I have used the Meindle Safari boots . It's a lightweight hiking boot and I found them to be very good. They support your foot and ankle way more then a courtney would.
I had some knee issues when I fist used them and that solved it for me.

Generally Meindle work well for people with wider feet.

I wore a pair of Wildebees made in Johannesburg on my last trip. Soft crepe sole that was quiet and comfortable.

ALICO BULINO

I just came back from Zambezi valley, according to my app I did 113 miles mostly up and down the hills while wearing Russell's Safari PH. It had ample ankle support with 7" height. No blisters, no issues. I had also brought my Safari PH short but did not wear them due to need for the ankle support.

I don't see how one would think the Russell's are heavy. One advantage for Russell's is the fact that it is made for your feet, there is a half size difference between my two feet.

The only real solution is bite the bullet and buy a set of prescription insoles. It will require you to buy your shoes 1/2 size larger. It's an overall commitment. I, somehow, ended up with plantar fasciitis and a heel spur. I have always been the guy that could walk, climb, hike, whatever forever. I went on the first spring turkey hunt of the year a 3 or 4 years ago and walked about 3 miles at most and about a week later I couldn't walk. It got so bad I went to the chiropractor and he started working on me. I came off of $250 for a prescription set of insoles and have worn them everyday since. It is to the point I cant wear shoes without them, but THEY WORK. So, every new pair of shoes (bought a new set of dress shoes this week) that I buy, I get big enough to accommodate the insoles. With them, you can wear anything you want.

quote:

Originally posted by Magnum Hunter1:
The only real solution is bite the bullet and buy a set of prescription insoles. It will require you to buy your shoes 1/2 size larger. It's an overall commitment. I, somehow, ended up with plantar fasciitis and a heel spur. I have always been the guy that could walk, climb, hike, whatever forever. I went on the first spring turkey hunt of the year a 3 or 4 years ago and walked about 3 miles at most and about a week later I couldn't walk. It got so bad I went to the chiropractor and he started working on me. I came off of $250 for a prescription set of insoles and have worn them everyday since. It is to the point I cant wear shoes without them, but THEY WORK. So, every new pair of shoes (bought a new set of dress shoes this week) that I buy, I get big enough to accommodate the insoles. With them, you can wear anything you want.

This ^^^^^^

I posted the same exact thing earlier in this thread. It makes little difference what boot you put on your feet. There are no "magic shoes". Its the interface with the bottom of your foot.

Really, think about this...other than ankle support, what does anything but the sole matter? A good fit, size wise and a custom insole/orthodic will make your feet happy.

It seems we just have relationships with brands and want to feel good about our decisions.

I hunted with Wayne Grant a couple years ago and he was showing me his Courtneys (IIRC) I cannot believe anyone would buy a shoe/boot with flat bottoms. Paying for foot problems makes no sense to me.

quote:

Originally posted by tanks:
I just came back from Zambezi valley, according to my app I did 113 miles mostly up and down the hills while wearing Russell's Safari PH. It had ample ankle support with 7" height. No blisters, no issues. I had also brought my Safari PH short but did not wear them due to need for the ankle support.

I don't see how one would think the Russell's are heavy. One advantage for Russell's is the fact that it is made for your feet, there is a half size difference between my two feet.

Tank,

Russells custom boots are good for you, and that is great.

Umpteen years ago I was measure by Russell's at the DSC convention. They commented on my high arches and indicated that I would need to purchase a good insole for wearing them. I had on medium weight socks, that is what I normally wear, however some places I will wear heavy weight socks.

I could not wait for my new custom shoes to arrive.

Low and behold my shoes arrive, I cut the insoles to be placed in my shoes. Well, with the insole, I was not able to put my feet in the shoes with a medium weight sock. With my high arches, there was no way I could slip the shoes on with the medium weight sock and insole. I could put the shoes on with medium weight socks if I did not put the insole in them.

I tried walk in the shoes without the insole, doing 1 and 2 mile laps around the neighborhood. Well, that killed my feet.

Bottom line, they went as giveaway to the clothing drive for the church.

And never looked back.

That is the second set of custom moccasins that I tried.

lesson learned.

If you are really worried about ankle support, I might suggest the Med Spec ASO Ankle Brace. I had to wear one for six weeks after breaking my ankle. Of course, this was only after I progressed from the cast.

It is the equivalent of an athletic trainer taping your ankles before hitting the field or the court. I found it easy to put on and I didn't notice it when wearing it.

Here is a video done by a physical therapist on how it works.

While mine came directly from my orthopedic surgeon, a quick Google search shows every place from Amazon to Walmart to Scheels will carry them.

Anyone else experience thorns penetrating the sole and entering the foot box?
My son was wearing Merrell Moabs and a nasty 4”-5” thorn penetrated his sole in the middle of his toe box. So lucky the thorn penetrated between his toes, otherwise who knows what problems that would have caused! That night in camp the less than 90 day old Merrell’s went into the trash. His other backup pair of 90 day old unknown brand light weight hikers went into the trash at the end of the trip also.
I have used Russell PH leather/cordura on and off for many years,including lots of desert quail hunting. The Russell’s being resoled once. I have some form of high end green insole that I purchased when the boots were new that offers pretty good arch support .
I have tried to use Russell Sheep Hunter’s and Mountain Hunter boots but hated them. They were both ,heavy, sloppy fit, and poor design, they both ended up in the trash.
On the other hand my Russell PH’s fit like a glove, are very quiet, and of high quality. I am in the process of ordering another pair.

I use Salomon hiking shoes and boots.

On my last hunt in Luangwa, I nearly crippled my feet with inadequate footwear. I had to resort to wadding the insole with reams of toilet paper which worked fine.

The other PH highly recommended the LOWA brand of which I have now ordered. The hunting client had a pair of made to measure Russells of which he highly praised.

In hot weather the shoes need to be breathable and I have often thought that a quality pair of training shoes or sneakers might be the answer?