Favorite boots? That is a great question. First, I believe in the right tool for the job, so it's tough to pick one 'overall' favorite (I have 10 pair in regular rotation). Second, fit is 75% of the criteria for me with the remaining 25% function. I place high value on toughness and waterproofing - the Cascade Range will really test your equipment. That said, I find Danner, Vasque, Asolo, and Lowa too narrow (yes, even the wide versions). I love Scarpa (no doubt they're some of the highest quality around), but I can't wait 2 years to break something in. Merrell construction doesn't cut it for me; I shred them in one outing, I don't like the plastic elements of the uppers, and I'm certain they don't know how to sew their GoreTex in a way to make it waterproof.

After that preamble, I love my Sorels for cold weather. I love my Browning featherweight kangaroo 10" upland hunters (not for sale in Calif). I love my Raichle Mt. Trail backpacking boots.

Though they're long gone (and aren't made any longer), my favorite boots of all time were the Montrail (formerly OneSport) Moraine heavy backpacking/light mountaineering boots. They took me hundreds of miles through the Sierra Nevada, to the top of Mount Shasta, and on my first scrambles in the North Cascades. Sad day indeed when I retired them.