Reviews

5 out of 5

My impressions of this shoe went from initial disappointment to amazement... I ordered the Barefoot Shoellie because I love a lowcut shoe look and people seem to really love the JG barefoot line. When I first tried on the shoes, I was disappointed to find out that I couldn't put any insoles in them without feeling tight due to the combination of a unrounded heel counter and my low arches. So I wear them without insoles. At first, it felt weird without them, as I'm used to a more pronounced heel cup and my feet were sliding around. I was also a little disappointed that the soles were not the same width and the right heel area felt moderately more narrow. I contacted JG and they gave me a partial discount. I wore them daily for a week and I was amazed at how my feet and knees no longer hurt after long days. I took them to the beach and they worked so much better than stiff-soled sandals even. The BF Shoellies make me mindful of each step I take. I'm walking more softly, with a shorter gait and with less heel strike. I literally think about how I'm walking every time I wear these; whereas with other shoes, I can mindlessly clomp around and get sore. There is something magical about the combo of the leather midsole and anvil rubber sole: it is not only surprisingly comfortable even on concrete, but the sole thickness feels rugged and durable. A note about the barefoot last. Before this, I had the AR's in a stiff veg tan that are still breaking in after weeks of wear. In comparison, at first wear, the upper of the BF Shoellie is incredibly soft, like a slipper. The velvety houston black nubuck is supple and doesn't show creases easily. I think the all-black Shoellie is the sharpest version, because it's monochromatic with the black soles, black leather, no brass eyelets, and black edge staining. I love wearing these shoes casually whenever I don't need a heel. They're also much lighter than the non-barefoot JG styles and are great for travel. My only hope is for the double layered heel to eventually mold to my heel and minimize heel slip. Being without a heel it's not the coolest looking shoe I own, but it's a perfect compromise between style and foot health IMO.

March 15, 2025
5 out of 5

After owning a pair of African Rangers for a few months, I decided to get a pair of everyday shoes that were a little classier than my go-to Vans or New Balance. I wanted to try a pair of Vellies, but on the Fudge Ramblers were available. I was also curious to try a pair with a veg tan midsole, and outside of the expense/time/risk of a custom pair, a stock pair of Barefoot Shoellies was my best choice. My ARs are size US12 and a little roomy, so I ordered a half size down to see how they would fit. Out of the box they felt like maybe they were a little tight, but the leather was very stiff and I figured that they would stretch around my feet as I broke them in, so decided to stick with them. The break in with the Shoellies was a lot harder than with my African Rangers. I had some rubbing at the ankles and on my heel that made them painful to wear for extended periods. I applied some Bick 4 conditioner (supposed to not change the color of the leather) and toughed it out over a week. I put in a thin 2mm foam insole while the veg tan was conforming to my foot, and found that loosening the laces a little made them more comfortable. I've had them a month now and can easily wear them all day, and have worn them around the house sockless with no discomfort. I haven't noticed any major wear in the anvil sole while wearing them outside on the streets. The sole wasn't completely flat and slightly concave at the heel so the outer edge wore down a little, but toe/ball of foot are all looking good so far. This is a pretty unconstructed shoe with no reinforced toe box, so I'm expecting them conform to my feet and show lots of contour over time. One reason I went with Fudge nubuck is its patina and color changes over time. They'll never look like they did new out of the box, but will take on a unique appearance with wear, conditioning and time. I did order replacement laces along with the shoes with the recommended size on the page, but they were shorter than the stock brown laces by about 5 inches. I was able to use a bar lace pattern to allow enough lace to tie them well, but it was a little bit of a disappointment. They do look better laced that way IMO so maybe it was meant to be! Very happy with my pair, and a great introduction to Fudge leather and the barefoot last/sole.

February 22, 2025
5 out of 5

These are the first pair of boots I've owned in a long time, and first time wearing Jim Green! I've had my African Rangers for about 5 months now, and am completely loving them for daily wear. I ordered size US12, which is what I normally wear in other shoes. I was fearing some pain while breaking them in, so I wore them with thick wool socks for the first week. The leather was tough and took some time to flex, but I never had any hot spots or rubbing. On a Brannock device I measure US11 toe length, US12 arch length, and B-C width. The boots are quite roomy, but after experimenting with various insoles, I've found that a 3.5mm veg tan insole and 5mm shrunken bison kiltie give me lots of toe room while letting me get the laces tight enough to avoid heel slip. I've also used Birkenstock and SOLE cork insoles, but they filled up the volume of the boot a little too much for my liking. I've wondered if an 11.5US might have been a better fit, but when hiking downhill I feel locked in and my toes aren't close to touching the end of the boot. They don't look or feel big (to me) so I'm happy with the results. Of all the leathers available for the AR, the Brown is probably the most boring, but the full grain is thick and tough, and with normal care and conditioning should look great for years. I'm maybe a little less precious with them than if I had a more expensive veg re-tan pair, but I don't have to worry about conditioner darkening the leather, or them showing scuffs or scratches as much. Another point with being new to boots -- I have had to train myself to walk in them! They are several millimeters larger in all directions from my normal shoes, and I had a lot of heel strikes as I was getting used to them and breaking them in (see the second photo). This has improved as I've kept the boot laced more securely and changed my gait to raise my knee/take shorter strides. Lastly I want to say how much I appreciate the community around Jim Green. Their YouTube channel is an endless source of information (how they're made) and inspiration (all the custom boot showcases). The JG subreddit is also a big help to get answers from other owners and seeing the love that the world has for these boots.

February 22, 2025
5 out of 5

Since receiving my African Rangers on December 9, 2024, I have been wearing them daily. I live in the southeastern part of the US in an area with frequent rainfall, so I treated the boots with Jim Green's leather balm. The treatment darkened the leather a bit, but not to an unusual degree. I mainly use the boots for casual and office wear and have been very happy with their performance. After more than two months of constant wear, the soles are barely worn and there are no issues with the uppers. Most of my experience with boots has been with hiking, backpacking, and mountain boots, so it took a while to get used to the African Rangers' wedge sole. I had only mild issues with breaking in the boot, mostly with heel slip. Over time (and the use of a specially selected insole), the problem has been minimized. The leather is of good quality and, with the wax treatment, quite weather resistant. My only technical issue with the boots, which applies to most of Jim Green's boots, is the lack of an anterior heel bulge (on most boots, a slight rounded curve at the counter seen when viewing the boots from the side). The lack of this design element extended the breaking in process. That being said, I think the boots are very well made and excellent value for the money. Not only are the boots impressive, but Jim Green's customer service is world class. I had a few questions after receiving the boot and the customer service team responded quickly, completely resolving my concerns. As a result, I look forward to doing more business with the great Jim Green team.

