18 Best Men’s Boots Under $200 (Expert Reviewed for 2024)

The best boots are durable, and the most longlasting boots are resoleable, and resoleable boots are more complex than sneakers, so they cost more to make. So it’s really hard to find a really good pair of boots for under $300, let alone $200.

But in the six years since I’ve been reviewing boots, I’ve learned of several brands that offer quality, durable, and handsome footwear for less than two hundred bucks.

Since I first published this article a lot of the brands have fallen off the list (thanks, inflation), but I’ve been regularly updating the best budget boots list, and there are still a few you can trust.

To be as fair as possible, I didn’t only allow resoleable boots on this list. Partly because that would have made this list way too short, but also because I don’t want to be elitist and tell guys on such a tight budget that resoleability is the only criterion for good boots.

There are plenty of boots at this pricepoint that will last for years, even without complex and expensive Goodyear welt construction. 

In fact, theres one on this list that has lasted 30 years without a resole!

How We Chose the Best Boots Under $200

So that you know where I’m coming from, I have a basic, five-point checklist my favorite boots meet:

• Resoleable construction: This usually means a Goodyear welt, though Blake stitches and stitchdown construction are also common examples.
• Full grain leather: Not bonded leather, not genuine leather, full grain leather is made from the outer layer of the animal’s skin — the part that faces the elements when the animal’s alive — and it’s the kind of leather that looks best on day one and on day one thousand.
• A shank: If there’s a heel (as opposed to a flat, wedge sole), you want a shank: a strip of hard material (usually steel) that sits under the insole and bridges the heel and midfoot. It improves stability and can make it easier to spend all day in your boots. 
• Transparency: If a company isn’t forthcoming about where they’re made or what they’re made with, it’s a red flag.
• Leather underfoot: Leather is flexible, breathable, antimicrobial, sustainable, and molds to your foot’s shape over time. Some brands even use it for the insole, midsole, and outsole. I don’t disqualify brands that don’t, but at least one of those should be leather for me to love your boot.

I also vastly prefer it when a company offers free shipping and returns. Especially if a brand is direct-to-consumer and you can only buy them online, they should do free returns and exchanges. Sizing boots based on online descriptions is damn hard! 

[Read More: How Stridewise Crafts Helpful Reviews: Our Review Process]

Best Boot Under $200: Thursday Boot Company Captain

• Versatile aesthetic
• Wide variety of models
• Free shipping & returns
• $199 

Thursday’s boots would be worth it if they were over 300 bucks, so the fact that their flagship Captain boot costs $199 is mind-blowing. They have a couple of more expensive models, like the American-made Vanguard, but the majority of their footwear rests comfortably under the $200 threshold, including their moc toe Diplomat, plain-toe President, and Chelsea boots.

Made with Goodyear welt construction, the standard for higher quality footwear, the Captain is made to be both very water-resistant and very easy to resole when you eventually wear down the grippy rubber sole. By using recessed lugs, that sole manages to look flat when viewed from the side, but it also comes in chunkier “Storm King” soles for guys who want a more outdoorsy vibe.  

Indeed, a huge bonus is that this boot is so popular it comes in dozens of different leathers and two different soles, so there’s a model for any style. Tellingly, their bestselling leathers are the rugged brown Arizona Adobe and the more modern and urban Black Matte. Something for everyone!  

The Captain broke ground by popularizing a really nifty dress boot/work boot hybrid aesthetic. Many find work boots too clunky for the city and dress boots too dainty for harder or more casual wear, but Thursday’s Captain melds these two styles to give you the best of both worlds.

It’s hardwearing but very comfortable due to the leather lining and shock absorbing Poron insole, tech borrowed from the sneaker world to help recruit guys who are used to softer shoes.

There’s no debate that it’s the best value boot. I could make a list of the best boots under $200 list with just boots from Thursday, but that’d be boring.

Best Work Boot Under $200: Timberland Pro Boondock Boot

• Roomy safety toe & ASTM Compliant for safety toe, electrical shock, and blood borne pathogens
• Pass through speed hooks for easy lacing
• Very comfortable insole, no break in period 
• Wide width available
• $199.99

Timberland is famous for their iconic yellow nubuck boots popularized by the 1990s hip-hop scene, but they were and always have been a fantastic workboot brand. (Indeed, that waterproof yellow boot first rose to prominence among New England farmers.)

The brand does huge business for blue collar guys and the Pro Boondock is their bestseller for good reason. Our work boot expert, sheet welder Adam Rich, recommends them the most out of the many, many pairs he has tested because of the balance of value and function.

