I am incredibly picky about any shoes, so I generally stick to what I like.
Winter general use/hiking/snowshoeing- Irish Setter 800 gram Big Game Tracker- light, warm, dry, good traction in most conditions. Not sure if they even make this model anymore, but the fit of most of their boots suits me.
Summer outdoor work/patrol- Danner USMC RAT boots (Gore Tex)- you can find these cheaper now since the Corps doesn't allow them to be worn in the US, they were made for Afghanistan, so Danner has a large stock of them.
Heavy backpacking- Asolo 520's I've had several pairs of these, they generally last about 10 years of pretty heavy use. About $350, but it works out in the long run.
Extreme cold/deep snow/slush- Muck Boots Woody Max- they are very warm, but unless you have a good boot dryer, they're only good for one day because your feet will sweat, and they don't dry fast. Terrible snow traction, but I wear ice cleats with them if necessary. These are what I wear ice fishing, snowblowing, and during late muzzleloader season. I have been outside all day in sub-zero weather and my feet have never been cold in them.
I have, at times, had over 20 pairs of boots that I wore regularly. From mid-70's German tanker boots to jungle boots, all kinds of hiking boots and military boots of different types. I'd have a hard time going with just one pair, but it would probably be the Irish Setters. Just a good all-around boot that's ok in most weather conditions. We used to wear Chippewa Arctic 50's year-round when I was a carpenter, we had a local place that sold irregulars pretty cheap. Sadly, they don't make them anymore, because nothing makes you feel more invincible than lacing up a brand-new pair of them and going out for an evening of dancing and carousing.
Actually, I wear running shoes about 75% of the time now, at work, around the house, running, and backpacking. Either Saucony or Scott, both of which I've been wearing regularly since high school. I keep a pair of season-appropriate boots in my car, and during the winter I wear a pair of Columbia light boots that I bought mostly because they were my favorite color (OD green), they turned out to be basically insulated sneakers but they're very comfortable and warm, even during the 43" snowstorm that I spent the entire night at work shoveling outside.
