4 out of 5

This is an absolute killer. It looks fantastic, and walks great too. I really hope for JG that this boot stays in their range for decades to come, and becomes a really big seller. The combination of the STC last and the double lasting creates a nice tall toebox. Coupled with the toespring of this last really makes for a handsome boot. I hate the way the zero-drop boots look, and I think it is amazing how much of an impact a different last can have on what is essentially the same upper as used for the barefoot troopers. When fresh the rough-out leather on the toebox looks almost like fur, and it takes wax quite well. I do have two gripes with it though; - The eyelets at the top are useless. I understand that this is a classic American boot thing, but I would have much preferred another set of speedhooks. Getting the laces through the eyelets whilst keeping them under tension is a pain in the neck, and so I don't even bother with them. - For someone with narrow feet and thin(ish) ancles, the boots are a bit too wide, especially in the heel (for the rest of the boot the space is perfect). My heel on my right foot just does not want to stay in place, no matter how tight I tie the boot down. I can only hope this improves as I break them in more. This coupled with the plastic heelstay being smaller than the internal leather heel counter creates a irritating point where I can feel the edge of the plastic heelstay on the side of my heel as my foot is pressing into it sideways.

April 8, 2025
5 out of 5

This is my first pair of proper boots and I'm so pleased I got them. I love hiking and I'm a big chap, so I need boots with decent support and durability. I've always bought cheaper hiking boots until now. While they do the job, they're not particularly comfortable and don't last long, and they're not practical to repair. I go through a pair every year and it's so wasteful. These are a big step up from what I've had in the past. Really well put together boots which I look forward to wearing for many, many years. They are properly rugged and can easily be resoled to keep them in service for years to come. The wide toe is so comfortable as well. It's the first pair of boots I've ever worn that have adequate space for my wide toes. No rubbing whatsoever. There was certainly a break-in period for me, but only in the heel. They were very comfortable for me right out of the box everywhere else, but the firm sole and stiff leather caused me some pain in the heel for a while. Now that they are properly broken in, they are without a doubt the most comfortable thing I've ever put on my feet. I did briefly consider if a softer sole might be better, but I'm glad I stuck with the stock one. It is comfortable after the boot has broken in, and it's the grippiest sole I've ever had. I did a bit of impromptu rock climbing recently with them, and the sole bites very very well. Great investment that will save me a lot of money and pain into the long run, and well worth getting them shipped to the UK (which was actually really painless and took less than 2 weeks).

July 6, 2024
5 out of 5

I’ve had my African rangers with buffalo leather for a few 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 didn’t require more than a 30 minute walk to soften it up, in the heat and humidity of a New Orleans summer (actual 35C, feels like 45C due to 75% humidity). The only blister I got was from the rough-out leather in the heel cup, and 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 summer heat averaging 16 km 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 if you have much of 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 comfort and function over fashion every time, although I did change to brown laces in a concession to my wife’s immaculate fashion sense. I also like that Jim Green pays its workers full wage and supports the tough and dangerous work of the rangers.

September 12, 2023
5 out of 5

I ordered these boots and have had them a few weeks now. I ordered a size 12 as I thought these were walking boots, so best to get a size up. I was shocked to put this shoe on and feel how much space there was. I have very wide feet and I was disappointed by another brand buying a european size 47 before (equivalent to UK 12 in most brands) and it was too tight due to the toe box reinforcement. Here this shoe has a wide fit and I needed to get a good insole. I hope to order another pair of these, but in size UK 11 as I think it will be the perfect fit without an insole, and in future despite buying through the internet, I would say the size guide for this is generous. I have a 28.5cm left foot and it definitely feels like I could go down a size easily. So if I were you I would say try and order to the closest to your length in the size guide as possible. I ordered to Europe, as currently it doesn´t look like there are suppliers for Baobab there. This is a seriously stylish boot. It is tough and if you are a hiker, I would recommend you also invest in some zinc oxide tape to cover any of the "hot spots" the boot might make in the initial wears. This boot will last a long time so it is worth investing in the breaking in period. The material is different to what I have experienced before as it is both soft and really strong at the same time. It is hard to explain until you feel it. Things I think worth noting - The sole is amazing and the stitching is heavy duty, giving it the aesthetic cool of brands which today only pay lip-service to stitching, whilst actually having the function. This is a boot with the rare ability to crossover - I think it would be very good in a hiking/tabbing/military setting, yet it looks amazing. For the price I paid (with duties) I still think it was worth it. As said, will probably buy again, but a size down.

May 30, 2023
5 out of 5

I like it

September 28, 2022
5 out of 5

I cannot recommend these boots enough. Since February 2020, I’ve had the chance to put my pair of AR8 boots (previously a special request style) through hell. From 6 hours hikes through muddy rainforests and up mountains, to hunting in the Australian bush, and crawling around under houses. This is on top of daily wear at work and on the farm, around 10 hours a day, 6/7 days a week for over 18 months. Although not advertised as waterproof like the Monster, I’ve never gone home with soggy feet. After a few hours on really wet trails, a bit of moisture will get in but not enough to ruin the experience. The 8 inch hight definitely helps with this, and on one particular trail which I have walking in both my Monsters and AR8s, these boots performed better in regards to keeping me dry. These truly are a boot you can put on and forget they’re even there. The last thing you want to worry about while undertaking any of the above-mentioned tasks is your footwear. Something I wish I had done sooner is get the Jim Green Leather Food. It is excellent. A great combination of waxy and oily. In winter and when I know I’ll be exposed to the elements for a long time, I use the Jim Green leather food and Dubbin on the stitching. The only change I have made to these boot is the insole. For what I use these for, I found I needed something extra for shock absorption and cushioning when on my feet all day. insoles from an old pair of Hi-Tech hiking boots did the trick. These are truly a hard wearing, comfortable, supportive, and stylish pair of boots. I wish I could post pictures of these boots and how they look now, as although they’ve been flogged, they look better than ever.

July 14, 2022
5 out of 5

I like leather

September 23, 2021
5 out of 5

I like them

July 22, 2021
5 out of 5

Good

May 19, 2021
5 out of 5

10/10

May 13, 2021
5 out of 5

10

April 25, 2021
5 out of 5

tl;dr 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 everything. They fit perfectly and are pretty comfortable. From what I understand, the company is looking to potentially upgrade 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.

August 12, 2020
5 out of 5

Nice

August 4, 2020
5 out of 5

Great boot.

June 14, 2020
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