A rare boot that’s able to be resoled and waterproof, these boots are also electrical hazard rated, come with antimicrobial lining to control foot odor, and are seriously stable from the combination of rigid heel counters and lightweight fiberglass shank.

Timberland has famously comfortable insoles that guys will buy and put into other boots, and they’re often sold out. So these boots hit all the marks on comfort, shock absorption, and safety — they’re even resistant to blood-borne pathogens and safety. Zombie apocalypse approved.

Best Chukka Under $200: Clarks Desert Boot

• Available in leather, suede, and canvas
• Both lightweight and soft underfoot
• Versatile look 
• ~$149.00 depending on materials

Clarks’ Desert Boot is a perfect match for those who appreciate a blend of casual style, historical significance, and comfort. And value! It’s especially suited for individuals who prefer a low-key yet put-together look: the versatile desert boot style  boots pair well with both casual outfits and business casual attire like chinos and oxford cloth shirts. The fact that there are over a dozen leathers to choose from further underscores how many wardrobes this style can fit into.

This Desert boot is very soft underfoot thanks to the spongy crepe sole, and while it probably won’t survive a resole, the rudimentary stitchdown construction is more durable than your typical cemented (a.k.a. ‘glued’) shoes.

Best Traditionally Made: BLKBRD Shoemaker

• Indian made
• Wide range of styles
• Hand welted construction is very sophisticated and unique at this price point
• 14,200 Rupees = ~USD175

BLKBRD Shoemaker is a new shoe brand with a variety of styles — even the rare button boot — and we’d recommend the storm welted Dixon or veldtschoen Luchador for guys who are after a solid casual boot.

Here’s the thing with BLKBRD: they’re hand welted, which has all the benefits of a Goodyear welt but it’s done without machines, taking far more skill and time to make — and they’re still under $200, so long as you’re not getting the boots with American or British leather. (Those are under $300, still great value.)  

Having handled a pair of Luchadors myself, I was very impressed it the value for money.

I prefer Thursday for the wider range of leathers, sizes, and widths, plus their sneaker-like insoles give them more crossover appeal. But there’s absolutely no arguing with BLKBRD’s value, which is certainly the world’s best if you value old fashioned shoemaking.

Best Ethical Boots Under $200: Jim Green – Razorback

• South African made
• 2.2mm full-grain leather
• Stitchdown construction
• Around $180-$200 

If you’re more interested in outdoorsy boots, Jim Green is an excellent value proposition. There are two reasons we think they deserve the ethical dollar: their stitchdown construction makes them resoleable and therefore sustainable, plus they donate a pair to actual African Rangers for every ten pairs sold. This means your purchase is supporting the brave men and women protecting endangered wildlife from poachers and keeping wildlife preserves functioning.

These boots are made in South Africa with locally sourced leather, and the African Ranger is so popular that it comes in a huge variety of leathers that include black, green, brown, natural vegetable tanned, and even includes buffalo — though that one’s $240. Check out their Razorback model for something a little more geared for hiking.

Best Motorcycle Boots: Siete Leguas

• Goodyear welted
• Wide range of styles in the $140-$200 range
• Mexican made

This Mexican boot brand is a little less well-known than most other options on this list, but that’s because you will need to know Spanish — or be comfortable with the accuracy of your browser’s “translate” function — in order to navigate the site.

But you can consider Sieta Leguas a hidden gem. Whether you’re after a motorcycle boot, cowboy boot, hiking boot, or something for city wear, Siete Leguas has a range of options made with Goodyear welts and steel toes, making them very rare in this pricepoint. They aren’t great for sophisticated lasts or versatility, but if you want knockaround boots that will last past one sole, it’s certainly worth checking them out.

Best Dress Boot: Stacy Adams Madison Cap Toe Boot

• Kidskin leather upper and liner
• Leather outsole 
• Goodyear welted 
• Chinese made 
• ~$150

Stacy Adams boots used to be all made in the USA but over time, cost-cutting measures and outsourcing moved all production overseas.

But it’s still remarkable that they can produce a Goodyear welted boot for $150, no matter where they’re made — especially because the leather is rated by the Leather Working Group, who audit tanneries to ensure sustainable practices. It’s always a concern with cheap leather that corners are being cut at the tanneries, but not here.

Their Madison Cap Toe Boot has uppers and liners made with kidskin, a type of goat leather that is very soft and thin. Due to the thinness of the leather, this boot lacks insulation and will wrinkle a fair amount but if you ask me, it’s still great value. Note that their white leather Madison is especially well known.

Best Boondocker: Golden Fox Boondockers

• Goodyear welted
• Soft crepe sole
• Made in China
• ~$139

Modeled after World War II boots, this is probably the most influential welted boot (influwelted) under $150.

