| Foot Length (Inch) | US Size |
| 9.65" | 7 |
| 9.75" | 7 ½ |
| 9.85" | 8 |
| 10.125" | 8 ½ |
| 10.24" | 9 |
| 10.4375" | 9 ½ |
| 10.63" | 10 |
| 10.75" | 10 ½ |
| 11.02" | 11 |
| 11.125" | 11 ½ |
| 11.42" | 12 |
| 11.81" | 13 |
| 12.20" | 14 |
African Ranger Barefoot Boot – Houston Brown
$199.99
Embrace Nature with the African Ranger Barefoot Boot
The African Ranger Barefoot Boot is all about keeping things natural and comfy for your feet. It’s like giving your feet a smooth ride on level ground. Plus, there’s lots of space up front in the toe area, so your big toe and pinkie toe can spread out without feeling squished against the sides. These boots are like your foot’s best friend – they’re super flexible and can bend and twist just like your foot would. The soles are thin, so you can feel the ground beneath you better. Going barefoot-style is where the magic happens. No need to worry about springs in your toes or fancy arch support. These boots let your feet do their thing naturally. So, if you’re all about comfy, flexible, and feet-happy footwear, the barefoot boot is where it’s at!
- The boot is designed with 3 main focus areas: Comfort and Durability while at an Affordable price.
- The Anvil sole is designed to mimic the feel of walking any terrain barefoot, while giving you extra grip and protection.
- The Toe, Heel and Eyelet area are manufactured with a double layer of 2.2mm nubuck leather for added durability.
- The Heel stiffener is built in for ankle support and protection.
- The soft leather collar and tongue for comfort and weight reduction.
- NO STEEL SHANK.
- A leather midsole for added comfort, flexibility and feel under foot.
- The heavy-duty speed hooks and eyelets to help secure your feet.
- The leather midsole is secured to the upper with a double stitched 2.2mm braided nylon cord.
- As with all our boots, these can be resoled due to their double stitch down construction.
- Last: Zero Drop (This offers a wide fit and extra room that allows for a more natural barefoot experience).
- Weight: 2.34 lbs (Size 9 US).
- Laces: 47.24 inches.
26 reviews for African Ranger Barefoot Boot – Houston Brown
Willis (verified owner) –
Outstanding boot! I was looking for a high quality zero drop boot/shoe that would last for years and these seem to fit the bill. The quality, materials, and fit on these are excellent. I have been wearing them the past few weeks for travel and commuting. The footbed has already molded perfectly to my feet and they are incredibly comfortable.
Joey P. (verified owner) –
I own 2 pair about to get my third pair of JG Barefoot African Rangers. I have em in Houston Brown and Fudge. My First review is from March 17th 2024, in the Fudge Barefoot African Ranger Boot reviews. As you can read in my previous review from a few months ago, these boots are superb. I’ve actually started to work in my first pair, 9 hrs on concrete and my feet feel great.
walking around in my JG Barefoot African Rangers, seem like I’m walking around Barefoot on my living room carpet. super comfy. You just feel better that you are walking around in stitch down construction boots. I plan on getting a pair in Bronco as well. maybe some black ones too, well see. anyway, do yourself a favor and get some of these boots, I have high arches too, and use no inserts just r.e.i. lightweight merino wool socks. These will last longer than any mass produced tennis shoe or canvas boot.
They are definitely worth the money you pay.
Your Strut will be different, You’ll feel more confident, People will compliment you on your boots!! … You’ll want to tell everyone a out your new boots and All about Jim Green and their products!!! Thank You, JG & Rose Anvil!!!
Joe –
Received these as a Christmas gift and they are pretty much the only shoes I have worn for the last 6 months. They have held up amazingly in that time. They are my most comfortable shoe to walk in and I have walked all over Texas, Colorado, and the USVI (sand stayed out wonderfully) with them. I need orthotics and when I took these in to get fitted, the podiatrist was so impressed that they added Jim Green to the approved boot list for support and for wide feet.
