JIM GREEN Men's African Ranger Boots Lace-Up Water Resistant Full Grain Leather Work or Hiking Boot

I purchased these boots in July 2024 with high expectations after learning about them from a YouTube channel named "Rose Anvil." What stood out to me was the story behind these boots, the use of quality materials & craftsmanship, durability & most importantly comfort. This is a boot that is used by African Rangers to protect wildlife from poachers. To me, a mainly city dwelling individual, I figured if it's good enough for a Ranger then it's definitely good enough for me.For sizing reference, I normally wear a US size 9.5 for sneakers and other boots, I chose the US size 9 for the African Rangers and it fits like a glove. Try wearing a half size down from what you normally wear and note that the boot will be a little more spacious after a break-in period.The first week of wearing this boot was brutal, I went into this purchase knowing that leather boots require a break-in period, the fresh leather needs to conform to your feet. I was very close to returning the boots as I had never experienced blisters on my heel from footwear previously. I recommend wearing a patch to protect your heel during the first 1-2 weeks. After a brief break which allowed my heels to recover, I gave this pair another chance and that is when everything changed for the better.I have used these boots daily and for a variety of environments. From the concrete jungle of the city and variety of terrains in the wilderness during my hikes. In each situation these boots kept me comfortable and confident to walk in any condition. The leather has its unique patina growing from my many miles that I have placed starting from July until my posting of this review in September, and as such is gaining character. I have received many compliments for my boots.Something of note is that the Fudge variation of this boot is a suede leather (As pictured in first image) , I wasn't aware of this and while it is a handsome look I personally prefer the more traditional darker tone smooth leather (As pictured in the third image). To achieve the desired look and to maintain these boots, I purchased the "JIM GREEN All Natural Leather Balm Footwear Care Kit for Leather Hiking Boots" which I applied after cleaning the boot with soap & water and a horse hairbrush. This balm was applied by finger and rubbed into the leather, which is a labor of love, however it smooths out the suede and gives it the classic darker brown leather look while also protecting the boot.After three months of heavy usage, the tread shows minimal wear. Due to the construction of this boot resoling in the distant future will be a sinch with a local cobbler and I do plan to wear these boots for as long of a life as they give me.I'd like to thank the folks at Jim Green for their excellent product at a fair price and will be purchasing their other products going forward. I am a very satisfied customer.

These are the african ranger boot, size 10, fudge color. I’ve only had them a few hours, so here’s my first impressions: fits a lot like a Dr. Marten or Keene. Toe box is roomy, and my toes can sprawl. I don’t have a particularly wide foot, but shoes that pinch my toes to a point drives me bonkers. These do not feel too wide to me, as I appreciate the toe space, but I can see how someone who isn’t use to this shoe style could be caught off guard. The size feels spot on for length. I wear a 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 depending on brand. 10 is my most common shoe size and these feel perfect in that regard. I don’t feel any high centering in the footbed like Ive read from a few other reviews. These feel durable. The leather is thick and smells good. I think these ooze with style and are going to look great as a style shoe for fall. The green laces pop. The only thing I need to wait and check after break in is the collar. It sits height wise between the size of a standard work boot and a sneaker. Somewhere in the middle. I feel some rubbing going up and down stairs. Im wearing thick socks to help. I think as the leather softens it won’t be a problem, but we shall see. Also, the footbed is pretty minimal. I’ve read that some people recommend an upgraded insole. That’s not immediately obvious to me. So I will wear them a bit and decide. Needless to say, these are keepers for me. Perhaps my new favorite shoe.Update: 10/29/24 - These are still amazing boots. The collar broke in and I'm not having any problems with rubbing. I've added mink oil to condition these and help them break in and it darkened the color. Still looks great. I also don't feel the need for a shoe insole. The bed isn't particularly soft, but it seems to be molding to my foot shape which is a good sign. Very comfortable. My favorite shoe purchase in quite some time.

This is my second pair of Jim Green boots, my first is their Razorback boots which are more hiking/work oriented. I was wearing the razorbacks everyday and enjoying them alot but i wanted something a little lighter and softer underfoot since i walk and stand on solid surfaces all day. The African ranger boots fit that description and i am unsurprisingly very pleased with them. The Jim Green last that both the Razorback and the African Ranger are made on is nice and wide and fits my foot perfectly. The leather on these African Rangers is also very supple and quick to break in.Owners notes: these boots are made to be the best bang for your buck boot. Since they are intended to be affordable for South African Rangers, Jim Green deliberately cuts corners on thier boots. The things they cheap out on are the insoles, and laces. This is on purpose because those are things you can swap out. What i personally have done to both my pairs of Jim Greens is made 11oz Vegetable tanned insoles for them and Swapped the laces for Paracord. This brings them up to a higher level of comfort and durability.Break in: Soak the boots in water with the insoles out, leave them to sit till they are no longer dripping, insert insoles, put on the boots with thick wool socks and walk around and work in them till they are mostly dry (this may cause blisters). This will accelerate the break in process greatly.After break-in:When you first get the boots they will have a thin coating on the leather that keep water off, the coating is created after the leather tanning process. The factory puts a hot metal plate on the hide to bring up some of the oils and waxes in the leather to the surface of the grain. This coating makes the leather look more uniform and slightly water proofs it. It will wear off fast tho, and i think thats a good thing. Once the coating wears off that allows you to imbue your own waxes and conditioners into the leather. This is important because after soaking and wearing them the leather will have dried out a bit. All you have to do is clean them off with a horse hair brush (assuming they are just dusty) and rub your conditioner of choice into the leather (i like Obenaufs Heavy Duty LP). Brush off extra conditioner after rubbing it into the leather, let it soak in a bit, and then but on the boots and see how they feel. Now your boots are good to go until they dry out and you have to clean and condition them again. Cheers!