Any love for the Jim Green barefoot African Ranger boots?

[Rumrunner]

I don’t have the barefoot boots, but I do have 3 pair of Jim Greens. Numzaan, African ranger in nubuck and in buffalo. The African ranger in nubuck are the most comfortable pair of shoes/boots I own. They were the first so they are completely broken in, I’m still working on the others. The buffalo are just about there and the Numzaan are a work in progress. Double lasted with the leather midsole so there is a lot to break in. I plan to wear a pair of the rangers on my next safari in 2027. I typically wear 10 E or EE and their size 10 fits perfect.

 

[Slaton]

Love the rangers. I’ve had a pair of the regular buffalo rangers that I have been on a lot of success hunts from South Africa, here at home in Georgia, Illinois, and Qubec Canada. I’ve also wore them to work and shooting archery tournaments. I picked up a pair of the barefoot ones this January and the DSC show but haven’t started to break them in yet. My original pair took a while to break in but are super comfortable now. I really like shoes with zero drop with Altra Lone Peaks being my go to everyday shoes with their wide toe box and zero drop heel. The rangers toe box is slightly smaller but still a good feel for me.

 

[Africa1]

Just returned from a Cape Buffalo hunt in the Limpopo area in May. Bought the Cape Buffalo version in the regular model. Bought them in March. Broke them in in the house to confirm fit and comfort in case I needed to return them. I have a narrower foot so width not a problem. No soreness or blisters. Plenty of room even with an after-market insole. Loved them! Performance in the bush outstanding!

 

[Hillcountry63]

I have a pair of the Jim Green Rangers and like them a lot. I have several pairs of Courtneys as well. When I first got my Rangers, during the break in, within the first week I had a partial sole separation where some glue was missed during build. Rather than send them back, I took them to my local cobbler, and he got them squared away easily and quickly. That has been the only issue. Break in was quick, no rubbing or hot spots, I have a wide foot, so the space works for me. I wear them several days a week and they've been on numerous trips. Overall, a really good budget boot, but in my opinion not the same level as my Courtneys.

 

[Rifleman97]

Update, starting to get broken in a bit. When I got them after a couple of days I custom fitted a leather insole so I would have something to take out and show how they fit on my feet. I made the insole just about as perfect of a fit as you can ask, and here is how they fit my feet:

FAR from “clown shoes”
In fact they’re kinda tight on both toes now that they’re breaking in a bit, but not so much I wouldn’t buy them again. I may try some leather stretch to speed up the break in of just the big and pinky toe areas to help my toes relax. Truthfully I wish they were wider so my toes could splay a little more than this, as you can tell there’s not really a lot of room, but length wise it’s a perfect fit.

Not sure how well it’ll get picked up on photo but trying to show above how the width at the point of the foot right before the toes on the big toe side has started to push the leather out to conform to my larger than average feet (not in shoe size just width)

Wore some hey dudes for a day and it felt so weird having so much squish under my feet as I was getting used to these haha

 

[Russ16]

I’d really like to try these. I have a difficult foot to fit. My ankle and heel are quite narrow and much more standard in the toe area. Also a very tall foot that has trouble sliding into slip on shoes and boots.

Is the ankle area able to be cinched down for a narrower ankle and foot? And isn’t possible to loosen the laces and open the boot fairly wide to slide a foot in?

 

[Field28]

Haven't tried a pair of the barefoots yet.
I did order a pair of the regular shoelies last week and I've worn them to work the past three days. They are breaking in pretty well after three days.

 

[Rifleman97]

I’d really like to try these. I have a difficult foot to fit. My ankle and heel are quite narrow and much more standard in the toe area. Also a very tall foot that has trouble sliding into slip on shoes and boots.

Is the ankle area able to be cinched down for a narrower ankle and foot? And isn’t possible to loosen the laces and open the boot fairly wide to slide a foot in?

Yes. I prefer a wider toe and a tighter ankle. What I do is I loosely lace the bottom up until the hooks, and then once I have everything laced up I pull tight at the top while pulling my heel as far back as possible. It allows me to sinch down the ankle/leg without getting too tight at the bottom. I think this would not be possible with paracord or slipperier laces as it’s the friction that lets me get it tight at the top without tightening the lower portion of the foot causing binding on the middle of the metatarsals.

I’m not saying they’ll be perfect, but I think you can get them to work for you, especially if you use an insole or boot breaker which lift your feet up inside the shoe to get a tighter fit top to bottom without changing your width.

I found if I tightened the bottom it caused pain on the metatarsals, hence me trying to leave that loose and tighten just the back and top of the laces, which worked quite well.

 

[Spearhead]

I have three pairs of JG Rangers (one black, one nubuck and a buffalo pair. I own several Courtney's too. I find myself wearing the JG more. I put sole cork inserts in all my boots from day 1.

 

[Doug3006]

I have a pair and I find them considerably more comfortable than the pair of Courtney’s I own.