Hunting Boots, Did I do alright?

[JCHunter62]

Starting to prep for our Safari in July to RSA with Zander Osmer Safaris.

The topic of discussion, footwear.....

I am a western mountain hunter and normally wear Crisipi or Irish Setter high topped mountain hunting boots, not something that seems appropriate for an African safari.

So at DSC 2025 I got hooked up with Andy Buchanan with TIA , another story for a different post, and he took me to the African Sporting Creations booth for the "correct" pair of boots. They told me the best boot was Courtney Safari boots for the low price of $749 (brown hippo leather). I decided to pass at that time so now I am back to thinking about it.

A quick ebay search yielded a couple pairs of safari boots in my size (US13 EE). I sniped a pair of Courtney Mens Leather Safari and Men's AL Safari by James Leddy boots for $100 each. Was this a good deal? Will I be happy with these boots?

 

[Muskox]

Probably not.

Courteney's are crazy uncomfortable for everyday wear until you have them beat into submission.

Never heard of James Leddy.

You will either like them or not.

 

[mdwest]

Starting to prep for our Safari in July to RSA with Zander Osmer Safaris.

The topic of discussion, footwear.....

I am a western mountain hunter and normally wear Crisipi or Irish Setter high topped mountain hunting boots, not something that seems appropriate for an African safari.

So at DSC 2025 I got hooked up with Andy Buchanan with TIA , another story for a different post, and he took me to the African Sporting Creations booth for the "correct" pair of boots. They told me the best boot was Courtney Safari boots for the low price of $749 (brown hippo leather). I decided to pass at that time so now I am back to thinking about it.

A quick ebay search yielded a couple pairs of safari boots in my size (US13 EE). I sniped a pair of Courtney Mens Leather Safari and Men's AL Safari by James Leddy boots for $100 each. Was this a good deal? Will I be happy with these boots?

James Leddy safari boots start at $350 a pair and go up from there.. at $100, if they are in good shape, you got a serious steal..

I wear leddy's.. I had Al (the bootmaker there) make mine using the cape buffalo hide from my 2019 hunt.. he does stellar work.. a handful of other AH members also have had Al make boots for them..

 

[JCHunter62]

Probably not.

Courteney's are crazy uncomfortable for everyday wear until you have them beat into submission.

Never heard of James Leddy.

You will either like them or not.

Good point, my dad said he thought the Courtney's were uncomfortable when trying them on too. I am hoping with 6 months to break them in, I can make them comfortable atleast.

 

[JCHunter62]

James Leddy safari boots start at $350 a pair and go up from there.. at $100, if they are in good shape, you got a serious steal..

I wear leddy's.. I had Al (the bootmaker there) make mine using the cape buffalo hide from my 2019 hunt.. he does stellar work.. a handful of other AH members also have had Al make boots for them..

The boots pictures are the actual items I purchased (pending delivery) but I thought the James Leddys looked in excellent shape. Does Al still work there? I have heard there was a lot going on with that company, but my father was wanting some cape buffalo boots made? Could you share some pictures of yours?

 

[mdwest]

Al owns James Leddy Boots.. when James Leddy passed away Al bought it from the family.. its a small shop.. the last time I was there it was just Al in the back making boots, and a clerk in the front managing inventory and ringing the cash register..

My understanding is the "a lot going on" is all old / water under the bridge.. there were disputes with other family members about ownership, continued use of the James Leddy name, etc.. (Leddy is a HUGE name in Texas for boot making)..

Ill get some pics and post them when I get back to the house..

 

[375Fox]

For a plains game hunt your boots don’t matter too much as long as they are lightweight. For a close in tracking hunt your boots really matter. Boots like Courtney that are just rubber and don’t have the foam midsole (like most US hunting boots) are quiet. They don’t “crack” when you step on a branch like ones with foam will. I find Courtney boots really uncomfortable. They won’t break in and feel too heavy in wrong areas. I really regret purchasing them. It’ll be trial and error until you find right boots. You got a good deal though to give a try.

 

[coreydb]

Don't waste your money. Courtney boots need to be tried on before buying because their boots fit the feet differently than US-made standard sizes. I have a pair I ordered based on their size chart, and they were too big in some dimensions and too small in other ways. I had to soak, shrink, dry, then use shoe expanders to stretch out the boots until they fit me. Don't get me wrong-I love these boots. Just try them on before you buy. The boots are extremely expensive-if you're inclined to buy, wait until Feb's SCI convention and see if boots are available to try on. If not, buy at your own risk. BTW; I've worn Kenetrek and Red Wing boots in Africa on previous safaris. You already have what you need.

