A pair of short bike shorts will give you all-day comfort on a hot trail while still looking ... Foxelli Suede Leather Waterproof Hiking Boots . ... Why You Should Be a Sardine Girl This Summer .

But like an uncomfortable pair of hiking boots, the wrong shorts can transform an otherwise perfect outing into a painful slog, whether because of chafing or flimsy, cheap materials. So, we asked ...

We tested some of the best budget hiking gear to find pieces that actually work well enough for the trail. Here are our favorite low-cost boots, backpacks and more.