I grew up in MI and remember those Dec and Jan cold whitetail hunts well! I used pack boots there. For out west I think there are lots of good choices. Schnees, Kenetrek, Crispi, Lowas, a bunch that forum members talk about here. I personally went with Schnees Beartooth classics. But I tried a pair of Kenetrek Mountain Extremes that I also really like. I wanted as much a breathable boot as possible for this particular boots duty so I went with one without a water proof liner. Best thing IMO to do is buy from a place with a good return policy and try a few different brands inside your house. Walk up and down stairs, Experiment with lacing techniques to get the right fit. To me, that is a very important part of getting the boot to fit right. Different liners too. I didn’t like either boot much until I put in different liners and found a lacing technique that worked to prevent heel slip. Keep the ones you like.
I can’t speak to how much insulation or different brands effectiveness, I think I’d trust any of the respected brands. But I’d probably go with 400g or up if I felt I needed insulation. See what discount codes are available too. I think meateater gets you 10% at Schnees and randy or newberg might work at Kenetrek. Can’t recall the exact codes.
