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Rufiji™ APU Combat Safari Boots

By Rufiji™

£135.00

4 customer reviews

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Wildebeest Brown

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Rufiji™ APU Combat Safari Boots
Designed by our team and field-tested daily by anti-poaching units. Wear these stylish leather combat boots on safari and on the high street.
Key Features: ⊙ Handmade in Africa ⊙ Genuine cowhide leather ⊙ Rubber soles ⊙ Lace-up with built-in tongue ⊙ Part of YOUbuy, WEgive.
Made for: ⊙ Safari✓ ⊙ Outdoor pursuits: Fishing, Hiking, Walking ✓ ⊙ Travel✓ ⊙ Everyday wear ✓ ⊙ Farming✓
More information? Please scroll down.
Please view the size chart before ordering. Our sizes are not US sizes.

Size chart

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Size Chart & Size Guide

Please read the instructions below this size chart before ordering. We have indicated whether this size chart uses body or garment measurements in the notes below the size chart. Allow 1cm variance for all garment measurements (as an example a 56cm garment measurement has a variance of 55-57cm. Please factor that into deciding on the size to order.)

To select cm (cm) or inches (in") please see the top left corner of the size chart table.

cm/ in"	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Length (inside of boot)	22.8 cm	23.6 cm	24.4 cm	25.4 cm	26.2 cm	26.9 cm	27.9 cm	28.7 cm	29.5 cm

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⊙ Please use this size chart before ordering this product to ensure that you get the best fit from the moment they are delivered and to save on returns costs. Sizing and fit across our Rufiji range of shoes, boots, & sandals does also vary slightly depending on the purpose of the style so it is always best to check your size. It may take a little bit of effort and some reading of the notes below, but our shoes, boots, and sandals are made after many hours of thought and field testing and tweaking. We think you will enjoy wearing them.
⊙ You can view the size chart in inches or centimetres by clicking on the "cm" or "inch" text on the green bar above the chart. It is easier and more accurate, however, to measure in centimetres (cm) as our last - the mould used to shape the leather - sizes are measured in cm and millimetres allow for a more accurate comparison.
⊙ With so many different brands and regional sizing systems from all over the world available when you buy shoes, the only way to get your size right the first time is to use our unique sizing guide for shoes. Please note that this guide is meant to assist you as much as possible, but we do acknowledge that people's feet vary tremendously. As such, please treat it as a guide; not as hard and fast for all feet across the world. After all, this guide is based on 2-dimensional measurements, while feet are (of course) 3-dimensional. If you are unsure about the best fit for your feet, we recommend that you order more than one size and return the pair which does not fit for a refund. Shipping cost back to The Safari Store is not included in the price of the shoes and you would need to pay for returns shipping.

How to measure your foot for Rufiji Shoes, Boots, & Sandals:

How to measure shoes guide - Safari Store

How to measure shoes guide - Safari Store

⊙ Measuring with the help of a friend is easier, unless you are lucky enough to be really flexible.
⊙ Select a place against an upright wall that has a hard floor - for example, a tiled or concrete floor - and not a carpet.
⊙ Place a piece of paper which is longer than your foot against the edge of the wall.
⊙ Stand barefoot - not in socks - on the paper with your heel against the wall.
⊙ Ask your friend to use a book or an object with a right angle and place this against the end of your big toe - or the toe which ends the furthest from the wall - and make sure that the book or object is square to (at a right angle to) the floor. Your foot should be relaxed with your toes flat on the piece of paper (not up in the air as in the image).
⊙ Ask your friend to mark in pencil or pen the point directly below the end of your longest toe. Make sure that the paper is still against the wall when you do this and has not slipped forward or back up the wall.
⊙ We used to ask clients to measure the width of their foot, but we found that this skewed the size they selected and so we only ask clients to measure the length of their feet. The shoes are slightly rounded and so should fit just about all foot widths.
⊙ Walk off the paper and then measure from the edge of the paper which was against the wall to the mark you or your friend made on the paper at the end of your longest toe and make a note of this measurement. Measuring in centimetres and millimetres is best.
⊙ The measurements used on our size chart is of the last - the leather mould - and is the length of the inside of the shoe. Depending on how you prefer your shoes to fit, add on the amount you usually allow in your shoes between the end of your shoe and the end of your longest toe. This is usually around 1cm - although some people prefer to use the age-old width of thumb rule to determine the gap between the longest toe and the end of the shoe and so, if you do this, then add 2cm onto the measurement for the length of your foot. The thumb rule is probably the safer option to use. For the width measurement, there is no need to add on any extra amount as shoes are usually close to being flush around the side of your foot.
⊙ As an example, let's say that your foot measures: 23.4cm long. If you add on 1cm to the length, then you would come to 24.4cm long. The corresponding last length in the size chart above would be 24.4cm and you should be a size 6. If you prefer more space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe - for example, your thumb width - then add 2cm, or a little more, onto the measurement for your foot. This would make the measurement 25.4cm, which equates to a size 7.
⊙ If you usually wear really thick socks, please take this into account too when ordering shoes.
⊙ Contact us if you need any help. It may be safer to order two sizes and return the size which is not the best fit. For returns terms, please click here.