February 11, 2025
5 out of 5

I'll preface this and say this is my first high quality boot ever purchased; therefore, my 5 stars is based on my overall satisfaction with the boot without comparison to other heritage style boots. My entire life I've bought throw away shoes thinking I was saving money. Most of those shoes lasted me only a year or two. How did I come to purchase the 719? I saw a pair of Redwing Iron Rangers at a bespoke store over Christmas, loved the look, and fell into the heritage boot rabbit hole after after Googling them for reviews. While doing my online research I came across a video with the Carl Murawski collaboration and then further into the Jim Green story. Having just visited South Africa in March of 2024, I made the plunge with the 719 in Bronco to support a company helping to address the desperate need for good employment opportunities in SA, as well as the collaboration with the rangers for wildlife management/preservation. Given there were leftovers in my size from the December drop, to my surprise they arrived at my door in just a couple of days after ordering. I was immediately impressed with the craftsmanship and sturdiness of the boot, props to the JG designers and factory team. It's probably the heaviest footwear I've ever had, that can be a positive and a negative, but I did not buy these for serious multi-day hiking. On first donning, they were a little snug at the instep and at the widest part of my foot with thicker winter socks on. I followed the size guide and purchased a size 10 US (I'm a 10E/EE on Brannock and foot length right between 10.5 and 10.75"). However, I can say that after 2+ weeks of 4-5 all-day wears they have broke in beautifully. It has become my favorite for daily wear. Therefore I would say that for me the fit is true to size. However, if you wish to use a cushioned insert, you should size up and perhaps JG could at some point update their sizing guidance to include how to size for additional insoles. For me, after the break-in, I no longer feel the need for additional cushion. I love the Bronco leather and it should patina wonderfully. I'm thankful to work at a company that allows "dress for your day" attire so I have no problem wearing these in the office with a nice pair of jeans or chinos if I'm not meeting with business partners or executives. Bottom line, amazing boot I expect to last me for years, if not decades, at prices just above what I used to spend for disposable footwear. I've already purchased and received the Rugged African Trooper in the same size and am working on break-in. I'll post a review of those as well in a few weeks.

January 30, 2025
5 out of 5

I’ve spent 30 years wearing shoes that don’t fit my feet. Part of that was not knowing my actual brannock size (10.5EE right foot, 11E left foot as I've recently found out), but really most shoes are just not shaped for my kind of foot. The closest I ever found in sneakers was a pair of HOKAs that fit my feet decently but had insane arch support that put my feet in a supinated position that was very uncomfortable after extended use. 
Enter Jim Green. It definitely took some trial and error to find a pair that fit me because I was led to believe my shoe size was 9.5EE thanks to the Red Wing foot scanning machine. Among the pairs that didn’t work for me were African Rangers in 9.5 which were obviously extremely small, and the Rambler Vellies in size 10.5, which fit my right foot but were basically unwearable on my left foot because it squeezed my mid-foot right where the panels were stitched together- which I assumed would severely limit the amount that area would stretch to accomodate my foot. The Barefoot Shoellies in size 10 fit my feet perfectly though. They are wonderfully snug, and the arc of the shoe fits the arc of my foot to a T- which is perhaps why they fit while being 1/2 a size smaller than recommended for my brannock. The flatness of the footbed allows my feet to sit in a more natural position. There isn’t much vertical clearance over the toes, but the leather is supple enough to allow for plenty of toe wiggle. The only point of discomfort during the virtually non-existent break in period was at my pinky toes which splay out a little more than average. These Shoellies are basically my sneakers now. They’re perfect for any errand running, walks, running around with my kids or the dog, etc. Fashion-wise they go with anything sneakers would go with including shorts, but can arguably be dressed up slightly more than sneakers because of the more conservative silhouette (compared to ultra padded running-style shoes at least), more subtle branding and simpler overall aesthetic. My favorite situation to wear these is actually in the gym, where the flatness is very beneficial for deadlifts and squats, and the flexibility and grippiness of the outsole help during calf raises (my weightlifting shoes would be constantly slipping off the metal platform of the calf raise machine at my gym). 

 I can't exactly speak to how these will hold up over time as I've had mine for less than a month. Since they are assembled with stitch down construction and a glued on outsole as all Jim Green's boots are, my hope is they'll last for years with a set or two of new outsoles and some basic maintenance to keep the uppers in good shape. Personally, though, even if I was let down in regard to their longevity I'd buy again in a heartbeat. Overall these shoes are as

January 28, 2025
3 out of 5

Went to a local store to get my brannock size and it suggested 10 and B width. Normally I wear a 10 wide for most shoes and 10.5 wide for hiking boots. Ordered a 9.5 and a 10. The 10s were roomy but not swimming on me, though the shoes themselves were a bit large looking. I had a full thumb width in the toe box in one foot and a thumb and a half on the other. The 9.5 also fit well lengthwise (finger length), a little snug on the sides of my feet but I figure the leather would stretch over time and the fit would improve. However, I ended up returning both. The back of the heel has extra leather trim pushing out (inside of the collar) and it was rubbing my achilles raw (specifically with the 9.5 pair) even though I had socks on. I’m sure they would have eventually conformed/smoothed to my heel shape but I don’t want to walk around many miles to find out nothing changes, then I’d have a pair of shoes that’s not comfortable and unable to return. The 10s seemed to not have that issue. I wish the collar was more bowed down to form under the ankles. The double layer of leather was cutting into my ankles on both sizes. Perhaps it would soften with more use… Another reason I returned is I thought I’d get away with treating them as a casual shoe to walk around on flat surfaces (asphalt, floors etc). I read reviews for the barefoot rangers that the soles wear out fast so they’re not ideal for city slicking. Like the barefoot rangers, these shoes are likely best suited for light hikes/uneven terrain. That’s probably where most barefoot shoes shine anyhow. So, I ordered the normal shoellies when the 10s in fudge became available. They’re noticeably narrower than the barefoot shoellies. I wish they were a little wider (my left foot is a little oddly shaped) but overall I’m much happier with those! Maybe when more positive reviews on the barefoot shoellies come out regarding prolonged usage I’d get a pair again and go through the break in period. My hunch is, if you are a diehard barefoot wearing dude (unlike me) stick with your brannock size for the barefoot shoellies and allow them to mould to your feet and they should fit like a glove over time. Might take a while. Hopefully your achilles is tougher than mine. Otherwise, go half size bigger and wear thick socks.

