Jim Green African Ranger Barefoot Boots

[BBob]

I only have the Ranger, I’ve not purchased Troopers.

 

[id_jon]

I've really only worn them for different uses, so it's hard for me to compare. I like the troopers and the rangers both a lot. I wear them for work and around town, and wear the vivos for shooting/hiking.

JG's might be an easier transition for a first pair of barefoot boots just because the sole offers a bit more protection from rocks/pebbles.

@BBob @id_jon @Lawnboi any feedback on the Trooper? I was going to order my first pair of vivos but @Jimbee steered me towards JG.

For a first barefoot boot recommendation, JG Trooper or vivobarefoot tracker forest esc?

 

[BBob]

JG's might be an easier transition for a first pair of barefoot boots just because the sole offers a bit more protection from rocks/pebbles.

Completely agree. I’m finding I wear the JG’s more and more over the Vivo. Mostly due to where I go and the terrain. The soles on the JG just work better overall down here in the dry loose rocky terrain.

 

[rharbaugh]

Completely agree. I’m finding I wear the JG’s more and more over the Vivo. Mostly due to where I go and the terrain. The soles on the JG just work better overall down here in the dry loose rocky terrain.

Thanks @BBob and @id_jon. I’m going to get a pair of troopers coming. Also going to inquire about them putting a more aggressive sole via their custom boot builder.

 

[Lawnboi]

@BBob @id_jon @Lawnboi any feedback on the Trooper? I was going to order my first pair of vivos but @Jimbee steered me towards JG.

For a first barefoot boot recommendation, JG Trooper or vivobarefoot tracker forest esc?

I don’t have the troopers. I want the troopers and will get some eventually. While both barefoot boots the JG and vivo are very different. I’d really pick based on your use. I everyday wear some barefoot African rangers

JG
-Heavier duty. Think work boot, more structured upper.
-Thicker sole, less ground feel.
-Take a break in of a typical stiff leather boot.
-Sole better for dry/non snow conditions.
-I reccomend ordering the insoles with them.
- I’d classify them as an in between boot. You don’t get a full barefoot experience because of the thickness of the sole, and structure of the upper . They wear like a work boot, and once broken in are very comfortable.
-If JG offered a beefier outsole on these boots they would likely be my everything solution.

Vivo trackers
-lighter, more barefoot feel other upper and outsole
- Thin flexible leather, very supple, feels almost like an athletic shoe.
-They don’t hold up like the Jim green to things like trade work, I wouldn’t purchase them as a work boot given the JG offering.
-Lower service life, higher price.

 

[Voyageur]

@Lawnboi Please explain the JG insole to me. I've exchanged emails with them and am still not understanding the difference between their standard "half sock" and their "leather footbed" option.
Thanks.

 

[Lawnboi]

@Lawnboi Please explain the JG insole to me. I've exchanged emails with them and am still not understanding the difference between their standard "half sock" and their "leather footbed" option.
Thanks.

The boot comes without an insole. Half the boot has a softer side leather in place permanently, the rest is just rough side leather midsole. I had some rubbing without an insole, and I do like a little bit of cushion.

Dosnt have to be their insole, but I’d recommend finding something to put in there, because they come without basically.

 

[Voyageur]

The boot comes without an insole. Half the boot has a softer side leather in place permanently, the rest is just rough side leather midsole. I had some rubbing without an insole, and I do like a little bit of cushion.

Dosnt have to be their insole, but I’d recommend finding something to put in there, because they come without basically.

Thanks for the explanation. That's what I was thinking, but wanted to make sure I was understanding it correctly.

 

[Lawnboi]

Finally found an insole that’s not scabbed from other shoes that I think is going to work well. Lathrop synergy gel. They are fairly flat, they maybe have 2mm of drop built into the insole. Thought I was going to have to cut them down but the shape of them actually fits the Jim green last very well, still may cut off one of the wing.

Downside is 2 sets of insoles damn near coats what a set of boots is.

 

[TSAMP]

Thanks @BBob and @id_jon. I’m going to get a pair of troopers coming. Also going to inquire about them putting a more aggressive sole via their custom boot builder.

Did you buy troopers?

 

[wysongdog]

I just ordered a pair of the rangers

 

[Lawnboi]

Does adding an insole change the fit? Like would someone want to order 1/2 size bigger if putting in insoles was the plan?

I didn’t buy 1/2 size bigger. Lift at the heel will be totally dependent on the insole. I wanted a flat insole. I’ll deal with the 2mm or so lift from the Lathrop unless I can find another suitable gel insole that’s completely flat.

