The Russell boots I ordered several months ago just arrived and after trying them on for the first time I'm giggling like a little girl. The darn things feel like a pair of bedroom slippers. They aren't much heavier either. I'm looking forward to wearing them on my first trip to Namibia in May. I guess all of the grief I got from the bride while she repeatedly took the measurements paid off. I obviously can't speak to their durability but the out of the box comfort and styling has exceeded my expectation.

Congrats. You seem to be one of the lucky ones though. More often than not it seems the new Russell boots someone ordered show up and they leave the owner wailing like a little baby not giggling like a little girl. Not sure why their quality is so hit and miss.

I was pretty anal about the measurements after reading reports of unsatisfactory fittings. We measured on three separate days and compared all of the readings. If any of the readings were off by more than 1/4" we remeasured again until we could get a repeatable value. I also asked Russell for some material samples so I would have a good idea what my color choices would look like - their website color examples didn't help me much. I hope they wear as well as I expect them to.

Mine fit fine but the durability has left a LOT to be desired.

I hope I am as lucky. I got fitted in Dallas for a pair. I like my Courtneys but the don't quite fit me right, need a little bit more support. After 2 years of wear, they don't show it and I hope to get a pair of Russells to do as well.

My Russell's have held up well on their first safari. My all-time favorite safari boots were my old Danner GTX's! I don't know how many trips they went along on and were still structurally ok just beat to Hades when I retired them. I did get laughed at a few times by PH's who called the Danner's "clunkers" because of their size.

I have had mixed results too. I have a pair of pricklypear bird shooters I love-- I have a pair of mountain PH's that have always been big on my feet--good shoes just rarely wear them--I just ordered a pair of double vamp sude minimal chucckas at HSC--just wanted light and a good travel shoe--guess I will see what I get.

Ed

The 2nd time I put my Joof boots on something inside turned loose & doubled up making them unwearable.
Since I had waited about 6 months to receive them & was heading to Namibia in just a few weeks, I called them to let them know this was to be fixed & back to me ASAP.
They did & I have been happy with them ever since.

I'm wearing a pair of Art Carter chukkas right now, my second pair, and I live in them. The first pair is still serviceable. I also have Safari PHs, and dress loafers, as does my wife.

Well those of you who have had good luck with them great
My experience as well as 2 others I recommended before I got mine has been terrible.
Sent buffalo hide to mak 3 pairs.
10 months later they send me boots not made with my leather and way to small
Took measurements for the third time they said they found my leather made boots took another nine months now they came way to big at least 2 sizes. Took them back at Dallas told them I wanted the rest of my leather back they lost it. So they made me another pair for free. They came 3 months after the hunt I as to have them for. Guess what they don't fit either.
I was going to bring all of them to Dallas and drop them off at their booth but said hell with it.
I will stick with my Kenetrecks.
Good luck
Larry

I was going to order a pair of "TLC" Lace to toe Hunters, now you guys have me spooked..

I must be absolutely the luckiest person in the world. Most all the factory rifles I have ever had have functioned as they were designed right out of the box. I have NEVER had a rifle that shot over 1" after careful handloading . All my hunts in Africa (8 of them )have been sucessful with only 2 lost animals (one went down at long range but we were never able to find it and one went out of the hunt boundaries and we couldn't follow). After my first safari I ordered a pair of High Country Sheep Hunters and wore them on the next 7 safaris. Fit and quality all that could be expected. My luggage has never been lost and I have never had a hunting rifle break. I will have to say that in the 60+ years I have been fooling with guns I have had 2 scopes fail while hunting. However I have never won the lottery (don't play it). During my working life I never asked for a raise but never failed to get one. As I say I must be the luckiest person in the world as so many on this forum seem to never get a good factory firearm and Russell never made a good pair of boots or the airlines lost their luggage every other trip. I wonder how they get up in the morning and face the day that they undoubtly know will go wrong somewhere along the line. I have never known very many gunsmiths but I actually don't remember knowning any who constantly screwed up everything they touched or were months late on every delivery. I feel fortunate to be so lucky.

I have 2 pairs: the Thula Thula and PHII. Both fit very well and are extremely comfortable. My wife had to have a pair of cushion collars made 3 times due to poor fit. It can be a crapshoot.

About six years ago I ordered a pair of boots from Russel's and they never fit quite right (too tight). My fault really, as I just ordered a set of 13Ds "off the rack" rather than taking the time and effort to measure my feet as they advise. Subsequently, I had them stretched out a bit by a local shoe repair guy and they fit alright.

When I was at DSC, I stopped by their booth and got properly measured by their people as I hope to use some of the excess leather from my buff for a pair of custom boots. I mentioned my previous experience and they were quite insistent that I send my six year old boots back so they could properly alter them. I don't think I'll bother, but I must say that I was favorably impressed by their offer! That kind of concern about customer satisfaction is worth noting and is going to keep me around for future work.