Jim Green Boots

[Fredoka]

I'm intrigued I must say... I want to know more about these, but for now they still look like kids' shoes to me

 

[Fifty150]

A small win for me. I figured out what was causing my foot pain.


I was following Jim Green's recommendation on how to fold the tongue.

This caused the tongue to double up, under all the layers of leather of the lacing system. It all pressed right into my ankle. I got an abrasion. My ankle is still damaged and bleeding.

I should have followed Red Wing's guide on how to fold the tongue.

 

[Fifty150]

they still look like kids' shoes to me ​

They are not for everybody.

The aesthetics is the polar opposite of sleek and stylish.

The fit is limited to people with wide feet. If you have a narrow foot, it won't fit. If you have extra wide feet, they still won't fit.

The quality of the leather is unknown. The leather is sourced from a local tannery in South Africa. The "crazy horse leather" is what they describe as "oily nubuck" There is a full grain leather. Some of their "premium" models have what they describe as "veg re-tan"; which is first chrome tanned, then re-tanned while it's still wet. Water buffalo hide is a limited production batch which carries a higher price.

What we don't know about the leather is quality. It just hasn't been around long enough. Maybe after 10 years, we'll know that it could last 10 years, and have the results of aging. It's not like some other leathers where the quality is known and established. Although Jim Green does have videos of a few pairs of old boots that they resoled at their factory. Those were shoes in the leather which they used years ago. Don't know if that is the leather that they are using today. It's not like when you buy a shoe with Chromexcel or Cordovan, which is known. You can view the clips, and see for yourself.​

https://youtu.be/lr1aXaNccG8










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[Fifty150]

Use them. Abuse them. It's raining today. Perfect. I have African Ranger. I can trash them in the rain, and save my nicer shoes for a sunny day. And we can all see what they look like in the rain. Not so good looking. My feet are still dry

 

[Fifty150]

they still look like kids' shoes to me

Or they could be clown shoes with the big, wide toes

 

[Fifty150]

In my continual effort to make the African Ranger work for me, I replaced the insert. Just fractions of an inch difference. It changed the fit. Now the hard, stiff part is not rubbing the ankle. But with a different insert, the feel is also different. Maybe this will break in the leather in a different way.

 

[Fifty150]

I'm not a fan of suede, nubuck, and roughout. Not that I don't like the soft nap and texture. I do. 1 too many experiences with blood, BBQ sauce, motor oil, and other things that cannot be cleaned out. But for the price, One Forty Nine USD, I bought it anyway.

This fudge color nubuck is pretty soft. This boot does not have the stiffness out of the box that the veg re-tan leather has. It's raining today. Perfect for a new shoe.​

 

[Fifty150]

 

[大馬伕]

Trade Tariffs

 

[Peacoat]

Trade Tariffs

This has the potential to become political. Let's not go there.

 

[Fifty150]

I don't know if it's political. Or if people have certain feelings about a South Africa business. Jim Green pricing is low because the cost of labor is low, and AGOA. If AGOA is ended, price is going up.

At these prices, I am buying before the price goes up.

 

[大馬伕]

When they first came to the US, I bought the Razorback. Stitch down construction with double row stitching. Single piece vamp. D-rings and speedhooks.


Then they introduced the African Ranger. I was sold. I really liked the idea of the boots for rangers.



The Numzaan really got me. Wow. Veg tan insole and midsole. Components you don't find at that price. And a leather upper which is chrome tanned, then veg tanned; similar to Chromexcel.


In my mind, I liked the products. Value priced. Made to last, with resoles down the road. On my feet, I didn't like the shoes as much. No Wow! Factor. I didn't feel anything great. I don't have wide feet, so there was no benefit to my medium feet. The proprietary soles didn't outperform or feel any better than Vibram soles . The Numzaan were hard to break in.

I like them. But they aren't great. It's not a "10" for me. More like a 3 star. Not a 5 star. It's a good boot. Not that there's anything so bad that they aren't wearable. Certainly better than a lot of other boots. And everyone will have a different opinion on how they fit and feel. Some people will enjoy this more than others.



I am not buying anymore boots from Jim Green. The 3 models are enough for me. That doesn't make it bad. I only have 1 pair of Indy Boots. 1 was enough. Same way I only have1 pair of Iron Rangers. If I like it enough, I will resole them.

 

[Fifty150]

Here's a look at Jim Green African Ranger which is supposed to be a 2E width, next to a Thorogood 2E. Both are marked as size 10. The Thorogood 10 2E is longer and narrower than the Jim Green 10. Something to consider when ordering online and you're not sure of sizing. People often say that with boots like Thorogood and Red Wing, that you should go down a half size. Maybe Jim Green is a half size short.​

 

[Fifty150]

It's not a "10" for me. More like a 3 star. Not a 5 star.

Pretty accurate assessment. Jim Green is sold from $200 - $300. On sale between $100 - $200. And that's about where it stands in comparison to boots from $300 - $600. Maybe not "the best" boot that you can buy. But good for the money that you spend. For $100 - $200, Jim Green is just as good, or maybe better than: Timberland, Keen, Caterpillar, Lugz, Irish Setter, Wolverine, Brunt, Ariat, Justin....... I would wear a Jim Green instead of a Thursday.​

 

[TLW '90]

Is anybody else looking forward to the moc toe boots to be released ?
I am, but don't really like nubuck leather and am kind of waiting for a full grain a rough out or just custom shop availability.
Aside from footwear by footskins, these will be the only other true moccasin construction boots that you can get for under $300
Gokey has a few models from $360-$390, but that's it.

