Been using a pair of Russell PH II boots for about 15 years, and they are in the third sole. Well the price for another set made me ask if that number was in pesos or what. I know the Courteney boots have a pretty loyal following. How is the ankle support in either the Courteney Safari or Scout boot? I have virtually no arch in my feet, and not sure how that will work out for the fit of them either.

My friend, if you’re flat-footed, then I don’t know what to say.

My problem with the Russells and Courteneys has always been lack of arch support.

My feet have arches. They need support.

So, I have always found Eccos to be the best.

Good luck.

Bad boots are worse than a bad wife.

Russell and Courtney are cool, but you should look at hiking boots with your situation. I like my Courtney Safari boots, but they are heavy and not great for hunting. I bought some Keen boots that seem to be much better. I also have some Browning kangaroo boots that have good ankle support.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
My friend, if you’re flat-footed, then I don’t know what to say.

My problem with the Russells and Courteneys has always been lack of arch support.

My feet have arches. They need support.

So, I have always found Eccos to be the best.

Good luck.

Bad boots are worse than a bad wife.

I used to wear ECCO.

Gave up on them after they changed they design.

Currently I am using COLUMBIA.

I like light weight shoes.

I normally never use one for more than a year at most.

You might look at Lowa Renegade leather lined. They're not as hot as some of the Goretex offerings and they have leather outers, so help repel cactus quills.

I wear the Courteney Safaris with the SOLE insoles (red ones sold by AfricanSportingCreations) and have been doing so since 2017. They've only been to Africa once, but I wear them as my general, knocking around boot with jeans and khakis at home. I found them VERY comfortable after adding the insoles.

I've a pair of the Russell PH's in cape buffalo that have worn like iron over the last 12 years. Also on their third sole. What did they quote you for a re-sole this round?

I really like my Russell Kalaharis and have worn them on countless safaris, also like the Kennetrek mid-height Hikers. Also have a new pair of Crispi hikers that will soon head over...

.

You may want to ask Buzz Charlton CMS, he's an expert on bush footwear

But on a serious note - having worn sandals, chukka boots, sneakers and everything in between, I now have a pair of Courtney's and find them very comfortable and they give good support.


.

would not foot beds either custom or after market help with your feet

quote:

Originally posted by Rhys:
Been using a pair of Russell PH II boots for about 15 years, and they are in the third sole. ...

If a pair has lasted for 15 years, another one could last similarly. If you amortize the price it comes to about $40 per year

I tried Courtney's once. Hurt my feet like hell, and went back to my Russell's.

I'm totally flat footed. I've got Russell's and they're fine, but I started hunting with the Courtney Selous quite a while back and never looked back. They work for me. Being so flat footed, I find a boot with a high arch uncomfortable. The Courtney's are so comfortable in fact that since I changed firms and they allow casual in the office I wear the Courtney Selous every day.

Because of COVID, all of our court appearances are by Zoom for the past year. This past week I had to put on my old dress shoes for a court appearance and can't tell you how much they hurt. I used to wear them every day.

If you hunt in the mountains and need a lot of ankle support, the Courtney's don't do that, but I've hunted in the mountains with them and they worked for me.

Courtney's are heavy. That's my only knock on them. You asked about ankle support, IMO, Courtney's aren't that great, but I normally don't wear Courtney's in the mountains.

If I am not in sandals, I am in either Courtney's or Merrell's. Love them both.

Ailsa,

I hunted in Merrell's once. I liked them. They were comfortable. My PH said they were noisy so I quit using them. I may dust those off and try them again.

Look at Lowa. The Innox is available both with and without gortex depending on where you're going.

I have a pair of Russell PHs for 20 years and they have been resoled 6 times. I also have Courtney Selous for 4 years. I like them both but find the Courtneys more comfortable. I will wear them on the plane and hunt with them on. The Russells are now my backup.

Drongo, I usually take one pair of Courtney Selous and one Russell Mountain PH. I try to rotate them day to day. Helps prevent developing hot spots.

Slightly off topic but how true is the Courtney boot fit? Are they dead on US sizes or do they run big, small, narrow, or wide?

