re: Good pair of waterproof hiking shoes?

For a truly "budget" option, I've had good luck with roughly $100 Columbia hiking boots and trail runners on many the many scouting camping trips and outdoor activates I bought them for. I've used them in all sorts of conditions from desert sand, typical trail hiking in the intermountain west, scrambling over rock faces and in snow. I'd say I had several hundred miles on my latest pair in "off road" conditions. I'd guess they are 1/2 through their usable life. I even wore them ice fishing back in January and they kept my feet warm and dry all day. My only complaints is that in the heat of the summer the waterproof versions are a little warm.