Considering getting a pair of boots and have read great things about these:

[url=http://www.upnorthoutdoors.com/russell/boots_safari/boots_safari.html][/url]

Any opinions on these, and if you like them (or one of their line) what extras should I get on them? They have a lot of options, including different soles, etc.

Was thinking of going with the Safari PH II boots with the Crepe Wedge sole (though I have to admit it doesn't look like any sole I've ever seen - it looks like you'd slip and slide all over the place with no traction, but I guess it does have traction, eh?)

I will be hunting plains game in Namibia, and doing some hunting/hiking all over Florida. Perhaps eventually get to RSA or Botswana.

John,

I've had a couple of pairs and frankly I'd never buy another. The crepe soles will give you good traction though.......and get the full length inner sole........they need all the shock absorption they can get.........

Cheers,

Blair.

Any sepcific reason why you don't like them?

My issue is this - my feet hate cheap shoes, and so far the only two pairs of shoes that don't hurt my feet are a pair of $80 open sandals (made by a Redwing subsidiary) and my Birkenstock Birkie Professionals (Clogs) that I wear at the hospital.

The thought of getting a custom-made boot for Africa intrigues me and I see a lot of people rave about them.

quote:

Originally posted by Blair338/378:
John,

I've had a couple of pairs and frankly I'd never buy another. The crepe soles will give you good traction though.......and get the full length inner sole........they need all the shock absorption they can get.........

Cheers,

Blair.

I really like my Russells but Zim is quite a bit different than Namibia and your mileage may vary. I would NOT get the crepe soles. Get something that will have some traction and still stay quiet. I have a weak ankle so I got the turtleskin or whatever it's called that gives more ankle support and thorn protection. I would also recommend using gaiters to keep seeds and weeds out of your shoes and socks. I'm still picking seeds out from 6 months ago. Speaking of that, use good socks like Smartwool.

Here's mine...

I have them stuff a wedge in mine at the heel so they are more paded under the heel.
john theese things are the closest I have come to the comfort of bare feet get them to measure you for the custom ones do not buy off the shelf.

If you use the search function you will find that someone loves and someone else hates almost every kind of boot out there, plus various sandals, athletic shoes, etc.

What terrain do you expect? Parts of Namibia are quite rocky and hilly and may require a more aggressive sole than flatter, sandier areas you may find in other parts of Africa.

I ware short socks "shorter than the boot top" and go without gaters. get measured in the socks you will wear to hunt in. I also recomend the vibram ridged sole for best quiet durable traction compromise.

John

i have 2 pair of the PH 's.

One is in all leather, the other in leather brown canvas.

I have used the green ones on all 3 of my Safaris. I liked them so well that after my second I ordered the brown pair and alternated between the two on my last trip.

I also have a pair of birdshooters that I wear here oin Texas as well as a pair of Sheephunters for cold weather trips.

So far I like them real well.

I treated the all leather PH ones with Filson boot oil and they do not leak, even if you stand or walk in water for several minutes, or go though very wet vegetation for several hours.

The PH's are very quiet, quieter that ANY other boot I have ever used. It is not just the sole but how they are made.

Both of my PH's have the same air bob sole as Yukon Delta.

They give excellent traction over a wide variety of ground, dry or wet.

For options, I chose all leather, thorn-proof lining, brown Vibram air-bob sole, and pull straps. I think that is all but would have to double-check.

Edit: To be clear, the thorn-proof lining I got was just for the sole.

I think you will find people on theses forums about equally split. They either really LIKE or really HATE them. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground. I had a pair of High Country Hunters made about 10 years ago and have worn them regularly since then. I had them made with GroCord soles, only thing extra I ordered was military studs and heel counters. If I were having them made today I would specify AirBob soles. I have worn them on 7 safaris in Zimbabwe and found them very comfortable. I have never tried the PH's but the people that like them do give them high marks. They are true mocassin construction and have no last or arch support as you have in normal boots. I LIKE them and they are the only boots I wear. If you are going to SCI they have a booth and will fit you there. You can at least look at them and make a better decision. They are definitely a DIFFERENT boot than you are probably used to. Actually the only other footwear I normally wear is made in Zimbabwe by Courtney. I think I have 5 pairs of various styles and wear them regularly. Since I have heard so many differing reports on Russell's I would not recommend them if you have never worn this type of construction before. The quality and fit are as you would expect from a very expensive custom boot. In this case you pay's your money up front and takes your chances. Delivery is NOT fast either. Hope this helps.

That thorn proof lining is so you don't drive a thorn up through your sole which is a real possibility. Also, the pull straps are a real plus. When you get these shoes custom fitted they will be tight...especially after your feet swell from walking all day.

Love my PH II's green canvas, rubber dot sole very quite. They have no ankle support and took me getting use to that but now they are my favorite' boot.
I have found that for me that while I love walking in them. Standing still for long periods of time they kill my feet and legs. That being said I will buy another pair.

M

quote:

Original posted by Charles_Helm

For options, I chose all leather, thorn-proof lining, brown Vibram air-bob sole, and pull straps. I think that is all but would have to double-check.