 

[uplander01]

I had a pair of Courteney Velie's I wore on a couple safaris with athletic insoles,...they were alright but not what I would want for super long days on my feet once you go over 8 miles or so. I prefer athletic type military boots, Solomon, Oboz, with a lot of support both under your foot and for your ankles, most miltary footwear has a puncture barrier as well so you don't need to worry about thorns.....but they are a littel noisier. I thought I had the african safari footwear licked with my Russel Moccasin PH's but honestly over rough terrain in Namibia my last trip my feet took a beating.....they are perfect for sand and smooth terrain, but once it gets rocky and uneven I have to have real boots at my age.

 

[JCHunter62]

For a plains game hunt your boots don’t matter too much as long as they are lightweight. For a close in tracking hunt your boots really matter. Boots like Courtney that are just rubber and don’t have the foam midsole (like most US hunting boots) are quiet. They don’t “crack” when you step on a branch like ones with foam will. I find Courtney boots really uncomfortable. They won’t break in and feel too heavy in wrong areas. I really regret purchasing them. It’ll be trial and error until you find right boots. You got a good deal though to give a try.

We are doing our buffalo hunt on the Klaserie, which is what we were told we need "quite" boots for. Do you have any recommendations?

 

[Muskox]

Yeah a Khomas mountain safari would require totally different boots than a hunt in the Kalahari. I had a hunt that was in both areas way back in 2005.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

I have custom cowboy boots from the Fort Worth Leddy's. I would say my Selous Courtney's broke in quite easily and the thing about them is the sole and lack of a heel. It makes stalking much more quiet.

I am sure these will work fine.

 

[JCHunter62]

Don't waste your money. Courtney boots need to be tried on before buying because their boots fit the feet differently than US-made standard sizes. I have a pair I ordered based on their size chart, and they were too big in some dimensions and too small in other ways. I had to soak, shrink, dry, then use shoe expanders to stretch out the boots until they fit me. Don't get me wrong-I love these boots. Just try them on before you buy. The boots are extremely expensive-if you're inclined to buy, wait until Feb's SCI convention and see if boots are available to try on. If not, buy at your own risk. BTW; I've worn Kenetrek and Red Wing boots in Africa on previous safaris. You already have what you need.

I tried them on at the DSC convention and noted/pictured the size and boots I needed. I confirmed with the seller the size before purchasing so hopefully its correct.

 

[deewayne2003]

Probably not.

Courteney's are crazy uncomfortable for everyday wear until you have them beat into submission.

Never heard of James Leddy.

You will either like them or not.

Experience must vary greatly…..

Because I have 2 pair of Courteney’s and straight out of the box they are the most comfortable shoes and boots I’ve ever owned.

FYI - I wear the exact same size as the OP and I think you got a steal on the courteneys and will love them.

 

[uplander01]

Gum rubber sole are absolutely the most quiet, but they are also the most flexible so your feet will get sore more easily.. I just bought a pair of ObOz non gore tex hikers, on sale right now for $125. Footwear is such a personal thing, and honestly if you are careful the noise factor is far less a big deal than people want you to believe when you're rifle hunting

 

[RR 314]

"It's kinda weird because my mom doesn't like me wearing other people's shoes."

---Brian Johnson (The Breakfast Club)

 

[375Fox]

We are doing our buffalo hunt on the Klaserie, which is what we were told we need "quite" boots for. Do you have any recommendations?

If you find those boots comfortable they are both good choices. I bought a pair of Jim Green boots but haven’t tried to break them in yet. I got a pair of $60 vellies in Namibia that have become my favorite hunting boot. I’ll buy more next time I go. It’s really difficult to find “quiet” hunting boots in US. They nearly all come with that foam middle layer. You can really notice it when a tracker (who knows how to walk quiet) wears quiet African boots one day and US boots the next a client left him. However, if it comes down to comfortable or quieter, choose comfortable. You need to last 10 days in them.

 

[coreydb]

I tried them on at the DSC convention and noted/pictured the size and boots I needed. I confirmed with the seller the size before purchasing so hopefully its correct.

Great! I should have done the same, but I bought mine long before the convention.

 

[wesheltonj]

You can easily get by with tennis shoes. When I as in the Kalahari, I had hiking boots, big mistake, all sand. In Zambia hard packed dirt easy walking. Tanzania when on the plains tennis shoes would have worked just find. The two days they we walked up the side on the mountain, I was thankful that I had the ankle support, lots of loose volcanic rocks. The Massai however were wearing sandals made from old tires and they had no problems.

 

[VertigoBE]

I have a pair of Courteney safaris that I purchased new of a Belgian Vendor. I quite liked them, although the toe box wasn’t high enough for me.

On the Safari that I wore them, I took a bull elephant and had Courteney’s make a pair of safari’s out of the hide, with the specification of a higher toe box. They are now my favourite Safari boot.

I’m used to wearing harder shoes and boots though, leather soles, wood heels. Or relatively heavy Derby boots. So most of the criticism I read above (weight, stiffness, must be walked in) I do not find true so much. Any good boot or shoe needs to be walked in. If it does not need this, it will probably not last that long as it had to be made from more forgiving materials.