GENERAL THOUGHTS: If you are hiking in humid climates, in addition to using Purell at the end of each day, try and wear wicking socks. Non-wicking socks are tolerable, but alas, they provide an outstanding medium for fungi and bacteria cultures. Oh, yeah, one more thing: DO NOT purchase ANY boots that are toted as "waterproof." Most of them are just a marketing gimmick, and the ones that are truly waterproof work bothways, Friend. They keep water out, but they also keep water in, and the waterproofing only works up to the top of the boot. If you cross a stream more than ankle deep, water will pool in your magnificent waterproof boots and stay there. Icky! Incidentally, Jungle Boots have drain holes at the bottom for the very purpose of draining water quickly. One drawback of having the heavy soles is that it detracts from your foot's sensitivity. This can be good in many cases, but in some cases, like when you are rock scrambling or something similar during which it would definitely benefit you to feel the terrain under you, the heavy soles will drive you nuts.

SABERTEK MEGABITES: These are the boots of my dreams. They are higher topped than most other boots, are solidly built, and they have one hell of a sole. The traction and gripping abilities of these boots are second to none, and no other boot, including the high quality brands like Asolo, Vasque, and Merrell, is as tough as this battleship. Asolos, Vasques and Merrells are immensely more comfortable, as regular shoes, and if you are wearing the boots for anything besides hiking, then get one of them, but for hiking over hard core terrain, you simply cannot top the ruggedness of Sabertek's Megabite. Be prepared to spend over $100 for them, though, and also be prepared to search for months on end to find them. They are not popular, because they are not the most comfortable. But once you break them in and get used to them, you will find that the super high tops and the insane tread comes in handy on rough hikes.

ALTAMA DELTA CORPORATION JUNGLE BOOTS: These are the famous boots used in Vietnam, and still used and widely available. Make sure you get the ones with the Cordura uppers, and the Panama sole. The all-leather ones are less durable, and they make a different sole which doesn't work half as well. They will cost around $75, and are EXCELLENT boots. A word of caution: don't get the cheap knockoffs for $20. They will fall apart if you sneeze wrong.

ASOLO BIO-SOLE SERIES: These are in my opinion the absolute best manufactured boot I have ever had the privelege of using. The MERIDIAN, PARALLEL, LATITUDE, and LONGITUDE are all part of this series, and are so comfortable, and so strong, that I can almost say that you will never have to buy another pair of boots after these, ever. My girlfriend Lisa has a pair, and she can put a foot sideways and let me stand on it with all my 200 pounds resting on that one foot, and she doesn't feel a thing. You'll pay for them, though. They run well over $200 a pair.