Edit: To be clear, the thorn-proof lining I got was just for the sole.

Charles, did the thorn-proof lining come with the boots or did you buy them separate?

I stepped on one of those long acacia thorns, about 2 1/2 inches long, and it pierced the sole of my boot. Pissed me off and made my foot bleed. I'm looking for some thorn-proof soles like what was issued with the Vietnam-era G.I. jungle boots for protection against punjis.

Namibiahunter

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
I really like my Russells but Zim is quite a bit different than Namibia and your mileage may vary. I would NOT get the crepe soles. Get something that will have some traction and still stay quiet. I have a weak ankle so I got the turtleskin or whatever it's called that gives more ankle support and thorn protection. I would also recommend using gaiters to keep seeds and weeds out of your shoes and socks. I'm still picking seeds out from 6 months ago. Speaking of that, use good socks like Smartwool.

Here's mine...

John,

Those boots of YD's are just about what you want if you go for Russells. That's their Vibram Air Bob sole........

They lack ankle support, nonetheless and you will need that in some parts of Nam'.

I find you can't lock the heels up, with the laces, as you can with a good pair of hiking boots of modern lacing design. They also don't have the shock absortion of a modern pair of boots with a PU midsole unit.

Last year, in Namibia, I used a pair of Lowa Timpan Desert boots, they are designed for light duty in a desert environment for the military. They were perfect You could also try their Seeker boot.

As YD said, use a cotton gaiter over whatever boot you decide on.........I also use a coolmax liner sock under a Ultimax mid weight outer.

Cheers,

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:


Charles, did the thorn-proof lining come with the boots or did you buy them separate?

I stepped on one of those long acacia thorns, about 2 1/2 inches long, and it pierced the sole of my boot. Pissed me off and made my foot bleed. I'm looking for some thorn-proof soles like what was issued with the Vietnam-era G.I. jungle boots for protection against punjis.

Namibiahunter

It is an optional layer they can put in the sole. You can get the whole boot lined in it, but that would make it stiffer. They call it Turtleskin. You'd have to check with them to see if it is acacia-proof!

In the interest of full disclosure, I wore my Russells in Zimbabwe but wore a more aggressive boot in Namibia with more ankle support.

John take a look at their PH "Mountain" style looking boot.

I think they might be good for warm weather rough country hunting.

Just to be clear, I got the turtleskin lining around the ankles and under the footbed to protect against thorns. I would NOT get it all over the boot. It really stiffened the ankles up (which was my intent) but was uncomfortable until they were broken in. Normally Russells don't need much breaking in but that would be an exception to the rule.

FWIW, I wore my Russells on many miles up and down the Zim Escarpment. It was rough walking at times and steep and the boots did fine. I think I could have worn my Meindl hiking boots but they would have been uncomfortable in the long walks in river sand.

I also got the heel counter option from Russell and would do that again. I find it interesting to hear the comment that you can't lock your heel down. I thought the heel counter would help in that regard and assume that it did. However, my heels did lift and that was on custom fitted boots. Do the rest of you experience heel lift? My feet are narrow but with custom fitting that shouldn't matter.

If you call Russell, they will build whatever you want and help walk you through the process...no pun intended. Be sure to have someone help you with the measurements as you cannot accurately do it by yourself.

YD,

I had heel counters fitted in my Mountain PH's and they did stop your heel rolling over, ie: sideways, but it's the lacing system that causes the heel lift. They don't (and can't because of the cotton duck quarters) have a lacing lock at ankle height, that is far enough back, to stop this occuring........

I've been using a Converse Desert Patrol boot here in Oz in preparation for Namibia next year. They are quiet, cool and soak up the shock. And they are not that expensive, a real bargain. They also have a composite toe, which is great if you stub your toes all the time as I do!

I've got a pair of the Kalahari trackers in full leather and a pair of the grand slams with an elephant toecap (obviously not for Africa). The boots are well made but if you get in enough water/snow they will leak. I'm talking about several consecutive days of slushy snow--crossing streams or swampy land is no issue. The claw bob soles are great in the mountains. They do not have the spring of modern hiking boots, but perhaps because they fit better, I have not noticed that. I really enjoy wearing the trackers, but obviously the leather soles are not for every environment. They could be very comfortable for a simple PG hunt. For these or the shorter PH boots you will probably want some sort of gaiters to prevent sand coming in the top.

My PH last spring wore Cocs and said they were the best shoes he ever wore hunting and that was in Zim in the West Nicholson area hunting Leopard with dogs. I have a pair of Russell PHs and got blisters on my first Buffalo hunt in Zim a couple of years ago. They set in the closet most of the time.

I'm one of those guys in the "pro" camp ... the boots Russell have made for me have fit and given extraordinary service!

I got a new set of Mountain PH IIs for Tanzania in 2006 and was incredibly glad I did.

I do prefer their vibram soles as I want to get the best traction I can on a variety of surfaces.

I love my russels, I plan to order another pair at Reno.

