I see Schnees now makes hiking/mountain/hunting boots like Crispi and Kenetrek. Anyone handled those?
I'll vouch for them. I have a pair of the Schnee Granites, and I really like them, but what I recommend to everyone, and I might get next time is the next step down in their line, called I believe the Beartooths. Those have a ton of good reviews and I know several people who have them and can't say enough good about them. Everyone says they are super comfortable and almost no break in. I like a lot of ankle support and so I got their Granites which is their stiffest boot. They are super comfortable now and I really like them, but they were the toughest boot I've ever owned to break in. I had about 800 miles on them before they were fully broken in. Over two years old now, and I figure I will get another year out of them anyways. They are still waterproof, and I can never get boots that stay waterproof for any length of time.
Crispi's are a good, well built boot, if you can wear them. They have almost no arch support and I have high arches and a bad arch on the one foot. I wanted to like them, but even with arch supports in them I couldn't wear them. The Kennetreks are the most comfortable boot I've ever put on, but I know quite a few people who have them and it is about a 50/50 chance that you are going to get a pair that are waterproof, and I just couldn't see spending the money they want for them, with that kind of reliability on waterproofness.