The places I go every day or two call for long pants. Long sleeves are a little better than short, too. I think the term is bushwhacking, with the so-called trail (which is being generous) going through brush. Insects aren't that bad, though; much worse around the house, oddly enough.
Boots aren't really necessary but as I mentioned in my first post in this thread, I usually wade a creek once or twice on my walks. Well, yesterday I fell in! I was soaked and muddy on one side but not particularly bruised where I caught myself. Instead of wading, I was trying to make it across stepping on stones, which turned out to be slick. No great harm done, mainly because no one was watching and recording my feat. That was a first and it reinforces my assertion that falling is the biggest danger of being in the woods, even in the suburbs. The day before (Tuesday) I was kayaking not far away--didn't fall in! Got muddy anyway.
After a wet spell in the spring and early summer, the woods are starting to dry out, but the creek was as wet as ever.