January 24, 2025
3 out of 5

TLDR: if you're looking for real barefoot boots, keep looking. Let me start off by saying, this is a really well-built boot for the price. It definitely rivals $350 Red Wings in terms of construction quality, materials, etc. It's zero-drop as advertised, and for a boot, it's very wide. If you're a traditional boot guy or gal looking for a pair of roomy boots that will last a lifetime and don't take months to break in, this is probably a solid option. That being said, it is NOT "barefoot." Yes, it's wider than most boots, but the toe box is still a traditional tapered/rounded shape that slopes in evenly from both sides, which pinches your big toe and leaves too much room at your pinky toe. It's not an anatomical toe box like you'd find on Xeros or Vivos that actually follows the shape of the foot. Yes, it's zero-drop, but the sole is so thick and heavy that it pretty much doesn't matter. Walking in these felt like walking in clown shoes. Despite being zero-drop, the walking experience was actually worse than heeled boots, because instead of being designed to roll forward from heel to toe, these smack the ground with the full length of the sole all at once. Yes, they are more flexible that traditional boots, but that really isn't saying much. The sole is as stiff and heavy as my pair of knock-off Timbs. And if I already own a pair of uncomfortable clown clogs that I begrudgingly put on when the weather gets bad enough, I don't really need these. I was hoping for a forever boot that treated my feet right. Looks like I'm still hoping.

January 22, 2025
5 out of 5

These were my first purchase from Jim Green and solved a long running problem of finding quality heavy duty work boots that fit my feet well. While not overly wide in general my feet need a rather wide toe box to be comfortable. Most quality "heritage" brands are torture devices and "barefoot" oriented boots designed for natural toe splay are almost universally flimsy junk in my experience. Wide sizing typically means wide everywhere except the toe box where I need it. Keen came the closest for me but after several QC issues I was ecstatic after following some internet suggestions to try Jim Green. These boots not only look and feel quality but also allow for natural toe splay-they are the most comfortable heavy duty boots I have ever had on my feet. That being said it had been quite a long time since I had worn quality traditional boots and the break in period was substantial lol. These are some seriously double lasted tanks of a boot and require some respect at first. After gradually breaking them in over the course of several weeks they are now starting to feel like a natural extension of my feet while still providing an amazing amount of protection and support-I can't imagine anything these boots couldn't tackle. I did find them to be rather high volume for my feet-despite being perfect in length lacing them tightly would bring the eyelets almost all the way together. Simply adding a kiltie solved this issue perfectly. Time will tell on the longevity of the outsole-it feels good and is quiet on concrete and other hard surfaces. Overall I am very impressed with this boot. The only real con I can think of is that it isn't exactly light. Considering the quality and sheer ruggedness of its construction that is to be expected. Most likely will not be my last purchase from Jim Green.

January 6, 2025
5 out of 5

I LOVE these boots. I have had them around 10 months and they are one of the most comfortable boots I have ever had. I live in Western Colorado and use them for hiking, hunting, fishing, and work on the ranch. I would equate them to work gloves for your feet. So here are the downsides, the initial break in was brutal on my achilles tendon. There is a process to learning how to use barefoot boots and getting your feet used to those loads... so don't hurt yourself... it just takes time in several increments. The boots are kind of heavy. However, durability and lightweight footwear are usually mutually exclusive. Finally, the last downside but also a plus is the sole. It wore down very quickly. I was worried about the traction in the back country but I have been pleasantly surprised. The sole is soft enough so you can get grip in some crazy and diverse terrain. The sole also has a good 90 degree edge for sidehills (similar to a wildland firefighter boot). The overall boot with the soft sole makes stalking/walking quietly very easy. I feel really connected with nature in these boots. That probably sounds crazy to some urban dwellers, but if you know you know. There is a fantastic blend of feeling the terrain under your feet and having plenty of protection from mechanical injury with these boots. The leather is wonderful. There is minimal odor and they breathe really well even with Obenauf's LP. The only time my feet have been hot is prolonged periods on concrete in 105 degrees. For winter I use the Yaxtrax thermal insole with wools socks and gaiters. Boot traction can be an issue in snow sometimes, but do wonderful on ice. Finally, one of my most appreciated elements is that the boots are easy to clean; especially the sole. They scrape off easy and when the mud dries just bend the sole and the mud falls right off. Excluding concrete/asphalt applications, I would recommend these boots for most things. Also, if you get the fudge color expect them to darken up with use, especially with leather products.

November 16, 2024
5 out of 5

These are the best boots I will ever return!!! The good: These are absolutely amazing boots. They well-made, perfectly crisp leather on the wide toe box and heel, soft leather on the tongue, great value for handmade boot, and absolutely look Like something I could wear to church or through a pile of cow manure. The bad: My foot sloshed around the toe box. The leather was rigid, and we need a lot of break-in to be comfortable. These are heavy shoes. Why are five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review? To wide: In all fairness, I have wide feet and tend to order a size bigger than what I need. If I had ordered the right length, my foot would’ve fit perfectly fine. To ridged: I bought these shoes for an upcoming trip and did not have time to break them in. I wish I had the time because once they’re broken in, i can see these will last a lifetime due to its amazing construction. To heavy: These are heavy for shoes, but their boots. As boot go, perfectly fine. In fact, Conclusion to my five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review: Although I am returning these boots, I am buying the exact same style in their barefoot offering. Hopefully a half size smaller will fit me better, the leather is softer, and the flat soul will be lighter. I love the fact that the mid high boots have a tongue that goes all the way to the top increasing their water resistant ability. Trying on the boots that don’t fit made me realize how much I wanted one of these that do!!!

