Lems Boulder Boots VS Jim Green African Ranger Barefoot/Our Favorite Barefoot Boots Go Toe to Toe
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- Ever since people started popping pumpkin lattes last fall, our feet have been shod in barefoot boots. We've seen the full gambit of boots, from less than impressive to never wanna take your feet out of 'em. This video features 3 of our favorites, 2 different Boulder Boot iterations from Lems going up against the Barefoot African Ranger from Jim Green. Two different philosophies clash as the durable and repairable African Rangers take on the lightweight and versatile Boulder Boots. If you've been looking at the Boulder Boot Grip, Boulder Summit, or the African Ranger wondering which would best suit you, then this will help you to make that decision! Affiliate links and time stamps below.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00: Intro
2:11: Weight
3:14: Construction/durability
6:05: Comfort
7:00: Traction
8:49: Affiliates Featuring: Lems Shoes and Splay Shoes
10:19: Stack Height/Ground Feel/Flexibility
12:23: Toe Box Width
14:29: Sizing
15:03: Price and Chris' Winner
16:42: Eric's Winner/Outro
17:56: Toe Spacer Challenge!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Patreon: patreon.com/SonsofSever?...
Lems Shoes:
www.lemsshoes.com/?avad=32595...
Feelgrounds:
www.feelgrounds.com/?p=Sever
Xero Shoes:
xeroshoes.com/go/Sons_of_Sever
Vibram 5 Fingers Shoes
www.vibram.com/?src=ChrisSeve...
Splay Shoes (10% Discount Code SONSOFSEVER)
splayshoes.com/?ref=0qtf7evn
Bearfoot (SEVER10)
bearfoot.store?sca_ref=5021530.Nq4nR23pSC&
Bahé Running (SONSOFSEVER10)
bahe.co/?sca_ref=4857291.PbWp...
Peluva Shoes (10% Discount Code SONSOFSEVER)
peluva.com/SONSOFSEVER
Creepers Socks: (15% Discount Code SONSOFSEVER)
creeperssocks.co.nz/?ref=l0y1...
Earth Runners
earthrunners.com/?rfsn=768471...
Triplo (SEVER15 for 15% off)
www.triplogear.com?Instagram&Sever15&Sever15
Frontline Optics Sunglasses (15% Code sonsofsever)
frontline-optics.com?sca_ref=4411943.aXS6rNWNxY
GetAwayHats (20% with SEVERSHOOTS)
getawayhats.com/SEVERSHOOTS
Ombraz Sunglasses
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Freein Paddle Boards Discount Code and Link:
SONSOFSEVER (10% off)
freeinsup.com/products/freein...
Sons of Sever Instagram:
/ sons_of_sever
Sons Of Sever Strava:
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Thanks for the shoutout and support chaps, glad you enjoy our boots.
We currently working on a few more barefoot styles so keep an eye out
I'm so excited to hear that!! I'll be buying
Wait really!? Really excited to see your other ideas for barefoot shoes. Loved the barefoot african ranger so much I ordered them again in bison leather! Hope you manage to make a version with a steel toe!
I offer a shout to make the lasts truly foot-shaped and straight along the big toe 🙏 They are beautiful in every other way! I would have grabbed a pair if they were not tapered there :~)
That's good to hear!
Eeep!! When?? Yes, wider toe box, please!! Can hardly wait!!
I have the Jim Greens and the waterproof regular Lems Boulder Boot. The Lems are definitely more comfortable out of the box, but the Jim Greens totally get there after a little break in. While I like both, I prefer the heritage boot style and durability of the Jim Greens. They are a tremendous value as you are getting what would easily be a $250+ boot for under $200 due to the favorable import pricing from South Africa.
💚
By the way, Jim Green is making barefoot versions of all of their boots. They just charge a bit more because it’s a custom order.
So you can get a high top boot from them in the barefoot last like the AR8, numzaan, etc.
whoa that's awesome. Good to know
Not quite all. They have a steel toe razorback and I checked with them and they said they aren't able to a steel toe version barefoot boot currently. But other than that I guess
Is this not something that's listed on their site? Do I have to contact them to get a specific boot of their's barefoot style?
