Reviews

5 out of 5

I slept on these for a while due to there being absolutely no details listed about them here on the website, but eventually I found some reviews on the US Jim Green website and Reddit. I created an account to post this so others will have a point of reference. I put these footbeds into my size 9 African Rangers, they were about 2-3mm too long but I compared them against the original footbeds and trimmed the excess. They now fit perfectly lengthwise. I will admit I was a little apprehensive about the width and how they would fit in the enormous toe box - but after wearing them a few times now I'm happy to report there are no issues there, they fit the width perfectly. They are extremely comfortable and I can quite happily wear them for long periods of time with plenty of walking. This is a huge improvement over the default footbeds, which I found to be quite stiff and uncomfortable. I would say they are approaching the level of comfort of my RM Williams Comfort Craftsmans, but are superior to those in terms of walking around. This is a bit of an apples and oranges comparison but it's the best I can give. Construction wise, they are made from high density foam and have a layer of leather on top that is probably around 1mm thick. They are raised at the edges near the heel, which cups my heel quite nicely and prevents any slippage. There is some arch support which suits my needs, but those with high arches may not find it satisfactory. They cost $10 for shipping in Australia, so expect to pay that on top of the cost of the footbed. For ~$40 I am very happy - they have made my boots considerably more comfortable and I think they will increase in comfort as they mold to my feet. I expect the leather to be quite long lasting and will not need to replace them for a few years at least, unlike many of my fabric insoles.

April 10, 2025
4 out of 5

On the whole a nice boot, ruggedly built, very affordable, with a very good, true to size fit. I was hoping to really love them, but I did run into some potential quality control issues in the pair I received. On receiving the boot I noticed some stray glue marks, on one of the heels and one of the toe covers, but they were inconspicuous enough that they didn’t bother me too much. Unfortunately in my limited wear-in period the right-hand toecap quickly developed moderately deep, striated wrinkles, that look somewhat unsightly when the light hits them in the wrong way. Generally I’m fine with marks and patina, but the level of wrinkling surprised me, and I’m assuming this will get more pronounced over time. This isn’t a big deal if you’re main goal is hiking and outdoor work where looks are less of a concern, but I’d been hoping to use them in causal settings as well. I tried emailed Jim Green with photos, asking for some care advice, but didn’t hear back. I’ve since attempted to use some nubuck conditioner to soften the wrinkles, but my efforts haven’t been that successful. I’ve been contemplating maybe trying to use some dubbin (or something similar) to re-hydrate and condition the leather, but that’s a more invasive step and will change its properties significantly. All that said, I’m still expecting to get good use out of them, and for the money they’re hard to beat. I really hope Jim Green continues to make barefoot boots like these and shipping them to Australia. I’m still contemplating picking up a Houston brown pair, as they seem really nice too. Hopefully I’ll have better luck with them!

May 18, 2024
5 out of 5

I cannot recommend these boots enough. Since February 2020, I’ve had the chance to put my pair of AR8 boots (previously a special request style) through hell. From 6 hours hikes through muddy rainforests and up mountains, to hunting in the Australian bush, and crawling around under houses. This is on top of daily wear at work and on the farm, around 10 hours a day, 6/7 days a week for over 18 months. Although not advertised as waterproof like the Monster, I’ve never gone home with soggy feet. After a few hours on really wet trails, a bit of moisture will get in but not enough to ruin the experience. The 8 inch hight definitely helps with this, and on one particular trail which I have walking in both my Monsters and AR8s, these boots performed better in regards to keeping me dry. These truly are a boot you can put on and forget they’re even there. The last thing you want to worry about while undertaking any of the above-mentioned tasks is your footwear. Something I wish I had done sooner is get the Jim Green Leather Food. It is excellent. A great combination of waxy and oily. In winter and when I know I’ll be exposed to the elements for a long time, I use the Jim Green leather food and Dubbin on the stitching. The only change I have made to these boot is the insole. For what I use these for, I found I needed something extra for shock absorption and cushioning when on my feet all day. insoles from an old pair of Hi-Tech hiking boots did the trick. These are truly a hard wearing, comfortable, supportive, and stylish pair of boots. I wish I could post pictures of these boots and how they look now, as although they’ve been flogged, they look better than ever.

July 14, 2022
5 out of 5

I like leather

September 23, 2021
5 out of 5

tl;dr These boots are 100% worth it. They'll get the job done and you just can't beat quality at this price. -Background- I had been wanting some general work / hiking boots for a while. More specifically, I wanted a pair of boots that would last me years and when the time came I could get them resoled, but I didn't want it to cost me an arm and a leg. While doing some research I started seeing Jim Green pop-up on a few Instagram pages I follow. Everything written about them was good, and the price point was hard to ignore so I purchased a pair. -Sizing/Fit- Bought these in a size US 12D, which is what I wear in basically everything. They fit perfectly and are pretty comfortable. From what I understand, the company is looking to potentially upgrade their insole to leather, but what's used now works just fine and if needed down the road I can just use an insert. The toe box is a bit roomy, but I like that - IMO nothing worse than cramped toes. -Overall impression- I'm super pleased with these. They fit great, meet my need and they really feel like they'll last. It's nice to be able to buy some quality footwear at this price point and know that it'll get the job done AND you wont have to buy another pair a year later. -Random notes- Jim Green will replace the footbed and laces if doing a resole through them. I'm not sure what the cost is for doing a resole, especially shipping form the U.S., but I'm sure you could reach out to them and they'd let you know. On a related note, their customer service is amazing. I had asked several questions about the construction (stitch down if anyone was wondering) and materials used, and I received several timely and informative responses.

August 12, 2020
5 out of 5

Great boot.

June 14, 2020
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