Best Hiking Boots Under $100 for Women: Top Picks in 2024

Best women’s hiking boots under $100 should have a comfortable lightweight upper with breathable mesh and leather, and a padded collar for ankle support. Furthermore, hiking boots are usually waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about getting wet.

Women’s hiking boots can be overwhelming, and when you’re looking for a pair under $100, it can seem downright impossible. The good news is that there are many affordable options out there. One of the best I’ve found is the Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped Hiking Boot. These boots are 100% suede leather, which makes them both waterproof and stylish.

When you are hiking, you need to pay attention to your feet and their health. Hiking boots are specially designed to support your feet and ankles, which are essential when you are walking long distances.

Hiking boots are the best option for hiking, trekking, and trekking. They provide stability, protection, and comfort to the feet when hiking. But, it is not easy to find the best hiking boots under $100 for women to provide the required support for your feet.

It is pretty tough to find hiking boots for women under $100 that will protect your feet, ankles, and knees, and make you feel comfortable while walking all day. There are many factors that you should consider before buying a pair of hiking boots, such as ankle support, breathability, grippy and sturdy outsole, ample cushioning, arch support, and toe protection.

In this article, I have reviewed the top best hiking boots under $100 for women, so that you can get the right pair of hiking boots for your needs.

Bonus Read: Comfortable dress shoes for women

Is Ankle Support Necessary for Hiking?

Ankle support is not necessary for hiking if you’re a healthy person, an experienced hiker, and you’re hiking on gentle surfaces, such as walking through a forest. However, it is advisable if you are going to be hiking for a long period of time. When you hike, you will be walking on uneven surfaces and rocky ground. This can result in ankle injuries. A supportive hiking boot for a woman is necessary for every hiker. It should cover the foot from the toes to the top of the calf muscle and should be well-fitted to the foot.

Also Read: Are trail running shoes good for hiking

Should Hiking Boots Be Tight or Loose?

Hiking boots should have a snug fit. Hiking boots should never be too tight or too loose. Hiking boots should be a half to one size up from your typical shoe size if you plan on doing hikes longer than a few miles, to make room for swelling.

Hiking boots should be loose enough to allow your toes to bend as you step over rocks and tree roots.

Tight-fitting hiking boots will pinch your toes and make it uncomfortable to walk.  A boot that is too tight will constrict circulation and put pressure on the toes and ankles. 

If your hiking boots are too loose, they will let your feet slide around, which will make you feel uncomfortable.

In addition to being comfortable to walk in, your hiking boots should provide support. You don’t want your feet to feel unstable or wobbly, and you certainly don’t want to fall on the trail.

To prevent this, hiking boots should provide adequate arch support, and you should be able to bend your leg easily while walking.

Also Read: Why are hiking shoes so ugly

Can I Find Good Hiking Boots Under $100?

The best boots for hiking are usually made of leather and are designed to provide stability and protection for your feet. They should also offer good ventilation, grip, and traction. However, the best hiking boots are usually quite expensive.

An expensive hiking boot provides stability and prevents your ankle from twisting or turning.

So, if your want to do some aggressive hiking, and expect them to last longer, you need to spend a bit of money and extend your budget for buying hiking boots up to $160.

If you only want to go hiking once in a while, though, then it might be worth it to save money by buying a cheaper hiking boot. 

Also, cheaper hiking boots under $100 are a bit funky, due to which you will not be able to wear them anywhere else.

Best Hiking Boots Under $100 for Women

Here are the reviews of the best hiking boots under $100 for women.

1. Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped Hiking Boots

After a lot of research, I found that Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge are the best hiking boots under $100 for women.

If you’re an avid hiker or just looking for a solid pair of hiking boots, Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge are the best hiking boots for women in the under $100 price range.

If you’re just getting into hiking and looking for an affordable pair of hiking boots for short-distance hiking, Columbia Newton Ridge Plus are the best waterproof hiking boots you can’t get anywhere else. The single Columbia Newton Edge hiking boot weighs around 400 grams.

To add a waterproof feature to these Columbia Hiking Boots, the Columbia brand has created its own waterproof membrane called Omni-Tech. Omni-tech is a good alternative to the Gore-tex membrane technology, especially for its price. Omni-tech is a waterproofing technology that sets the Columbia brand apart from its competitors.

According to the users, the Omni-tech membrane by Columbia is more comfortable compared to the Gore-tex membrane. Gore-tex membrane is a bit stiffer, due to which hiking boots need to break-in. But these Columbia Newton Edge Hiking Boots with Omni-tech will be comfortable right after the box.

