To the top. @Archertl offered us one of the most educational threads in regards to hiking boots I've ever seen. If I looked for magazine articles on the subject, I don't believe I would have been as informed as this succinct write up. 11 years old and still very relevant.
Yea, they sure have fallen the way of cheaper and cater to the rei crowd. Really, wish i bought 4 pairs of those. I am wearing a pair of danner mountian 600's right now. They are one of the few full grain leather hiking boots made right now. Everything is getting expensive and worst in quality. These are really light and comfortable which is nice, they seem to be holding up well. They probably 100 miles in on them now.