August 13, 2024
4 out of 5

I have had these boots for six months, and I am quite pleased with them thus far, at the price point, for what I use them for. I do a lot of walking, standing, heavy lifting, and am generally just outdoors quite often for work and recreation. I have replaced the laces with leather laces (purely for my own taste), applied mink oil, and inserted an additional heavy duty insole as I found the base insole insufficient for working in all day. They don't NEED it, but the additional insole took these boots from great to fantastic. They are lightweight, attractive (if taken care of), very flexible after break-in, feature an abundant toe-box which is particularly nice for me as I have very wide feet, and these boots get fantastic traction on dry surfaces. For $200, I think they're wonderful, and my next pair of boots will very possibly be from Jim Green. That all said, I only had a few real issues: The base insole was simply not comfortable enough to work in all day every day for me - this can and was fixed, however. These boots do not do well in winter - I work outside during frigid Nebraska winters - these simply do not insulate and keep snow and moisture out sufficiently for winter. The low-top form lets water in more easily than probably most other boots - the gusseted tongue helps a lot with this, but does not completely solve the issue. After six months, my boots are showing a small amount of outsole delamination, but I'm unconcerned by it - merely a product of working and walking in them every day for six months. The only time I haven't worn these boots is when I've conditioned or polished them - these have replaced my daily walking shoes as well. I love these boots, genuinely. They do not fit every situation, but they do fit most of them - they are a fantastic value generalist boot and I would recommend them to almost anybody.

June 5, 2024
5 out of 5

I got these Jim Greene Razorback a few days ago. So far I really like them...a LOT. These are the brown leather ones with the wedge sole. The D-ring eyelets will easily allow for adjustment to either heavy or light socks. At this point in serious competition for the most comfortable boots I have worn. I’m a retired farmer who is 76 and have slight neuropathy in my feet as a result of a bout with spinal stenosis, which was surgically corrected. The neuropathy is mild, but my feet can feel the imprint of the tread pattern of the soles after a few hours and it can feel like the socks have been glued to the bottoms of my feet. I have worn boots with vibram soles all my life, but that seems to be the worst offender these days for my feet. The wedge sole seems pretty well suited for my current situation and I doubt I'll miss the vibram style too much, as these days I am not nearly as concerned with rough ground traction. I have to be on my feet for quite a spell to feel the tread pattern here, so I’m really happy with that. These do feel a bit wider in the toe box compared to my other boots, but the fit around the heel and mid foot are perfect, and the toes always feel fine. On another note related to the spinal stenosis is that very often when walking I will quickly get a hip lock feeling common to sciatica. With the Razorbacks, I have yet to have that happen. I’ve been having some difficulty since the surgery being able to walk enough to stay in any sort of decent shape, but these let me walk freely without that sciatica issue. I’m impressed. I really like the full leather lined, double lasted construction. I only have one very slight issue (really a non issue) in that I would gladly pay a few more dollars for a a leather replacement for the lasting board, but as they have been making this boot for 30 years using that fiberboard, I doubt that I’ll notice anything detrimental here. I’d also like to see an option to pay a bit extra on delivery to get the shipment done by UPS. The laces are pretty long as I wound up cutting off about a foot on each lace. The build quality looks top notch. The Danner boots I have are the less expensive glued sole, gore-tex types and the Razorback is built a lot better. I also wore these in to a couple of local stores and these JG are at least the equal of much more expensive boots like the leather lined Danner hiking boots which are twice the price of the JG. The break in time is pretty minimal. You can wear these pain free right out of the box, but they will become more worn in to fit your foot, but no serious break in

May 5, 2024
5 out of 5

I work as a park ranger in the state of Colorado and I figured that these would match my requirements pretty well. At work I will frequently hike 6+ miles, both on and off trail. I work year round in extreme cold, heat, wetness and dryness, and often work on boats. Also, I am limited to black boots only. I acknowledged the fact that there is no boot that can transition from trail, to construction project, to boat, to snow perfectly, so I focused on finding a boot that can get me through the busiest, warmest, driest part of the year. I also wanted to find something that would last longer than 8 months (my current record for longest lasting boot). Pros: Toe Box - It is extremely comfortable. More so than the tennis shoes I wear on the weekend. I would describe it as wide, but low. I can splay my toes out inside the boots, but it never feels loose. This is, weirdly, my favorite thing about these boots. Construction - Very solid and will very clearly last longer than my previous boots. The Look - Simple, professional, and clean. Leather - Very thick and protects the feet against brush, fallen branches, cactus, etc. Weight/Flex - the boots are not THAT heavy, not compared to some of the work boots I've tried in the past. And the sole is extremely flexible for as hard/thick as it is. Sizing - very true to size. My foot measured as a 9.5, so I bought a 10 to allow for thicker inserts and socks Price per quality- I can see these lasting a good while, and the price is about half of what my co-workers spent on Danners. The mission of Jim Green in donating boots to rangers in Africa, what's not to like? Cons Waterproofing - These boots are not waterproof, but in my experience, boots with waterproof liners wear out after about 1 month of heavy walking anyway. Foot Softness- The insole that comes with is garbage, but so are most inserts with most boot brands. I added my favorite Keen inserts and have not had a problem since. Standing on hard surfaces for long periods is a bit of a challenge. Next time I will do a custom order to get a better midsole added. Heel comfort - Maybe it was my foot, maybe it was the boot, but these caused serious blisters on my heel. I suffered through it for a while hoping it was the break in period, but gave up and bought some adhesive backed pads that start under the heel (and under the insole) and curve up to cover the heel of the boot. Since then, the boots feel and fit like gloves. Warmth and Breathability - These can get a bit warm in high temperatures, but they cool down quickly in the shade. The breathability is not as fantastic as a mesh hiker, so sometimes it's nice to stop and remove the boots