Golden Fox needs more attention: they’re made with decent leather, they’ve got a steel shank, and they’re under $150. Is the sole that durable? No. Is the welt plastic? Yes, and this means you probably won’t be able to resole it more than once — if that.

But that construction still makes them more durable and water resistant than cheaper shoes, they’re very soft underfoot, the leather’s nice, they fit with almost any wardrobe, and they’ve got that cool vintage military cachet.

Best Waterproof Boot: All-Weather Duck Boot

• Waterproof, but not chunky or overbuilt
• Durable Vibram outsole
• $188

Allweather’s Duck Boot is a very rare example of a waterproof boot that isn’t hideous.

Normally they’re either chunky (from the waterproof membrane under the leather) or they look like the Bean Boot (which has a pretty rural look).

But the Allweather Duck Boot is cool-looking for a waterproof boot: not too bulky, not too country, and it’s got a serious name brand for the outsole in Vibram, a world famous sole company that’s rare at this price.

Another hindrance of the Bean boot is how thin the sole is, but All-Weather has vastly superior shock absorption and support. It’s currently available in three modern colorways on Huckberry.com.

Best Chelsea: Ariat Wexford

• Totally waterproof 
• Slightly but not overtly Western
• $199

One of my most worn boots on this list is Ariat’s Wexford, which is definitely the best waterproof Chelsea — and at this price, there’s a decent argument it’s the best Chelsea, period. Again, it’s rare for a waterproof boot not to be overly bulky but the Wexford is appropriately sleek for a Chelsea without being so slim that it could be mistaken for a dress Chelsea.

It’s not hard to see why this is Ariat’s most popular non-Western boot: inexpensive, waterproof, grippy, shock absorbent, not too urban or too rural, made with sustainable leather, and available in four colors.

I’ve stood in puddles in these a million times, just daring the water to seep in, and it never does.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Best Cowboy Boot Under $200: Double-H Winston

• Goodyear welt construction
• Cushioned PU footbed and EVA insert
• Oak I.C.E  oil- and slip-resisting outsole
• Steel shank
• $189 USD

The Double-H Winston has a lot of features found in $300+ boots: a resoleable Goodyear welt construction, steel shank, and a comfy EVA insert to help with shock absorption.

It’s a great boot for guys looking for a durable western style boot but don’t want to sacrifice comfort for a long break in. Its durable construction and slip-resistant outsole are ideal for those who face rough terrain or require long-lasting footwear. Made with both camel leather and bison leather, this cowboy boot is a great pick for budget-conscious buyers who don’t want to compromise on style, comfort, or durability. Just note the heel stack is wood, so it’s a bit hard to repair it cheaply.

The LL Bean Boot

• Waterproof
• Still made in the USA
• Hard to resole
• $149

Waterproofness is the defining feature of the Bean Boot, which may be America’s most iconic rain boot. Sure, it’s not welted, but it is so waterproof that you can stand in a puddle for as long as you like. This is why everybody and their dog wears Bean Boots as soon as it starts raining here in New York City.

Your standard Goodyear welted boot will resist rain just fine, but if you really need waterproof boots — the kind you can stand in a pond fishing in — the Bean Boot is a universally accepted option that is still, after all these years, made in the United States.

The sole is thin; you can feel the topography underfoot when walking in the wilderness. And if you wear through the sole, no cobbler can resole them. Still, in our video on our pal Tim’s collection of Bean boots, he had a 30-year-old pair that wasn’t even close to needing a resole. If yours do, you can mail them to LL Bean and they’ll rebuild it for you.

Best Timberland Boot: The Premium Waterproof

• Waterproof
• Insulated
• Bulky, easy to wear with loose pants
• Wide range of colors

This is one of the most iconic boots of all time and it’s still under 200 bucks. Not resoleable, no, but it’s totally waterproof and it has the added bonus for also being insulated. The insulation is from 400 grams of Primaloft insulation, which is 90 percent recycled for an extra sustainability boost.

First finding purchase among New England farmers, sales more than tripled in the 1990s when it featured in countless hip hop videos — historian Nelson George noted in Hip Hop America that their popularity was because the insulation helped keep drug dealers’ feet warm on street corners. But you don’t have to be a drug dealer to wear the Timberland Premium Waterproof boots, which are versatile enough that they pair with just about any personal style. Just note they’re bulky, so they’re not so great with skinny jeans. 

Runner Up Best Boots Under $200

We had a pretty exhaustive hunt around the market. Those previous entries are your best bets for boots that can be resoled or durable — meaning boots with praiseworthy durability — for under two hundred dollars.

But so you can have more options to choose from, we’ve included some not resoleable boots below that are well-reviewed and considered pretty good value for money. 