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
My PH last spring wore Cocs and said they were the best shoes he ever wore hunting

A good way to get hurt is to wear the kind of shoes your PH or tracker likes! Those guys have iron feet.

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
My PH last spring wore Cocs and said they were the best shoes he ever wore hunting and that was in Zim in the West Nicholson area hunting Leopard with dogs. I have a pair of Russell PHs and got blisters on my first Buffalo hunt in Zim a couple of years ago. They set in the closet most of the time.

Myles had a pair that were either Crocs or Croc-Knock-Offs. In the burned-over areas the grass stems went through the bottoms...

I've been reading a lot of bad things about recently made Russells - I think I'll hold off for now and concentrate on finding something else at a lower price that can be returned easily to a store if there is an issue of fit up-front.

Thanks for the opinions, guys.

I had a pair of Russell PH's. I gave them to my PH in Tanzania in 2006. I wouldn't waste money on another pair. IMHO they were crap.

I wore the regular PHs. I gave them to my PH when I left ad ordered a new pair. My wife and I both love them. If you change your mind and decide to get them, you need to order ASAP to guarantee their delivery before you leave. They can be slow to deliver and they will get a huge influx of orders from the conventions.

John, I went with the PH's when they were new and the soles were to hard and noisy... think soft and quiet.

Maybe ninja boots? LOL

quote:

Originally posted by 308Sako:
John, I went with the PH's when they were new and the soles were to hard and noisy... think soft and quiet.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnCrighton:
Considering getting a pair of boots and have read great things about these:

[url=http://www.upnorthoutdoors.com/russell/boots_safari/boots_safari.html][/url]

Any opinions on these, and if you like them (or one of their line) what extras should I get on them? They have a lot of options, including different soles, etc.

Was thinking of going with the Safari PH II boots with the Crepe Wedge sole (though I have to admit it doesn't look like any sole I've ever seen - it looks like you'd slip and slide all over the place with no traction, but I guess it does have traction, eh?)

I will be hunting plains game in Namibia, and doing some hunting/hiking all over Florida. Perhaps eventually get to RSA or Botswana.

There are plenty of folks that swear by Russells but all the pairs that I had had no heel counters and were hell to walk in.

Better off with tennis shoes.

Or sandals!

I'm one of the 'hate Russell' camp. I drove several hundred miles and a ferry boat ride to be fitted for PHII's at their shop in Berlin. Had them made out of some elephant skin. At first I thought they were great. But on the first real test (a plains game hunt in Namibia) I had blister issues. Plus some of the glued seams were falling apart.

Eventually I sent them back twice to fix. They now sit in a closet and haven't been worn for over 5 years.

Had considerably better luck with some basic Red Wing work boots. They are a bit heavy but have held up very well. Also liked the Browning kangeroo Featherweights much better as well.

If anybody wears a size 11 E width, I will sell these lightly worn PHII's quite cheap!

John, truth be told a pair of nikes work just fine.

Corteneys are still the best, especially if you have wide feet.

Geronimo

Courtenays are terrible shoes as they give absolutely no arch support but I digress...the original poster isn't getting new custom boots anymore so it's on to the next question.

OK, I'll throw in my $0.02 FWIW. I have a pair of Russell safari boots with the thin Vibram sole personally I wish they were thicker like the airbobs. I would definitely stay away from the crepe rubber soles. I wore a pair of Clarks Desert Hunters in Zimbabwe a couple of days on my first safari and stuck a thorn completely thru the sole into my foot. It became very painful later. I have worn Courtney's for a buff hunt and they worked great, however, as Yukon Delta mentioned, they have no arch support. They are quite comfortable for me though. On my next safari I will take my Courtneys and the Russells. If I order another pair of Russells they will have the sole pictured further up this thread. The next pair of Russells I order will be the Art Carter Chukkas for everyday wear. I wore a pair of Rockport lightweight chukka/hiking boots once on safari and they worked perfectly. Please don't wear tennis shoes though, please.

Russells don't work for me. I have owned two different styles and was custom fitted for them, but they gave me horrible blisters. I eventually bought a pair of Courtneys and they are the most comfortable pair of hunting boots I have ever worn.

I have both the Russell and Courteney; the Russell in a high-top boot and the Courteney Safari in ele.

Both work and fit fine. As noted above, if you have Russells made, be sure to specify heel counters as an option.

The lack of arch support in the Courteney was easily fixed, for me, by the addition of a Spenco Hiker insole. A shoe shop here had a display of a lot of different types of insoles and they let me just try them out til I found one that felt the best. That helped the overall comfort as well. I wear the Courteneys as an every-day casual shoe as well as having three safaris and a bunch of other hunts on them. Very comfortable and still look like new after 5 years of heavy wear.

The only time I ever twisted an anckle was while wearing Russell boots.
Have you thought of something more Mil. Spec. like the Danner TFX? See link.

http://www.danner.com/product/military+boots/tactical/desert+tfx+8%27%27.do
Sincerely,

Best option on a Russell, if I may say so, is to pass entirely.

There are so many better options out there, that one cannot begin to list them.

The Ecco is the best, BTW.