My only gripe is that I have chewed through the sole pretty quickly. It is a thin, soft sole so it’s to be expected and new soles are only 20 bucks so it’s not a huge inconvenience. I don’t have experience with any other JG boots, but I would assume their other soles would last longer.
Wesley Shearrer –
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.
Benjamin Burch –
Exceptional boots. I preordered the brown barefoot African rangers and I love them enough that as soon as the black ones were released, I ordered them. Thankfully it was quite fast. I have tried several brands of leather barefoot boots and none can compare to these.
Austin Ritz –
Really like these boots, just ordered the original African Ranger to be my work boots, I’ll save these for when I’m off work.
Got these a few months ago and I was super excited, but it was clear they were gonna take some break in. The sole was much harder than I expected, and the padded collar really bit into my ankle and caused some discomfort. Now, several months later they’re wonderful. I almost forgot how stiff the collar initially was! The footbed is becoming more comfortable as they mold to my foot. So give them time to break in. I’m guessing they run 1/2 size bigger than I expected. I treated the leather with Australian leather seal to protect them from the elements.
Jeff –
Finally, a barefoot boot made like a normal boot. Looks great. The break in was rough for a couple days but they’ve become my absolute favorite shoe. Incredible value and quality.
Mac (verified owner) –
These boots are great! Fits very well. Toes feel great. Lots of wiggle room yet the fit is snug through out the rest of the boot. Just the way I like it This pair is used for yard work and chores around the house with some light hiking thrown in. Patiently waiting for the Barefoot 8 inch rework to come out for my full time hiking/hunting boot.
As for sizing I’m a 11.5 on a Brannock device and between a D and E width. I originally purchased an 11. Wore them for about 3-4 months and started to get some toe rub. After that i ordered a size 12. These were to big all around. Got the 11.5 next. They are a perfect fit. So comfortable, I don’t want to take them off. Moral of the story is start with your Brannock size. All my testing was using thin socks and heavier wool socks to check the fit with each level I will wear them.
Felipe D Lopez III –
5 stars from Texas. These boots are tremendous. Thank you for great craftsmanship. I’m a size 9.5 but went 10 to slip in a very thin insole and to wear cushy socks.
GoodenoughGray –
These boots are pretty awesome. The quality of the boot is unreal for the price! Not the lightest out there, but the sacrifice for durability is worth it. The leather is thick yet soft. Very easy to get the laces adjusted just right. If you have really wide feet, these probably won’t be wide enough unless you size up a little. I wear anywhere from a 10-11. I got a 10.5 in these and they are a perfect fit. I had to wait close to two months, but it was worth it though.
I just waterproofed them with Huberd’s shoe grease and it darkened them and softened them even more.
The only negatives that I can think of are the sole pattern being too close together and the leather midsole being so hard that I have to wear a simple insole. The sole pattern is packed so tightly that they hold on to dirt, mud, grass and whatever else a little too easily. When it’s time to replace the soles, I’ll try to get something spaced a little farther apart.
I plan on getting one of the new colors they JUST dropped! They look great.
Michael Lange (verified owner) –
Very nice shoe, but the toe box needs a redesign. Even though it’s large it’s rounded and shaped just like a regular shoe toe box not a barefoot toe box. Change this shape to match what feet actually look like (like on Xero or Vivo’s) and it’ll be perfect.
kyle.andrew66 –
Great boot. I ordered a size 12 US (I am a size 12 in most shoes). They fit true to size. They are extremely comfortable if you’re used to barefoot style shoes. They only took about a week to fully break in. They are super lightweight which I like. Lots of room for the toes to move around. The grip is great too. I wear them for construction work and they’ve held up well in the month I’ve had them. I will most likely get a second pair for going out because they look classy too. Jim Green did a wonderful job with this boot. I can’t overstate that enough.
