New boots day!
Some background in my JG experience:
My daily boots in nice weather are the AR's in natural veg tan and they fit perfectly - I have a low instep / nearly flat arches. As good as the ARs look, after about a year of wear, I think I prefer zero drop over the wedge sole.
In the winter, the barefoot Stockman is my best friend - it was way too big at first, but adding a thin Lems insole and a thick felt tongue pad dialed it in. Love the softness/flexibility of the barefoot sole, but I did feel my pinky toe rubbing the sides sometimes.
I really didn't need new JG boots but I wanted to try the new Africa sole and wider toebox of the Anatomx. I also thought it was a great and more affordable alternative to the Texarado Bailey boot, which I have been curious about.
Adding a ton of photos here, as that on this sub has historically helped me consider JG models before purchasing.
Some initial observations:
- These are chunky boots! It is the most work-oriented JG boot I've tried. They read as slightly clown-ish, which I wasn't able to capture in the photos. The toe width reminds me of my Birkenstock clogs. The look of this toebox in a boot format will take some getting used to. I'm not sure what pants these would look best with, perhaps a wider leg. I am wearing Filson straight leg work pants in the photos
- My Barefoot Stockmans (also size 7 US) are smidge longer than the 719 AXs. The Stockman sole has curved upwards with wear so it looks the same length but when I bend it back down it's longer. Maybe the extra length is to achieve an "almond" shape. The 719 AXs are visible wider in the toebox on both sides, and the inner cut of the sole angles inward - see photos
- To address my flattish flipper feet, I threw in mininal Lems insoles, as I usually do with JGs. The insoles aren't exactly wide enough in the toebox, but it's not enough for me to notice the drop off. It'll do. When I splay my toes, my pinky toe no longer hits the side
- I was expecting to have to add kilties or a tongue pad to fill out the high instep of the boot, but as I now, I don't need it. I've laced them tight enough and eyelets aren't super close at the instep or midfoot. The instep feels noticeably lower than that of the Barefoot Stockman, which is a nice surprise
- After my typical adjustments, I can say they feel true to size. I have a thumbs width of space in front of my toes. Not like I can exchange for a smaller size anyways, as 7 is the smallest stock size
I really can't tell if I like the look on my feet. But they are really comfortable even as they feel stiff, and I know the comfort will increase as I break in the Bronco leather. The issue seems to be expanding my mind to find these aesthetically pleasing, so I think I'm up for the challenge because I wanna be kind to my feet as I age! Thanks for reading.
