I used to be a boot guy myself and for all the same reasons in Dave Collins lays in that article, began to experiment with trail runners (I'm a runner too, so I already had some) and some other lighter weight hiking shoes last year.
I bought a pair of these
Merrell Mix Master Trail Runners on sale last year and haven't regretted it. Despite still being waterproof and having a mid cut, they are still rather light at about 12 oz per shoe, sturdy, and great traction that is very grippy. I can romp around in the snow and take them through a shallow stream without any moisture getting into them but like any other shoe, they would certainly give way to water if they remained submerged in water. Despite the waterproof barrier supposedly being breathable as well, they do have a tendency to get a little warm on summer hikes and leading to some sweaty feet. However, they are so snug that there is no friction with my feet and thus have not yet gotten any hot spots yet. I think a snug fit is important at preventing blisters because it greatly reduces the friction on your feet. This is a reason why people who use trail runners report very few to no blisters, even after hiking several dozen miles on a trip. I've found that the shoes excel best on my spring and fall hikes when weather can be cool and trails can be a bit muddy and wet from snowmelt and so forth. While the outer sole is awesome for how thin it is, I don't know that they would be sturdy enough to keep my feet from getting too sore on the longer distance and rockier trails and passes of the Uintas and the like.
The other pair I alternate to are these
low-cut hikers by Hi Tec. They are much more breathable and have a sturdier sole for rockier terrain and quite cushy under my feet. I primarily use these in the summer and up in places like the Uintas. When these wear out, I'd be interested in seeing how a pair of low cut Merrell Moab Ventillators feel.
What
@steve says about lighter weight packs is correct. If you are still carrying more traditional and heavier gear loads, I'd look at a pair of the lighter weight but sturdier and more breathable hiking shoes rather than actual trail runners. Your feet will probably thank you, especially if you frequent places with rocky trails and rugged trails like the Uintas. For what it's worth, I saw a pair of
these today at Sportsmans Warehouse and just for fun, tried them on. They were very cushy and felt good, but I'm not sure how their durability would be. Interestingly, when you look up the brand's website address, pacifictrail.com, it redirects to Columbia's site.
Regardless what you decide on, buying shoes can be an overwhelming process and brands are constantly stirring things up and will come up with a great model, a perfect model sometimes, that they will end up breaking in an attempt to "improve" it. For this reason, when you find a shoe you really really like and that likes you back, sometimes it's worth splurging on a few extra pair of the same. Also, different brands will fit different people differently and thus feel more comfortable. When I was a passionate and avid runner burning through a few pairs of shoes every year, Aasics were a favorite of many, but they never felt as good under my feet. I found always found Saucony and Nike to be the most comfortable under my feet above all other brands the running stores would carry.
That Cleverhiker site is pretty nice. I stumbled upon it last year through looking up videos on Youtube about lightweight and ultralight systems. Dave Collins has a YouTube channel with videos that I've enjoyed while learning more about lightweight options for various kinds of gear and so forth. They have pretty good production value.
