Need help boots

cybernet , as tigger noted, how well the boots fit your feet is absolutely essential. The best made boot in the world will be horrible if not suited to your feet, and the fact is that different brands have different fits.

I live in Chicagoland with two REI stores reasonably close, and the boots I've been interested in during the current supply chain disruptions have not been in stock to try on. After reading numerous reviews I decided on the Salomon X Ultra 3 mid GTX. I waited for the annual 20% off and finally got them delivered, but will have to return them. Even though I ordered the wide, they are too narrow in the forefoot.

Long story short, you may have to order and return boots more than once before you find what's right for your feet. I've never owned boots by the brands you noted; others are more highly rated, but either of the models you listed could be perfectly fine if they are the right fit for your feet.

Generally speaking, you should aim for the the lightest footwear that is suitable for the terrain, weather, and loads you plan to carry. It sounds like your trek in Peru could be very rugged, so you may want a somewhat beefy boot with good support. The Salomon Quest 4 has consistently gotten top ratings, but that brand runs narrow. Scarpa has very sturdy and capable boots, but heavier.

Here are links to two sites that do thorough testing:
GearLab
Switch Back Travel

Many experienced hikers prefer lightweight breathable hiking shoes that dry quickly. Feet tend to sweat more with gore-tex linings, and the waterproofness inevitably fails. Personally I prefer "waterproof" boots because I often hike in cold and wet environments, even though that sometimes means replacing boots prematurely if the lining fails before the tread wears out.

My advice is to thoroughly research your options and order boots well in advance to try on. Wear the thickest socks you plan to hike in. Walk around the house and note any pressure points. Feet tend to swell on long rugged hikes. You need enough room for comfort, but too much room is unstable. After lacing up firmly you don't want the back of your heel slipping, as that can cause blisters. Make sure they're long enough so your toes don't get jammed inside the boot on the downhills.

Best of luck in finding the optimal boots for your feet and for an awesome trek in Peru.

I’m not familiar with the trek you are planning, but in 2014 I did the Alpomayo and Huayhuash circuits. I believe I wore Merril Moabs—i.e., light hikers. We were there in the dry season, in generally dry mountains, and though the boots got wet some, they didn’t stay that way. Comfort is all when you are walking all day every day.

I just read the specs and a couple of reviews on the OP's boots. The North Face boots are real hiking boots based on their specs. When I saw the pics of the NF's I don't think I could wear them. Why do they make the boots a walking North Face advertisement? One feature that could be one of those you either hate or love is the sole design.

One of the Vectiv Exploris’ most distinctive features is its rockered shape, which curves up at the forefoot to encourage forward propulsion. In practice, I found it was excellent at maximizing and maintaining energy transfer—I felt just as sprightly and agile on mile 10 of our hike as I did at the trailhead. It does detract from overall stability and feels pretty unnatural at first, especially when standing still or running (more on this in “Stability and Support” below), but the Vectiv nevertheless is extremely comfortable and well-tuned for fast-and-light hiking.

www.switchbacktravel.com/reviews/the-north-face-vectiv-exploris

Nice find!