Title. Just for walking around. Looking for something waterproof so I can wear them in rain or maybe light snow.
Last time I bought some new balance sneakers and they're full of cracks and tearing apart at the seams after a little over a year. I hate that everything is designed to fail immediately 
Not really a fan of anything with a high collar, tbh, my feet are wide so they don't fit super well.
There are a lot of good trail shoes and work shoes these days. What I did was I went to REI, went to the shoe guy, and described what I was looking for and what I needed. The shoe guy was like "i got you, here's a bunch of options in different price points and I'll answer any questions you have and give advice". No regrets.
get two pair and alternate wearing them daily.
also depending on how much you walk a year might be how often you should replace them so you don't fuck up your feet/knees/back with worn out shoes
I don't walk that much, average less than 1 hour a day I'd wager. And before I buy two pairs of something I'd like to know if they're quality first, lol.
Apologies to the vegans, but leather uppers will last a very long time if maintained. Shoes and boots with a good-year welt can have their soles replaced which can greatly extend their lifespan. Money doesn't always buy quality, but there are still some quality brands if you're able to drop 100+ dollars. A good place to look for advice is construction workers, landscapers, and other people who do labor outdoors. They know what brands are good right now. Since the end of the GWOT there's been a trend of what are essentially tactical shoes - sturdy shoes that incorporate a lot of the features of tactical boots and technical hiking boots, but it a shoe form that's lighter and easier to walk in. If you're looking for something durable and very capable and you're okay with something black or coyote tan that looks a little aggro I'd suggest going in that direction.
The docs on my feet are ten winters old and while they may be a bit flat soled as of this last year, they have taken me through five years of retail hell and still keep my feet warm and dry.
One pair of leather boots does the work of fifty pairs of plastic shoes.
i have a pair of doc martens shoes i bought in 1998 that still look nice when polished and are crazy comfortable. i know the company changed hands and/or relocated production since then, and there have been accusations that they suck now. and that could all be true, but i bought a pair of their boots maybe 4 years ago, and they still feel sturdy and keep out the cold/wet. they also look very nice if i clean and polish them, though i use them as a working boot generally.
