Originally Posted by
Traveler
Much as there is clothing for different weather and trail conditions (including a vast array of socks), footwear is much the same. I have several types of footwear depending where I am going. On groomed trails I will use light trail runners, though I find them inadequate for use outside of stable soil trails. I will use trail shoes more frequently on less groomed trails, mid-highs on more rocky terrain and light bushwhacking in desert terrain, and high top leather boots for bushwhacking or in areas there is unstable rock, scree, or talus. This does not include traction aids like snow shoes of which I have different types, crampons, microspikes (Katoolah and Hillsound), and nano spikes.
For me it would be rare to see leather boots on the AT in MD for example given the level treadway stability, but not unusual to see them used in the alpine areas of the trail. Given the spectrum of footwear I have found no one type is "best" for all terrain, each has their own niche where I find they work best and areas where I find them impractical. However this is highly subjective topic and is really best decided through experience of the individual.