@@loganthrockmorton8179 You'd have to make a custom order, there's a 'custom' tab on their website. From what I understand ordering custom does come with quite a bit higher price tag
@@fike1594 well, then it's still a barefoot razorback. The steel toe and the barefoot last just aren't compatible
If you have money to spare, gaucho ninja has a goodyear welted barefoot steel toed boot, over $600. Or a custom made blake stitched for over $1200
Lem's boots only last me a year and I've had 4 pairs now. I am really glad they got the better tread on there, but the fact that the leather is so thin and that the sole is just glued on, they simply don't last long. It's wasteful and expensive. So for me the durability is a really big deal. Also Lem's are made in china in unknown conditions, whereas Jim Greene is really proud of their workers and pays them a high wage and even rewards them with equity in their company. Those two things are making me give up on Lem's and switch to Jim Greene.
would you say they are much less comfort than lems?
@@MustRunTonyo once they're broken in I'd say they are just as comfortable. It does take quite a while to break in these more traditionally made boots though
If this channel was filmed with better lighting and both of you in the same room it could really go somewhere. You guys are great.
We unfortunately have neither the time nor the money for that right now haha but we are slowly progressing. Thanks for watching 😁
Y'all are making the exact content we are looking for. Thanks!!!
What do you want to see next?? 🤔
Kourt Grips@@sonsofsever
@@sonsofsever Bellville Mini Mil.
FYI, at 5:15, Jim Green uses Stitchdown construction not a Goodyear Welt.
This is correct, Stitchdown is also an easier and more affordable resole. Hopefully one day we will have this option in the USA
Egg on our face! We're definitely still learning a lot about boot construction methods! Our education continues... Haha thank you for pointing that out.
@@sonsofsever you guys are doing great videos, don't sweat it.
I love my BF African ranger. I look forward to putting them on and enjoying wearing them. I'll probably buy a 2nd pair in the opposite color
Just figured I'd update. I got the Barefoot African Rangers in the mail today and I went with a size 10.5 (Lems is 11) and they are almost too big. Not in length. I have about 3/4 a thumbs width of toe room so I don't think I could size down. But these are really, really high-volume boots (they feel more like shoes). I don't think I've ever had something so high volume before. I'm a 4E (10.66x4.5) and I have breathing room.
As an aside, the Huston Brown leather is really, really supple. The toe box is super soft and unstructured. And I don't feel the sock liner at all. I think I might try a pair in Veg Tan half a size down with ultra lite socks as EDC shoes.
Anyway, thanks for helping me pick them out, gentlemen.
Been looking for this exact comparison. Nice job gents.
Everything about this excellent review is exactly what I needed right now. Thank you.
Happy that YT offered this channel to me and have subscribed for more. However, being a flatlander in Texas I would appreciate some expansion of your reviews to include sandy and light gravel surfaces along with warm weather evaluations. Some of us only get to visit Colorado.
Warm weather stuff is on its way! We just gotta adjust for the seasons here, can't give an honest review of a summer hiking shoe when it's freezing out.
Nice comparison, as always :~) And dang, I was all stoked to cheer your discussion of the toe boxes (and mostly I do, well done!). It's great that you addressed shape, except then didn't mention taper vs straightness on the big toe side. Splays are a great model of the latter.
I bet, as you get into your toe spacer experience, you'll become more and more aware of shoes and boots that taper against the big toes ;~)
I’ve had the Jim Greens for about 6 months. I wear them everyday as work boots. I have put them through hard wear and they have held up amazingly well. They are very comfortable and have a great balance of ground feel, and foot protection. Couldn’t be happier…
What kind of work do you do? I work in construction and the Lems just don’t hold up for a long time.
@@SomeGuy. I would describe it mostly as maintenance and light construction. I rent a few properties and keep them up. The upper on the Jim Greens is really tough and well made.
Watching your guys' channel makes me want to buy every boot you guys compare and review! Lol
I just got my lems summit and freaking love them. I was so close to getting the Xero Ridgeway but I quickly realized just how good lems boots look and went with them simply for the fact that i could literally hike my way to a date or church and still look good doing all of them. Your comparison video did wonders in helping me decide.
