Tough, Comfy, and Heaps of Personality

These were my daily drivers for going to my office job, walking the dog, and doing chores.

The Natural Veg Tan leather has a shiny finish that rubs off with wear, creating interesting blemishes with high contrast. It only took about a week to start breaking in - after that it was super comfy. The leather conforms to the shape of your foot nicely and creates moderate creases and rolls. Color seemed to darken a bit, which was a nice surprise!

I really like the STC last. That said, I could have gone down a half size to my normal sneaker size. I went up a half size because my Razorbacks felt a little tight. Turns out the STC is a bit roomier. I ended up putting the thin insole from my Razorbacks into the ARs and boom - they fit perfectly without changing the “feel” underfoot very much. As we expect from Jim Green, the toe box is roomy and comfortable. I love it! One of my favorite parts was the heel - it broke in nicely to my specific shape.

Pros: Jim Green’s reputation for durability shines. The ARs are tough and durable. You can tell the craftspeople at JG really care. I also like that this boot is unlined - to me it’s more comfortable than the lined/double lasted Razorback. Less Pro: It’s a boot for bashing around in the African bush, not taking your partner out for a nice dinner. The finishing and stitching are clearly utilitarian. But that’s okay! It’s part of the vibrant, unabashed personality of these boots.

It’s very, very comfortable and has loads of grip. I kinda like how funky it looks. That said, it does wear fairly quickly. Expecting a resole at the one year mark.

What can I say about the African Ranger that hasn’t already been written? It’s an absolute gem with amazing personality from a company that supports an admirable cause. I love these things, and I’d buy them again many times over. I just might have to spring for a pair in that iconic fudge nubuck…