April 20, 2024
5 out of 5

I ordered these after much research on YouTube and reading reviews. With the return policy I knew it was a risk free trail as long as I didn't wear them outside. A little background on my feet: Left is 9, Right is 8.4. So I was hoping they wouldn't slip in the right heel. I was could hardly wait for my package to arrive, when they did, only a few short days after ordering, super fast. I Definitely Love Their Customer Service, I strapped em on my feet, with only a pair of R.E I. merino wool light hiking socks, I wear these with all my foot wear except when I go snow camping. After tying them to my feet and walking around for I guess 5 mins, I decided to buy them and immediately went for a 5 miles hike through Granite, Sand, Dirt, Grass, Boulder Fields, Up Hill and Down Hills, My toes didn't get smashed in toe box going downhill either, the heels didn't slip going uphills. I was stoked to get home and the next day I went for a 9 mile hike same terrain. I waited a few days and went for a 15 mile hike, that was on a Friday, Monday I did the same 15 mile hike, when I got home, I was tired and all my muscles hurt. I showered, ate and slept for 3 hours woke up I was fine. Today I went for a 20 mile bike ride out to the lake, and around the river trail. These Boots are Truly 100% The Best On The Market. Place your foot in, Lace Up and Go, Go, Go! literally Zero Break-In Period for these amazing Boots, But for your calf muscles well, that's a different story. Wearing these Barefoot Boots, You have to lift your heel, unlike wearing non barefooted style footwear, as they do it for you. Pros: plenty of toe room, Heel Locks Into Place Doesnt Slip, Tie the laces, that straps the boot to your foot. Knowing that the leather foot bed will shape to my feet is a very comforting feeling plus they can be resoled. Thats a Win. Win. Win. Win, across the board. Cons: None I Love These Boots!!! Do Yourself a Favor and Grab a Pair or Two!!! I had Purchased Houston Brown, I Am About To Order Houston Fudge and Houston Black!! Whether You're Hiking, Biking, On A Date or just kicking it around the office, These are the Best Boots, One Last Thing, If you want beefy calves these will do the job. You walk different with these boots on. more natural. Your Confidence goes up, Waaaay Up!! You're Body is more naturally aligned as there is no heal to lean you forward. Thank You, Jim Green and Weston for The Collaboration!!!

March 17, 2024
5 out of 5

I have never owned or worn a pair of barefoot shoes or boots before. Nor have I ever owned a pair of Jim Green’s. I have always worn square toe cowboy boots as well as 8” logger boots for work and casual use. I have rather large and very flat feet, typically wear a 13EE. Barefoot shoes are something that I’ve been interested in trying because I enjoy walking around actually barefoot a lot of the time and wanted to try something new. Stumbled across these boots and this is my first impression. Likes: -The materials, fit, and finish of these boots are some of the highest quality I’ve found out of many different brands -Super comfortable on my feet Dislikes: -In terms of style they are not my favorite looking boots, this is really not a nock at the boots, it’s just a personal preference. To be fair I’ve never had a pair of boots in this style, but these were much better looking than the competition. -The only thing I really don’t like about these boots at all is the gusseted tongue. I understand the purpose of a gusseted tongue and this one definitely does the job, however this boot’s tongue seems way too big. When I lace them up, I end up with the tongue bunches up a lot from all the extra material and I feel like I have a high volume foot and large ankles. Again, this probably more of a personal preference. Conclusion: These are very comfortable and very high quality boots. The leather is beautiful and the soles feel grippy and durable for what I would expect from a barefoot boot. Only time will tell but I would say I will be a repeat Jim Green customer and more than likely more Barefoot boots. Check out rose anvil on YouTube to learn more about these boots.

March 1, 2024
5 out of 5

Finally a "Real" boot that doesn't squish my toes!!! I have been wearing Lems barefoot boots for a couple years and love the wide toes but hate he look and mid-low end materials. These Jim Greens are just a better version of what I have been wearing with a more traditional build and nice materials. They could use a little more cushion for my taste, I added a flat foam insole and that helped a little bit. I think my perfect boot would be this wide toe upper with a sole somewhere between this and the standard Jim green sole. But aside from wanting just a tad more separation from the ground (I do understand that's the feature many want in this boot) I think these are great. For this price level I think the quality of the materials and craftsmanship is a great value. My pair seems very well made with no real flaws aside from a little glue got smeared on the inside of the upper around the ankle area. Very happy with my pair and I hope Jim Green continues with this line, a very bold design from a respected traditional boot company is a rare thing and they knocked it out of the park with these. I look forward to seeing these in maybe some new leather colors and in the future some slight revisions to make them even closer to perfection. Thank you again for taking a chance on making these, its really hard to find boots that don't hurt my feet by being too narrow or look and feel sloppy and too wide, these are the perfect fit.

January 14, 2024
5 out of 5

I can't comment yet on long-term comfort, but my first impressions are great. Toe box is wide and roomy as I've heard, but I wasn't sure exactly how they would fit for sizing. I have always worn size 11 boots, my feet measure exactly 11 inches long from heel to toe, so I ordered 11, and I'm happy to say that they fit perfectly as far as length and width is concerned. I can even wear thick wool winter socks and my toes still don't feel suffocated or cramped. I can't identify any pressure points about them either as far as construction is concerned. For example, with some boots, seams will be layered in places where if it bends, it stays stiff and jams into your foot awkwardly, when walking, and sometimes even just when resting, but there's nothing like that here, they just feel super comfortable and supple as far as work boots come. Probably the most comfortable lace up work boots I've ever tried but i'm not sure about the stock insoles yet. I was wanting to order a pair of wedge sole African rangers as well based on how these fit, and I'm definitely going to do that now, the fit of these is seriously impressive. i do wish these had a wedge sole option as stock though, i assume you can custom order these with one, but the problem is that afaik you can't return customs and it will take much longer for them to arrive than existing stock that is waiting to be ordered in a warehouse in america. i needed steel toe work boots so these had to be my first order from this company to see what i think of them and i wasn't prepared to make a custom order i couldn't return if i didn't like them and i need these now so i don't want to return them now, so i'll have to wait who knows how many years until these wear out for me to order a new custom wedge sole pair or hopefully by then, they will be a stock option. either that or i can see if they can be resoled with wedges if i ever get them resoled.