Cliff (verified owner) –
My 3rd pair of Jim Greens. I deal with foot pain and the barefoot style sole really helps. most “barefoot” shoes have soles that are just too thin for me. I don’t need to feel every crack in the sidewalk (also i live in a big city and get nervous that something gross could penetrate most barefoot soles) so the slightly thicker Jim Green Barefoot sole is perfect.
I really hope JG makes a similar barefoot version of the shoellie.
Cheryl –
I was so happy to see barefoot Jim Green. My feet aren’t happy pushed forward with a heel.
At first they were kinda uncomfortable, but after wearing them around the house a few day, they fit amazing. I can even wear toe spacers inside.
Fred –
These are my new favorite boots. I am wearing them right now and honestly do not want to wear anything else. They are so comfortable it is great. No pain. Also they are slip resistant and do not make noise when walking. I love these things. Out of the few barefoot shoes I have tried these are the best.
Matthew Wright –
I’ve been wearing my barefoot ranger boots for a few weeks and simply put they are fantastic. I’m sort of in between sizes with a long second toe so my 11s are roomy but not crazy big. That being said these boots are super wide, comfortable and had pretty much zero break in time. Whether you’re out walking or on your feet for hours at a time they are comfortable and very flexible. These boots are extremely well made and for the price point a steal!
Andy –
At first they felt MASSIVE. I thought I ordered the wrong size, even though I followed the sizing chart exactly. After lacing them tight and wearing a few days, they started to feel like a perfect fit. I do notice some pressure on my instep from the lugs, and I’m not sure if it will break in with time or not, but it’s not bad; so far after a month of wearing them all day every day, I haven’t had any soreness or chaffing even at that pressure point.
I ride my bike in these at least 10 miles daily, and wear them while I’m at work on my feet all day. The zero drop, thin sole and wide toe box are perfect for biking, and it’s crazy that a fully leather boot can be flexible and breathable enough to cycle in, but these really are.
It’s been a rainy and freezing cold winter, and biking in the rain is seriously taxing on footwear. Still, after a 30 minutes rainy biking commute, my feet stay completely dry and relatively warm inside, and the leather dries out completely after a couple hours of wearing them inside. They perform much better in this regard than my waterproof sneakers, which stay soaked and freezing cold for hours, and seep water in from around the ankle, even if they are technically impermeable to water. Not to mention they stink, while the leather boots so far do not.
Couldn’t be more pleased with these
Gabriel –
These boots are awesome! You get a great quality boot at a price point that most barefoot sneakers of much worse quality have a hard time matching. The toe box is on the more narrow side compared to some other purely barefoot companies, so if you really like to splay, these may not be for you. But if you want quality, comfort, and a boot that you can beat up, repair, and keep trekking in, these are the boots! I am blown away that Jim Green and Rose Anvil dropped the best barefoot boot on their first try! Widen the toes box a bit more, offer them in black, and you’ll be unstoppable!
Pierre –
I recently received mine and have worn them for a few miles. I’m very happy with them. I was concerned they wouldn’t be wide enough so instead of getting my usual barefoot shoe size, 9, I ordered my “normal” shoe size, which is 10. The 10s fit perfect. Roomy in the toes but secure in the rest of the foot. Absolutely no heel slip ever. The break in period is very short. The sole is thin enough to feel flexible but definitely thick enough to not need to think about what you’re stepping on. I also gotta admire the way the gusseted tongue elegantly folds symmetrically over my instep! I’ve never had a boot with a fully gusseted tongue fold so perfectly like that. If Jim Green’s other boot styles had barefoot versions I would definitely put those on my wishlist (I’m eyeing the AR8)
Tal k –
Orderd them from SA to israel the made the trip great. Im using them as my daily ride, working in agriculture and they are the first barefoot boot that i stands for my needs. Please continue experimenting with this field
Adam –
I had to wait a while for them, but they were totally worth it! This is also my first pair of Jim Greens, and I’m very pleased with the quality. They look and feel handmade with a good attention to detail. I have a few other pairs of “barefoot” shoes, and so far these seem to be the most comfortable. The sole seems to strike the perfect balance of flexibility and ground feel vs durability and stability. The tie box is perfect for my moderately wide 14 feet, and amazingly they don’t look like hobbit feet. I can tell I’m going to love these for a long time. Really hoping Jim Green will put this same sole on some of their other styles. I would love these in a Chelsea boot like the Stockman.
