Altima used to make the boots for the Army. I was issued 4 pair when I went to Cuba...blew through 2 (desert volcanic rock there, not very boot-friendly). The Altimas were super comfy, and I still use a pair for summer stuff. I wonder if they went back to cheap manufacturers.

Tom, never really had a problem with 'em on rocky terrain. A might slippery, maybe. I wouldn't wear 'em in winter, though. They can be made water-repellent with some silicone spray.

"...I wonder if they went back to cheap manufacturers..."

I think the proper term is "lowest bid"...

Depends on your party affiliation

I don't know. From 19 years of age, til I retired many years later, I worked for Uncle Sam or the state, and everything that was issued to me was lowest bid, no matter what party was in charge. Be it boots, or the tires I was driving 140+ mph on, lowest bid. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.

Of course viewing everything from the bottom of the food chain might make a difference...

I'm a real fan of Danner boots. I currently use the Ft Lewis jump boot. Waterproof, great support, good protection, plus wear 5.11 socks. You probasbly would not want the boot as tall as this one though...just find a shorter model from Danner
Doc

As everyone else has already mentioned, fit is the most important, everything else is secondary. The best made boots in the world don't mean much if they're too uncomfortable to wear.

Since you mentioned that you mostly hike in hotter weather, I would recommend you do NOT get a gore-tex boot. I know they are advertised as waterproof and breathable, but they are a lot warmer than regular (non-lined) boots, and will cause your feet to sweat more. If you know your feet will be getting wet, like in stream crossings or stuff, I still prefer to have a boot that is not waterproof. Because waterproof boots will keep water out, but if your feet get wet, it will also keep it in. It's better to have a really breathable hiker that drains water well, than one that keeps your feet wet.

If you're not carrying heavy loads or going off trail a lot, a light fabric hiker will be much more comfortable than heavy leather boots. It just depends on the type of hiking you do. A good outdoor shoe store should be able to give you a good boot recommendation based on your needs. I personally prefer Lowa's, they're much lighter than they look and they fit my foot well. But I've also had merrels, vasque, montrails, and columbia. Almost all of the major brands will be decent quality, so just buy the one that feels the best

Also, regardless of the type of boot you get, don't forget about the socks. Good socks are just as, or even more imporant, than the shoes.

2nd the anti-recommendation about Gore-Tex: it makes for a crappy boot. When the weather is cold, your feet will feel clammy; when it's warm, they'll sweat like crazy. The worst part of all is that they are rarely "waterproof" past the first season, and when they do get wet (and they will), they dry very slowly.

I'm not a big fan of Gore-Tex under normal circumstances, and especially NOT in a pair of boots.

-=[ Grant ]=-

Re ducktapeguy and GrantC

I would agree about the Goretex lined boot in hotter weather, they are not recommended. But in colder wetter weather I do find some other advantages to Goretex lined boots over more conventional leather boots. The goretex lined boot allows the boot to be designed slightly lighter, possibly saving 100-200 grams/boot for similar weather protection. This also reduces fatigue on long treks. Goretex lined boots are generally more waterproof than heavier conventional boots although breathability is about the same because a thinner leather boot is being used in comparison to the thicker heavier leather on the conventional boot. I also find that the goretex lining which is essentially a very thin fabric coated MVP PTFE also seems to reduce blistering because of the very low Coeffecient of Friction the material has. The goretex lined boot works very well for mountaineers and climbers in the colder wetter conditions we all to often get in Northern Europe. Of course the conditions in the warm humid southern states of the US are completely different to Northern Europe. Clothing and footware will be different.
In many ways, the warm humid conditions in southern Texas are actually more difficult to dress for because keeping dry in such conditions is difficult when it is raining. Rather than use goretex lined clothing in such conditions I would probably use a material called Ventile.
The Ventile Shirt is cool in summer conditions and warm in colder windy conditions and has a degree of waterproofness. The material is surpisingly capabable for such a wide range of weather conditions. As for socks I would stay away from any synthetic materials also when used in such warm weather. A cotton-woolen-silk mix would probably be best. If you go for a lightweight leather boot then a pair of Goretex socks can be used to supplement the boots during winter months.

I'm going to put my 2 cents in FOR Goretex liners in boots. I switched over to Goretex a number of years ago and haven't looked back. I have the opposite experience GrantC has. Feet are not clammy (at least no more than any other shoe/boot). I clean and coat the boots with a spray Nikwax formula 2-3x a year and even when trekking through streams my feet have stayed dry. Being several years old, they are starting to wear a bit at the sole seams so I will have goop them up to maintain the seal.

I normally have hot feet so I was initially concerned about getting too hot. I have found that it just wasn't true with these boots -Garmont Synchro ($225 CDN). I have low volume, long narrow feet and these fit perfectly. I've taken to wearing them in winter as well as during the summer because of their waterproof nature. They flex at exactly the right point for my longish toes. I consider this pair as close to the ideal boot as I have ever had. I prefer to have a shallow sole to keep the damage to the trail to a minimum.

I wear medium or thick smart-wool blended socks. I tried out poly liner socks inside of ordinary wool but the slipperiness of the foot inside the other sock felt too strange and actually created blisters instead of preventing them!