Hiking or trekking is an adventure sport that is meant for the brave-hearted folks. There is always a rush of adrenalin, which pushes you into creating benchmarks for yourself. Always having an eye on the next big rush, the adventurous soul knows quite well that an adventure will go well only if you plan it well.
Of course, such dreams are not easy to knit and require meticulous work, which also involves your gear. By this, we mean the clothes you choose to wear especially your jackets, while on top of the list of priorities for a trekker has to be his/her shoes!
Let's quickly dive into the details:
Good Budget Hiking / Trekking Shoes under Rs 5000
Trekking or hiking shoes can give you the perfect shield your foot requires, and it is crucial to buy the right size. When you buy a shoe that is too loose or too tight, you risk the chance of facing immense difficulty in walking as well as exposing yourself to injuries.
Of course, trekking usually being a group activity (although solo trekkers exist far and wide), by not taking care of your basic, yet vital, equipment, you’ll be jeopardizing your group as well! So, why ruin the fun? It’s just easier to plan and execute!
While purchasing a shoe, always remember to check for ankle support – with varying levels of cuts available – low, mid, and high. A high cut shoe would protect your ankle and make your treks smoother.
We bring to you five of the best trekking shoes, and yes they are all below 5000 INR.
1. Quechua Forclaz 500
The Quechua Forclaz 500 is an incredible shoe and is just about right for your treks. Currently discounted and priced at Rs 4,999 at Decathlon, you are definitely in good hands. The shoe is expected to be not too light but not too heavy as well and is apt for a beginner- medium level trek. You can also use it for trekking in snow.
Bonus points as it protects your ankles too. These shoes are known for their comfort, while at the same time, they have a good grip on wet grounds. Waterproof and durable, you can very well use these for any season. The best part about this brand of shoes is that they use trekkers to test the shoes before sending them out in the market.
2. Adidas Iron Trek Leather Grey Outdoor Shoes
For those who love to be outdoors, Adidas Iron Trek Leather Grey Outdoor Shoes could be a great buy. Again, this shoe is available at a discount and is all yours for 3500 INR. The shoe is mid-ankled, and these can protect your ankle well.
Of course, we wouldn’t recommend hefty duty trekking with this, but you are in relatively safe hands here. The sole is of rubber, and the rest is made of genuine leather. These shoes have a sturdy grip and come with a three-month warranty.
3. Columbia Redmond mid Waterproof Hiking/trekking
A waterproof shoe for trekking would be the best, and this is what this is. Columbia Redmond mid Waterproof Hiking/trekking is priced at Rs 4199 after discounts mostly, and is mid-high, thereby protecting your ankle. Also, the shoe is light in weight and thus happens to be the perfect pair for your treks.
The shoes from Columbia come in two color variants, and you can pick one according to your personality and color of choice. The outer layer of the shoe is made of mesh, and this allows the shoes to be breathable. Personally, my favorite shoe and I have used it extensively.
4. Salomon Evasion Leather Hiking and Trekking Shoes
A trusted brand brings a trusted shoe, and you are getting it at a reasonable price, thanks to discounts on the online stores! The French company has produced this beautiful leather shoe, and you can purchase it for 4,509 INR.
Each shoe weighs 446 gm, and it is laced up. The shoe doesn’t have excellent ankle support, so that is one thing to keep in mind. Also, you need to remember that the shoe is entirely made of leather, and so they aren’t waterproof. You might not want to wear this for a professional trek.
Best is to get it from the USA as there are other better options available outside at a much lesser price.
5. Adidas Path Cross Mid Outdoor Shoes
A good looking shoe, the Adidas Path Cross Mid Outdoor shoe is a great buy and comes in two different colors. The outer material is synthetic leather and very comfortable. You can purchase the shoe for just 4939 INR. As you will see that the shoe can protect your ankles well. The shoe is good for trekking.
Adidas Path Cross Mid Outdoor Shoes come in two color variants, and these are neon green on brown, and black with grey and white. Of course the former is more fun, while the latter is towards classy. With leather and mesh coming in together, this shoe could be what your best buy.
