Clarks has always had great quality in their shoes. My only concern with the one I ordered is after wearing it for a week, one of the leather on the left looks darker than the one on the right, It looks like I have 2 different colored shoes.
Instantly fell in love in these iconic Desert Boots! They run a little on the bigger side so order at least 1/2 size down. I typically wear an 11.5 US but found the size 11 to be plenty comfortable. Great versatile boot to kick around town in.
The Clarks Originals Desert Boot has been the "classic" chukka boot design for seventy years. Most versions combine a suede upper with the natural crepe rubber sole. In recent years, the tough Beeswax leather version and dressy versions with glossy black and brown uppers have also become popular.
A key reason for their popularity is that Clark boots look good with a sport coat and slacks, with khaki pants at the office and with jeans.
Sizing is tricky. Nordstrom staff are good at measuring your foot and getting you fitted properly. If you normally wear a size 11 to size 14 in a non-Clark shoe, you probably need to go down one full size (such as from a size 12 down to a size 11). If you normally wear a size 8 to a size 10, go down a half size (from a 10 1/2 down to a 10). The suede versions get a bit wider after a few weeks of wear, less so with the beeswax and smooth leather versions.
The break in period takes a week or two until the heel counter and upper softens a bit. Wearing them around the house with thicker socks for a few hours a day will loosen them up before you try wearing them all day. After they loosen up, they feel like slippers.
By design, the Desert boot has a firm and flat insole. After a couple of weeks that firmness will feel normal for most people. If you miss having a cushy insole, you can buy them at the corner drug store.
To keep the suede versions looking good, buy a suede brush and brush them when dirty. A pencil eraser will remove smudges. With ALL versions, put in a Nordstrom Cedar shoe tree as soon as you take them off and never wear the same pair two days in a row. Resting for a day on a shoe tree keeps the shoe looking great.
Bonus: the soft and flexible crepe rubber sole does not contain metal. You don't need to take these off at the airport.
