Zamberlan Tofane NW GTX RR

Superb Norwegian welted leather boot. Just crazy attention to detail and quality. Yes, your first car cost less, but these are the Ferrari of hiking boots.

Love these. I wear them even when a lighter boot would be more than adequate.  Just very comfortable, great grip and trail feel for a stiffer heavier boot.

I have read complaints about the toe rand coming loose, but mine have not even after two years of hard use.

The fit is superb. I have two very different feet and have no trouble accommodating both by simply lacing differently.

They did require a few days of extended use to really break in, but I had no blistering or other evils during that period.

This is a very supportive boot, so if you want shoes or a trail runner experience, this is not your boot. On the other hand I have skied in these using a universal binding on backcountry skis—so they are flexible enough for scramble hikes and stiff enough for some pretty demanding uses.

I am not sure that the Gore-Tex was really needed. It turns out that there is also a non-Gore-Tex version of this boot as well.

Anyway, if you want to splurge on an absurdly well made and very functional boot, this will do it.