I've been writing about my quest for better footwear for the better part of a year now, and I've been pleased with Jim Green's products from South Africa giving a massive bang for the buck. There have been two recent announcements I want to bring to your attention if you're also in pursuit of better boots.
First, Rose Anvil (remember when I recommended that channel?) has announced a collaboration with Jim Green to make a super-serious work boot with rough-out panels at the toe and heel for abrasion resistance and a double layer of leather in the sole for long-lasting durability to make a work/hiking boot that should outlast several re-sole repairs and give years of value. It's available for pre-sale now, as of this post.
Second, they've announced a new line of moccasin-toe boots including a hiking version and a work version. These are real moccasin construction with leather wrapping up from under the foot and around the sides where it gets stitched to a separate toe piece. Basically, this is the upside-down version of how most glued, stitchdown, and Goodyear-welted leather boots and shoes are built.
There's even an opportunity to enter a drawing to win the prototypes if you like the video, subscribe to their channel, and comment with your preferred design and size. This ends in a few days from posting time, though, so act fast!
I wish I could afford boots from the big Spokane custom boot companies. I like Red Wing boots from Minnesota, especially since that's where I spent my childhood and I admit an affection for companies anywhere that have stood the test of time without selling out to megacorporate malaise. Jim Green may be a foreign company [shudders in mock nationalist disdain] but it's a family business trying to grow local industry with good wages by providing a good product at a good price in spite of their own bundle of bureaucratic red tape. They have work boots, hiking boots, sturdy shoes, zero-drop "barefoot" boots, and more. If you want to support real products and real craftsmanship, they get my stamp of approval.
