After a few gentle introductory hikes you’ll soon find yourself scrambling over slippery gravel, wet rocks, flaking hills and muddy trails and, although no boot will cope perfectly with every surface, a good pair of waterproof hiking boots will come surprisingly close.
Today’s computer-designed hiking boots utilize a variety of materials and geometries to both minimize slippage on wet rocks and maximize sticking power on flaking hill grades and Vibram lugs together with some form of tread should be a minimum requirement.
Naturally, there are other things which you should look out for, like gusseted tongues which keep stones and grit out, but the waterproofing and a sole with a good grip are an excellent starting point. A serious hiker will possess several pairs of boots designed to cope with different types of hiking but for the novice one good sound pair of waterproof hiking boots is all that you need to start and, if you buy the right pair, they will last you for many years.