Zephyr is on track.
I need arch support, have a heel spur and suffer from plantar fasciitis. The real answer is buy some prescription insoles made for your feet and wear anything you want. Any shoes you buy has the cheapest insole available in them. Just ask their accountants. Any consumer goods now days are subject to the bean counter in the office. Now, I just buy my shoes the next half size bigger to accommodate my prescription insoles. I have 5 pairs of Russells and one pair of Courtneys and enjoy them all. Another 5 or 6 pair of various boots for North America, Asia, etc.

boilep,

To answer your sizing question, they are close, but not identical. My U.S. size is 10 1/2 and my Courtney size is 11 according to the patch on the back of the boot I'm wearing at the moment.

no such thing a ankle support....go see a sports podiatrist that will video you walking on a treadmill...take plaster cast of your feet and build you a set of orthotics...you can then use whatever boots/shoes you like as long as there is space for the orthotics....speaking from experience with an ankle fusion

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
Russell and Courtney are cool, but you should look at hiking boots with your situation. I like my Courtney Safari boots, but they are heavy and not great for hunting. I bought some Keen boots that seem to be much better. I also have some Browning kangaroo boots that have good ankle support.

I'll second the Keen boots. I have flat. wide feet and have worn through a bunch of Danners, Rockys, Meindls, & Kenetreks. Courteneys just don't work for me. I do have a custom fit pair of Russells I'm working on. The boots that I seem to always grab are Keen Durand II Mid-High. They are the only Keens that are still made in America and you can get them for under $200. Water proof and a wide toe box. Can wear through the sole in about 2 years, but for the price you just throw them away and get another pair. You can find them anywhere so you can get the right fit instead of the order and pray method.

I’ve worn Russel PH Short version for 13 years and 4 safaris ..... have gone through 3 gum soles and switched to their Newporter sole which I like. I wear super heavy wool ankle high socks and have been very pleased. I have double E wide feet so having the boot custom made to fit me was a big plus.

Merrells for me. I particularly like their non-goretex Moab's. Lightweight, easy breathing, long wearing and darn near zero break in. And reasonably priced.

Good luck - I have fairly high arches but generally just replace the insoles on every set of shoes I own.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
Merrells for me. I particularly like their non-goretex Moab's. Lightweight, easy breathing, long wearing and darn near zero break in. And reasonably priced.

Good luck - I have fairly high arches but generally just replace the insoles on every set of shoes I own.

I made the mistake of getting the goretex ones...oof..

otherwise very good shoes.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
Merrells for me. I particularly like their non-goretex Moab's. Lightweight, easy breathing, long wearing and darn near zero break in. And reasonably priced.

Good luck - I have fairly high arches but generally just replace the insoles on every set of shoes I own.

I made the mistake of getting the goretex ones...oof..

otherwise very good shoes.

I wear Merrells Moab's none gor-Tex every day.

They wear well and feel great.

I do not wear them hunting I like a taller boot that give's better protection. When out in the bush.

I've used Keens, Merrells, Lowas and Salomons on various safaris. Deciding they looked "safari cool" I bought a pair of courtenays at DSC about 12 years ago. The first few days of breaking them in, I hated them and thought they were torture devices; but I was too stubborn (and cheap) to give up on them. After they were broken in during a 2 week hunt in Zim, they became my most comfortable pair of boots, and I've used them ever since. I estimate I've put over a thousand miles on them and they still are in very good shape. They are heavy, but it doesn't seem to bother me. I particularly like them in the sandy areas of the Kalahari.

I just left both pairs of my Ecco boots behind in Botswana for whoever of the staff they might fit.

My feet have never been as sore as they were on this last safari. I found that they have become much more sensitive than they used to be. The Eccos simply do not work for me anymore.

By the time we left, after miles and miles of walking through the bush on long tracking hunts, both feet were badly blistered and burned.

I have used Kenetrek insulated Mountain Extreme boots for cold weather hunting over the past several years and found them to be very comfortable.

So, I just ordered a pair of Kenetrek hiking boots for safari use. I have high hopes for them.

I wear the Kenetrek Orthopedic boots and they are AMAZING!

First learned about them at SCI convention a couple years ago. Hard for me to explain but they roll the weight off the heel onto the ball of the foot when you walk - I can walk and stand in them all day! They also have removable steel plates on each side of the ankles for support...

Expensive but worth every penny!!

Not really an Africa shoe but for everything else it is all I wear...

I have used Keen sandals, very comfy...but after some rendevous with puffadders and mambas I changed to british mil. tropical boots, ie suede leather and canvas...very comfy those..at least for a total flat footer as me..

Lowa boots are also very nice on my feet but too hot for Africa in the hot season...

Keens work great for me, they’re light weight and fit great for EE width with a generous toe box. That said, I just got a pair of Courtney Selous’s that I’m looking forward to trying. I leave for a buffalo hunt in October, so will be taking both with me. I like Lavaca’s idea of alternating the boots each day.

