The discussion about foot care led me to wonder just what sort of boots others take on safari. As we plan for Namibia most of what I am reading suggests light hiking boots. For me that used to be a non-mountaineering all leather boot with Vibram lug soles. I am noticing just how many sneaker style hikers there are now in low, mid and high top styles. So when you went on Safari what was on your feet ?

I've previously used Norwegian leather combat boots (which are pretty lightweight), sneakers/jogging shoes, and "Timberland/Merrel/Asolo/etc. type" walking/hiking shoes. I've come to prefer leaving the boots at home and going with the lighter, low shoes, as I will most likely do this upcoming June in Zim.

One pair of Danner desert acadias!

I also own a pair of Courteney hippo hide boots.

I like the Acadia the best.

I wear bird hunting (upland) style boots. Lightweight and made for walking long distances.

Regards,

Terry

So far I've used Rogues but the ones I bought last year are falling apart and I also got a big blister on my left heel so I might be changing brand. Socks are just as important as shoes though, I usually use a pair of thin liners on the inside and thicker socks on them.

I think this is a very personal thing and what is right for one person may not be right for another.

I tried a pair of african style boots that looked a bit like the Courtney's but I hated them. The leather was just too soft and offered almost not support to my feet. Also the soles seemed to "thin" and my feet were very sore after wearing them for a day.

Personally I like reasonably light leather hikers. I like them ankle tall or a little higher, but prefer a lighter sole than vibram. I like a little padding around the ankle and a bellows tounge.

I find it amazing that it is so hard to find such a boot ie "basic", but good quality...

Regards,

Pete

In the past I have greatly preffered the heavier leather traditional hiker with a stout Vibram sole. I love the support and confidence a heavy boot gives me. I have been a fan of Vasque and LaSportiva for that style of boot. I just picked up a pair of the low cut sneaker style by Merril and I'm going to give them a try. They fit nice but after a real boot they leave me feeling a bit exposed. They are NuBuck and I'm treating them with water proofing. I avoided everything in this style of boot with Gore-Tex as I believe your feet would sweat more. It certainly would be a lighter way to travel to take two pairs of the sneaker style but presently I'm thinking one heavy pair and one light pair. I guess it's just the boy scout in me that wants to be prepared.

Custom Russel High Country with Gro-Cord smooth sole for last 8 years

This will make most of you shudder in horror, I have hunted Mongolia twice, Kyrgyzstan & Zimbabwe wearing a pair of $14.00 Wal-Mart hiking slippers wearing cotton socks.

I do own a pair of Goretex/insulated "good" boots & all of the high tech warm & anti blister socks, it just hasn't gotten cold enough yet to wear em yet.

Mike

in africa I mostly wear Nikes. Just plain old running shoes. I just ordered a pair of Russell boots which I'll try this year, but the running shoes have worked well in the past.

I'll be in Northern Namibia for my first safari this August and would like to hear some more support for good ole comfortable running shoes. There is very little water where I'm going and I'm thinking my running shoes with some of the Cabele's gators would make for a good combo. Not sure how well they will work in the mountainous areas. I have some Russell boots also, but they are all leather and my feet tend to get a little hot in them and sweat which is a bad thing. I will probably take both but right now am leaning toward wearing the running shoes.

Mostly I wear Wrangler Horseshoes, Danner Walking shoes...then I have some lace up boots from Wrangler and Double H...

I spent a ton of money on the high dollar boots, and found them no better if as good as the lace up wranglers or Double H boots..I figured out that I got suckered for many years on high dollar boots..

I really liked my 'run of the mill' ankle height hiking boot in 'modified running shoe' style. Light, just enough ankle support, and quiet soles. I used the cabela's gaiters, worked like a charm. I'd like a little more shoe than running shoes, as we climbed quite a few kopjes in Namibia and stepped on some lonnng thorns. I don't think my running shoes would have stopped the thorns. Bob

IN TZ, Namibia and RSA I have worn New Balance walking shoes..the same ones I use every morning on my walk in my neighborhood.
Wife wore sneakers in Namibia.
I have gaiters if needed.

Russell's P.H.II & Birkenstocks.The Birkenstocks have been rebuilt a couple times as they are no longer available.I have worn them since 1999.I bought a pair of Teva desert boots that might replace the Birkenstocks.

