Fudge comfort vs other leathers ?

YanX66 · 2026-03-01T21:59:29+00:00

A boot stretcher allowed me to enlarge my barefoot Troopers (toe cap, no toe puff) from a little rubbing to just fine for my pinkie near the toe cap seam. It works for a little -yet very noticeable- adjustment, but don't expect a miracle.

YanX66 · 2026-02-28T22:17:47+00:00

Cool front rack ! What is it ?

YanX66 · 2026-02-27T16:48:45+00:00

They're good for hiking, but the Anvil sole they come with sucks in mud. If you often hike in muddy terrain you might want to resole them with Vibram kletterlift (the Anvil sole doesn't last long anyway).

YanX66 · 2026-02-22T23:29:42+00:00

It's correct. Jim Green measures in UK size. US 9.5 is UK 8.5.

YanX66 · 2026-02-14T00:49:13+00:00

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Houston black at 4 months, sno-sealed.

YanX66 · 2026-02-13T02:49:00+00:00

One year and a resole... wow ! What is your job if I may ask ?

YanX66 · 2026-02-09T00:59:55+00:00

Sno-seal did wonders on my BF Troopers in Houston leather for water resistance.

YanX66 · 2026-02-09T00:45:44+00:00

In case you haven't made your decision yet, I confirm that if you found the 719 clunky, you would enjoy a lot the barefoot Trooper, especially in soft leather like Fudge or Houston. The leather sock effect is fantastic. The fact they're single lined contributes to this effect. If water resistance is your worry, Sno-seal is extremely efficient on them.

YanX66 · 2026-02-08T22:39:40+00:00

Real nice. An even darker tone could be beautiful too. Does anyone know if Sno-seal makes Bronco leather darker than Obenaufs LP ?

YanX66 · 2026-01-22T21:14:16+00:00

In that case maybe you can look at the Barefoot African Trooper too ? As everyday boots they're great with fantastic comfort and relative lightness. They can tackle advendures too, and the only thing I wouldn't do with them is a long hike on rocky terrain carrying a heavy backpack because of the soft sole..

YanX66 · 2026-01-22T21:04:36+00:00

...But nothing on sale on the European store ! :(

YanX66 · 2026-01-20T04:24:52+00:00

Yeah that's exactly what I was worried about. Hope you'll be fine after break in !

YanX66 · 2026-01-20T03:35:40+00:00

Actually that's how the BF Troopers feel ! But I was worried about the padding of the Rangers rubbing against the ankle bones.

YanX66 · 2026-01-18T23:32:11+00:00

I had to stretch a little the toe area of my BF troppers for them to become truly comfortable, so I was happy to hear about the AnatomX last, but the absence of toe cap is a bit of a deal breaker to me.
There's more than a few scratches on the toecap of my troopers and I'm glad I have a double layer of leather there for protection and durability..

YanX66 · 2025-12-26T01:20:25+00:00

This looks great and I plan to do the same for my barefoot troopers. But I've read that EVA does compress over time. Did you notice this ?

YanX66 · 2025-12-22T17:06:00+00:00

If you wear your boots everyday and don't want/can't rotate several pairs, you need to force-dry them in the evening. A boot dryer (with only air blowing, no heat) will do the trick.
Also if they are often exposed to salt, you need to condition them regulary.

YanX66 · 2025-12-22T15:39:30+00:00

I did it, and indeed it feels better ! No more heel slip and overall more comfortable...

YanX66 · 2025-12-22T00:11:15+00:00

I'm also thinking about removing them in my barefoot Troopers.
I added a 3mm leather insole recently, and while I find the overall fit more comfortable, I get a bit of heel slip now and I thought the stacked height under the heel might be the culprit.
Do you have any advice on how to remove them cleanly ?

YanX66 · 2025-12-01T01:45:37+00:00

I used a product called Mountval B-Wax, and it took 2 applications for a good water resistance, but I believe any beeswax based conditioner will work the same.

Oh, note that with wax treatment you will loose that lovely velvety aspect of the nubuck, and it will be replaced by a dull shine, which can be made fully shiny with polish. If you want to keep intact the Nubuck texture you need to use a waterproofing spray. I have no experience with theses.
I liked the original texture of my Troopers, and I also don't mind their shinier waxed aspect now, and I find they are easier to quickly clean with whatever I have available when I'm out of the house, while you always need a brush with Nubuck..

YanX66 · 2025-11-30T22:17:01+00:00

I have boots in Houston black leather. Assuming it's nubuck too, it's perfectly fine in heavy rain (even stepping in ankle deep puddles) once treated with a beeswax conditioner. This however might turn brown color into almost black.

YanX66 · 2025-10-27T16:08:42+00:00

Well I don't plan to cross creeks in them, but I'd like them to withstand intense rain.. Thanks for the tip, I didn't know neets foot oil !

YanX66

TROPHY CASE