MartyS –
Wow! Amazingly comfortable right out of the box. More comfortable than most sneakers. I love these boots! I always order a half size up because I need insoles with arch supports. I think they are true to size. I currently have Tread Labs insoles in these but have Superfeets in my other JG boots. One half size up with added insoles fits me perfectly. I also have the regular African Ranger boots and the Boababs and am very pleased with those as well. I’ve become a lifetime fan of Jim Green boots.
Ryan (verified owner) –
These boots are my favorite pair of footwear- period.
After hearing about them on Rose Anvil’s YouTube channel and seeing Jim Green’s CEO test them on a hike through South Africa, I felt I needed to try them out. I have been wearing barefoot shoes for a little over a year and always had some issue. I found that if they were comfortable, the quality control was lacking (poor materials/adhesive/construction) so I went with Vivos but found them to be uncomfortable. Humans evolved to walk barefoot on soft surfaces which presents a challenge to barefoot footwear makers in the concrete and asphalt jungle that is modern society.
These boots, with their more traditional Construction and slipsole solve the problem of being both well made and appropriate for all environments. Where they really shined for me was scrambling up the steep rocks of Arizona. Being able to gain a solid footing on uneven surfaces while not feeling jabbed by every jagged rock made hiking and climbing even more enjoyable. The Houston brown coloration and head-on view of the silhouette make for an unpretentious boot that looks fine with a pair of dark wash blue jeans for a date night out on the town with thoughts of “I can’t wait to take these boots off!” Banished to the abyss. Well done, Jim Green, you’ve got a customer for however long you make these boots!
Jacob (verified owner) –
These are probably the best pair of barefoot boots you can get at this point in time. I’ve had these for a bit over a month now and wear them regularly out hiking. Break in was quick relatively painless (the toe cap pressed down onto my foot a bit initially, but after 5-6 hours of good hiking this had softened up nicely). The toebox is just enough for my relatively wide feet. My brannock size is about a 10.5 and I ordered a pair in size 11. The sole is nice and flexible, but not so thin that walking around on rocks is painful. These handle walking around on gravel trails and through rocky, thorny places well. With these being resoleable, I have a feeling they will last a very long time.
Manuel Gonzalez (verified owner) –
I started using barefoot style shoes a little over a year ago so I have fully adjusted to this style of footwear. I bought the size 11 Houston Brown Barefoot Rangers and they have exceeded my expectations so far. For regular walking on hard surfaces I have found them to be very comfortable. For reference, my Brannock sizing is US size 10 and width is somewhere between EE and EEE. To account for the width of my feet I almost always size up to an 11 in boots or 11.5 in sneakers. The toebox in these boots is generous without being sloppy or loose and could easily accommodate very thick socks should you need them for cold weather. These boots rival my Truman Stone Ramblers in finish quality and are as comfortable as my Lem’s Boulder Summit boots. No boot can do everything perfectly all the time, but you can count on these boots to easily become your “go to” pair. Hunting season isn’t far off here in Texas and I am looking forward to finding out how this boot handles the hill country and the west Texas plains. Oh yeah, go ahead an sign me up for a pair of those Horween Chromexel pairs as well.
Mick (verified owner) –
These boots are everything I was looking for! They are well made, and super comfortable right out of the box. For me they seem to run true to size. I’ve only done a quick hike and some light yardwork in them so far but I’m super stoked about having a high quality barefoot style boot that can easily be repaired. I would buy them again without a doubt, and if they are ever offered in black, I will definitely would buy a second pair.