Any love for the Jim Green barefoot African Ranger boots?

[Rifleman97]

I ordered a pair to try since my feet cannot stand a raised heel or small toebox. I do as much as I can truly barefoot, so I have a decent amount of toe splay, and generally strong feet. Not as much splay as a healthy foot maybe should have, but enough I can't really wear "normal" shoes for more than a couple days before my feet and ankles start to really hurt. I also do not like any arch support, but if you do, you can put in arch support insoles into these shoes with ease.

They should be getting here Tuesday, I plan on doing a write up on initial impressions, and my experiences with them as I get them broken in. I got the buffalo leather option. Will post back to here with any updates, complaints, praise, etc.

Here's the video that I saw that introduced them to me, pretty neat concept.

I don't really care if the buffalo died of natural causes or not, as long as it's sustainable; but I do like that it is all real leather, repairable, and the replacement soles and insoles are pretty cheap and well designed. Like anything in life, compromises had to be made. For me just looking at it, I would have wanted a thicker sole (keeping the 0 drop, just a bit more separation from the ground) and a bit wider toe box, but I'm speculating before I even have the boots in hand. So maybe that will change, just being honest about my thoughts going in. Going to attempt to wear them for a week while at work (standing 8-12 hours a day, 5 days a week) and after that I'll start going on long hikes in them to see how they fare as they start to break in. Another compromise they made is tread. What is good for one thing is often poor for another. So we shall see how the current tread pattern holds up for what I do (lots of concrete walking, but also the occasional hike in very rocky terrain, bike commuting to work occasionally, 11 miles each way, motorcycle riding, etc) Tread pattern and material looks like it would be excellent for concrete and flat level walks, but rougher terrain might struggle a bit, as well as slightly wet areas.

If you're curious about these tag in, feel free to ask questions about them at any time and I'll share my current (whatever point that may be) experiences with them.

If you have your own experiences with them or similar "healthy foot shaped" shoes, please share them here and we can maybe get a big thread of great information going!

 

[Schmidty]

I love my pair! I got them about a year ago in preparation for my Safari this summer. I wanted to make sure they were properly broke in. I just got back from safari a few days ago. The boots performed perfect and were comfortable. Picture attached you can see them clearly. I ordered mine in buffalo hide.

 

[Adam Stevens]

Absolutely love my pair.

I've owned a pair of Courtney selous that are unfortunately 1/2 to 1 size too big. They wear good and zero rubbing but the laces have to be tied max tightness to snug to my foot, even with an extra insole.

So I had been seeing the Jim green barefoot ones online and reached out on where to buy or get shipped to Canada.

And wouldn't you know it, they even had them on Amazon and here in 2 days. Ordered a 14 and just felt a touch large again. So ordered a 13.5. And wouldn't you know it. Left foot was PERCECT in 13.5. And right foot perfect in 14. Ended up keeping the 13.5 and sent back the 14s.

Worn great over summer on lots of walks. Originally the heel was probably the stiffest part of the boot and wearing in. But great now.

I absolutely love the look and the lightness of them. I feel they are half the weight of my Courtney's.

 

[Rifleman97]

I love my pair! I got them about a year ago in preparation for my Safari this summer. I wanted to make sure they were properly broke in. I just got back from safari a few days ago. The boots performed perfect and were comfortable. Picture attached you can see them clearly. I ordered mine in buffalo hide.

Gotta love the look of a broken in buffalo leather shoe, looks awesome and perfect for Africa!

Absolutely love my pair.

I've owned a pair of Courtney selous that are unfortunately 1/2 to 1 size too big. They wear good and zero rubbing but the laces have to be tied max tightness to snug to my foot, even with an extra insole.

So I had been seeing the Jim green barefoot ones online and reached out on where to buy or get shipped to Canada.

And wouldn't you know it, they even had them on Amazon and here in 2 days. Ordered a 14 and just felt a touch large again. So ordered a 13.5. And wouldn't you know it. Left foot was PERCECT in 13.5. And right foot perfect in 14. Ended up keeping the 13.5 and sent back the 14s.

Worn great over summer on lots of walks. Originally the heel was probably the stiffest part of the boot and wearing in. But great now.

I absolutely love the look and the lightness of them. I feel they are half the weight of my Courtney's.

