Hunting boots

gregrn43 · Tuesday at 4:38 PM

For a plains game hunt in eastern Cape does it really matter what boots you wear as long and they are comfortable, broke in, and water proof? I understand that a quiet boot is needed for stalking dangerous game up close. Didn't figure it would be that important for a plains game hunt. I got an email today Jim Greene boots have a sale on some models for a time being. African rangers is the pair I've looked at. Are they a suitable boot for a plains game hunt?

Sabre · Tuesday at 4:46 PM

It's more important that they are comfortable to you, than to be a specific brand or style.

analog_peninsula · Tuesday at 4:50 PM

Soft boots are quieter than hard boots, but hard boots protect your feet much better. It's all a trade off, and depends on how rocky and steep the terrain. The most important thing is that they fit your feet well, and are completely broken in. On my Texas leases, I normally hunted in snake boots for obvious reasons, but I used Crispis on rugged hunts in Idaho and Serbia. I also used them in South Africa where my PH repeated commented on their noise, but my feet were comfortable and remained in good shape even after five continuous days of walking. As our hunts were successful, the noise "issue" remained theoretical. Based on all of the comments I've read on this site, I recently purchased as set of Jim Greene barefoot boots and am in the process of breaking them in. After adding sole inserts they feel reasonably comfortable, but are much, much softer than my Crispis and they clearly lack the sole support necessary for hunting in mountainous areas. I don't doubt they're much quieter on a tense stalk in relatively flat country though.

Mekaniks · Tuesday at 4:59 PM

A boot that you would wear in Texas, will work in SA

pilar · Tuesday at 5:20 PM

Mekaniks said:
A boot that you would wear in Texas, will work in SA

I saw that JG sale I have some ranger’s and walk in cactus and mesquite a lot . I would think they would be good.
Any thing that has a leather midsole to repel pointy things and are fairly quiet.( but I have never been to the EC so don’t have a clue about the terrain)

A caveat about the sale most of the normal size 9-11usa are sold out in everything I looked at on sale . But Amazon had them @ normal sizes and prices

375 Ruger Fan · Tuesday at 5:33 PM

gregrn43 said:
For a plains game hunt in eastern Cape does it really matter what boots you wear as long and they are comfortable, broke in, and water proof? I understand that a quiet boot is needed for stalking dangerous game up close. Didn't figure it would be that important for a plains game hunt. I got an email today Jim Greene boots have a sale on some models for a time being. African rangers is the pair I've looked at. Are they a suitable boot for a plains game hunt?

Doesn’t necessarily need to be waterproof. Rarely have I seen rain or mud while hunting Africa.

Flipper Dude · Tuesday at 5:33 PM

Wear your lightest boots with some grip to the sole. Some slick mud in the EC if it’s rained, along with up and down. Ripple soles would work fine if it’s dry

https://imgur.com/a/aZJHwn7

Gomer · Tuesday at 5:36 PM

I’ve had complete achilles tears, so I can’t help but wear taller and more supportive boots. The achilles attaches to the heel, so those get sore easy (on top of losing calluses from not walking a ton during recovery).

375Fox · Tuesday at 6:43 PM

gregrn43 said:
For a plains game hunt in eastern Cape does it really matter what boots you wear as long and they are comfortable, broke in, and water proof? I understand that a quiet boot is needed for stalking dangerous game up close. Didn't figure it would be that important for a plains game hunt.

I would agree with this. I don’t think waterproof is necessary but you should ask your outfitter for that particular area and time of year. Quiet stalking boots are much more important on a tracking dangerous game hunt where you will be in close to dangerous game before you actually see them. A spot and stalk plains game hunt isn’t nearly as important. Most shots will be at least 100 yards.

ftrovato · Tuesday at 7:33 PM

I hunted Mozambique and then the Eastern Cape in August.

The terrain and weather varied greatly.

My Jim Greens worked great.

Picture below was from Mozambique.

matt vejar · Tuesday at 7:34 PM

Any hiking boot like Keene or Merril are fine for the East Cape or anywhere in Africa that I’ve been. I wear an all leather Kenetrec hiker boot ( Hard Scrabble) but it’s overkill for Africa but I need it here in the USA for waterproof.

Firebird · Tuesday at 7:38 PM

Wear a lightweight shoe or low boot and you will be just fine. My brother hunted in running shoes. Unless you are in harsh/steep bushbuck/kudu country or chasing Vaal rhebok then you truly don’t need anything special. But you should wear good socks! I like jim green boots and would have no problem wearing them in the east cape but you don’t NEED them. It’s a great excuse to buy yourself a pair tho!

'68boy · Tuesday at 7:54 PM

This boot deal is BS. My first Ph in Namibia wore chuck taylor converse sneakers. My tracker on #1 rsa trip wore flip flops w duct tape over the top. I have worn Courtney’s and Cabela’s and Merrill’s and have been very happy and wished I wore chuck taylors. I have said this before on this site— wear what you have and what you have used and what is comfortable— and you will be happy. Waste enough money on needless footware and you could harvest another animal or at least hunt another day. Food for thought…..