I have used Nike's in RSA, Timberlines in Namibia, and recently purchased a pair of Clark desert boots with the gum soles on the advice of "knowledgeable persons" because of their being "quiet," i.e., they don't squeek in the sand for Tanzania. I personally liked the Nike's best of all, but is there anything to the business of the "squeeking" sand? The only time we got close enough to have our footsteps heard, we were on our hands and knees! Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
Socks are just as important as shoes though, I usually use a pair of thin liners on the inside and thicker socks on them.

Socks a VERY important. Buy the expensive wool socks they sell at the better sporting goods store. I think one of the brand names is "SmartWool". They run $10 to $15 per pair. A thin liner with these is also a good idea.

If you are wearing white cotton "gym" socks, don't blame anyone else when you get a blister and your feet hurt on your safari. Also, before you say "those socks are too warm, hot, etc. etc." try a pair first. I have hunted 7 hard days in Zimbabwe in late October and the temps never went below 100 degrees (except in camp on the banks of the river). My PH marched me up and down 20km of hills one morning in this heat while chasing buffalo. He got a blister, I didn't. Also, I hunt with a group every year in the high desert of California where we chase quail and chukar in rocky, sandy, uneven terrain.



Many of the guys complained of blisters after the first day. The following year they switched to "SmartWool" socks and never complained about a blister again.

For the record, I wore Courteney Selous boots on my two safaris and had no problem whatsoever. I think my PH was trying to save gas, because he always preferred walking over driving.

Tim

I wore a pair of Clarks Desert hunting boots in Zimbabwe on my safari. Very comfortable but not good in the thornbush. I had a thorn go thru the sole into my foot a long way from the truck. I got out but swithched to my Rockport low hiking boots for the rest of the hunt. I bought a pair of Courtney Safari boots in Bulawayo, but have not hunted in them yet. The Rocky Chukkas I am wearing right now might be just the thing??? Who know. My advice is wear what you would for "everyday" at home as long as they are over the ankle.
Doug

I wear Russell boots. The 'Imperial' model is my old favorite, and I have a set of the fairly new 'Mountain PH' boots (mine are all-leather) that are my new favorites. I always order my Russell boots in "weather-tough" leather.

AD

Cabela's Speed Hunters.

I like my Danner walking shoe and my PH wore some crap I couldn't walk a hundred feet in!!!

He was able to wander over the terrain much better than me as I had to look where I was walking all the time.....his boots were very flexible and he could walk anywhere without looking down. I'd be crippled in an hour walking if flex boots.....

Know thyself friend!!!

quote:

What's on your feet ?

Tevas!

I am taking Tevas, Russell PHII's and New Balance running shoes with me to Namibia..

My first hunt some comfortable cheap ankle high lightweight boots I bought at K-Mart. For my second hunt a pair of Russell PHII's with plain cotton socks. I had zero foot problems either hunt.

I'll second everything said about smart wool brand sox. I'm not fond of paying $15 a pair for sox but they are worth every penny. They have some new ankle high styles that work great with the Super Sneaker style shoes. It might be worth mentioning that if your join the REI co-op there is a one time $15 membership fee but you get 10% off everytime you buy three pairs of sox plus up to a 10% dividend at the end of the year on your purchases.

A 12 year old pair of Russell PH II's Green of course!

Rich Elliott

Baboon, on the PF reference. I like!

Here is a photo showing my Courteney Selous with SmartWool socks and gaitors. Never had a problem with my feet, blisters, etc. and I put a lot of miles on those shoes during the hunt. This photo was taken during the last week in October in Northern Zim. Temps during the days were over 105 degrees and it did not get much cooler at night.

quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Baboon, on the PF reference. I like!

D.S.M. best l.p. ever!

Check this website out if any of you get the Man Magnum mag you will see his advert's inside, I use a pair of the the "oryx desert boots" the high version. very comfortable flat sole very quiet in the bush, notice how far down the boot laces up this gives a feeling the boot is hugging your whole foot. they also supply mohair sock's at a reasonable price about R40.00 (rand) these socks are great, the army here use them as standard issue they keep the sweat and moisture away from your feet keeping them dry , thus no blisters.
www.gordonfootwear.co.za
Cheers schmidie.

