Courteney Selous boots from African Sporting Creations

[Max Simmons]

Hello All,

I just received my Courteney Selous boots from @African Sporting Creations and wanted to provide a few quick impressions for those who are considering these.

-Sizing: I normally wear a 9 wide in US sizing, and Danner typically fits me best. I indicated this to ASC, and they sent 8-1/2 wide that fit perfectly.

-Materials: The outsoles are described as truck tires, and that's apt. Very heavy duty and look to last. The uppers are astonishingly supple for a boot of this heft, especially considering that they are brand new. I suspect that they will break in fairly quickly and will conform to my feet (which have oddball shape) over time.

-Appearance: I'll admit, the two-tone is a little off-putting for my taste, but by all accounts the leather will darken and take on a matching dark brown over time.

-Extras: The boots themselves come in a fabric bag (like my wife's shoes!) that is printed with newspaper-style article snippets about the great Frederick Courteney Selous, and there's a small poster of the same print included (I may frame it, but it's double sided). The boots also come with a cleaning cloth, cleaning/preservative cream, extra laces, extra insoles, and a brush.

I'm very pleased so far. I will update this thread in the future as I've had time to break them in.

 

[fourfive8]

Yes, give them a chance to break in, being all leather, they will. And don't let the "tyre" tread soles fool you- they are surprisingly quiet in the bush, are very comfortable and work very well for long hauls in fine, "slick" sand like that of the Kalahari. The only down side to the soles is they tend to pick up pea-sized gravel... but conversely tend not to hold onto mud tenaciously like some soles do- kind of a trade-off I think given their aggressive design. Use the "cream" often. The two tone color you describe, kinda of like an inner city flash car , will blend and age with hard use over time. They are, IMO, the best for hot weather conditions also. I have a couple of pairs of Courteneys and wear them practically every day. Hope they work out for you and you can put some honest Africa miles on them.

 

[Adrian]

Courteneys are great boots. I opted for the Safari model because they were available in a single colour as I too wasn't keen on the two tone.
I ordered a UK size 8 because that is my shoe size and although I found they fitted well, they were a little loose unless I wore really thick socks.
I got a pair of insoles and they fit perfectly no matter what thickness socks I wear, you just tie them to fit.
I just came back from my second trip of wearing them and they were brilliant.
They actually have some weight to the soles so wore them for travelling to save my luggage allowance and they were perfect for that as well.

 

[WAB]

Put well over a hundred miles on my Courteney Selous in RSA, Zim and Namibia in August. Absolutely love them. Definitely will have a second pair for backup before next years safari.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Courteney boots a great. I bought my first pair earlier this year for my trip. Liked them so much I have two pair now. I had to go to the Safari style, the Selous being just a bit taller hurt my bad leg and rubbed it causing an issue. The Safari model it great! I had Jim at African Sporting Creations order me a pair of Safari in all brown with middle of the road cleat. That will make 3 pair!

 

[fourfive8]

Here's my oldest pair of Selous. Miles and miles and still going strong. I do clean, treat and polish fairly often and avoid wearing them in heavy snow or soggy wet conditions. These have a serial DOM of 2-7 Picked them up in Bulawayo several years ago as NOS.

 

[Mort Hill]

Courteney boots a great. I bought my first pair earlier this year for my trip. Liked them so much I have two pair now. I had to go to the Safari style, the Selous being just a bit taller hurt my bad leg and rubbed it causing an issue. The Safari model it great! I had Jim at African Sporting Creations order me a pair of Safari in all brown with middle of the road cleat. That will make 3 pair!

And fortunately, I am the new proud owner of Mark’s Selous cast offs so that makes 3 pair here also! Thanks Mark.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Congratulations! Now break them in and they’ll be ready for a hunt about June 2020 or so!

 

[Tra3]

I got to hunt in my Courtney’s quite a lot last year. This year they have already been bow hunting in MN and spent 10 hours moving two elk off the mountain in Idaho.
I wear them to church on Sunday occasionally. With head bowed in prayer I see the blended stains of blood on them I am especially thankful for God’s gift to us of hunting and the tasty steaks we share as a family.

 

[Ed Lally]

What does a pair typically weigh? A pound on your feet is eight on your back.

 

[Tra3]

Size 8 foot. 2 lbs 10.6 Oz. For both boots.

my Schnee’s winter pack boots weigh that much per boot.

courtney boots are not heavy.

 

[perttime]

I don't have Courteney boots (yet?). My current favorite treatment for most leather boots and shoes is "leather grease" or "horse tack grease". I got a small bucket of it a couple of years ago, and it will last a while. It seems to darken light colored shoes and boots quite nicely.
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/tallipoika-leather-grease-500-ml/59457

Before, I've used beeswax based "greases" that are also good, but cost more.

 

[Mort Hill]

What does a pair typically weigh? A pound on your feet is eight on your back.

When you are making love to your wife/girlfriend, you don’t think about how much she weighs. You know it just feels good. Just saying.