I use New Balance shoes, whatever is on sale and in my size. I have to have 4Es, and New Balance is one of the few with shoes my width. A couple of weeks ago, I left REI again, empty handed, because they didn't have a shoe that was wide enough. Anyways, last week I spent a good couple hours kick stepping in snow to get to the summit of Ben Lomond. I had on my non-waterproof New Balance's. My feet were soaked 90% of the hike, no blisters.