Same as Scott and Mike. I LOVE my Kenetreks. Moreover, if you're flat footed and need arch support, then buy the Kenetrek supportive insole orthotics and put them in your Courtneys, etc. You'll see a big difference. I have worn my Kenetrek hiking shoes (low and high top) when hunting Africa and have logged many miles in them.

quote:

Originally posted by Zephyr:
would not foot beds either custom or after market help with your feet

Any of you guys, this is the answer. The shoe means little. it's the bottom and it's interface with your foot that matters.

Find someone who makes custom fit insoles.

I have used the following boots:

Zamberlein
Merril
Meindl
Danner
Crispi


Meindl are my favorite. I really like the perfect. After reading this post, I decided to order another pair (the low cut walkers). I’ve owned several pair and really liked them all.
Zamberlein are a stiffer boot but very good. I really liked using them on my Aoudad hunt (lots of rock and thorns).
Crispi’s are great as well. However, I’ve only owned one pair. More similar to my meindls. I have the uninsulated mid ankle.
I quit Danner years ago. Wet feet and garbage.
My Merrill’s were good for golf or taking a walk to get my mail.

I wore Lowa Desert Zephyr for years with pretty good service, I had/have a problem with my right foot due to an old injury and these were the only boots I could tolerate. Had the foot/ankle “fixed” in December 2019 and now can’t find any boot that is bearable for long walks, have custom insoles, braces, supports and the whole bit. Nothing has helped yet. Currently wearing cheapass Redhead boots, only thing I can stand for extended em wear. Hopefully will be able to find a comfortable boot. Looking at Kenetrek Orthopedic boots, might be a solution.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
I wore Lowa Desert Zephyr for years with pretty good service, I had/have a problem with my right foot due to an old injury and these were the only boots I could tolerate. Had the foot/ankle “fixed” in December 2019 and now can’t find any boot that is bearable for long walks, have custom insoles, braces, supports and the whole bit. Nothing has helped yet. Currently wearing cheapass Redhead boots, only thing I can stand for extended em wear. Hopefully will be able to find a comfortable boot. Looking at Kenetrek Orthopedic boots, might be a solution.

Karl - I broke my left foot off at the ankle, now its full of titanium plates and screws - the Kenetrek Ortho boots were the answer for me.. I swear by them now…

Rhys,

I have both Russells PH and Courteney Boots.

Both shoes are made for individuals with flat feet...

I need arch support as I have what is considered high arches.

Russells boots are a tight fit and did not allow me to install a full insert for arch support.

Courteney boots allow you to place different arch support inserts.

On sizing:

Russells are fitted for each foot, which make it nice as most individuals feet are a little different in sizing.

Courtney boots are a 1/2 to 1 full size smaller. Example: I wear a size 10 shoe/boot, my 2 sets of courtesy I have a 9 and a 9 1/2. However Courtney will send you a couple pair to try and you send back the one or both if they do not fit.

On ankle support:

Depending on the model that you select both makers have some ankle support in select lines. I find that the sole make a big difference on the shoes ability to stabilize my foot while walking.

I have hunted with both boots/shoes in Africa, however my shoe of choice is a good Merrells set. I always take 2 pair of Merrells with me and leave one or both there when I depart.

On foot care:

Many here mentioned that they develop blisters and hot spots while hunting. Having a second pair of boot/shoes along helps prevent this. Along with a good socks.

What I take along just in case is, paper tape & mole skin cut into 3/4" X 1" strips plus a full pack and small scissors. I usually leave this with the PH for use in there 1st aid kit.

Danner coyote. Little to no break in, true to size, light and quiet. No Gore-Tex.
Cup boot so when worn out they're done.
Scott

Ecco customer service horrible as is their product now made in China.

You might check out the Hoka Speedgoat.

Don't store Mendl's in a garage or other place with high temperatures. Really liked them, but they completely came unwound after that.

Leaving a week from tomorrow. Taking my oldest pair of Courtney's, they are the most comfortable even if they look like hell, and my Russell Mountain PH, again. Agree with what folks have said about those boots being built for flat feet and blisters. Always take lots of moleskin and whatnot, but one tip that really works. In addition to your first line good socks, take liner socks -- silk or synthetic and some cheap athletic tube socks and a roll of duct tape. If you get blisters and still have to hunt, treat them as you would normally with moleskin, tape, etc., then use a thin, liner sock, then the cheap sock, then, not to tight, but duct tape over the whole sock. Removal will destroy the tube sock. But, no wear or friction on your foot, only on the duct tape. Saved a hunt or two for me.