The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Courtney's v. Russell'sGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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one of us |
My wife asked what I wanted for Christmas and I told her a pair of safari boots would be great. What are the differences between Courtney's and Russell's and which provide for the most comfort and stealth under typical elephant hunting conditions? | ||
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one of us |
I'm sure someone will report on Courtney's, I had heard they don't always fit well so I avoided them. My PH wore them and thought the world of them as many other people I've talked to. I chose Russell's for an elephant hunt earlier this season. They worked great - were very light, comfortable, quiet and rugged (in that order). Since I went early in the season I wanted them to be somewhat waterproof and had a heck of a time doing that. Russell thought I was goofy calling with my waterproofing questions. The stuff they recommended didn't do it. Snowseal was the only thing that finally worked. I'm sure it wouldn't work very long but my feet were dry for that whole safari (even crossing shallow rivers). Overall the Russell people were great to work with and they didn't laugh when I asked what they have in size 15 and 16.  Kyler | |||
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| one of us |
SBT, Others may feel different but I own both Coutrneys and Russels. Russels are +/- 15 years old and still going strong. They are very comfortable and long wearing. only maintanence that they get is a good coat of Snowproof each year. I usually set them in the sun sometime during the month of sept to warm them real good and rub the snowproof on late in the afternoon and they are good for another season. Courtneys are practically new as they don't fit my feet well and are for sale $50.00US plus shipping, size 12. Good luck with your research and God bless the wife that will buy her husband hunting boots. Jeff | |||
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one of us |
I own two pairs of Selous and they are great. I also have a pair of HighVeld shoes and they fit me well too. The selous are very silent to stark with. And easy to break in. Due to the wide construction they are very comfortable to wear when you have a vide foot. If you decide to get Courteey's then get the Selous and not the Safari, the Tracker or the Frontier. The Selous are the best they make IMO. Cheers, Andr� | |||
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Thanks for the input you guys. I wish I was a size 12 so I could take advantage of your offer. But, I'm a 9 1/2 D. I'm going to the Dallas Safari Club Convention and it looks like W.C. Russell Co. will be there. Any recommendation as to which style to look at or avoid? | |||
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| <mikeh416Rigby> |
Jeff, you have a PM. | ||
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SBT, I have a pair of both. Actually two pair of Russell PH II. Like the others, the Courtney's don't fit me well enough to hunt in. Too much slippage in the heel. They are great as casual shoes though. I have a big and WIDE foot and the Courtney boots are for this type of foot. Get measured by the Russell people and I went with their PH II, dark green(water resistant),leather with the airbob sole. They are wonderful. I to waterproofed mine with Snow Seal. All the best. Sam | |||
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| one of us |
One more for the Russell. I do not have courtneys so can not compare. The Russell PH II with the crepe sole is my favorite footwear bar none. I sent them back to be resoled recently and said make me another pair just like these, same size everything. They said these are too old and stretched out to know how to duplicate them. They must be over ten years old. In truth they are only 5 years old but I wear them all the time. I love them that much. I will continue to wear them but I already ordered another pair. If you get as much enjoyment as I have you will get your money's worth out of them. | |||
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Matt, I have had a similar problem. I've not sent them back yet, but I will. I've antelope and pheasant huntted with them and they are comfortable in a way that I have never had the pleasure of experiencing before, but the loose soles and some rough cutting is a little disappointing for such a high dollar shoe (mine are modified "hikers"). Brent | |||
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| one of us |
I have a pair of custom Russel High Country Hunters and have worn them for 7 hunts in Zimbabwe. I seal them with Pecard silicone from Russel and have NEVER had wet feet. They have Gro-Cord soles. I also have 4 pairs of Courtneys and find them to be equally comfortable. The Courtney's were definitely cheaper. (I bought them in Zim) I guess you pays your money and takes your chances. | |||
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I must be the only one who has trouble with Russell boots. I went to Berlin Wisconsin to be fitted for my PHII's. After one trip to Africa I had to send them back as the soles were coming off. Since then I've shipped them back twice to have the inner-soles repaired as they were causing me blisters. Still isn't right and I simply don't wear them anymore. I'm back to wearing a pair of off-the-shelf Red Wing workboots that are over 10 years old that wear like iron and cause me no problems. | |||
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One Of Us |
Russells - hands down. The courtneys look cool, but really don't add up to that much of a boot! There's no support, no lining, just cool-looking leather laced down onto a rubber tread. I think all of the PH's like them b/c they are the best they have available. I paid $50.00 for elephant courtneys in zim, and a pair of russells will set you back 5 or 6x that amount. depending on the climate, i reccomend the russell PH if you want them to "look good" on, wear them in rockier country, but for the lowveld area - slip on their kalahari tracker when it's time to get out of the toyota and head in after a kudu. They are tough, lighter and much more ground-sensitive than the heavier PH's. | |||
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| one of us |
I have two pair of Courteny's, one in buffalo, and one in elephant leather. I have wide feet and they are the most comfortable hunting boots I've ever worn for bushveld type hunting. The buffalo leather ones are in their seventh year, eighth safari, and I think my feet will wear out before the boots will. There is no break in required with those tire tread soles, just put 'em on and go hunting. Do take care to get the proper size shoe as they come in the european sizes which are usually one half to one size smaller than the US sizes. Geronimo | |||
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| One of Us |
What about Rogues? I�ve been using them the last three years and they�re great -actually the whole family uses them. Rugged, soft (they really don�t need to be broken in) and quiet (at least if you�re not clumsy like me). Check there homepage you won�t be dissapointed. | |||
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| one of us |
My second pair of PH II's arrived today, as fate would have it. They fit as nicely as my first pair. Nice boot. | |||
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| one of us |
I have worn Courtneys, worn a couple of pair out and I like them for Africa...I have had Russels come apart and have seen other come apart, some really like them so it must depend on which model you get.... All in all I like Wrangler Horseshoes, Justins and Arait boots better than anything else I have worn...and their a heck of a lot cheaper...IMO there are Lots of good boots out there at a lot less money that are better then Courtneys or Russels if you can get passed the status symbol... | |||
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one of us |
I have both, and Each day in Zim, I found myself reaching for my Russells in the morning. I don't think I even put the Courtney's on the whole time i was there. In fact, I like my PHII's so much, I have ordered three pairs of custom shoes from them, a pair of which i have on right now. They feel broken in right out of the box. I wear a 15EEEE, so I guess custom made shoes just fit me better than off the shelf boots and shoes. | |||
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| one of us |
Quote: Really  are they build in a ship yard Cheers, Andr� | |||
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one of us |
Quote: Kyler - What model Russells do you have? I used the PHs on my first safari, but with canvas sides, they sure ain't waterproof. They were comfortable and did the job, but I had them replace the gummy soles with airbobs when I got back. The soles were toast after 14 days in the bush. Jeff | |||
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Quote: Jeff, Your comment about the soles really caught my attention. After reading all the glowing comments about the PH IIs in this thread, I ordered a pair yesterday for my son for Christmas. I thought they would be perfect for our 2005 21-day hunt in Tanzania. Are the "gummy soles" you mentioned the same as the ones Russell describes as "Crepe Wedge," which are the standard soles they put on these boots? If so, based on your experience, it surely doesn't sound like they would last through a hunt like we have planned.... | |||
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| One of Us |
I where Danner's for everything. One pair for all needs. Bought them from Cabela's, waterproof and form fitting. I need the high ankle support, so Russell or Courtney don't work for me. | |||
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