If you ever order another pair you could try using Rose Anvil Bootbreakers. Theyre a thin (or thick) extra insole for inside of your shoe that help soften the break in period, and since it lifts your foot into the leather it can help speed up the break in process. I have some coming to go with the boots. Not sure if I'll need them, but they were on sale for pretty cheap this weekend so figured why not. Great to hear good stories, and the lightness is a big reason for me wanting them. I like being barefoot, so wearing thick heavy boots is not a pleasant experience for me.

 

[Bill J H]

I love mine and they are my favorite. A bit more thickness in the sole would help alleviate feeling some of the rocks, but I’ve not had any issues like pain or bruising with the thin ones. They do “cup” around surfaces like a bare foot would.

 

[Javaman]

Currently breaking in a pair of regular Rangers - quite comfortable with plenty of toebox room.

 

[JD Noblin]

I bought a pair at the Nashville SCI show this year. I find the pair I purchased to be quite stiff and require significant additional break-in time than other similar boots I have (Courtneys). The stiff leather rubs on several areas of my foot. The extra room in the toe box is nice. As of today, mine are not ready to walk 10-miles in the bush after game. Once they are fully broken-in and conform more to my feet I am sure they will be a great bush boot.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I bought a pair off of Amazon and returned them. Too wide, almost like clown shoes.

 

[SafariCurious]

I have one pair and used to like them, but then I got a pair of the Jim Green Razorbacks, and liked them much more, I even got a second pair. The Razorbacks have a much tougher and stiffer sole so when hiking in the rocky Nevada desert where I live they offer better foot support.

That being said, I have found Solomon hiking boots to be the best for my feet for the really long treks.

 

[pilar]

I bought a pair off of Amazon and returned them. Too wide, almost like clown shoes.

Yeah when I got mine in the mail, I thought ohh wow these are huge
Then I got them oiled up and laced on and new insoles and was in Love from first day
I battled finding the perfect set of Courtney both in USA and Zimbabwe
, can’t imagine what the custom shop at JG would be like?

 

[Rifleman97]

I have one pair and used to like them, but then I got a pair of the Jim Green Razorbacks, and liked them much more, I even got a second pair. The Razorbacks have a much tougher and stiffer sole so when hiking in the rocky Nevada desert where I live they offer better foot support.

That being said, I have found Solomon hiking boots to be the best for my feet for the really long treks.

Looked up the razorbacks, I could see how people could like those with how they're so stiff and thick, and great tread pattern for hiking. But unfortunately wearing boots like that caused me a major injury a few years ago. My feet just cannot stand such a raised heel.

Solomons look really nice, I just prefer to have leather when possible. I wear out cloth shoes in well under a year, usually from blowing out the side from my toe splay fighting the fact that shoes are not shaped like human feet and have small toeboxes. The cloth shoes that have reinforcement where I wear through them, tend to cause blisters from the shoe not having enough give. I'm hoping the barefoot jim green's will have enough toebox to overcome that issue, and once broken in be actually good on my feet. Time will tell.

 

[Rifleman97]

I bought a pair off of Amazon and returned them. Too wide, almost like clown shoes.

That's what my wide feet are hoping for!

 

[RR 314]

I am celebrating the fact that I must have sleek women-like feet. Granted, I wear 13s (in mens) , but never had standard D width give issues. I don't care for a heel either and have noted before that I love the simplicity of converse all-stars with thorn/nail proof inserts. Obviously no thorn protection on sides or top, but they are cool, light, and firm footed on most terrain.

 

[Rifleman97]

I am celebrating the fact that I must have sleek women-like feet. Granted, I wear 13s (in mens) , but never had standard D width give issues. I don't care for a heel either and have noted before that I love the simplicity of converse all-stars with thorn/nail proof inserts. Obviously no thorn protection on sides or top, but they are cool, light, and firm footed on most terrain.

My most recent shoe purchase before the Jim greens was a pair of steel toed tennis shoes for work. Size 10.5 EEEE wide, and I still felt like my pinky toes were being crushed. In fact, I really shouldn’t have worn them as long as I did because my pinky toes are starting to curl back in because of those damn shoes. My new job doesn’t require steel toes so my search for wide toebox shoes with a bit more protection than a hey dude shoe was the goal here,

 

[CJNJ]

Have a pair of the brown vellies from Jim Green which are very comfortable. Will get a pair of African Rangers next. RR314 mentioned converse. I have a pair of Palladium French Foreign Legion sneaker boots which are like converse with lug soles. Good for hot weather.

