Sneaky Silent Shoes

[Green Chile]

If you can roll your feet in your boots, then you can walk quietly in the bush. Many times you will have to stop and reset your feet in the field to walk quietly.

 

[rookhawk]

What's your opinion on the "silent" shoes? EX: R.M. 'Thula Thula', to be specific these are shoes without a traditional external sole with the idea that these will be quieter than those with traditional rubber grip soles. My biggest concern with this footwear is essentially everything OUTSIDE of stalking... Moving quickly to get behind cover, fleeing a charging animal, any sort of quick sudden 'in the moment motion' that needs to be done 'in the heat of the moment', you ever slipped over? I am hoping more experienced individuals that use or have used these style of shoes/boots will chime in and give their experiences.
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For Africa, A pair of courteneys with the tractor sole, you can walk pretty darned quiet and you don't slip when climbing gomas and kopis.

The russels are cool, but you need to make sure you get them with the thorn proof inner sole or you'll have a spike go right through. They probably will quiet down when they are very worn and turn to suede, but at what cost of traction and longevity?

In the States for ultimate quiet, bowhunters will buy premium wool tube socks and dip the soles in rubber. No protection, but that's how you walk up corn rows with a bow and shoot a buck at 15 yards. It wouldn't work in Africa, you'd be at the hospital with sepsis and tetanus after a 100 yard walk.

 

[Sideshow]

Here's my 20 year old Russell's on the left still going strong with no repairs after many trips...and my new Russell's with 2 trips on them on the right...and my trainer GoRucks in between with lots of mileage. All great boots with no regrets.

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Bit of an old thread @Green Chile but the go rucks did you ever use them in Africa?

 

[Green Chile]

Good question. I’ve been in a good bit of thorn bush the last few trips and opted for my Russells. In camp and airports, I do wear the Go Rucks or crocs.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I don’t know how you keep those soles glued on. After 3 pair and multiple returns to Russell I’ve finally given up.

try JB Weld I just repaired a pair of Danner boots that split (no warranty) and they are holding up nicely