For me, it was a pair of merrell shoes on sale. They have lasted 3+ years, have great grip in the snow and ice, and so comfortable, my feet don’t hurt after wearing all day.
Never cheap out on anything that comes between you and the ground; shoes, tires, a bed.
What have been some of your good purchases under $100?
I love my DIY Xero sandals. They’re basically a sole with a rope strapped to it, as little shoe as you can possibly have. They’re my absolute favorite shoes, as close to barefooting as you can get while still having protection against sharps on the ground.
I’ve had to replace the nylon cord a couple times, but that’s cheap as hell. And it’s very durable if you melt the end cap correctly (I didn’t, the first two times).
Costs about $30 last I checked.