Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Much depends on the weather. I do have some decent Wolverine and Muck Boots, but when I look back over the past few years, well more than 50% of the time I wear cheap Cross trainers.
If there is one thing the Wizard of Oz has taught me, it is not to trust school teachers on bicycles.
I have an old pair of rubber nursing clogs (they must be 15 years old) that are my go-to, although they do have a few holes.... i already have a pair of low rubber boots to replace them. Lots of mud, lots of thorns, lots of random crap in the ground (urban lot) and lots of stingy/bitey/grumpy critters, or else I'd go barefoot if I could.
I have lots of thorns, hills, rocky areas, somewhat slippery, treacherous areas, so my go-to is almost always a mid height hiking boot, usually Merrells.