The first and by far the most important factor in choosing a boot is how well it fits your own foot and how comfortable it is over the course of your hikes. Brand name and cost are negligible factors compared to that.

Cheap boots are somewhat less likely to last well over time and under the sort of abuse a trail can dish out, but you should expect that. Unless the construction is truly shoddy, a boot ought to last several hundred miles at least.

The fit is what you need to concentrate on most. Try the boots on with the socks you expect to wear with them and check for a cramped toe box, chafing, or pressure points, and so on. Find out the return policy. You can wear new boots around the house for hours and get a better idea of their comfort, without making them unreturnable.