I've never found the Top End exceptionally tough on boots. No tougher than many other places.

Hot? No hotter than SA or Central Australia in 40 deg C plus temps. Or Africa.

Soils? The soils of the Top End are soft. Hard baked in the Dry Season sure. Of course some areas particularly hilly or mountainous are stony or rocky.

Compare to say the Flinders or Gibber plains. In days gone by I wore out a newish pair of Rossi or Blundstone style slip on farm boot soles in a single day's hunting. Learned a lesson there. Some foreign parts there is nothing but masses of rocks underfoot.

Indeed even fallow hunting the constant large round rocks hidden in the grass is angle and boot stressing.

Swampy, wet muddy country? Exists everywhere. Funny experienced that in the Okavango. Quicksands here in SA. Yep it is a pain having to cross a kilometre of buffalo wallow mud pools, sucking mud, one gets wet and mucky. Seriously don't come buffalo hunting if one can't walk in muddy wet sucking mud. It's going to happen.

But good boots are fine.

I've had two pairs of Scarpas for a long time. One heavier and one supposedly lighter. No sole separation.

Courteney boots are more for show IMO. Or easy country. Never had a pair. They wouldn't sell them at the factory door for $25 anymore. And the Indian stores in Bulawayo wanted rip off US$300 a pair same as London. No bargaining. I just said Ffff off. In attitude anyway, not words.

Long walks in tropical country, dry season, I do choose a somewhat sturdier boot. Rather than a softer soled stalking boot. My somewhat lighter Scarpas work fine.