Mud is a fairly inevitable, sometimes treacherous substrate for the avid hiker. On flat terrain it can feel like walking on grease; a mud-slick slope can be virtually impassable. For those preparing to deal with it on a day hike or backpacking trek, determining the right type of footwear is an obvious first step.
Shoes
Depending on the terrain and the nature of the hike, the best shoes for muddy conditions might well be an old, beat-up pair of tennis shoes you're not particularly attached to. In a more demanding situation --- as when crossing tidal mudflats on a coastal backpacking trip, or when negotiating a waterlogged section of a farflung trail --- a sturdy pair of high-quality hiking boots should do the trick. One option is to wear liner socks beneath wool socks inside your hiking boots. This can help cut down on the painful chafing that can occur when your feet slip on slick mud, as the sock inter-layer tends to see more rubbing than that against the flesh.
Sandals
If you don't mind immensely dirty feet --- and few hikers do --- then sturdy, well-supported trail sandals are a great option for mud traverses. This is especially so if muddy stretches alternate with standing water, as along an estuary-broken coast or a partially inundated floodplain. One key difference among different kinds of hiking sandals is the lacing of the straps. Some, such as the Yampa and Unaweep models by Chaco, loop around your big toe, firmly anchoring it, while others simply lie atop the midsection of the foot and around the ankle. In slippery mud, a more intricate and snug lacing may be the most desirable.
Rubber Boots
Another option for an afternoon's exploration --- not a backpacking trek or extended day hike --- is a pair of rubber boots. Like a set of good sandals, these can also serve you admirably with your feet underwater, and keep your pant-legs cleaner than if unshielded. In hot weather, however, rubber boots tend to be uncomfortable, and your feet tend to slide around substantially inside; as with hiking boots, two-layered socks can help reduce the friction.
Other Tips
As in innumerable other hiking instances, a pair of trekking poles comes in handy during wet-mud traverses. They serve as balancing and support rods --- extra legs --- on the slippery traverse, and may be a critical bolster to avoid a tumble. Gaiters --- coverings made of polyester or other material that Velcro and buckle over shoes and pant-legs --- can take the brunt of the mud-spray inevitable during such a hike, keeping your feet and legs drier and cleaner. Muddy trails are easily eroded, so, if you can avoid them, consider coming back during a drier time. In some national forests and other public lands, certain routes close during mud season --- often winter or spring, depending on the region --- to reduce the environmental impact. Don't navigate around muddy stretches by blazing new routes: stick to the trail.
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