December 12, 2023
5 out of 5

I bought a pair of Razorbacks a few weeks back to use as a hiking and general winter beater boot. I figured for the price, they would probably outlast any of the glued together, synthetic hikers I have used for the purpose in years past. With the boots in hand, it's pretty apparent that they are a ton more boot than expected for the price. The quality of the materials, and the construction, are easily on par with the last few pairs of Red Wings and Carolina Boots that I have had, and they remind me quite a bit of an old pair of Alicos that I wore for nearly 10 years. The fit and finish is not quite on par with the Nicks that I wear for work these days, but it's way closer than one would expect for less than 1/3 the price. Overall, they are good enough to warrant a detailed review. Fit: I am a 9.5 E Brannock size, and ordered a 9.5. The fit is excellent length and width wise, with a roomier, more foot shaped toe box than is typical of American heritage and work boots. The toe box is a bit short from top to bottom, and seemed like it would be uncomfortable, at first. As the boots have broken in, though, I have ended up with adequate toe space. There probably wouldn't be room to add a thicker insole, though. Comfort: These boots are quite comfortable once broken in. They are initially quite stiff, due to the fairly thick double layer construction and the heavy rubber unit lug sole, but soften up after a few weeks of casual wear, and a few short hikes. It took about a week of careful lacing and occasional readjustment to get the tongue to sit right, which is pretty much on par with other all leather hikers and mountaineering boots I have owned in the past. The leather and poron insoles are fine, but not very heavily cushioned. I don't mind, but it's worth noting, as some folks prefer a heavily cushioned footbed. Aesthetics: These are a classic leather hiker, and they definitely look the part. They are well built, which is pretty apparent on close inspection. the stitching is neat, the trimming and finishing on the sole is well done, and the leather has a nice finish. mine arrived with a few smudges of some kind on the uppers (grime from final assembly, maybe?), I got the majority off with a damp rag, and likely could have gotten 100%, if I had cared to. If these were $4-600 boots, I would have expected better, and probably knocked a star off the review for it. Instead, I took them outside, did a bunch of yard chores, and split some firewood in them, and any remaining dirt is now hidden by some yard grime and a few scuffs.

December 11, 2023
5 out of 5

I had purchased the original African Rangers as they struck me as a nice balance between traditional boots and barefoot shoes by virtue of their roomier toe box. That said they had their drawbacks and I had basically abandoned them. This version fixed all the faults I had with my original pair. Gone is the fiberboard midsole which is very sensitive to getting wet and separating. Replaced with genuine leather. And now it’s even closer to a true bare foot shoe with its zero drop heel and flexibility. I also much prefer the lugged sole as they give decent traction in the snow. If I HAD to find something to complain about, I guess I could say the toe box could be more anatomically shaped, and that on my pair the leather insole/heel lining on one shoe had curled in on itself because it was either too long or not glued down properly -but that hasn’t effected wearability. The fit is certainly unique. They are roomy and I’m honestly unsure if I should go down half a size but I think they are on the wider side generally speaking. I got the “honey” color which I think people pass up in favor of the darker brown which is a mistake as they really pop. I ended up waxing mine for the winter (which looks really cool) and so far they have been doing really well. The padded ankle cuff actually does a decent job keeping out snow. All in all, they look good, are comfortable, have stood up to the elements so far, and don’t have any filler materials like cork as far as I know. When you buy a pair of these boots you are stealing from these people because If these boots were being sold by some of the other name brand manufacturers then they’d easily be 2-3x the price.

November 18, 2023
5 out of 5

I’ve had my African rangers with buffalo leather for several months now. My fashion conscious wife is not fond of the rounded toe, but I’ve never had shoes this comfortable. I’ve unknowingly been forcing my feet into D width shoes and boots that squeeze my feet and toes. These EE width booths are wonderfully spacious from the foot ball forward but snug going back to the heel. The buffalo leather is beautifully imperfect and very sturdy, but it didn’t require more than a two-mile walk, in the heat and humidity of a New Orleans summer, to soften it up. The only blister I got was from the rough-out leather in the heel cup, but some cheap, stick-on, leather heel pads completely solved that issue. I recently wore them every day, all day with alpaca wool socks for a 9-day trip to Greece in the August heat averaging 10 miles walking a day in and outside cities. I can’t imagine better boots for city walking and light hiking. You’ll feel lumpy stones through the wedge sole, but you’d need a lug sole for that type of terrain anyway. They are heavier than trainers, but I never noticed their weight and think the support they provide was much better for my comfort. These boots convinced me to toss my urban trainers. I’ll take form over fashion every time, although I did change to brown laces in a concession to my wife’s immaculate fashion sense. We’re very fond of South Africa, having made several trips driving and hiking around, and also want to support the tough and dangerous work of the rangers.

September 9, 2023
5 out of 5

To start: I am very happy with the quality and fit of the Ranger boot. I wear New Balance 574’s in 11 US and they were true to size. Break in has taken about 3 days of wearing them with the laces a little loose for 6-8 hours a day. If you have a taller/higher volume fore foot, looser laces are key. Many people have said the insoles are not great, but the current ones seem very decent and have a leather lining. I’m used to old school heavy leather euro mountaineering boots that often come with fiber insoles, so to me these are deluxe. If you are not a regular boot wearer with harder feet, your milage may vary. To me, these are like sneaker boots. They’re that comfortable, but will outlast most of the crap out there many times over. These are legit handmade things that will last the average person years if you are not a hard use case like a construction worker or tradesman. As a hunter, I like that they are quiet and give a decent feel for the ground so you can avoid larger twigs that may snap and give you away. That said, they are Fall/Spring/Summer boots. If there is snow on the ground, they will not work unless you’re a hard bastard if you are leaning against a tree for hours waiting on a deer trail in low temps. Haven’t waxed them yet but I’m dubious on their waterproofing ability, which is fine, they’re not that king of boot. All in all, they’re light, quiet, comfortable and high quality for basically no money. I wish we could make this boot in the US but it isn’t available. I’ll be getting a pair of Razorbacks soon to replace my 25 year old Raichle Eigers soon.

