You don't need to buy a major brand like North Face to get excellent quality. Columbia might be cheaper but this boot performs as good as any of the bigger, more popular and expensive brands out there. I hike in the Adirondacks where it can get bone chilling cold in winter, especially on a windy summit. Every time I've worn these, I'm continually impressed with their performance.

PROS:
- They're very warm. Paired with my wool socks, I've never had cold feet or toes while wearing them on my all-day hikes
- They are extremely lightweight. Seriously, they feel like the weigh just a couple ounces.
- They have an aggressive tread for keeping good traction
- They're waterproof so I don't have to worry about puddles or snow melt
- They have a webbing loop on the heel to easily pull them on
- The cushion is unbelievably soft. It's like walking on clouds
- They are tall boots, which is great for ankle support

CONS:
- They ride high, which is nice great for ankle support but this causes me some pain in my lower calf by the end of a long hike
- The rubber portion that covers the top of the toes can sometimes bend oddly on the side when I walk and pinch my pinky toe, causing some discomfort, though for the most part they don't do this

FIT:
- Columbia tends to run small so I would size up, especially if you plan on wearing thick socks