Arc'teryx Bora2 Mid GTX

Very durable rugged boot. Ultimate support, traction, and protection. Waterproof.

Would recommend for any time a person is hiking. Especially if they have a heavy pack on or are in mud and rugged terrain. Take a while to break in, but mold to your feet beautifully.

Both my wife and me have these boots. We will not hike without these boots on. They felt OK the first day but improved dramatically over time. No other boot is as supportive, waterproof, or durable.  

We have completed a part summer, winter, and full summer of hiking with them. We did 4 km of trails with packs daily for three months when we first got them. Snow, stream crossing, sand, mud, boulders, gravel, ocean water, ladders, these boots just laugh. Many kilometers of rugged trail including the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island. After this they are exactly like brand new. So in the long run these will be the cheapest boots I have ever owned.

One thing, they are warm and humid. Expected as much considering they are 100 percent waterproof. Would never think of not using them when it's dry and hot though. Because of the warm and dry they are great for us in the snow. Have hiked 4km in below -40°c with the non-insulated regular liners. Never tested them for a full day and standing around in cold. So would not do multi-day hikes yet in the cold.

Gators do not fit well. Something about the shape of the boot and sole.  The strap ends up being on the heel.  The strap will get damaged. They do work perfect even though it seems bad fitting. Even with no strap they stay on and block everything.

Arc'teryx revolutionized the hiking boot, like wow!