 

[Fifty150]

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true moccasin construction

I could be mistaken. In my mind, a "true moccasin" was a piece of leather under the foot, that wrapped up over the foot, which is then sewn to the rest of the shoe. In my mind, it's actually a solid, single piece of leather.

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It looks like Jim Green is doing something similar, but different. I would like to see a little bit more on the construction. I can clearly see the vamp leather and the lining leather. I can see that there are several pieces of leather stitched together. There's also a hole in the bottom. What do they do with the rest of the shoe? Is there a leather lasting board under or over the hole? Will there be some sort of Blake stitch? How do they attach the soles?



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Since I have bought from them, my email address is in their database. I got the promotional email. $279. Priced right between Thorogood and Red Wing. I get it that some people like the way moc toes look. I get it that some people like the room in the toe box. I don't know if I'll be a buyer on this one. I like the idea of a traditional moccasin. But that hole in the bottom raises an eyebrow. Here is the email for everyone who is not on their list:
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​ ​ Step Into The Season with Two New Moc Toe Legends! We're proud to introduce two bold new takes on a timeless classic: the Workhorse and the Meander Moc Toe boot - each crafted with Jim Green's signature durability and genuine Moc Toe construction.​ ​ The Workhorse is our toughest Moc Toe yet - built for those who put their boots through the wringer. From job sites to backwoods trails, it offers rugged performance, all-day comfort, and a classic look that never quits.​ ​ The Meander, inspired by the laid-back charm of South Africa's Midlands Meander, brings adventure-ready comfort with a touch of style. Designed for weekend escapes or a day in the city, it's the perfect mix of rugged and refined. Wherever life leads you, there's a Jim Green Moc Toe ready to walk it with you.​ ​

 

[TLW '90]

Here is a rundown.

I am definitely getting much more interested in buying a pair, but am just not sure which model.
The biggest problem is that I just don't really need them, if I did the choice would be easier to make.

 

[Fifty150]

It is confirmed. It's not a real moccasin. It's a moc-toe construction. A true moccasin is 1 solid piece of leather, wrapping up over the foot. Jim Green stitches several pieces of leather together, then wraps the toe up, and has a big hole in the middle.

In all fairness, Red Wing & Thorogood moc-toes aren't real moccasins either. The Thorogood vamp is a single piece of leather with a stitch to make it look like a moc-toe. Red Wing appears similar. As does my Sears Die Hard. A real moccasin is so labor intensive that it cost up to 3 times more? Or is that just marketing to justify high retail pricing?


At $279, it's about $20 less than Red Wing, and $20 more than Thorogood. Apples to nothing comparison. The American shoes are different. Only relevant if you are buying a boot for a moccasin look. Nonetheless, some may want the American shoes because of the Goodyear welt construction. A Goodyear welt can be reused to stitch on new soles. When the welt wears out, it can be replaced. Then the new welt will be good for several more resoles. Jim Green uses a Blake stitch to secure the midsole, then glues on the outsole. The old sole can be peeled off, and a new sole glued on. Moot point, because the cost of resoling a shoe is so high, many people just don't do it.




Between the two Jim Green models, I like the Meander. It just seems like it would be more comfortable without a shank. That outsole is softer than their other outsoles. The African Ranger uses the same outsole. I feel that it's adequate for walking around in a suburban environment. Good enough for going to The Mall. I don't know if the Workhorse is a real work boot. It does not have a safety toe option.

 

[大馬伕]

The biggest problem is that I just don't really need them

Nobody "needs" them. People buy shoes like this because they like the way it looks, or they have been influenced by the marketing campaign. If you need work boots, these don't have a protective toe.


Being a moc-toe, it should have more room in the toes. I suppose there's an advantage to the stitched on toe cover, but I don't know it. I'm not a fan of those YouTube video guys. They are being paid to advertise. They're shills.


I just don't see a reason for me to buy them. But that explains why I don't own their other shoes either. I just don't see a reason for me to buy barefoot shoes, water buffalo leather, etc. Same way I don't see a reason for me to own every Allen Edmonds or Alden shoe.

 

[Fifty150]

I just don't really need them

Nobody "needs" them.

I haven't needed anything in many years. I could easily live the rest of my life without buying shoes again. I buy because I'm a consumer. I'm fortunate to have the first world luxury of not needing shoes.

They're shills.

A company gives a product away, in exchange for a review. A company pays somebody to review and promote their products. It's advertising. Is that so wrong? Apparently Amazon cracked down on fake reviews, bought and paid for by sellers.

It's the normal marketing plan for direct to consumer shoe sellers. And it's blatantly obvious who the online shills are. Although some people are such fans that they will defend the content creators and the products. Or maybe they are also on the payroll. Pay a content creator to create a video. Then pay other people to cheer them on in the comments section.


These companies don't have resellers. Their only sales are online. Their marketing is online. Their customers are online. And now, there are more companies following this method of marketing. Shoemakers from India, Mexico, China, and Indonesia are all over the internet. The YouTube shills are cranking out content.