Editor's Personal Pick — Our editor owns these and wore them his first season.
Matt's first-season boot: a Wisconsin moccasin that's great on the flat and short on grip on hairy side hills.
Why we picked this
Matt Gehrmann has a pair of Russell Moccasin's Joe's PH and wore them his first season. His verdict: "They are great, but meant more for flatland." They're "not grippy enough for some of the hairy side hills we have to do for quail." Since last season he's been in Schnee's Beartooth mountain boots. This page used to call the boot the Joe's PH II; Russell sells it as the Joe's PH.
Quick specs
| Category | Boots |
| Brand | Russell Moccasin (Berlin, Wisconsin) |
| Model | Joe's PH, from Russell's PH (Professional Hunter) series |
| Construction | Single-vamp moccasin with a molded sole |
| Outsole | Vibram 360, Russell's standard PH sole |
| Wet ground | Russell says it "is not ideal for wet terrain" |
| Lead time | 8–12 weeks for a made-to-order pair |
| Price | $750 in stock at Russell, sold out when we checked (Oct. 22, 2026) |
| Matt's pair | Worn his first season |
| Editor's verdict | Great on the flat; not enough grip for hairy quail side hills. |
The full review
Russell builds the Joe's PH as a "lightweight Single Vamp moccasin with a Molded Sole," with a cushioned collar and a pull loop at the heel, according to its product page. The standard sole on the PH line is a Vibram 360, which Russell's soles page calls an "excellent combination of traction and durability."
Matt's point is where that traction runs out. On flat ground he rates them highly. On the hairy side hills of quail country, "not grippy enough" is his phrase.
Russell lists more aggressive soles, including the Sierra, which it calls a "highly aggressive, long wearing outsole" for mid to high elevations. Its pages don't say whether the Sierra can go on the PH's molded-sole construction, so if grip on steep ground is the point, ask Russell before you order. Russell's own warning is worth heeding too: the Joe's PH "is not ideal for wet terrain."
When we checked, Russell's in-stock listing was $750 and sold out. Made-to-order pairs carry an 8–12 week lead time, are non-refundable, and allow one 30-day exchange for unworn boots.
What we love
- Great on the flat, in Matt's words.
- Light: Russell calls it a "lightweight" moccasin.
- A list of soles on Russell's site, from the standard Vibram 360 to the aggressive Sierra.
What to know before you buy
- Not for hairy side hills: "not grippy enough," says Matt.
- Not for wet ground, says Russell.
- 8–12 weeks for a made-to-order pair, and no refunds.
- $750 in stock, and sold out when we checked.
Where to buy
- Joe's PH at Russell Moccasin (brand-direct)
- Russell's sole options
California Upland doesn't earn a commission on these links.
See also
- All boots
- Schnee's Beartooth v3 0g — the mountain boot Matt wears now
- Darn Tough Hunter Mid-Calf Cushion Sock — Matt's socks