Trekking is one of the best ways to rejuvenate your mundane life, but it is vital to do so with all the best possible resources. A right trekking shoe is the first thing that you should consider when planning a trek.
Quechua Forclaz 500 Ventiv Shoes – Detailed Review
Below is the detailed review by Dheeraj of this excellent pair of shoes. Although he has now moved to a pricey North Face Versa for day to day hikes and winter usage, he still loves his Forclaz 500 from Quechua.
In his words:
Forclaz 500 Ventiv by Quechua is one of the best BUY in my entire life considering the money spent and performance delivered by them in return in my travel journey. I bought this pair of shoes three years back, and since then, I wanted to write a review for all of you to share my pleasure while using them in all my travels but always failed.
I have battered them for the last three years ranging from snow treks to Tunganath, Parashar Lake, many tours having some hikes in Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar, Himachal and what not !! Even at the office in cold winters days in Delhi… They have just not died performing and even now they are still going on…
Comfort and Usage
The shoes are quite lightweight being ankle support and considering the price paid, well I cannot say more about it being such VFM. They are said to be breathable, helping remove the bad odor from the shoes to quite an extent and keep the shoes warm.
The only thing that has happened to them over the last three years is that their sole has smoothness off which has made them a bit slippery now but still the grip is good enough to be used for almost a year more I feel…
Another important point is that if you tie the laces in the second last latch, for me that balance out much more and works well even while driving my car. When I tie them in the first latch, they somehow feel a bit cramped for me.
Finally, the upper membrane is quite soft, so in case of you ripping down some stone, it may cut into it. However, for me, nothing has happened even after 3-4 falls including one from the bike too 😀 😀
Waterproof and Warmth
Being waterproof, these shoes are amazing when while dodging small water crossings, going over snow treks, small river crossings, taking pictures standing in lakes, etc.. Of course, if the water enters from mouth, nothing can be waterproof, so not meant of deep water crossings; you may need Gaiters above them.
More importantly, these shoes are not just waterproof but also give enough warmth from sole as well as through membrane too while on snow treks, hikes and even icy cold temperatures (ranging up to -8 degree Celsius) of Leh – Ladakh or Zanskar or Spiti Valley !! Just with one warm pair of socks, I have used them comfortably everywhere without feeling much cold at all.
Please keep in mind that the waterproof nature is just to a certain extent and over the period. There comes a waterproofing or waxing polish that brings back the waterproof nature of these shoes again. Also, these are not waterproof for deep water crossings, and you will need gaiters to help yourself there.
Just watch the video to get an idea of its waterproofing even after three years of use. I have kept under tap water and have put a newspaper to see any moisture reaching it. The results are still awesome with dry paper coming out 😀
Pictures of the shoes
Here are some more pictures of my battered shoes…
Price of Forclaz 500 Shoes
The shoe prices have gone high considerably over the last few years from Rs 2800 what I bought to MRP now being Rs 6500 !! However, both Amazon and other online stores keep offering discounts on this awesome pair of shoes. So, you can always keep a tab on it.
You can also keep a tab on Decathlon stores nearby you for some deals.
Final Words
Well, for me this is the BEST VALUE FOR MONEY product, I will say… The return of investment from this pair of shoes is incredible, and I will say for anyone into Traveling or hiking/trekking or motorcycling, this one is GREAT VFM shoes to buy.
Conclusion
It is especially important to be aware of how you’ve taken care of – and while in the hills, the shoes and the jackets make up for the majority of your care. Invest wisely and choose the best option for you – and remember, its the comfort and the support the product offers not how it looks (although, bonus points for looking cute while being supported!)
Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions about traveling to the Himalayas.
So now that we have laid down the very best, we hope you can decide which one you want to buy! Do let us know if you’ve used any of the products above, and if so, what are your reviews! Also, any particular jackets/ shoes we might have missed, and you think they deserve a place on the list – to tell us!