"opie-knoppe"

Those Gordon boots look very good. Designed and made in Africa for use in Africa gives them a lot of cred.

Not mentioned by anyone yet, I have worn Le Chameau wellies for 98% of my hunting everywhere I have been from woods and plains to tundra and bogs. When hunting on rock and scree I take my Fabiano/Scarpa mountain boots.

I also recommend the combination of liner socks, such as Orlon, polypropylene or microfiber, and SmartWool socks.

quote:

This will make most of you shudder in horror, I have hunted Mongolia twice, Kyrgyzstan & Zimbabwe wearing a pair of $14.00 Wal-Mart hiking slippers wearing cotton socks.

Ibexebi! I can't agree with you more! 5 trips to Zimbabwe, I wear over a $9.94 pair of sneakers from Wal-mart, the ones with the velcro ties, every comfortable. Last year I ended up trading my "Wal-mart" sneakers for a Rhino carving! I'm buying a few pair this year and doing some horse trading with them!

I also take and wear a pair of Elkwoods hiking boot. I wear the sneakers in transit, camp, and sitting in blinds mostly, and the hiking boots, well, hiking!

I've found that low shoes, I'm always picking seed and twigs out of my feet.

Ray, I am awaiting my first pair of high dollar boots - Russell Mbogo. Cost $10 strip of tickets at local SCI fund raiser and $50 up grade. That is the way I can afford high priced boots.

Canvas sneakers. Hi-tops, if I can find them cheap enough. For terrain where the sneaks just won't do, I have my bird hunting boots along as back-up.

quote:

I've found that low shoes, I'm always picking seed and twigs out of my feet.

Widowmaker416 is right-on!

Like the experienced folks at the begining of this thread stated "lightweight leather" - if you are hunting in the winter months in the bushveld in Africa (the dry season) and attempt low shoes and porous (cordura) boots/shoes you'll be picking every grass seed, burr and thorn out of your socks in no time (the reason for gaiters). You won't walk far in this condition either.

If you are in another part of the region or hunt seasons when grasses are in green then you'll not have this issue.

Cheers,

Gerry

Russell PHII's and Clarks Desert boots. Both have the crepe soles which are very quiet. I am often guiding bowhunters and need to get very close! Any kind of hard rubber sole is noisey to walk in and lug soles are the WORST.

I used New Balance 972's with gaiters in Zim. and S.A.

BOWHUNR

I wear Vasque Zephyr GTX model. Since I'm frequently in mud and manure, I like the gore tex and they seem to last me well. Most comfortable shoe I've ever worn with lots of support for my feeble ankles. Chased buff in them last summer and never looked back.

I've mentioned this in a previous thread so forgive me if you've read about them before - but I'm currently working on my own design of hunting boot that we will be offering to the public.

They'll be a choice of Buff or antelope leather which you have the choice of us supplying to you or if you prefer you can send us your own leather from the backskin of your own animal. The boots will be fully lined in (our or your own) Impala skin.

Then you can choose if you want a very thin sole to feel what you're treading on or a thicker sole (both types are soft rubber). You can also opt for either ball bearing eyelets with or without locking eyelets or simple shoe lace holes.

I've had the prototypes for a few weeks and have made a few design changes such as making the Buff leather a little thinner, bringing the top eyelet higher and increasing the padding at the ankle and I hope to collect the final finished product in a week or two. Once I have them I'll photograph them and make a new post.....I'll also be putting details on our website. The original idea was just to offer this service to our own clients but we've had so much interest from others we're going to make them available to everyone.

If anyone would like to be put on a list to be sent details of the final product please feel free to send me an e-mail.

i have Meindl pamir boots which arent cheap ,i think they were about $500 , they are very comfortable, but they get Hot , more designed for european and cold climates ,i think ,ankle support is one of the most important things ,if you have ever stuffed your ankle, you will know what i mean !!! iam going to Africa in May, and iam just going to use the boots i use at work ,and leave them ''there '' already run ''in '' and cost me nothing .Meindl say there boots fit ''PERFECT'' first time, but they still needed ''running in'' if you cant walk you cant hunt !!! make sure its RIGHT before you leave !