Tip: It is much better to use a measuring tape or ruler for this but, if you do not have either of these, then your credit card will do the trick. The long side of a credit card measures 8.5cm and the short side is 5.4cm. Simply use the centimetre measurements on our chart and divide by 8.5cm to get an idea of how many credit card lengths equals the measurement you are recording. Again, this is not the best way to get the best fit.
Scroll back up this page to place your order for this item.
Please note: If you are unsure about which size to order, please contact us before ordering and we will help you as best we can.

Product information

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Quick Facts: ⊙ Handmade from genuine cowhide leather with rubber soles; ⊙ Weight: 1.6kg

Activities: ⊙ Safari✓ ⊙ Travel✓ ⊙ Multi-day adventures✓ ⊙ Everyday use✓ ⊙ Hiking✓ ⊙ Patrolling✓ ⊙ Expeditions✓ ⊙ Outdoor activities✓ ⊙ Walking safaris✓

Features:
⊙ Weight: 1.6kg / 3.5lbs.
⊙ Made from genuine cowhide leather.
⊙ Rubber soles.
⊙ Lace-up with tightly built-in tongue for a degree of waterproofing.
⊙ Packaged in a re-usable canvas drawstring bag as part of our 'say no to plastic' environmental philosophy.

Introduction:
These boots were made for walking! Designed for – and extensively tested by – the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), they are both tough and comfortable even in extreme conditions. Hardy and reliable, we periodically donate of Rufiji APU Boots to the hard-working patrol men and women working in anti-poaching units.

Where it all Began:
It started with passion - passion for wildlife and the strong desire to protect it. We wanted to help, but couldn't exactly run into the wilderness with guns, so Steve approached the men who could.

After meeting with the anti-poaching unit at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and their officer-in-chief, Jabulani Ngubani, we set about designing the Rufiji™ APU Combat Safari Boots with our Rufiji™ shoemaker. By combining a new classic boot style with leather, we came up with the prototype for the boots and then sent the boots to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi to see if they would actually work in the field.

Since then, the boots have undergone thorough testing by APU member Zenzele Tembe. He walked a total of 480km on patrols in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi before reporting back to us with positive results. According to Zenzele, the boots are “very suitable to the dry savanna land and are light on the feet”. Tactically, he says the boots are “ideal as the footprints can be easily concealed”. He says the shoes are “soft but protect the feet from the rough terrain”. He also noted that they “dry fast which is ideal for rainy days and walking through rivers”.

These genuine leather boots were designed for days of trekking through the African bush. Such is the comfort they provide that they are now the boots of choice for anti-poaching teams across Africa. According to Peter Chadwick, conservationist and APU training officer: "I have been searching all over the country for decent patrol boots without any luck. The Rufiji™ APU Combat Safari Boots...are an absolute winner!"

