If you GOOGLE hiking boots chances are much of the advice you read on the web these days is just someones spin trying to sell you their stuff. This is the case with many blogs too. My advice is fairly impartial and is based on my thoughts and those that I have met along the way. If I added up all the miles people I have met have hiked I would guess it to be way over 100 000 miles plus....Thru hikers USE gear to the max......if kit works we know about it. If it's a load of rubbish...chances are we know that too. If gear companies do not want to supply thru-hikers with kit chances are it's because their gear is poor. I hope you find my ramblings of some use.

Types of boots...there are tons. Trying to select the correct shoe can be an expensive nightmare! Don't despair

Why use boots in preference to runners or shoes? If you are from the UK you may ask this question the other way round....as boots are worn by approximately 95% of hikers.

One of the reasons most people wear boots in the UK is we have wet conditions for the majority of the time. Combined with cold damp weather that makes hiking with wet feet highly probable and undesirable for most.

So the main positives for using a boot could be

1/ Weatherproof durability - they keep you're feet dryer and warmer

2/ Increased foot support - ankle, toe and general foot protection

3/ Longevity - you should get more miles out of a pair of good boots compared to runners

4/ Thicker material shields foot -

Negatives?

1/ Increased weight - may increase the likelihood of knee strain or cause other problems / also may slow you down

2/ Harder to dry out when wet

3/ Cost 

Wikipedia hiking boots ( I do not agree with the theory that boots enable the hiker to move faster.....they may slow you down considerably)

Walking and hiking some interesting points here

Different types

Leather boots - these have been the bog standard UK boot for many years although more recently the goretex or fabric boot has also become as popular. Generally decent makes feature strong material, stitching and rigid soles that prevent foot twist / flexing. I have met a number of well experienced thru-hikers that will happily go for thousands of miles wearing these boots.

Weights of boots - when choosing a boot or shoe it may be worth considering the weight

For instance a pair of size 9 Brasher hillmasters weigh 1328gm a pair. That is 664 gm per foot

at the other end a single Asics Gel Trabuco trail runner weighs in at around 371 gm per foot / that's a big difference

Pros - long life of shoe, good foot & ankle protection, resists twisting

Cons - weight?, probably need wearing in, when wet - hard to dry out, may need water-proofing

Fabric goretex lightweight boot - speaks for itself really. Lighter and possibly quicker drying. May not protect the feet as much as the leather boot. ie against sharp rocks. Very popular in the UK

Pros - weight, price, can be used with crampons (lightweight ones or Katoolas)

Cons - Goretex liner can once again be slow to dry out when soaked. Do not stay waterproof forever. Fabric may hold dirt more than leather.

Desert boot - lightweight, normally thin leather. used for dry climate but not waterproof.

Pros - lightweight, keep foot temp regulated. Fairly economical.

Cons - Dry weather only?

Suppliers of Leather boots - Vasque, Brasher, Asolo, Scarpa, La Sportiva, Zamberlan

Suppliers of Fabric boots - Merrel, Hi-Tec, Karrimor

many suppliers provide all types of boots