If anybody is looking for a pair of lightweight leather boots for Africa, you may be uinterested in the Winsors by Barbour..



I bought a pair a few weeks ago and although I've not hunted in them yet, my intial impressions are very favourable.

They are reasonably light and the sole unit is not too heavy nor "clumpy" for stalking. The footbed is one piece of leather and feels slightly padded such that the boots are very comfortable to wear.

They are tall enough to offer decent support to the ankles although I would prefer them an inch or two taller..

The tongue is sewn in about 3/4 up the boot, so should help to keep out sand and grass seeds ect. There is a little padding around the cuff to cushion the ankles, but the boot is otherwise uninsulated as far as I can tell.

They are gore-tex lined which may or may not be desirable for Africa; I haven't decided yet.

The only feature I really don't like is they have lace holes and I would prefer D rings, but thats only a minor complaint.

When I first wore them, they took a couple of days to break them in. The padded cuffs seemed to be very stiff and rubbed my legs just above my ankles in a way which was quite uncomfortable. However the leather soon softened especially after being worn in the wet once or twice..

They are priced around £100, which I think is a little expensive for what they are, but its one of the few lightweight leather boots I 've seen that I actually like..

Regards,

Pete

Pete, if your feet aren't too wide you can use Danners. I have about 5 pair and think the world of them.

I brought a pair of Corcoran desert boots to Namibia in August and was in perill I ended up buying another pair of all canvas boots in Windhoek and I love them. Though there isn't much snake, or thorn protection.

Anyway, http://www.danner.com I see them on ebay if you could get someone to ship some to you. I bet they are 200 quid in old Blighty.

D99,

Danners are not that common in the UK and when you find somewhere that does sell them, they don't usually carry the full range...Also I will not buy boots mail order any more as its just too risky with regards a perfect fit..

The Danners I have seen over here are simply "too much boot" for what I want for the relatively easy conditions of RSA ect.

I am looking some something lightweight, with a sewn in tongue and a relatively lightweight sole unit rather than the usual heavy cleated soles on most hunting boots.

Danner has introduced a deresert boot and the Pronghorn which I would be interested looking at, but I've not seen them in the UK upto now.

On a couple of previous hunts in RSA I have taken two different pairs of boots for the reasons you mentioned and certainly on the first trip I was glad I did...These Barbour boots are tidy enough to wear every day as a casual shoe to travel in, and I feel are up to hunting in as well..

Regards,

Pete

Pete,

These Barbour boots are very elegant. Better as You say there are light and for me that's my main request.
For hunting in Europe they are fine. For the moment my Aigle are good, the next ones could be the Barbour ; neither easy nor difficult to find in France.
D99
Concerning Danners, no hope in France. A pity for Danner has a very big gamut and everybody can find what he wants.

I'll bring in Africa the usual cheap canvas boots the army is using. They maintain the ankles but the sole is absolutely not padded or supple. I'll bring 2 pairs for the swamps, the rivers, rocks and thorns are destroying the footwears in a hurry. And after all, I have the habit to give the staff my boots and garments.........as long as I am sure they wouldn't sell them for nothing to the bartender next door.