear for hiking is a unique and thoughtful purchase!
Have you recently bought a men’s hiking shoe for yourself or someone else? Which one did you buy, and what features prompted you to pick that one? Comment below!
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