Our concept of a hiking boot used to be some massive leather affair with deep lugs and a norwegian welt. They wieghed a ton and tore up the soils we were traveling over. Somebody finally realized these were mountaineering boots more appropriate for the Matterhorn. There is no hiking boot per se, just as there is no 'survival' knife. Once again, look at what people wear regionally for different conditions. If it's pouring rain a set of rubber Wellingtons, snow traditional mukluks, light trail use moccassins( running shoes). If your bushwacking old growth forest then a pair of logger type or the old mountain boots might be needed. You have to think about what your feet need and not what everyone is wearing first.