Russell Moccasin boot question...Need your opinions please

[Mike Vines]

My mom was just over for dinner and was wanting to know what I wanted for Christmas.  Without missing a beat I told her a pair of Russell Moccasin PH boots.  

  I have feet that I can never find boots to fit off of the shelf [shaped like Bananas (12C)], and have been researching custom made ones.  Russell's keep popping up, and I have even found some good threads on here about their boots.  Needless to say, she cut me a check tonight to go ahead and order a pair.  

  Before I go and spend my Mom's money, I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.  I would like to hear from those of you who have a pair of PH boots from them, and tell me about your experience with having boots custom made to your feet. $350 seems like alot of money, but I have been spending $200 a year, the last 12 years, on Redwings that fit in the beginning, but quickly stretch.  The last 2 pairs of Red Wings I have bought have been total crap, and I more than likely will never buy another pair again.  Granted the Red wings are used for work, and the Russell's will be used for just camping and hunting, so they will see less use and wear which will allow them to stick around longer.

  If you do have a pair, please post a picture of yours, and tell me how old they are and if you would buy them again and why.  I'm also looking at different color options they have available.

Thanks in advance all,

Mike

[Bigriver]

You will get a lot of differing opinions. I dont have the ph I have the hc hunters. I personally had a lousy experience with the company, I dont like the boots. They do not fit good, give me massive blisters, are not close to being water proof etc. They are well made, although mine have the one boot off center from the sole. I would never order another pair. They also were late on the promised date. Make sure you do your research before dropping the coin.

[Looper]

I had a pair and lost them (left them on the bumper of my truck), and they were fantastic.  Mine were the Hiker model. I had them for 6 years and they just got better with age. With care, they'll last you a decade or more.  You can get them resoled when needed, too.

I highly recommend getting them. I have a set of Danner Mountain Lites that are on their third resole and their 16th year. I'm getting ready to order a new set of Russell's, though. I have a wide forefoot and a narrow heel and most storebought shoes/boots are a compromise. I'm thinking about the Turkey Hunter model.

My experience was definitely different than Bigrivers.  There are other custom boot makers out there, too.

[Mike Vines]

That's what I'm trying to do now.  Thanks for your honesty.

[McDave]

I ordered a pair of Mohican Stalkers a few years ago.  My feet are wide in the front and narrow in the back, so standard lasts don't fit very well.  I was looking forward to having a pair of boots that actually fit my feet, and carefully drew an outline of my feet on their diagram.

I don't think they made the boots from the drawing I made of my feet.  The boots were tight in the front, and loose in the back, like boots off the shelf.  I tried to like them, as they were well made, cost a lot, and I had to wait a long time for them, but like Bigriver above, I got tired of getting  blisters on my heel, and finally gave them away.

I have read of many people who love these boots, but that was not my experience.

[critter69]

I have a pair of there tula tula's and there great for what they are (moccisons so no sole)I took them to texas pig hunting and was just planning on wearing them occasionaly, and ended up wearing them the whole week. And it rained hard a few days and my feet stayed pretty dry. But I did have the stitching come un done. Sent them back and they restitched them right away. So ya I say they are good but 300.00+ probably not.Good luck

[Bjorn]

I ordered a pair of the lace to toe hunting boots a couple of years ago, and a pair of shoes. The shoes were great and the boots were never right, toes curl just thinking about them. Measured carefully etc. sent them back blah blah, finally got a decent price selling them here though. Sure hope they worked better for the gent I sold them to than they did for me. Sometimes you win other times not.

[AMB]

I bought a pair off of the sale list.  I love them, they are a tad wide in the heel, but I added an insole and everything is fine.  Mine are the high country hunters.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I had a pair of the PH boots, maybe the worst money I ever spent. Very poor fitting, and I expected the opposite.....

[landman]

I'm a Russell Nut.   Here is my opinion.   The RM Turkey Hunter is the best boot made for warm weather though light cold, and nothing else compares.   I'd wager $2K that there isn't a snake that can get through them and with a light wool sock they'll do until it freezes   I have a pair that I wear all the time, hot or cold, and you'll have to pry me out of them.

The Safari line....I have a pair of PH's.   The uppers are canvas and the boot is leather.   Very soft and I wish mine had the rubber crepe sole, but I have a genuine boot sole that does just as well, i suppose.    The PH...in any form...is not a cold weather boot and if you're in Michigan, most of the time...2 seasons atleast, it's cold there.   If you're hunting early fall then the PH will be fine for you but don't be fooled, the PH is NOT a cold weather boot.   it's much more designed for the deep south in Fall and early Spring..   The PH is an African boot.   looks great with Levis on the right guy,  but totally uselss in most US hunting situations.

[landman]

I forgot to add this thought.....the Safari PH looks great on pretty women with long legs in warm environments.   We all love girls like that, but from a practical point, it don't measure.

[landman]

Ok...let's see how long it takes my posts to be deleted..

[Steve O]

I along with a couple friends have had less than stellar experiences with Russells from the PH to the Sheep Hunter/HCH.  Sent you a PM.

[Mike Vines]

Well, if not the russells, who else has a narrow (12C) foot?  What boots have you found that actually fit your feet, and feel comfortable for a couple years?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

"The PH is an African boot. looks great with Levis on the right guy, but totally uselss in most US hunting situations. "

It wasn't anything to do with weather that caused me concern with these boots. If they would fit me in Africa, they oughta damn well fit me in Michigan.

[Otto]

I own 6 pairs and won't treat my feet to anything less.  The PH's I have are my absolute favorite.  They cradle my foot just perfectly and fit my narrow (12B) feets just fine.  I wear em in the field.  I wear em in the office.  I wear em to Church.

Did I leave anyplace out???

[Bowmag]

I bought a pair (don't remember the model)at the Dallas Safari Club show a couple of years ago. Mind you the salesman from the factory measured my feet and legs and did a foot outline. After waiting many weeks I received a pair of boots that fit no better, maybe worse, than the samples at the show.
I immediately returned them for a full refund. The factory did not seem to be the least bit concerned that they had provided such an ill fitting boot.
Back to Danners.

[Tomas]

I just recieved my Mohican Stalkers and they fit very good, went down to the factory and got measured right there. I used them for gun season they were cold but it was 18 degrees on opening morning. Comfortable and waterproof so far.

[TOEJAMMER]

I have a pair of the High Country Hunter boots and the Lace to Toe boots and would suggest you spend our mother's gift money on a pair of White's boots.  They are also made to order and actually fit the specs you supply and are twice the boot compared to Russell's.

[cacciatore]

I own several pair of HCH and SH,I love them but far to be perfect,after a while they can't stay dry, when elk hunting in the rain,where you can't rewaterproof them everynight.The soles are not always flat on the ground like already said.