I buy light weight hiking boots as seen in Cabella's etc catalogs.-part leather, part nylon.  The first pair lasted me 10 years.  Currently I have a pair of Moab boots by Merrrell.  ( now 3 years old)  Like Wally writes wear them all day in and out of the water, dry them when in camp( wear them wet if not dry) and wear another pair of dry shoes or sandals in camp.  Only use them for canoeing