The Desert Boot and Chukka appreciation/review thread

[Reiver]

Thought I would start a thread devoted to desert boots and Chukka boots.

Feel free to post photos of yours and any reviews or friendly discussion.

 

[Johnniegold]

@Reiver. Thanks!

Well, I said it and I meant it. ?

So on the heels of your post, I’ll kick it off with the Alden Snuff Suede Chukka and the Greenflex Boot by Astorflex. Interesting that the website where I purchased the Greenflex never referred to them as a “desert boot” but rather an “eco-friendly” boot

Now watching. ?

 

[Munky]

It is great to see this thread. Thank you, Reiver!

I think that desert boots are one of the most versatile shoes/boots you can buy. They go with pretty much everything but are - of course - best with casual clothes, particularly jeans. You have to try a few versions, though. They can vary a lot in height and if they are too high, they don't grip around the heels; too low and they look like shoes. Clark's are famous for being a bit on the tall side and this can make them very sloppy. It should be borne in mind, though, that it was Mr Clark who designed the original desert boot and the style of them has remained pretty much the same since around 1950. I believe that his desert boots remain the best sellers. They have pretty much never been out of fashion since the first pair was made.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, desert boots are a lot more informal than chukka boots, which tend to have a more traditional build, mostly with a leather sole and heel stack. Someone on the net has written that 'while all desert boots are a type of chukka boot, not all chukka boots are desert boots'.

Traditionally, desert boots are made of suede and usually lighter shades of it. These days, though, they are made of a wide variety of leathers and a range of colours. Traditionally, too, they are made with a crepe sole but this can change as well. They are usually made using a stitchdown construction. This is another departure from the construction of a chukka boot, which will often be Goodyear welted or Blake stitched. Normally, the lacing is simple, with two rows of eyelets, sometimes three.

Desert boots stand up well in most weathers. Suede is a pretty tough leather and withstands rain pretty well. Some find that the traditional crepe soles can be a bit slippery.

This is my take on them, for the moment and happy to be open to any corrections or disagreements.

If you ain't got any, get some and stay cool.

 

[JFWR]

My Allen Edmonds Dundee navy blue shell cordovan chukkas:

 

[Reiver]

It is great to see this thread. Thank you, Reiver!

I think that desert boots are one of the most versatile shoes/boots you can buy. They go with pretty much everything but are - of course - best with casual clothes, particularly jeans. You have to try a few versions, though. They can vary a lot in height and if they are too high, they don't grip around the heels; too low and they look like shoes. Clark's are famous for being a bit on the tall side and this can make them very sloppy. It should be borne in mind, though, that it was Mr Clark who designed the original desert boot and the style of them has remained pretty much the same since around 1950. I believe that his desert boots remain the best sellers. They have pretty much never been out of fashion since the first pair was made.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, desert boots are a lot more informal than chukka boots, which tend to have a more traditional build, mostly with a leather sole and heel stack. Someone on the net has written that 'while all desert boots are a type of chukka boot, not all chukka boots are desert boots'.

Traditionally, desert boots are made of suede and usually lighter shades of it. These days, though, they are made of a wide variety of leathers and a range of colours. Traditionally, too, they are made with a crepe sole but this can change as well. They are usually made using a stitchdown construction. This is another departure from the construction of a chukka boot, which will often be Goodyear welted or Blake stitched. Normally, the lacing is simple, with two rows of eyelets, sometimes three.

Desert boots stand up well in most weathers. Suede is a pretty tough leather and withstands rain pretty well. Some find that the traditional crepe soles can be a bit slippery.

This is my take on them, for the moment and happy to be open to any corrections or disagreements.

If you ain't got any, get some and stay cool.

Thanks for that @Munky that really sums up desert boots perfectly!

 

[Reiver]

@Reiver. Thanks!

Well, I said it and I meant it. ?

So on the heels of your post, I’ll kick it off with the Alden Snuff Suede Chukka and the Greenflex Boot by Astorflex. Interesting that the website where I purchased the Greenflex never referred to them as a “desert boot” but rather an “eco-friendly” boot
View attachment 1577027 View attachment 1577028

Now watching. ?

Those two pictures are a good comparison of a Chukka and the less formal desert boot.

Astorflex are supposed to be quite eco friendly and it is one of their big selling points.

I really can’t think of a better value option for a desert boot than Astorflex and they punch above their weight in my opinion.

 

[Mercurio]

Let's contribute to the success of this thread with some of my chukka and desert boots, most of them will be X-Posts from the "Boots, boots, boots" thread.

As I mentioned in another thread, I am a chukka lover: my collection has grown with quite different models, some of them are the following:

Loake KEMPTON chukka boots

Their brothers in calf leather, even though with a different name:
Herring GOSFORTH chukka, made by Loake on the 026 last

Loake Pimlico, dark brown calf chukka boots

​

Loake Pimlico, green suede chukka boots

Heschung GENET

Sanders Hi-Top, aka Playboy desert boots.

​

Church’s RYDER desert boots

Fleming chukka boots, by Rider Boots

Florsheim Imperial “Made in Italy” desert boots

Magnanni HUESCA, distressed toe chukka boots.

 

[Johnniegold]

@Mercurio

You Sir, have a fine collection of chukkas. A fine collection, indeed.

The Heschung Genet is really piquing my interest. What color are yours?

 

[Mercurio]

@Mercurio

You Sir, have fine collection of chukkas. A fine collection, indeed.

The Heshung Genet is really piquing my interest. What color are yours?

The original colour is called "noisette" (hazel), although I change it a bit, as you will found here.

 

[Johnniegold]

The original colour is called "noisette" (hazel), although I change it a bit, as you will found here.

The luster and richness with the addition of the Cordovan is fantastic. Nicely done.

 

[pendragon]

I'll throw in a vote for Barleycorn's classic 781. Comes in many colors. Well made Comfy.

 

[JFWR]

View attachment 1577257

I'll throw in a vote for Barleycorn's classic 781. Comes in many colors. Well made Comfy.

Is that a brothel creeper sole?

 

[emptym]

Here's a pair of BB Peal by Alfred Sargents on the 87 last, unlined, w/ natural rubber soles:

I got them used on eBay last year. Super comfortable. They had a bit of a greenish cast that I didn't like, so recently I dyed them with a mix of Angelus browns and grays, hoping for a cool, grayish brown/taupe. But it turned out to have too much of a red tone, so I have some blue on the way. Hopefully adding that to the mix will make for a cooler tone. I love chukkas and will post more here in @Mecurio's older thread, which I hadn't seen before.

 

[Reiver]

@Mercurio

You Sir, have a fine collection of chukkas. A fine collection, indeed.

The Heschung Genet is really piquing my interest. What color are yours?

My thoughts exactly what and amazing selection @Mercurio

 

[Reiver]

My two...

Astorflex Greenflex in dark khaki

These are just so comfortable it is always a treat to wear them. They feel like slippers.

Red Wing work Chukka in copper worksmith leather

Rain soaked this morning after walking my daughter to nursery. These are definitely a more casual Chukka boot. My pair are 5 years old with plenty no wears, the soles are on their last legs so will be due replacement soon. I might try an alternative sole just for a change even though the original atlas tread sole has held up much better than I expected. The leather on these is pretty sturdy and stands up to plenty of abuse.