Wow, I didn't think it was that long ago we had this discussion... Just got back from a ten day solo. It was supposed to be twelve days but things didn't go all to well in the boot selection. I was down at Midwest Mountaineerings Expo in April and picked up Chota's revision of the Quetico Trekkers. I wore them everywhere to get them broke in and thought I did a pretty good job. I started out with a 30 rod portage and then a 60 rod... was doing okay. Then after a short eight rod I did a 216 rod portage. My feet were wet pretty much after the 60 rod portage. I ended up with big blisters in the front next to the balls of my feet right in the middle. ///after an other short portage I camped for the night. I thought I would the next day just get a 280 rod portage behind me and on that portage the blister on my left foot broke open... Well, making a long story not so much longer... I fought the problem through out the trip, even changing the course to do less portaging. Did I not break them in enough or is it the boot? It seems there is a lot of slop room around the front of my feet. I'm not happy about this. Do I try them out again to see if they are finally broke in or do I scrap em and get something more trustworthy. I didn't notice til later they are made in China  . They did dry fast and had okay traction. Ten days later and I'm still in a bit of pain, course I never did rest my feet that much. I'd looked forward to that trip a long time.

Wow I am glad that my dogs serve me well. Maybe they're just always used. Food and feet. For years I have "wet booted" running Redwing Irishsetters then various Irishsetter models( had to simple due to the fact that once the japanese fad fell on redwing I could not afford to due it any longer). They are always run with a good quality merino wool sock and a footbed. On occasion I due get minor blisters on the tops of my toes but only when the boot is wore out and stretched out and I am on a route with many ups and downs carrying profound weight. These are the boots that I wear everyday for work, and a average day for me is 10-12 miles shlepping the whole way-mmmmm a typical day in the crown or BW

I completely understand fit is paramount in foot ware; foot beds IMO can assist with that endeavor and are much more affordable than custom foot ware. I also ditch liner socks years ago because for me they simply caused more issues rather than doing what they are suppose to do...abraded blisters.

Last year I moved with great apprehension to a pair of Chotas(gore topped boots/model?) for a late season trip. No bisters due to the fact that I socked up the boot-one smartwool sock and one heavy weight filson with a boot bed to stiffen the sole and  velcro strap around the ankle to keep the heel in the heal cup of the boot; because that is what my feet are use to. Yes, the footing was different but it is a different boot. But I was warm and that was the goal-warm.... not dry and warm. One of the byproducts of that switch up was lightening the mass on the foot, which was quite noticeable, even enjoyable,  and belayed the stink factor

Knowing your foot ware and its limitations IMO are key-the gal that the boy and I came across last year on Alpine with a broken leg speaks loud and clear to that. IMO that can only be explored through trial and error to find the "system" that works for you-the individual-and then pushing the system in the circuit that is a mirror of the activity that is its application. Simply, if the hide is thin blisters will happen, if the boot dont fit dont wear it until it does, and slippage is about the soul/sole

The last thing is about Lasts...the "mold" that the foot ware is made on. Their are differences between american and european lasted boots. American style is wider....european is narrower in the heal cup and the like. This has me thinkin' about the pictures of the Borneo guides and their out of scale naked dogs that a employer showed me after he returned from a trip in search of P. rothschildianum in its native haunts.....support! it aint a loose term
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Ha! If you read the reviews of the link I posted above I suggest you avoid that particular brand. I thought they were a bit on the cheap side. The ones I have have seen at least 150 miles (Wonderland Trail alone is 93+) of some pretty tough stuff and still look fine. Of course that is split between 3 pair. Rather fuzzy math eh?

I used to use polypro for liner socks. I now use Coolmax liners, much better IMO.

Well, dry footing it would have been a little bit impossible on my last trip. The landings weren't to good, I'm not sure how high the Mukluks are. But one portage I had was knee deep in water for about 75 yards. (Hustler to Oyster... 310 rods). Aren't the Mukluks kind of warm to wear during warm weather? The sock liner makes sense and so does the insoles... Or maybe a different pair of boots... Wonder what Denton Doc or Jimbo might say about the possibility of dry footing it in WCPP? I also had to wet foot it on Ge be on a quet Creek... Or as I named it Gee Ben ought to quit creek... as it was too shallow, lots of rocks.