Nisolo – Daytripper Chukka

• Big emphasis on ethical manufacturing
• More of a short boot than a chukka
• No carbon footprint
• $180

The reason Nisolo stands out is that it’s a B Corp, so they meet extremely rigorous standards for sustainability and worker treatment — in fact, these boots even have a net zero carbon footprint. There’s no denying that these factors are becoming increasingly important for consumers. 

Their first boot produced and their flagship model for under two hundred dollars is the Daytripper, which is a taller-than-average chukka boot that’s available in three leathers. All of them are certified by the Leather Working Group, meaning you’re guaranteed there’s none of the pollution that chrome tanning can produce in poorly regulated facilities. 

In short, they’re handsome footwear that are half boot and half chukka, and it’s worth checking out their site to see the two hundred sustainability metrics they use to minimize or eliminate their social and environmental impact.

Johnston & Murphy – Cody

• Flexible construction
• Shock absorbing insole
• $199

Many of this popular brand’s footwear offerings are under two hundred dollars, though the one with the most accolades may be their wingtip boot, called the Cody.

Johnston & Murphy take advantage of the fact that it can’t be resoled by emphasizing comfort instead, producing a remarkably flexible and lightweight boot with two layers of foam in the insole and midsole, designed to maximize shock absorption and minimize weight and bulk.

In other words, if you’re used to sneakers, you’ll feel right at home in this boot. (Maybe even more so than in welted footwear.)

Florsheim – Lodge Boot

• Cemented construction
• Ortholite High Rebound insoles for comfort
• ~$140

Florsheim offers Goodyear welted shoes in their most popular styles, but for the budget-minded shopper, their cement-constructed Lodge boot is not a bad substitute.

Due to their imitation stacked heel and welt, the Lodge appears way more expensive than they actually are. To an untrained eye, the Lodge could well pass for $300 boots. 

Lems Boulder Boot

• Waterproof
• Lightweight
• Ergonomic zero-drop heel
• $175

Let’s go to an outdoorsy waterproof boot to round this list out. While Jim Green are great if you want a more dedicated hiking boot, Lems Waterproof Boulder Boot has a proper leather upper, a zero drop heel, and they manage to make it waterproof with a very thin membrane that keeps the weight under 13 ounces in weight. It’s a good example of a boot not being resoleable, but taking full advantage of that to maximize lightness and waterproofness.

 For light hiking and urban exploring, these are fantastically comfortable and functional boots.

Best Chelsea Boot: New Republic Sonoma

• Super soft crepe sole
• Stylish Chelseas 
• $99

New Republic’s Sonoma  is a fine boot. It’s not the best boot under 200 bucks, but it’s usually on sale for under $100, so it’s definitely the cheapest Chelsea.  

New Republic are famous for their super soft and comfy crepe soles. They cost as much as a pair of sneakers, and they’ll last longer than most. Just note that it’s not super stable because it’s a crepe sole, and there’s no shank, and it can’t be resoled. But it’s hard to complain too much about $99 boots that look as good as this; they’ll definitely add class and style to an outfit without breaking the bank. 

Wrapping Up: The Best Boots Under $200

Who says you can’t get a good pair of boots for under $200? Whether you want longevity or comfort, there’s something for every customer on this list. We think we’ve provided enough information that you can make the right decision for your individual needs and your wardrobe. Think we missed anything? Let us know in the comments below.

FAQs: Best Boots Under $200

What are moc toe boots?

A Moc Toe boot is a style of boot characterized by its moccasin-like stitching around the toe. That's a U-shaped seam on the top of the boot, giving it a distinct appearance. Moc toe boots are known for their comfort, as they're often roomier than plain toe boots. That roominess means they can't really be dressed up, though.

What are the best work boots under $200?

Timberland's Pro Boondock is our work boot writer's favorite. It's waterproof, ultra sturdy, resoleable, and electrical hazard resistant.

What are the best dress boots for under $200?

Thursday Boot Company's Cavalier Chelsea boot is a great pick for dressy boots. Pick one up in a smooth leather instead of suede, and you'll find it pairs well with business attire.

What are the best chukka boots under 200?

The Clarks Desert Boot stands out as the best chukka boot. Available in leather, suede, and canvas, it is priced around $149.00, depending on materials. Known for its light, thin build and crepe sole, the boot is ideal for casual style and can be dressed up to business casual without much effort.

What's the best casual boot?

The Thursday Boot Company's Captain boot is the top choice for a casual boot. Priced at $199, it combines a dress boot and work boot aesthetic, offering toughness in a streamlined look. It's also available in over a dozen leathers and multiple sole options.