Nice! Glad it helped, we definitely think you made the right choice
I dont know about pricing in USA but lems are way over priced in Australia, the Jim greens would have to be the best value boots we can get here
So excited to see how wearing toe spacers for a year will go, I am currently doing the same with the Correct Toes spacers. I will be comparing Correct Toes with the Bearfoot and some generic carbon copies from amazon to properly inform my friends and family. I'm so glad I found your channel, this was another great video and I look forward to seeing future releases from you two, thanks a lot for the help and keep it up! 😁
Good one! Thanks!
I own the BF African Rangers and the Lems Summits and I love both. I couldn’t choose a favorite.
Amazing the two pairs of boots I own how exciting
Nice review guys and I love your Aussie dog
She’s a massive pain in the butt, but we love her 😂
I picked the Jim Greens entirely because of the lower cut ankle, kinda wish it was even lower though.
I'm a farmer. I don't wantbwet feet. I've used a pair of Vivo and 2 pairs of Lems waterproof boots. Vivo lasted about 7 months before the sole separated from the upper. The Lems came apart in about a year. I'm currently gluing my Lems to keep my feet dry...not happy about that for the price tag.
Going to try the Jim Green's. Hopefully these last much longer.
Based on how they're made, I think the Jim Green will definitely last longer. Make sure you treat them with something to help keep water out though, they're not waterproof.
I went a bit too hard into barefoot shoes right off the hop and got some persistent foot pain with Freet barefoot shoes.
Lems boultder boot were a great second pair due to the extra padding with the wider toe box, they let me get used to barefoot shoes. But they don't last, first pair tore at the heel and they replaced them. Second pair of Lems Boulder boots is tearing on the instep now. They're comfortable but they don't last more that a year. I consider Lems a half way between barefoot shoes and much more padded shoes.
I'm looking forward to getting a pair of Jim Green long boots for the winter now that my feet are strong enough to walk in full barefoot shoes.
Great review and comparison. I live in an area of the country with a warmer climate, New Orleans, so another consideration for me is which barefoot boot is versatile enough to look fine with shorts. African wildlife rangers actually wear Jim Green African Rangers with shorts. The ankle height is comparable to many sneakers. I love wearing my Lems Primal Zens, but having the extra coverage of the African Ranger boot makes a difference when walking through tall grass.
I would have really enjoyed it if the Bearfoot Bruin had been in this showdown too
We do have one that's the Bruin vs the African Ranger
Splays definitely have a great foot shape for me. I wish they had the leather when I purchased mine. I do prefer leather.
I got a pair of the Jim Green ranger barefoot and was pleasantly surprised. So far so good. I wouldn't take them backpacking but wearing the greens for day hikes is something I plan on doing.
Maybe a lill video on Dubbin and other protective cream which help seal the leather against snow etc.? if yes, which one and why, if no, is there a reason behind this choice :) ? Dunno if that's enough material for a video ahha, just tryin to help a biiit as y'all help so much =)))
I am rooting for jim green as they are the most comfortable boots I have every warn. They are still better than my xero shoes I have had for a few years now. I have not actually tried lems.
Can you guys do a barefoot dress shoe review?
Yes that will be one of our upcoming videos for sure
Thank you so much
ok got the answer around 14:30 ;) , thanks pals!
Excellent comparison 👍. I bought the Summit 3 months ago, and I was surprised about the comfort , they are not the most comfortable boots I have tried, the box is good no issues there but midfoot just behind the small toe was narrow and gave me pain for about 1 month until they broke in. And the heel has a very strange feeling I never felt in any shoes, they feel narrow and somehow sink in the center only and not in the edges which causes heel discomfort for about first 15 to 30 min of walking, after it gets better . One of the pull tabs ripped while trying your technique of slipping them on and the maximum lace setting. I don't have particularly widest feet or high volume . But it could be my foot shape. I am comparing them to my Timberland chocorua which feel more comfortable and softer cushioning, not as wide in the toe are though.
