Jim Green Barefoot African Trooper Boot first impressions and Review

[JoeK]

I've never used stitch wax to repel water. I've used a couple different leather conditioner products to prevent cracking but not in many years as I haven't had any boots that were resoleable, or economical to do so, and I always wore the sole off the bottom before the uppers gave out so I quit even taking care of boot leather so now I need to get my hands on some leather care product(s). If the leather is oiled up then the Stitching will definitely be the primary water ingress.
Anyone else have wax/leather products to recommend?

 

[HighUintas]

I've never used stitch wax to repel water. I've used a couple different leather conditioner products to prevent cracking but not in many years as I haven't had any boots that were resoleable, or economical to do so, and I always wore the sole off the bottom before the uppers gave out so I quit even taking care of boot leather so now I need to get my hands on some leather care product(s). If the leather is oiled up then the Stitching will definitely be the primary water ingress.
Anyone else have wax/leather products to recommend?

I really like Granger's waterproofing wax. It seems to be the longest lasting of the leather waxes that I've used. Be careful when ordering because they have a few other leather waxes and conditioners. This one is called "waterproofing wax".

 

[Lawnboi]

My wife calls them my Santa boots. Should have been patient and avoided black.

 

[arlenmyles]

I wear a 44 in Vivos when I hunt and a 43 vivo around town (I need more toe box when descending steep terrain) . I ordered the Jim Green Barefoot Troopers in size 11 and I feel like I would have been better off with a 10.5.

 

[Lawnboi]

Breaking in my troopers having some annoying rubbing on longer walks, the half insole they glued in was up around the edge of the heel, felt like a shelf near the sole.

Got sick enough of it that I pulled out the vice grips, peeled up an edge and ripped them out.

Way way better now. Less heel lift, and an even feeling throughout the sole.

My rangers have the same thing but not quite as pronounced. I think the combination of the leather flap and the stitch going down the center of the heel was giving me enough abrasion to cause a little discomfort.

Lathrop insoles are still working awesome.

 

[VooDoo6]

How are you liking these cuz? I’m considering getting a pair. M a 12 brannock did you go with your brannock size? Thanks.

 

[Nicaburns]

I gotta chime in and say these boots are great! I have a pair of vivo trackers on the way to compare but these are my first barefoot boots. I’ve been wearing these about six months pretty regularly and just got back from some scouting in central Colorado. They performed incredibly and I have been really shocked how much better my “foot health” is overall. They run true to size for me in the barefoot ranger… I’m normally a 12 and the 12 was perfect in these. I’m hooked on barefoot now!

 

[rharbaugh]

Following up on the my original post in the african ranger thread here
(https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/jim-green-african-ranger-barefoot-boots.344037/post-4164427)

I initially started with a size 12, returned them for a 13 and then eventually exchanged those for a 14 to get the desired space in the toe. I put a set of flat insoles from a pair of altra running shoes in my troopers and have been wearing them sporadically to break them in. This morning I put them on and when for a shoot loop around the neighborhood, probably 1.25 miles and 120' of vertical incline/decline. Definitely glad i went with the 14s for the toe space. However, since I have narrow heels, I need to revisit my lacing technique and insole choice. My heels got roasted pretty good after my short jaunt. These boots are definitely going to take some breaking in.

 

[Nicaburns]

Ouch!

 

[Lawnboi]

My feet have been able to handle most boots but the heel of the troopers took a bit to break in for me.

The heel counter on the outside seems too short, combined with that extra leather in the boot and I felt like my heel wasn’t being cradled like normal. There is also a seam running straight up the back of the boot, which until that rough leather is beat down, caused me some friction. I put some wax on the inside to accelerate the process.

After watching the designing of the trooper boot I’m afraid they worried way to much about how it looks and not enough about pure function.

Still going to use the boots, and they are great now, but took some serious break in; my barefoot rangers took some too but not as much in the heel being a one piece inner leather heel with a sizable piece of leather on the outside.

On the troopers, after ripping that leather 1/2 sole out, my heel felt much more locked in than before.

 

[Sean As Is]

Curious how the tread on the Jim Green boots would do in the mountains. I live in Colorado, and I wonder if the tread might benefit from being more aggressive.

 

[wysongdog]

I wore mine at terry peak this weekend on the prime course. And they weren’t bad at all. I need to try them some more before I have a solid opinion.

 

[Lawnboi]

I’m about to find out. I do have microspikes if needed

 

[Radford]

I wear mine for working
and hunting in the mountains. They do ok but I wish they would put a better sole on them.

 

[Lawnboi]

We need to figure out a viable solution to a better sole because other than that, these are the ideal boot imo.

Just got back from a few days of backpacking and fishing, along with doing cloud peak. Everything from boulder hopping to walking swamp. My feet were significantly less sore than wearing kenetreks for the same. There is just enough protection and the boots stayed farilu waterproof through snow.

Grip was fine until it was wet. Ended up using micro spikes when transitioning from snow to rock consistently. I would not take these on a hunt without micro spikes in my pack.

If Jim green, or us can find an alternative outsole, this could be the last boot I need.