September 4, 2023
5 out of 5

These Razorback boots fought me for a while but now we're good friends. The boots were super stiff when I received them so I just wore them around the house for 5 or 6 days. At that point I went for a one mile walk on flat sidewalks. My heels were on fire by the end of the walk! No blisters, but if I had to go another half mile I would've had them. So for the next week I put heel tape on my heels and wore them every day around the house again. After that I took the heel tape off and went for the same walk. This time it went significantly better. There was minimal rubbing on my heels. It wasn't great, but it was better. For the next week I continued wearing them around the house all day without the heel tape. After that I decided to go for a legitimate hike in the woods. I went about 4 miles and I didn't wear the heel tape. I went up and down hills, over roots, rocks, and generally uneven terrain. The boots were great! No heel rubbing at all! Now I'm at the fourth week and they fit like a glove. So, I can't speak to the boots' longevity, but they seem well-made and sturdy, and after the break-in they are really comfortable. Also, I kept the original insole which is a thin piece of leather on top, under that is some compressed material, and under that (in the heel only) is a rectangle piece of poron. Time will tell, but as of now the insole is fine for me and I have no intention of replacing it. So, I'm glad I stuck it out with these boots because it seems well worth it. I believe I'll have a sturdy, comfortable pair of boots for many years to come.

March 16, 2023
4 out of 5

I was very impressed when I bought these, since they seemed very solid and well made, and they looked beautiful (the fudge crazy horse razorbacks). Time has proven that to be the case. However, trying them on initially, I thought I'd got the wrong size as they seemed tight and pinchy, and for some time I wasn't sure if I should keep them. Eventually I decided they would soften up and I oiled them and started to wear them in. It took a while, I can tell you! These are tough boots! But now I love them. They're no longer the same fudge crazy horse colour they were when new - instead, they've darkened a lot and are more of a traditional hiking boot "nut brown" kind of colour - close to the colour of the buffalo skin Ranger boot, actually. That's mostly my doing from the stuff I've put on them to keep water off and so on, but be aware that they'll darken up, perhaps a lot. They still look great though, and they're getting a lovely patina with a bit of wear. They're not especially waterproof (water will gradually soak into the exposed edges of the leather where the upper is stitched to the midsole) so I don't recommend them for wet climates. That said, I've worn them in the UK during a cold snap with ice and snow on the ground and they did fine. They're not insulated, and I had a second pair of socks on for that. They're better for hotter, drier places, where the tongue keeps the dust and sand and seeds out of your boot, and the tough leather protects you from spiky plants and sharp stones but lets your feet breathe. Suits me well here in Southern Portugal. They're great boots.

February 18, 2023
4 out of 5

A great value in very good boots. Well worth the initial investment of time to have a truly solid boot for all conditions. With a good coat of SnoSeal or similar beeswax based sealant on the leather and all seams these are highly water resistant, good for tromping through mud, puddles and streams but not wading. The padded collar and tongue (with high gussets) do a great job of keeping seed pods, burrs, and other debris out. The wide toe feels a bit much at first but as the upper stretches the laces lock the foot in remarkably well. The break-in period was tough underfoot, less so once I got some high-end insoles, took several days of regular wear and light hiking. Once broken in, they are remarkably comfortable. They are still very supportive, protective, and maintain a certain presence, and are perfect for working with livestock around the farm or scouting ahead of whitetail season. I expect to get several years of service out of these. Fit pretty true to size, though I'm finding the Vellies and African Ranger boots fit differently from the Razorbacks. I'm happy with US 11.5 in the Razorbacks, US11 in the Vellies and African Rangers, 12 in New Balance sneakers and 11 in Mexican made square toed cowboy boots for reference. Both Jim Green (Garreth) and the Jim Green Amazon store have been very easy to work with for exchanges. Very well designed boots made of very robust materials by a company with great customer service and ethics. If you don't need the durability of the lugged sole, the wedge sole option or the shorter African Ranger will break in faster and still go the extra mile or twenty. If you need the durability of the lugged sole, or just love the classics, these will not disappoint.

October 1, 2022
5 out of 5

I love these boots! I can't say this enough, I love these so much I had to buy 2 pairs. (One in fudge CH and one in dark brown) For the price, I don't think you can beat these, they are built well and can be made into a premium feeling boot with just a little effort. Wide toe box: amazing. I don't have wide feet for the most part, but my toes are long and need to spread, I hate the feeling of my smaller toes rubbing the side of a boot or shoe and this toebox makes that a non issue (as long as you get the right size) Sizing: I see some people say that these run large. While they are certainly roomy, I think the length is accurate. I am generally somewhere between 12 1/2 and 13 (US) in most shoes and boots, and the 13s fit me well. The 12 1/2 we're almost perfect but I felt my toes were too close to the end and when I tried to splay my toes they rubbed the side, and the 13 rectifies this. The 13s were a bit roomy elsewhere, so I added 8oz leather insoles which you can make yourself or buy from nicks or something for like 20 bucks. But this will also change with what socks you wear. Heavy wool socks are a much more snug fit. I also remove the top layer of leather from the insole that comes with the African rangers and remove the foam from the back of the yellow leather (a bit tedious) but I am able to place that leather over whatever replacement insoles I use and still have that cool yellow leather look. Plus it also acts as an additional thin layer of you need a slightly snugger fit. There will sti be some stickiness to them as well, so after you wear them the yellow leather will slightly stick to whatever you're using under it (in my case 8 oz leather slabs) and it will help keep everything in place. I'm sure this all sounds like a bit much, but it wasn't really all that much work. And I feel like I have an amazing boot now that fits me right, something I've had issues with in the past, for still only around $200 But this is certainly not necessarily to enjoy this boot. Replacing the insoles with your preferred insole will probably be enough for most people. Leather: Both leathers are great, but I personally think the crazy horse will get less creases compared to the slightly more loose feeling dark brown and will patina very nicely. The fudge crazy horse looks really good. I also added roughout leather kilties to mine, because it looks nice and adds a bit more padding to the instep area. After a slight buff, roughout brown leather kilties and leather laces on in my dark brown African rangers, I was able to get away with wearing them to

