My boots have been used exclusively for arboriculture in the Midwest. They are regularly used in ground and aerial lift operations, so they see their fair share of heavy equipment operation, mud, sawdust, all that fun stuff. Most days that I wear them they get exposed to moisture. I was able to wear them for outdoor work in the winter, provided the site was frozen.
At first the African Buffalo skin was rigid and somewhat dry to the touch. It came in a beige color with quite a bit of contrast between the smooth and rough out portions. Over time the boot has darkened significantly, due in part to an application of Obenaufs a couple months ago. My care routine involves brushing and wiping them down after each use. Once they're looking a little dry I scrub them down with saddle soap and treat them. Breaking them in was actually harder than my Frank's Ground Pounders. I've worn them hundreds of hours and I still haven't fully settled into them. Now the uppers have become quite supple, while the sole remains rigid as it should. Apart from a few stains, you can hardly tell they've been worn. There is minor noticeable wear on the soles, but I expect them to hold up a lot longer. They're incredibly resilient and every scratch buffs out easily. I think in the future I'll use Venetian Leather Balm to give it a waxed flesh appearance.
Typically I need a narrow boot. Jim Green boots run a little narrow in the heel but wide in the toe. This worked out because I was able to size down to get a narrower fit without smashing my toes. With an insole they're pretty close to the fit I have with my MTO Frank's on an HNW last. They're extremely comfortable. They're sturdy underfoot yet supple and flexible. Due to their low weight they feel more like sneakers than heavy work boots. Even with the steel toe they are nimble to work in. The construction of the tongue allows the boot to accommodate a wide range of foot types. It's quite comfortable even with thin socks and as such as quite breathable, allowing moisture to escape easily. Ultimately, I think there's a little more arch support than you'll get out of American boots in the same price range and if you upgrade to a leather midsole you'll end up exceeding the level of support offered by those brands. I was able to talk with customer service using my brannock and comparisons to other brands, And we quickly narrowed down a size. I would have liked a little more length but this was more forgiving than too much width.
It's a simple yet elegant design that is very sturdy. There are very few possible failure points on these boots, and the craftsmanship is impeccable. There isn't a flaw on either boot, and the welts are a perfect mirror. I think they look quite stylish for work boots and I really enjoy all of the components. The only thing I would change next time is switching the black skip sole for a natural one and maybe adding a toe cap to get a few more years out of them. After wearing them for the thunder dome, I was surprised at how similar to new they still are despite the drastic color changes. I love the way theyve developed. While it's not something Jim Green offers, I think I'll eventually resole these with a heel stack and I don't think you'll be able to buy a nicer work boot for the price.
It's definitely equivalent to the vibram version. It's very grippy yet rigid underfoot. It seems to be wearing out slightly faster than the black alternative, but it was advertised that way and it's what I expected and still really enjoy it. The color really complements the buffalo leather. The design works, I don't feel like calling it a vibram knockoff would be fair.
I really enjoy my Razorbacks. They've been very comfortable and they can take an absolute beating without getting a scratch. Upgrading to rough out buffalo leather easily triples the life of the boot over the stock version, which I own. I really appreciate having upgraded the midsole to leather. It's far less absorbent and way more comfortable under foot. I imagine if these were offered in stock they'd be very popular. I will absolutely order another pair if these ever wear out.