Decent boots - Alpina Helios Hiking Boot - Mens

I just got around to trying these out the last few days. My thoughts so far - they seem a bit stiff, but not in a bad way - they offer good support. Nice padded collar, good overall comfort, nice Vibram sole. On the negative side, they are plenty pricey (which it seems like the whole hiking boot market is getting that way). I gave them a waterproofing test (somewhat unintentionally stepping in 3"+ of water at work) - my feet did not actually get 'wet'; however, they did feel kind of cold and damp as I continued to wear them for a few more hours. After removing them, they seemed pretty dry on the inside. I'm guessing that the perforated leather outers allowed water to kind of sit against the waterproof membrane liner, leading to the cold, damp feeling. So, maybe the perforated leather that allows them to be 'breathable' has a slight downside when submerged? I'd probably give them 3.5 stars, but since it can only be 3 or 4, I picked 4. This is my first pair of Alpina brand hiking boots. For the price, I'm not sure I would buy a second pair - I think there are better ones to be had with a little shopping around.

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.