September 20, 2022
5 out of 5

Very good boots

March 22, 2021
1 out of 5

My complaint has less to do with the feel of the boots and more in the quality control or lack there of and how the boots where shapes. First how they where shipped they came to me in a box that was far to big for the shoe box so when it was shipped the shoes box was through all over the inside of the shipping box damaging not only the shoe box but the the shoes themselves. Because when i open the shoe box all that was in there to either separate the shoes so the did not hit each other or to make sure they did not move around was i kid you not a little peace of tissue paper. So the shoes came to me with the sides bent almost in half. Now for the quilts control when i looked at the shoes there was missing rubber on the soles, the thread for the welt had lose parts in at least 2 or 3 places, to be honest it is so bad i wont be surprised if the first time it rains my feet get soaked and i have to replace the soles in a few months. And yes I understand these boots are not water proof but a Goodyear welted boot if done right is very very water resistant. Now I understand these boots are work boots and that they only cost around $140. So to a certain extent i am willing to forgive quilts control issues. However just because they are only $140 does not mean that they need to come to me with some of the worst quilt control i have ever seen and a be shipped in a box with no packaging to make sure they don’t move around, and they could have used something as simple as paper not that hard or expensive. All in all if these cost me anymore then they did i would send them back, however i will not be buying anything more from this company.

March 12, 2021
5 out of 5

These boots are 100% worth it. They'll get the job done and you just can't beat quality at this price. -Background- I had been wanting some general work / hiking boots for a while. More specifically, I wanted a pair of boots that would last me years and when the time came I could get them resoled, but I didn't want it to cost me an arm and a leg. While doing some research I started seeing Jim Green pop-up on a few Instagram pages I follow. Everything written about them was good, and the price point was hard to ignore so I purchased a pair. -Sizing/Fit- Bought these in a size US 12D, which is what I wear in basically much everything. They fit perfectly and are pretty comfortable. From what I understand, the company is looking at potentially upgrading their insole to leather, but what's used now works just fine and if needed down the road I can just use an insert. The toe box is a bit roomy, but I like that - IMO nothing worse than cramped toes. -Overall impression- I'm super pleased with these. They fit great, meet my need and they really feel like they'll last. It's nice to be able to buy some quality footwear at this price point and know that it'll get the job done AND you wont have to buy another pair a year later. -Random notes- Jim Green will replace the footbed and laces if doing a resole through them. I'm not sure what the cost is for doing a resole, especially shipping form the U.S., but I'm sure you could reach out to them and they'd let you know. On a related note, their customer service is amazing. I had asked several questions about the construction (stitch down if anyone was wondering) and materials used, and I received several timely and informative responses.

September 4, 2020
5 out of 5

I've had them for about a month and a half now and they've been put through the paces. I'd been looking for a pair of reliable work boots/hikers/shit kickers and seen Jim Green's presence in this group so I figured I'd give them a shot. They just recently got distribution within the states so I was able to order a pair through Amazon. Price: $130 USD Sizing: True to size. The last these are built on is quite roomy in the toe portion. Pros: -Uniquely South African, eccentric branding/colors -Goodyear welted -Quality lug sole, very durable -Padded ankle and tongue, the reinforcement makes them very easy to slip on and off- very comfortable to walk in because of the padding -Leather lined, yellow calf lining in ankle portion -Strong eyelets and speed hooks, I wasn't able to get them to bend by hand -Celastic toe- steel toe versions also available -Decent full grain leather, not Red Wing quality but good considering the price point. -Minimal break-in required, as soon as I got them I was able to put them on and go to work Cons: -Creasing along welt- this may be due to the custom orthotics I have inside of them, however. -Prominent grain break on the vamp of the right boot -***Stock insole is low quality, I immediately swapped them out for some custom insoles instead. Verdict: Fantastic boots for the price. It's always a good idea to temper your expectations if something seems too good to be true, but these boots were a nice surprise. To the best of my knowledge the creasing/grain break could just be an issue with my pair, but ultimately it's a non-issue for me- I bought these to be work boots and hikers so I don't expect them to be pretty anyway. ***As far as the insole is concerned, Jim Green actually reached out to me (I also posted this review on YouTube) to let me know that the next batch of boots heading stateside will have leather/poron inserts- this won't change the price, either. Really cool to see them address criticism, good on them.*** One last thing regarding the construction- the midsole isn't leather, since it's $130. I'm not sure what the material is but it's flexible and seems to be pretty durable, so I doubt there will be any long-term issues.

September 4, 2020
5 out of 5

I had never heard of Jim Green, only one review, but that did not stop me from buying them. I am super glad I bought these. These boots are made of great leather on a goodyear welt so the shoe guy can can resole when its time. Jim must have known Vitale Bramani the founder of Vibram because Jim is using the original design of Bramani sole on these boots. So that is the best sole for a boot. The quality leather is thick and the inside is covered in calf leather, very soft and smooth. No laces its a slip on. The elastic pulls the leather snug on your foot. The toe box is generous. I normally wear a 12. I bought a 12 because they had no 12.5. I would have bought a 12.5 because I am using these as a work boot and I wanted extra toe room. They are still very comfortable after wearing them today. The brown leather is a dark brown. It has a pull on the front and the back of the top of the boot to make it easier to pull on. Insoles have never been a concern for me unless they slipped around. I noticed these have holes in them by design and they feel good as I stand in the boots. A fine boot is an awesome thing and these are awesome. I promise these are excellent fitting, wearing boots. These are as good or better than Redwing. They are underpriced. I have recently bought 2 pairs of $100-200 boots both which I have returned. One had a tongue that was so thin and it was not stitched up high enough to keep water and dirt out. the ad deflected on its weaknesses. This boot has no weakness other than no one knows about them and the sellers are not promoting the boot or carrying all the sizes possible. I am going to wear the hound out of these.

July 15, 2020
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