Although Omni-tech waterproof membrane has a lesser waterproof rating, due to which you couldn’t hike in areas where there are chances of downpours and blizzards, you can still use these Columbia Hiking Boots for your day-to-day hiking adventures. In puddles and rainy hikes, the Newton Ridge will keep your feet quite dry.

As far as arch support is concerned, Columbia Newton Edge Hiking Boots are not that good compared to the Merrell Moan hiking boots I reviewed below. Users have to buy additional orthotic inserts to put into Columbia Newton Edge hiking boots.

And of course, you have to spend an extra 30 to 40 bucks to buy a good quality insole to support your foot’s arch if you are aiming for long-distance hiking in the Columbia hiking boots.

Also, note that you have to buy these Columbia Hiking Boots a full size bigger than your original shoe size if you’re aiming to put supportive insoles in them.

Moreover, the entire suede leather upper on Columbia Newton Edge Hiking Boots adds up to the reason that you need to invest in the best hiking boots under $100 for women. The leather really holds up well after a rigorous hiking tour.

Not only will it add a touch of style to any outfit, but it will also ensure that you feel comfortable and confident. According to the users, the suede leather of Columbia Newton Edge hiking boots breaks in right after they hug your feet.

As far as ankle support is concerned, Columbia Newton Edge hiking boots do provide ankle support due to their ankle-high design.

But, users complain that these hiking boors sometimes rub the back of the ankle and Achilles.  I would recommend higher socks to prevent blisters on your ankles due to rubbing. 

Lastly, the grip of Columbia Newton Edge Hiking Boots isn’t that good. The Omni-grip of these Columbia boots is great for trails, but it isn’t designed to climb up and down rocky terrains. That’s why these budget-friendly Columbia Women’s boots under $100 are only suitable for moderate hikes.

2. Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Hiking Boot

If you want comfortable hiking boots for long-distance and rough terrains, Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots are the ones for you.

In these hiking boots for women, you’ll find all the features of top-of-the-line hiking boots at a price that won’t break your budget. Although Merrell Moab 2 hiking boots don’t fall in the criteria of under $100 hiking boots, they are really worth buying if you’re willing to spend extra 40 dollars to buy this gem.

Comfort is key when hiking. You don’t want to be distracted by blisters, or your foot sliding around in your shoe.

The Merrell M Select FIT. ECO-Plus blended EVA contoured footbed with added zonal arch and heel support is designed to cradle every part of your foot for a stable foundation.

Also, Merrell Moab 2 hiking boots have a sturdy heel collar to offer necessary ankle support so that you can stride freely and comfortably over all types of terrain.

The upper of Merrel Moab 2 is made of Suede leather and mesh, giving you the support and comfort you need when walking long distances. Also, Merrell Moab 2 hiking boots are pretty lightweight. They only weigh 510 grams per boot.

The Vibram TC5-Plus sole has a 5mm lug depth, giving you great traction on uneven surfaces like rocks or tree roots. The treads of the Merrell Moan 2 hiking boots outsole are so durable that they maintain their traction for a longer period.

The Merrell air cushion in the heel absorbs shock and adds stability while walking on rough terrain. The protective rubber toe cap protects your toes from any unexpected knocks along the way. 

A molded nylon arch shank supports your arch and gives this hiking boot additional support to help keep feet happy all day long. This boot also comes with a breathable mesh lining for added comfort.

Apart from key features of hiking boots, such as comfort, arch support, grip, and breathability, Merrell Moan 2 hiking boots lack a waterproof feature. Merrell Moab 2 boots are supposed to be only water-resistant.

For me, the lack of waterproof feature in Merrell Moab 2 boots is not a downside as you can’t embed all necessary features of hiking boots in a budget-friendly $100 to $150 hiking boot.

You can also check my guide on how to make mesh shoe water-resistant. I would also recommend you wear these moisture-wicking Darn Tough socks to keep your feet dry while hiking.

Another downside of Merrell Moab 2 hiking boots is their durability. Some users have complained that the upper nylon lace eyelet starts pulling off right after wearing these hiking boots.

Moreover, the sole of Merrell Moab 2 hiking boots starts separating from the upper after around 4 to 6 months of use. You can reglue your soles with the upper with the help of shoe goo to avoid any leakage.

As far as the fit of Merrell Moab 2 Hiking boots is concerned, they run pretty much true to size. They are also available in wide widths.