 

[Rifleman97]

Got the boots a day early!

Put them on, and I’m especially laughing at the clown shoes comment because my toes are definitely touching both sides of the boot and my initial thought is I wish it was just a bit wider in the toebox. Thankfully it’s not much pressure, and I think as the leather breaks in it will hopefully be wide enough to not cause me foot pain.

Couple spots that are rubbing, but nothing I haven’t felt before and it seems all in areas that should break in well. Will update as they break in

 

[Andrew62]

I bought a pair off of Amazon and returned them. Too wide, almost like clown shoes.

^^^ What he said ^^^

 

[Adam Stevens]

Mine are fully broken in now. Worn them every time I push the stroller around the street and then generally left them on most of the day.

Courtenays out of the box were comfy and no rubbing. Well built and sturdy. But slightly on the heavy side

Jim Greens, light weight, slight breaking in. Very comfy now. Might add just a heel insole

if I was packing for a hunt today it would be a tough decision. Leaning towards the Jim greens now. Based on weight

 

[Rifleman97]

Mine are fully broken in now. Worn them every time I push the stroller around the street and then generally left them on most of the day.

Courtenays out of the box were comfy and no rubbing. Well built and sturdy. But slightly on the heavy side

Jim Greens, light weight, slight breaking in. Very comfy now. Might add just a heel insole

if I was packing for a hunt today it would be a tough decision. Leaning towards the Jim greens now. Based on weight

Heavy boots hurt my knees after 10+ miles of walking. I did motocross all growing up, all that jumping kinda ruined my ankles and knees so it doesn’t take much to upset them.

Any shoe that presses up firm against any of my toes also causes some severe pain after not a long amount of time. My pinky toes are a little sore just from a maybe 1/2 to 1 mile walk I did today to start breaking the boots in from the toebox still not being big enough for my splayed feet. Tomorrow I’m going to put a lot of leather conditioner oil on the inside of that part and on the outside in the same spot to try and get that broken in extra fast. I also ordered some boot breakers which supposedly help speed up the break in process so that should help. So far I really like the thickness of the sole. It’s firmer than the videos made it look, but still pliable enough to allow my feet to support me naturally rather than allowing the firmness of the sole to take over. Makes my foot muscles do more work which my feet prefer.

I can definitely admit they’re not going to be for everyone. If you think these shoes are clown shoes…. I don’t know how skinny your toes just be. For me to fit into a normal regular wide shoe toe box my pinky toe has to get curled and jammed underneath the next toe. Even 4E wide shoes crushed my toes painfully, but these are the closest I’ve found to a proper fitting shoe for me in a long time. Especially in a leather boot. Really hoping the rubbing parts break in well, gonna condition those spots as well to try and prevent any blisters until they start to conform to my feet.

 

[Adam Stevens]

Heavy boots hurt my knees after 10+ miles of walking. I did motocross all growing up, all that jumping kinda ruined my ankles and knees so it doesn’t take much to upset them.

Any shoe that presses up firm against any of my toes also causes some severe pain after not a long amount of time. My pinky toes are a little sore just from a maybe 1/2 to 1 mile walk I did today to start breaking the boots in from the toebox still not being big enough for my splayed feet. Tomorrow I’m going to put a lot of leather conditioner oil on the inside of that part and on the outside in the same spot to try and get that broken in extra fast. I also ordered some boot breakers which supposedly help speed up the break in process so that should help. So far I really like the thickness of the sole. It’s firmer than the videos made it look, but still pliable enough to allow my feet to support me naturally rather than allowing the firmness of the sole to take over. Makes my foot muscles do more work which my feet prefer.

I can definitely admit they’re not going to be for everyone. If you think these shoes are clown shoes…. I don’t know how skinny your toes just be. For me to fit into a normal regular wide shoe toe box my pinky toe has to get curled and jammed underneath the next toe. Even 4E wide shoes crushed my toes painfully, but these are the closest I’ve found to a proper fitting shoe for me in a long time. Especially in a leather boot. Really hoping the rubbing parts break in well, gonna condition those spots as well to try and prevent any blisters until they start to conform to my feet.

The clown shoe comment makes me laugh. I've had that been said to me by family 3-4 times wearing Courtney's. And wearing the Jim greens, with the green laces, already had two compliments on them. And I'm the same. Fairly wide feet size 14, and I wouldn't want these any narrower