I need something in these boots to make them work. There is zero cushion in these boots unlike the vivo tracker that has an insole, and a pretty pliable rubber outsole to provide some cushion.

 

[eamyrick]

I put a set of superfeet greens in my barefoots. Absolutely love them. As I get older my high arches have a lower tolerance for no support.

 

[Slickhill]

I wear wedge sole Thorogoods for work, at the plant and the farm.

But when goofing off when not at work, which is my main profession, I have been wearing HeyDudes for years. If you have a pair you know they offer almost no support and not much cushion. Recently when looking for something minimal but more of a hiker I stumbled onto the JG Rangers and bought a pair of the barefoot to try out.

I don’t have more than 12-15 miles on them yet but so far they’re great. I actually ordered a size smaller than I normally wear after using their chart and measuring my feet. They fit perfectly and thus far I see no need for insoles. I haven’t done much scrambling around the rocks with them and they probably will not replace my Danner Elk Hunters in the fall, but for a general utility shoe to replace a tennis shoe or low top hiking boot I think they’ll be the ticket.

In the beginning I was concerned about the lack of thread but then again neither my wedge sole work boots nor HeyDudes have much tread. I guess when you’re used to it it’s not a huge deal.

 

[rharbaugh]

Did you buy troopers?

Just ordered them last week. Got my feet sized at the local running store with a volumental deviceand sent the results to Jim green for a recommendation on sizing. They should be here Monday. I’ll report back with thoughts and pics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BBob]

I have been wearing HeyDudes for years.

Wear em everyday! Hike in them now and then and worn out ones are my camp slippers. If I’m not in my JG’s or a Vivo I’m in my Dudes

 

[Lawnboi]

I just got a set of troopers. I think I’m going to like these even more than the rangers, which have become my everyday boot now .

 

[rharbaugh]

Just ordered them last week. Got my feet sized at the local running store with a volumental deviceand sent the results to Jim green for a recommendation on sizing. They should be here Monday. I’ll report back with thoughts and pics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here are the results from the volumental device, which also gives you arch height, instep height, heel width, ball girth, and instep girth in terms small/medium/large "relative to male population". I sent all these to Jim Green for a sizing recommendation and was told, "We would recommend ordering a size 12 as these boot do fit wide and big."



My size 12 troopers showed up yesterday, so I grabbed a pair of medium-thick smartwool hiking socks to try them on. Two biggest takeaways for me:
My toes were all the way to the end of the boot, so I'd say that the Jim Green sizing is closer to my other shoes (size 13 altras and size 14 brooks).
"Relative to male population" I have narrow heels and I could definitely feel that space in the heels these boots. I'll have to try different lacing techniques and insole combo to help make this more comfortable.

Touching tip of my toe


Overall, I really like the design and construction of the boot. Will be returning these to Jim Green for a size 13 and following @Lawnboi 's suggestion on trying out some Lathrop insoles to go along with them.

 

[Lawnboi]

Here are the results from the volumental device, which also gives you arch height, instep height, heel width, ball girth, and instep girth in terms small/medium/large "relative to male population". I sent all these to Jim Green for a sizing recommendation and was told, "We would recommend ordering a size 12 as these boot do fit wide and big."

View attachment 879356

My size 12 troopers showed up yesterday, so I grabbed a pair of medium-thick smartwool hiking socks to try them on. Two biggest takeaways for me:
My toes were all the way to the end of the boot, so I'd say that the Jim Green sizing is closer to my other shoes (size 13 altras and size 14 brooks).
"Relative to male population" I have narrow heels and I could definitely feel that space in the heels these boots. I'll have to try different lacing techniques and insole combo to help make this more comfortable.

Touching tip of my toe
View attachment 879363

Overall, I really like the design and construction of the boot. Will be returning these to Jim Green for a size 13 and following @Lawnboi 's suggestion on trying out some Lathrop insoles to go along with them.

I think you will like the Lathrop insoles if you have narrow heels. My heels are fairly narrow and these boots do have some volume in the back end of them. I like the wide toe box but the Lathrop soles with the wing shapes on the sides eats up plenty of room in the heel of the boot.

I just started breaking in my troopers. So far these would be my everything boot if they only came with a more aggressive outsole. I do think we should organize on Rokslide and see if they could do something for us because with that these boots would be near perfect.

I do need to try them with micro spikes. Iv got a pair coming but probably won’t find a real place to put them to use till I get to the mountains this summer

 

[HighUintas]

These should be resolable, right? I'm wondering how hard it would be to find a more aggressive sole and find someone that could do that work.