For women, the wide width is D and the standard width is B. So if you have a too wide forefoot, I would recommend buying these Merrell Moab 2 boots a full size bigger.

3. Timberland Women’s White Ledge Hiking Boot

This is what a real user says about Timberland White Ledge Hiking Boots:

“Lightweight for a boot and offers waterproof and support. Put hundreds of miles on the pair I own and they have held up well and only appear to get more comfortable.”

If you are looking for a comfortable hiking boot that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, this is the best one for you. These are durable, sturdy, and made to last. However, if you’re suffering from plantar fasciitis, you should prefer Merrell Moab 2 hiking boots I reviewed above. If you have crazy high arches, you will need to add orthotic insoles in these Timberland White Ledge Hiking Boots.

The upper of Timberland White Ledge hiking boots is made of polyurethane leather. You can’t expect real leather on hiking boots in the $100 price range. The purpose of synthetic leather is to make the boots sturdy and enhance their appearance like real leather.

But, the downside of synthetic leather on Timberland boots is that they require a bit of time to break in. That’s why I would not recommend you hike in these Timberland boots on the first go.

First, walk in them in the backyard of your house for a few days, and bend the soles back and forth repeatedly to speed up the process of breaking in. Also, I would recommend you use mink oil and bear grease to keep the leather of these hiking boots in a good shape. 

There is a lot of padding in the ankle collar of these Timberland White Ledge hiking boots. They will offer necessary ankle support to avoid ankles rolling, but these Timberland hiking boots are quite stiffer around ankles for the first few days.

Due to too much padding in the rearfoot region of these boots, your ankles may end up with bruises.

Timberland White Ledge hiking boots are not good in snow as they do not have insulation features to keep your feet warm. You have to buy thick socks so that your feet remain warm.

As far as waterproof feature is concerned, Timberland White Ledge hiking boots do not have waterproof Gore-tex lining.

But they are somehow waterproof as the entire leather upper prevents water from entering the boots. Timberland White Ledge hiking boots are completely waterproof to the height of the gusset, which comes up to where the laces hook behind metal clasps.

Lastly, Timberland White Ledge boots outsole have intensive gripping for ice and snow. A user, who hikes various terrain, including scree, sharp boulders, and steep angles, is fully satsified with the grip of these Timberland hiking boots. The rubber lugs will remain sturdy even in the harshest terrains.

4. ALTRA Women’s Lone Peak Hiker

If you have already healthy calf muscles, do not have any plantar fasciitis issues, and are not looking for a supportive hiking boot, you can consider buying these ALTRA Lone Peak Hiker Hiking Boots. 

The price of these Altra Hiking Boots is a bit above $100. But, you have to compromise a bit if you expect the hiking boots to last in the long run.

If you’ve ever tried to hike in hiking boots with too-narrow toe boxes, then you know that it’s no fun. Your toes are cramped and also cramp up, and you can’t walk as well.

You might even develop “toe jam,” where your toes slip into the front of the boot and get jammed up against the front of the shoe. 

ALTRA boots are known for their wide toe box so that you can hike by comfortably splaying out your toes in the toe box. 

If you look at the shape of ALTRA boots, it actually mimics the natural anatomical shape of the human foot.

Unlike other hiking boots, ALTRA boots are zero-drop boots which means that they match your natural walking stride. In zero-drop shoes, the back of the foot is the same height as the front of the foot.

It’s a more natural foot position. With zero-drop hiking boots like ALTRA, your calf muscles will work harder. So you will need to adjust to these zero-drop hiking boots before hitting a hard hike.

ALTRA Lone Peak Hiker hiking boots are comfortable right out of the box. They have little to no break in period. As soon as you step your foot in them, they will comfortably hug your feet.

You will not get any blister or soreness on ankles or on the top of your foot if you wear these ALTRA Lone Peak Hiker hiking boots.

Also, compared to the other hiking boots I reviewed above, ALTRA Women’s Lone Peak Hiker hiking boots are super lightweight as they only weigh around 280 grams per boot.

The sole of ALTRA Lone Peak Hiker is made of the ALTRA’s propretiary EGO foam which provides the fast and springy, yet comfortable and soft walking stride.

The softness of the sole of ALTRA Lone Peak boots will allow your foot to wrap around rocks and tree roots on uneven terrain.

However, keep in mind that the soft sole hiking boots are not suitable for intense backpacking and mountaineering as they can’t support the heavy load. So, these ALTRA hiking boots are only suitable for casual hiking on trails.