Off the back of the APU’s reviews, we decided to make them available to the public. Their styling makes them a versatile pair of boots that can be worn every day in the urban environment. Their suitability to variegated terrain – built for days of trekking through river and bush in Africa – means that they are tough, durable, and comfortable enough for Land Rover safaris and beyond and even for the hardcore explorer and expeditionist. Get the combat boots which are actually used on the frontline of conservation; rather than boots made purely for fashion.

In an age of mechanisation, products created in the hands of talented artisans speak to an appreciation of quality and attention - tailoring not only fine shoes, but also a story behind what you choose to wear. The materials of our Rufiji™ APU Combat Safari Boots are handled with the attention and expertise of skilled craftsmen to create special, strong footwear in natural materials that will be right at home on outdoor adventures, as well as a stylish focal point in urban environments.

Product notes::
⊙ Please note that the images show members of the Anti-Poaching Unit wearing camouflage clothing. We advise civilians not to wear camouflage when visiting Africa. It is considered illegal in some African countries and may be considered offensive and potentially dangerous.
Please note: ⊙ Sometimes you may see grey marks or patches on your boots. This is the polish we put onto the boots - and if we have applied too much (there isn't really such a thing as too much polish), it may turn white or grey. It is a bit like waxing your car: if you leave it, it turns white. A hair drier and a cloth will sort it out. The heat softens the polish and it gets absorbed into the leather.

Make a purchase with a purpose through YOUbuy, WEgive:

The feedback from APUs have inspired us to do more and so we launched the "YOUbuy, WEgive" initiative to give you, our client, an opportunity to get involved.

Hardy and reliable, we periodically donate a pair(s) of Rufiji APU Boots to the hard-working patrol men and women working in anti-poaching units. We have found that our contribution of boots makes an on-the-ground difference to conservation efforts - helping to protect precious wildlife in Africa.

By purchasing Rufiji™ APU Combat Safari Boots, you are also supporting African shoemakers in providing them with livelihoods. Your purchase also assists with the education and supply of stationery, sports equipment, clothes, and transport to 15 children from a nearby community.

Say no to plastic packaging
Your Rufiji™ boots are packaged in a re-usable canvas drawstring bag. At The Safari Store, we are working hard to eliminate plastic from all of our packaging. This forms part of our commitment to a green future and the preservation of the environment, so future generations can enjoy pristine natural spaces.

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Customer reviews

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William B

17 Dec 2020

I’ve just received my Rufiji APU Boots size 9. Very impressed with the product

T. Kuhl

25 Mar 2019

Surprisingly soft and incredibly comfortable! A fantastic initiative too.

Zenzele Tembe - APU Member

9 Feb 2018

The boots are very suitable to the dry savanna land and are light on the feet. They are ideal as the footprints can be easily concealed. The shoes are soft but protect the feet from the rough terrain and they dry fast which is ideal for rainy days and walking through rivers.

Roland Blum

9 Feb 2018

i strongly recommend these shoes ! they are simply excellent ! light weight and confortable but very stable. i've used them in muddy terrain as well as in dry conditions and i've even tried them in the mountains. i normaly wear 43.5 size and therefor size 9 fitted perfectly ! from my point of view the greatest advandage of this shoe is that you can really walk silently !!! this makes it also an excellent choice for ornithologists and any people observing wildlife on different terrains. the fact that for each purchase the safari store donates a pair to the anti poaching unit is a fantastic idea and from my point of view a very good way to help and support the saving of south africas wildlife ! chapeau !!!

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Additional information

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⊙ MATERIAL: Handmade from strong, comfortable leather with sturdy rubber soles.

⊙ WEIGHT: 1.6kg

⊙ Sometimes you may see grey marks or patches on your boots. This is the polish we put onto the boots - and if we have applied too much (there isn't really such a thing as too much polish), it may turn white or grey. It is a bit like waxing your car: if you leave it, it turns white. A hair drier and a cloth will sort it out. The heat softens the polish and it gets absorbed into the leather.

⊙ Leather is a natural material and so it will last longer if you look after it. We recommend - and use on our own boots - a leather food product which is a combination of beeswax and natural oils. You should be able to purchase a similar leather food product in your own country.

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