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Clarks Desert Boots Lately

tmal

One of the Regulars
Messages
116
Location
NYS
I think I need to replace my desert boots which are LL Bean, and have worked well. But it does not look like Bean carries them anymore. So, back to Clarks, which I have not owned since the 70's. Has anybody had a pair lately? Do they still run large? What is your overall impression? I take my desert boots seriously. I would estimate that nearly one half of my late teen/adult life I have worn them. The best pair I ever had I bought in 1969. They were made in Czechoslovakia. The crepe sole seemed thin, but wore like iron, and were very grippy. The fit was perfect too. If you know where I might still be able to find these, let me know, they were the best.
 

Corky

Practically Family
Messages
507
Location
West Los Angeles
Try Amazon, but be careful to get the ones which are real split leather cowhide. Look at the inside of the shoe to see which ones are real leather and which ones are substitutes.
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,638
Got mine from an eBay search a couple years ago. Unworn, made in Viet Nam. I too wore them in the 70s and these are every bit as comfortable and well made.
Try a Google search for plenty of information. They are still made and it was nice to return to them after a long absence.
B
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,281
Location
New Forest
There's an online mens clothier that I use from time to time. They have the classic desert boot in the original sandy colour, or you might like the navy pair that would go well with blue jeans. They do a rather unusual grey pair too. I haven't worn desert boots since the seventies, and those too were Clarks. I have bought an excellent pair of leather Chelsea boots from this company. They do international shipping but you will have to check the price with them. The Boots cost fifty-five pounds.
https://www.samuel-windsor.co.uk/mens-shoes/new-shoes
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,281
Location
New Forest
So, what's the difference between a desert boot and a chukka?
The desert boot is a fashion item worn on the foot.
A chukka is the colloquial Indian name given for a period of play in polo. The duration of a match is 42 minutes, divided into six periods of seven minutes each with specified intervals between each period.
I do hope that has cleared up any ambiguity.
 

Peacoat

*
Bartender
Messages
6,296
Location
South of Nashville
I think they are about the same PC.

I meant to mention before, nothing beats a pair of old Clarks Wallabee for comfort. Imo
B
Thanks Bowen; that's what I was thinking. When the OP called them desert boots, the first thing I thought of was the tan combat boots worn in the Middle East. Then I realized he was probably talking about what I have always called chukkas.
 

DavidTen

New in Town
Messages
12
Red Wing makes a nice pair in both Weekend and Work series. May give them a go after wearing out my old Clark’s. The are pricier though.
 

Feraud

Bartender
Messages
17,190
Location
Hardlucksville, NY
Red Wing makes a nice pair in both Weekend and Work series. May give them a go after wearing out my old Clark’s. The are pricier though.
I have the Red Wing Weekender Chukka and LOVE them! Comfortable right out of the box and only feels better with use. I can wear them all day and do a lot of walking and never think about my feet. The run slightly large, I went down 1/2 size.
They're a pricer than Clark's. I've been thinking about getting a second pair. Definitely worth the money.
 

DavidTen

New in Town
Messages
12
I have the Red Wing Weekender Chukka and LOVE them! Comfortable right out of the box and only feels better with use. I can wear them all day and do a lot of walking and never think about my feet. The run slightly large, I went down 1/2 size.
They're a pricer than Clark's. I've been thinking about getting a second pair. Definitely worth the money.


Check out the Weekender Chelsea too!
 

Seb Lucas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,562
Location
Australia
I haven't worn Clarks desert boots since the 70's but I remember the soft soles wearing out very quickly if you did any walking. I used to wear out a pair in about 6 months. 'Desert boots' must be the English/Australian term for these. I've never heard of Chukkas.
 

bn1966

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,087
Location
UK
I like a pair of desert boots and have found the latest Clark’s run a bit large and don’t work for me (loose in the heel). They did a collaboration with ‘Pretty Green’, now those are some nice boots of which I’ve had a few pairs...
 

Boyo

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,213
Location
Long Island NY
John Lofgren makes a Dessert Boot as well, A bit more expensive then Clarks.. at $500.. But the quality and workmanship are tops.

https://johnlofgren.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn-fX6uX86QIVA3iGCh0FwgDNEAAYASAAEgKRi_D_BwE


DesertBoot-Sand-01_2000x.jpg



They have a few colors ( sand, Navy Rust & Green)

I like this green

lk019_olive_2_2000x.jpg
 

tropicalbob

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
miami, fl
I haven't worn Clarks desert boots since the 70's but I remember the soft soles wearing out very quickly if you did any walking. I used to wear out a pair in about 6 months. 'Desert boots' must be the English/Australian term for these. I've never heard of Chukkas.
That's what everyone here called them in the 1960s when they were very popular, especially among the hippie contingent: check out photos of the San Francisco bands like The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, etc. Also big were Engineer boots. I wore both.
 

tropicalbob

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
miami, fl
Thursday Boots have them as well, for $149.00. If they're anything like their other boots (I have three pair), they;re comfortable and durable. They offer both regular hard, studded rubber soles and crepe ones.
 

Interbak

One of the Regulars
Messages
244
Location
Stratford, ON, Canada
I wore Clark’s for years, the last pair I bought had the crepe soles, they were junk. The soles were only glued on. There was a stitch line around the sole but it was just for show, didn’t actually have any structural purpose. I returned them when the sole separated, the shoe store said it was pretty common.
B
 

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