re: The best/most cofortable "waterproof" shoes/boots for hiking

Highly recommend Salewa. Newer company to the US market, but they are well established in Europe. Very comfortable and durable shoes and boots. Also come with the promise from the company that they will put you in another product that will fit better if you get a blister. The wildfire would be my suggestion. Comes in a mid cut boot or low cut shoe.

Edit:

The rubber compound they use in the sole and sole design are meant for slippery surfaces as well so that's an added bonus. Someone might want to double check me to be sure but I believe keen still offers some boot models with razor siping on the sole which will grip slick rocks better than anything. Keen is a much wider cut typically though.