Footwear

There are a couple of broad categories when it comes to footwear. 

Backpacking Boots - These are typically heavy, made of leather, and come up over your ankle.  I only like boots in the right situation.  They are helpful to me when I have a heavy load (more stability around my ankles) or if I will be going through snowfields (gaiters can be required to keep snow from coming in over the top) or if the weather is cold.  The downside to these boots are that they are heavy.  You will pick your feet up thousands of times over the course of the hike.  If your boot weighs a pound more than a shoe, we know (from our favorite subject physics!) that is a lot more work/energy.  Some studies have argued that an extra pound on your feet is like 5 pounds in your pack.  Also, once boots get wet, they tend to stay wet for quite a while.  They can be hard to dry out. 

Hiking Shoes - In the ultralight backpacking community, this is the current trend and I am a fan.  Lots of people use trail-runners or light weight hiking shoes instead of big backpacking boots.  The advantage is that they are lighter and more economical.  The disadvantages are that they typically don't give your ankles as much support and some of the lighter ones can get thrashed pretty quickly on aggressive rocks. 

Waterproof - This is another area of huge debate, which may surprise you.  Many in the lightweight backpacking arena argue against waterproof footwear.  They say it is hotter, makes your feet sweat, and once wet stays wet longer.  They argue this leads to more blisters.  I agree that once wet, they stay wet.  That said, my feet are almost always cold and I hate nothing more than walking through a wet meadow at 6AM to end up with wet shoes and cold socks for the next 4 hours.  I personally am a fan of waterproof shoes (i.e., a GoreTex lining).  Don't let my opinion sway you.  Figure out what works for you. 

Non-waterproof- The advantage here is you don't have to take them off to go across streams that would overtop your waterproof shoes or boots.  They have a lot of mesh, so they dry faster. 

Blisters - Unfortunately, I have little  baby sissy feet.  I get blisters (often multiple blisters) on almost every trip I go on that is more than about 10 miles per day (i.e., most trips without my family).  The most important thing you can do to reduce blisters is find the right shoes/boots for your feet, though with my sissy feet, that has helped, but not fixed my problems.  You also want to reduce friction.  Because I have gone on lots of practice hikes, I know where my feet tend to blister.  I either apply Body Glide, which also works well on other parts of your body that tend to rub or chafe after miles of hiking, or put on Leukotape.  I do this at home, before I have set foot out the door.  Prevention is worth 20,000 pounds of cure when it comes to feet.  That said, because I still blister, I pack band aids specifically made to deal with blisters.  Moleskin just doesn't work for me.  I find that it is too thick (even the thin stuff) and ends up causing me more trouble.  I can't overemphasize this enough - find the right boots/shoes early, test them many, many times, and figure out what works for your feet.  Then figure out how to take care of your feet when they blister anyway.  Trust me - there is not much worse than gingerly putting your shoes/boots back on your very blistered feet and knowing you still have 4 more hours before you can take any more Ibuprofen (Vitamin I as I like to call it), at least if you want your kidneys to still work next week, and 12 more miles to go before you can sit in a car.  

Socks - I am a big fan of wool socks.  Wool is not just for when it is cold.  Wool works great when it is warm too - you just user a thinner sock.  I personally love Darn Tough socks (that is the brand name and their logo is pure genius).  They are crazy expensive for a stinking pair of socks, but they do have a lifetime guarantee and I have never been able to wear a hole in one yet.  Non-cotton, synthetic socks can also work just fine.  Many people wear two pairs of socks at the same time - a thin liner sock, and a thicker outer stock.  Synthetic socks do get stinky faster, though.  Be sure to use the same sock and shoe/boot combination while you are training that you will use on your hike.  

Camp Shoes - a complete waste of weight in my opinion.  That said, many people swear by them and want something more comfy to hang out in while in camp.  HYOH. 

Traction - You may have a pair of shoes that are comfy, you can walk all day without trouble, and yet they have zero traction.  Carefully consider if those will be the best for you.  Losing footing in some places can be disastrous while backpacking.  I like shoes/boots with deep lugs that help bite in to the ground.  Also keep in mind that different rubber compounds behave differently when wet and at cooler temperatures.  Try your footwear in wet situations that are low risk, before slipping off of that wet log with a fully loaded pack and into the ice cold stream.