Hey yall! Great comparison! FYI, JG says on their website they use stitch down construction which is how I think most of their boots are made. Unless JG advised you otherwise, I think you may want to update that!
Yeah we noticed the mistake too late to fix it. But, we updated the description of the video with a disclaimer about it and people will see these comments too, thanks!
@@sonsofsever sounds good no worries!
Random but, do you have advice or thoughts about getting into the delivery driver career? Any companies that are good to look into in particular?
I wonder if you have tried Origo Shoes. They are a sneaker type shoe with the same use as Splay.
We have not, they're on the list!
The Grip has a double set of fast ties at the top. This means you don’t have to always untie your boots to loosen them in order to remove them. That’s a big plus.
One thing I don't see very much with barefoot shoe reviews is custom lacing for your unique foot shape. This shows on the Jim Green more than the others, but they looks like a board on your feet with regular lacing. I have higher arches and the suggested style of lacing recommended for me moves the point of lock down pressure from the ankle exclusively to over my arch and ankle resulting in almost sneaker like fit, no heel slip or separation of my arch from the insole (because barefoot shoes have no arch support).
Great video! For casual use with jeans or chinos, in your opinion which is best looking?
I think one of the Lems. They're both so similar looking it's tough to pick, but I lean towards the Grip because it's got more of a barefoot feel to it. Totally subjective though! The African Ranger is a great looking boot, especially if you swap the laces out for some brown ones
I’m an electrician
I squat down to work quite often every day.
Also being on the jobsite before concrete is poured and digging the trenches for underground “mud”
Here in Louisiana the mud sticks to you and makes you boots weigh a ton
Also I walk in many buildings with concrete floors, we build the electrical on alot of gas stations, plenty of slick concrete to go around.
Seems like the summit is probably the best option for me out of the 3
How would you compare the "warmness" of the shoes? Are the Lems with the waterproof lining significant warmer?
Yeah, there's a noticeable difference. The Lems are definitely warmer
Splay seems to be out of stock in most sizes! Hopefully they get more soon
They restock pretty often, I'd get on their email list to make sure you get notified when it happens
Another question on size, if you don't mind. My Boulder Boots Grip are an 11 and I run them with the stock insert. Would equal size African Rangers work with a similar insert or would I need to go a half size up from my boulder boots to run inserts? We are talking a basic 3-5 mm flat insole. It has been my expereince with shoes in general that replacement insoles are typically thicker than stock and often reduce the volume of the shoe by too much. I am worried that a shoe that doesn't come with one might have the same issue.
Thanks.
In our experience the African Ranger has plenty of volume for inserts. They definitely feel more voluminous than the Lems. I (Eric) wear mine pretty much exclusively with my FeelGrounds Patrol Winter inserts in and haven't had any issues.
@@sonsofsever Thank you, again!
Didn't Rose Anvil collaborate with J. Green for the A. Rangers?
I thought that with 2 design teams the level of the J.Greens is higher.
I chose jim green over lem and I use my boots for everything I think the lems boots would have been completely destroyed from what I have put my rangers through
I'd say the Jim Greens are much more resole-able than the Lems. Due to the construction of the Jim Greens, all a cobbler needs to do is peel the outsole off the rubber midsole and glue on a new outsole. If the midsole gets damaged, it's simply restitching a new rubber midsole to the leather slipsole and upper. My cobbler said I could easily get 3-4 resoles out of these boots.
This isn't to say the Lems aren't resole-able. But it's much harder for the cobbler, if they'll even do cemented shoes, and you can only get them reconstructed once maybe twice.
What if we find shoes, in general, to be tight at the bottom of the arch? I find most lasts to pinch or pucker in at the arch and I really, really hate that. It is like I am standing on the side of the boot. My Boulder Boot grip is like this. I really want a non-contoured last, lol. The arch area of my foot is wide too, not just the ball. I have a hard time explaining this when looking for a shoe. But I go barefoot a lot (not barefoot shoes, no shoes) and dislike material touching my arches at all. Boots like the Lem are wide in the toe box but still have a D feel in the rest of the shoe. As a 4E it just hasn't worked out for me.
