hiking shoes?

I started hiking last summer and just wore regular shoes. This year I plan to hike a mountain every weekend as soon as the weather turns around. I am looking for any tips on picking out a good pair of hiking shoes/boots. All I know now is that they will need to be water proof because last year the trails were very wet early in the year.

So what brands and styles do you like and dislike?

It all depends on your terrain, support you need, comfort level, etc. Personally for me I like a boot over a shoe and I want light weight and waterproof which is why I went with the Salomons that I posted. I own two pairs of Merrells shoes but IMO they're not good for rougher trails due to ankle roll. Yes they make boots, but compared to other brands (such as Salomon) they're way heavier.

I don't personally like Keens because they're a bit more bulky than most (again just my opinion from the ones I've owned). If you're going to be doing casual day hikes, you probably don't need anything crazy so a pair of mid high Merrells that are waterproof are probably fine.

Your best bet is go to an outdoor store like Rei or EMS and try on a bunch and see how they feel. Don't forget you're going to be wearing them for a while when hiking so if you think they feel too uncomfortable or heavy in the store, remember you'll most likely have them on your feet for a couple hours at a time in uneven terrain when hiking.

Merrill boots are my favorite. They are comfy, supportive and last. I worked as a naturalist and hiked frequently as recreation so I wore my first Merrell boots constantly for probably six years before they bit the dust. And I love Smartwool socks. They're pricey but last. I wear them year round with all shoes.
Just like with running shoes, make sure they're comfy in the store, whatever brand you end up with. They might feel awkward if you're not used to boots but they shouldn't hurt.
Enjoy your hikes!

As a footnote (see what I did there?), the reason I don't care for Keens has been previously stated: they feel more bulky on my feet. I prefer Merrell due to being lightweight with the awesome vibram outsoles.

I don't find my keens any bulkier then my Merrills, or Asolo's ever were.

Maybe you are looking at the wrong keens!

ETA : aren't opinions crazy sometimes

I finally realized that there wasn't one pair of hiking foot wear that would do everything, and sucked it up and bought a good pair of trail runners AND a pair of hiking boots. Hiking shoes are very idiosyncratic - the best ones are the ones that fit you best. My new favorite brand is Vasque, for both excellent trail runners and quality reasonably affordable hiking boots.