JIM GREEN Men's Barefoot African Ranger Boots Lace-Up Water Resistant Full Grain Leather Work or Hiking Boot

I want to start off by saying that I knew what I was getting when I bought my Rangers. I did my research and knew they were for me before ever taking the leap. If you are unsure of what these are when you run across them, google them and do your research first because I feel that they are particularly useful for the people who they are intended for but may not work out well for those who are uninformed. That out of the way, let's get into the review.I will start with build materials and quality. These are a working-class boot. Good leather and construction and particularly for their price point. Stich down construction, leather and rubber. Not much more too it. My speed hooks are nice and not sharp. The laces are great. No runs, snags or blemish in the leather. The stitching all seems good too. The trim where the leather is stitched down is a bit rough around the edges but some burnishing with a spoon and that is solved. The exposed leather midsole seems unstained, but also not an issue. To sum up, well-made but slightly unfinished.Next, I want to address how these boots function and feel for me. I use them as an EDC shoe for shopping, working in the yard, walking the dog, fishing and the lot. Basically, a sneaker replacement. I feel that they are good for this yet rugged enough to handle some work and light hiking. Maybe I can dress them up to a pair of chinos and an oxford but probably not beyond that.Now I want to look specifically at the individual parts that makeup the boot. Starting with the outsole. It is soft and squishy and almost seems to have a hollow to it in the middle. It is comfortable underfoot and grippy enough for my uses (asphalt, tile, gravel and dirt). The leather sock liner is nice and tappers down from about 2-3mm to about .5mm. I really wish it extended, in the thinner portion all the way to the front of the boot as the insole itself is a bit rough in texture but this isn't my first rodeo with a partial sock liner, and it is on par if not above.Moving on to the leather. I got the Huston Brown which, I guess, is a nubuck. I brushed mine out, a lot, and now it is more of a matte. I love it. Super soft and supple. The lack of a structured toe in this boot and the soft leather means no pain in your toes or toenails!Okay, now on to the fit. I am a 9.5 4E on a Brannock and that is typically what I wear in a sports shoe. For work boots I am often a 10EE and for boots or shoes that only come in a standard D(F) width I wear an 11. In the barefoot rangers I went with a 10.5 and could almost get away with a 10. Those might be a tad short. So, these run pretty true to Brannock. The 10.5 is basically an EEE and I am a 4E so going up half a size makes sense for me. If you are not an extra wide, I don't think that would be a smart move though.I want to address the width separately because I cannot stress enough just how high volume these boots are. Again, I am a 4E with high arches and instep and these boots still have enough volume for a mid-heavy weight wool hiking sock! Wide but not too wide heel, the padded collar helps keep the volume down there. Wide midfoot, which as a wide footed person, I love this. Wide forefoot. And wide but rounded toe box. I want to reiterate that the toe box is rounder than it is anatomical, I know that is important to some people who are really into barefoot shoes.To sum up: Well-made but a bit of a diamond in the rough asthenic going on. Comfortable upper and outsole. Nice sock liner but I wish it extended over the rest of the unfinished midsole. Super high volume but true to length. Round spacious but not anatomical toe box. Close to but not 100% zero drop and a fairly high stack height. Resoleable. Oh, and a good value. I can't speak to longevity, yet.I hope this helps you decide if these are the boots/shoes for you.

So I should start with that they aren't ur average work boots. I would suggest researching bearfoot boots before ordering. For me they are perfect for a lite work boot or shoe replacement. Build quality is spot on, stitch down construction and pretty much just leather and rubber. I have about a month of wear, initially a little rough on my feet but after a week they were very comfortable. Now for sizing I typically wear a 10 EE in most work boots, I ordered a 10 and the fit was perfect. For the money I think they are very good quality boots.

Overall, I find these boots to be excellent value even without considering the barefoot qualities. The oiled nubuck patinas well without water staining, and the stitchdown construction combined with the leather midsole creates a durable boot that can be resoled several times. The boots are comfortable from the start, but they break in to a customized fit that adapts to your individual foot shape over time. When considering specific barefoot shoe qualities, they provide zero drop soles and a wide, anatomical toebox. There's less groundfeel than you'd get from a low durometer foam rubber, but that makes them an excellent option for people transitioning from traditional supportive designs to hardcore barefoot. These boots are made for walking, in the most literal sense. Lightweight, durable, comfortable, but also a boot you could hike in for a decade plus given a little TLC and a few resoles. .

I’ve always disliked boots for being too heavy & clunky and my feet would always sweat. But these have been a dream to wear. Typically, it takes weeks for boots to break in for me but it has been a full week and already they fit like a glove. It’s funny how the leather is thicker and better quality than the cheap ones that I used to get, yet they are way more comfortable. I wanted the zero drop version and I really like the anvil sole. Has good grip and a variety of surfaces. It has the feel of a mid top sneaker but the durability of boot. The wider toe box is a huge plus for me too. Can’t beat it.