Anyway, do you think the African Ranger might be a better bet? Being stich down and an actual 2E last, I'd guess it is all around a wider fit?
Thanks!
The African ranger I think would work fine. The Belenka last is pretty wide at the contour at the foot as well. One more would be Feelgrounds
Wow, that was fast, thank you for the response.@@sonsofsever
I farm so I put a lot of walking on mine and they usually are really dirty and often wet. Which do you think would hold up? I think leather may require too much maintenance but 🤷♂️
The Jim Green will hold up longer because of their superior construction and how easily repaired they are. I would definitely treat them with some otterwax though to try and help when they get wet. If you go with the Lems I just think you'll end up replacing them more often, but their waterproofing is amazing!
I'm rancher in south texas , living in the MOST hostile, thorn infested, hot 🔥 , God forsake land pushing cattle, goats, hunting, and endless shoveling and lifting.
I've used both shoes.
For farm work jim green no contest AT ALL.
For city use and casually going out lems as they are softer and stylish.
Im on the fence on what my next pair of boots will be. Ive been leaning towards the Boulder nylon. hopefully that isn't the pair he thinks is a 3/10
Haha it's not. We've never had a pair of those however. They're all discontinued right now though, so it'll be interesting to see what happens there, I'd definitely wait a bit
personally i just dont like the boulder GRIP toe... my eyes are just drawn to that big ledge. The summits toe looks so much better.
two different boots for two different purposes. I would list these boots as top 5 for everyday all day edc wear for $200 and under
jim green barefoot is wider than lems summit (which is wider then boulder) just by a fraction where summit is snug whereas JG barefoot is loose/just right.
@@Oli-Ravioli both my boots are US9.5
My right foot I feel the balls of my feet being micro squish in the summits whereas the JG does not.
I can only tell you from my experience with the facts.
I am a 8EE width that's a 11inch ball circumference.
P.S. I've put in 70hrs a week working walking/pushing hazmat tanks/cylinders minimum 10miles a day with the summits. So far I've put at least 600 miles into summits.
I am with you chris I like the summit boot. But all the boots look great though. My only problem is that my toes are box Shape. Every straight across with very fat & chubby toes. It's not fun having a foot that is 6 1/2 inches wide from my big toe to my lil toe. I like the idea of the toe space challenge you are having. But i don't need my toes even wider than what they are now because they are very very extremely wide now. My toes are Straight and chubby & that makes my foot very wide as well. I was born with very very extremely wide feet 🦶 but I don't know that they was going to be this fat & chubby & very very Extremely wide like this. I have 6 boys & they all have very very wide feet 🦶 as well but my wife & my 6 boys like how extremely wide my feet 🦶 are & my boys like having very very wide feet 🦶 as well. Good video buddy thanks you for sharing this.
Jim green is better made in my opinion
Boulder Boot vs Ranger, I am prioritizing comfort and value for money. Price is the same for both, 200€. What would you get?
That's tough because I think the Lems edge out the Ranger in comfort, but the Ranger definitely has the better value with how it's built and its ease of repair. What are you gonna do with them? Just an everyday boot or are you gonna go hiking?
@@sonsofsever just a boot to use when it's raining, casual for the city!
@@MustRunTonyo well if you bring rain into it I'd lean towards the Lems, their waterproofing has never failed us, and the Jim Greens are not waterproof though I'm sure they'd do a decent job especially if you treated them. I also like how the Boulder Boots look more so I think they fit in the city a bit better. BUT, just keep in mind if you want the most durability here, Jim Green easily takes that.
@@sonsofsever yes indeed, many on reddit reports that the jg are not well water resistant... thanks for the opinions!
I’ve had both. Jim green boots are way better quality. I’ve sent back lens for the soles delaminating.
Same, it's not even a contest at all.
Bought both in October of last year, the boots already failed.
The lem shoes for running good tho.
Jim green boots, EXTREMELY good
How would you guys say the lems would hold up walking on asphalt all day at work?
