I have these boots and love them: http://www.amazon.com/Danner-Desert-TFX-...4790&sr=8-1

It says desert, but they work well in the winter, too.

They are comfortable right out of the box. The first day, I hiked 14.9 miles in them. They feel like I'm just wearing socks.

They are completely waterproof. No need to take them off to ford shallow streams.

Before buying surplus, be sure to check the reviews on Amazon. Many boots are just for garrison duty or other specialized uses like the deck of an aircraft carrier.

The downside to a tall boot is they are a little hard to get on and off for those trips at night.