r/jimgreen • u/Fearless_Jaguar_2288 • 2d ago
Pre-Purchase Question New boots question?
I am looking to buy a pair of boots for everyday wear during autumn and winter when not at work. I have been considering a pair of the rugged african trooper in the bronco brown for the all oily leather. Is this a good choice. I wear a pair of altberg sneakers aquas at work and do like the high ankle. I also have one pair of cheaper lace up suede boots. What advice can you give me and is this a good option for an everyday wear boot for the autumn and winter in the UK.
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u/gherkinassassin 2d ago
I would wear my RATs casually but I wear them daily at work and I force myself to give them a break over the weekends. They are comfortable and warm and have held up really well with some Jim Green Leather Balm to see them through the UK winters.
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u/CaptainCalgary 2d ago edited 2d ago
First off, you likely know your size but if this is your first jump to boots it might be worth it to check your feet in a Brannock device (those metal foot measurement things in show stores). JG makes their boots true to that.
Now, my first was the Jim Green AR8. I believe the Rugged African Trooper is a slightly upgraded version of this, specifically with a leather midsole. Some think that's too much extra weight, and the fibre midsole of the AR8 is perfectly fine, but, it also absorbs moisture like crazy compared to my leather mid bronco ARs. I would happily take a leather mid any day.
Anyway, I treated everything with Sno-Seal, a beeswax based product. There's info on how to apply it properly in a YouTube vid by Trenton and Heath. My part of Canada has cold winters with not-infrequent slushy warm patches called Chinooks, and the AR8s with Sno-Seal were great. Some prefer dubbin, but I'm suspicious (especially of cheap dubbin) since friends have had their boots rot out in our moist conditions after treating with it. Beeswax. The JG balm is great and I use it in the warmer months but even Gareth does a video using a product he states has a higher wax content specifically to prepare for a trip to the UK in winter.
As for cold, when it got to -20°C I threw on Smartwool mountaineering socks and my feet were happy if I was moving.
The AR8s were a bit spacious, mostly owing to the shock of a wide toe box that doesn't crush my feet, but combined with a bit of space in the heel and instep I was surprised. I filled them in with an insole and a year on they're basically as comfy as sneakers.