Africa1 · Tuesday at 8:13 PM

I hunted Cape Buffalo in my Jim Green's made of Cape Buffalo leather last April/May in the Limpopo. Perfect. Make sure you wear them and walk in them for several hours before you do your hunt. Comfort is key. Enjoy!

gregrn43 · Tuesday at 8:59 PM

Thanks for all the answers fellas, I appreciate it.

Bejane · 2026-11-04T05:00:23-0600

also try Lems boots,

ftrovato · 2026-11-04T08:09:19-0600

matt vejar said:
Any hiking boot like Keene or Merril are fine for the East Cape or anywhere in Africa that I’ve been. I wear an all leather Kenetrec hiker boot ( Hard Scrabble) but it’s overkill for Africa but I need it here in the USA for waterproof.

You must be much lighter on your feet then me.

I wore Keene hikers a few years ago and sounded like fighting squirrels running through the bush (compared to the trackers and my PH).

I switched to Greens this year and the increased soul size helped me greatly in putting my foot down with much less noise underfoot.

Disclaimer: I'm old and sloppy on my feet.

uplander01 · 2026-11-04T08:54:42-0600

I've become a big fan of Oboz boots in MT. Sawtooth mid non-waterproof model is what I'll be wearing the next couple of trips to africa. Got caught in terrain with the wrong boots a couple times,...nothing ruins a trip like beat up feet. Used to live in Russell mocs PH model, wear those on rough mountain like rocky terrain once and you won't want that experience again. Footwear is largely personal preference....as far as noise, that's how you walk more than the boot. Walking around in Africa IMO is largely flat ground,.....so I wouldn't go toward a mountain type heavy duty boot.

375Fox · 2026-11-04T09:01:23-0600

'68boy said:
This boot deal is BS. My first Ph in Namibia wore chuck taylor converse sneakers. My tracker on #1 rsa trip wore flip flops w duct tape over the top. I have worn Courtney’s and Cabela’s and Merrill’s and have been very happy and wished I wore chuck taylors. I have said this before on this site— wear what you have and what you have used and what is comfortable— and you will be happy. Waste enough money on needless footware and you could harvest another animal or at least hunt another day. Food for thought…..

I don’t know where all you’ve hunted but the boot deal is not BS. PHs and trackers do it every day. They are much quieter on their feet especially end of a long day. A spot and stalk PG hunt really doesn’t matter. You see the animals, plan an approach, and shoot at 100+ yards. I’ve walked into 5 yards on buffalo before we saw for a shot. Quiet boots make a huge difference on a tracking hunt. Most US hunting boots have a foam midsole for comfort, but it really amplifies any “crack” when you step on the wrong thing. Plain leather boots on a rubber sole, especially the wide soles make a huge difference. Paying $500 for Courtney boots is definitely unnecessary, but not selecting quiet boots on a tracking hunt can cost you an animal. Watch a tracker walk with Merrell boots that have been left by previous clients and you’ll recognize how loud they actually are. I didn’t realize the significance in boots until more recently. I mainly hunt in $60 vellies I bought in Namibia now, because they are so quiet. I’ll probably use US style hunting boots for a PG hunt in eastern cape though for some ankle support and better grip on hills.

ftrovato · 2026-11-04T09:11:20-0600

375Fox said:
I don’t know where all you’ve hunted but the boot deal is not BS. PHs and trackers do it every day. They are much quieter on their feet especially end of a long day. A spot and stalk PG hunt really doesn’t matter. You see the animals, plan an approach, and shoot at 100+ yards. I’ve walked into 5 yards on buffalo before we saw for a shot. Quiet boots make a huge difference on a tracking hunt. Most US hunting boots have a foam midsole for comfort, but it really amplifies any “crack” when you step on the wrong thing. Plain leather boots on a rubber sole, especially the wide soles make a huge difference. Paying $500 for Courtney boots is definitely unnecessary, but not selecting quiet boots on a tracking hunt can cost you an animal. Watch a tracker walk with Merrell boots that have been left by previous clients and you’ll recognize how loud they actually are. I didn’t realize the significance in boots until more recently. I mainly hunt in $60 vellies I bought in Namibia now, because they are so quiet. I’ll probably use US style hunting boots for a PG hunt in eastern cape though for some ankle support and better grip on hills.

Building on your point...

I watched a webcast with Andy Buchanan (This is Africa TV) and the PH he was interviewing asked Americans to leave their Keen & Merrell hikers home or throw them in the fire when they get to Africa.

Hunting boots

gregrn43

Sabre

analog_peninsula

Mekaniks

pilar

375 Ruger Fan

Flipper Dude

Gomer

375Fox

ftrovato

matt vejar

Firebird

'68boy

Africa1

gregrn43

Bejane

ftrovato

uplander01

375Fox

ftrovato

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