I wear lems on asphalt all day at work 😁 they’re pretty great in my opinion 🤷🏻♂️ would depend slightly on the model
Which pair would you recommend for it? I Also walk around on logs and bark on the ground frequently. Thanks!
@@OregonGooner22 any of the models with the full rubber outsoles would do great, so the Summit, Outlander, Grip, or Primal Persuit/Primal Persuit Mid. Pretty much all the other shoes have the injection blown rubber outsoles that wouldn't last as long. Out of the options listed above, I'd say it's gonna come down to the style and how much flexibility and ground feel you want, each would do just fine on all the terrain you mention but will differ slightly how they feel on your foot.
@@sonsofsever Cool, thanks a ton 👌🏻
whats the best large toe box without being barefoot
There aren't many out there I'm aware of but Altra or Topo Athletic would be some options. Taller stack heights, low heel to toe drops, wide toe boxes. They don't have leather boots though if that's what you're looking for...
@@sonsofsever altra might be the way i like the limes but i havent found a shop in the uk that stocks them
I have both. If I could get a refund on one I’d send back the boulder summit 100%.
Curious, why is that?
FYI. Ranger is a Stichdown, not Goodyear welt.
Yup, we've acknowledged that we got that wrong a few times now. It's in the description of the video, and people will see these comments, thank you!
@@sonsofsever Are you going to review the Splay leather? The description says it has a full grain leather footbed. I really like the customization of a leather footbed. Thanks!
@@BlueSpirit. Yeah we've got them on hand, putting em through the ringer now, we'll have a video out on them before too long. The leather footbed is pretty nice!
pounds? ounces? what are these? I can't watch this video without metric
Freedom units. You’ve got this thing on your phone called Google. In about 10 seconds you can figure it out 😂 if you really wanted to 🤷🏻♂️
why didn't you mention Rose anvil Jim green only made the barefoot version because of rose anvil
We definitely mention it. If not in this video, then in the dedicated review of the African Ranger that we did that. Props to Rose Anvil, we love these boots!
@sonsofsever I'm only half way through the video....sorry!! I love my ranger boots!
@@jonv570 haha all good, they are long 😂
I love my Lems boulders, but if you heel strike like in that opening footage you could end up with injuries. I don’t understand why heel strikers buy footwear like this.
I think these shoes "encourage" you to change because if you don't you'll get sore heels pretty quickly. Definitely gotta make the transition to these types of shoes gradually, and I think Lems are a great brand for people making that transition because they're more forgiving/padded than others.
There is nothing wrong with heel striking (when walking). I am a forefoot striker naturally, which I guess is why I am naturally good at sprinting. But that comes with problems in calfs and achilles. I have to consciously try to move my foot strike more to mid foot when distance running to avoid injuries and it’s not ideal. As soon as I am sprinting and not devoting brain processing to foot strike, it’s euphoric. When you walk, heel striking is much energy efficient. But you need footwear that pads your heel quite a lot to accommodate that form. You can for sure change everything about your walking and running patterns, but you have to decide if it is worth it. In distance running, for instance, there are LOTS of elite heel strikers. It’s sprinting that favors almost a toe strike. So if you are a distance runner and naturally heel strike, maybe focus more on landing beneath your center of mass. Your hips are WAY more important than foot strike btw. Once you down shift from distance running, you have considerable freedom to explore what works for you. There actually does not exist a default human walking pattern.
If Jim Green had a "foot shaped" toe-box, it would be the first "Perfect" shoe/boot. They are SO CLOSE! But unfortunately, it is round and pointy, instead of squared and fanned out. Shame.
Lems are WAY too narrow, and less durable.
The perfect shoe does not exist.
I feel the same way. Was excited to try the Jim Greens, but the curve on the toebox means I rub my pinkie toe when walking. Sucks.
The perfect shoe is getting close, these 2 are close to it
Boycott Colorado
So you have sponsorship by Lems and surely you chose lems as your top pick. Nothing sus here, just sell out
Not sponsored. Just an affiliate link. We have one with Jim Green as well. Actually 🤔 we have an affiliate link for pretty much everyone.