Clarks Women's Desert Boot Chukka Boot, Beeswax Leather, 6 M US Review

I absolutely love these shoes! I purchased them in navy, and based off other reviews ordered a half size bigger then I usually would. One of my feet is an 8, the other is an 8.5, so I split the difference and ordered a 9. They fit great and, most importantly (for me), they don’t pinch the ball of my foot. After wearing these for 3 days they’re breaking in nicely and are loosening up through the ball of the foot a bit. Like other reviewers said, these have basically no arch support. I’ve noticed it more with thin socks than with medium weight hiking socks, and it hasn’t bothered me so far. I did purchase a pair of dress shoe Superfeet insoles, but was sent the wrong size so I can’t comment on whether or not they significantly improve the fit/feel.These are constructed with high quality Charles F. Stead suede leather which is a beautiful, rich navy that looks almost black depending on the light. It’s much thicker than I was expecting and smooth on the reverse, which makes these easy take on and off while wearing socks. The leather is breaking in beautifully, not creasing or folding but slowly molding to the shape of my foot. I highly recommend spraying these boots with a suede protectant before wearing them. I used a can of Wilson’s suede protectant I had laying around, which did not darken or change the look of the leather. As with all suede, don’t use any creams, liquids, waxes, or polishes on these or you will significantly alter the look and of the suede.Regarding the sole - if you’re unfamiliar with the crepe sole, make sure you know what you’re getting into before buying these! Crepe soles look like they should be super grippy, but they aren’t, and if it rains they’ll pretty much betray you. Crepe soles aren’t water resistant, and they permanently pick up dirt, blackening over time. I specifically bought these shoes because I bike to work and I wanted something I could comfortably bike in, that would still be work-appropriate. These absolutely fit the bill. Although they’re a bit more slippery on the pedals than a pair of sneakers, they’re still it’s a thousand times better than a pair of leather sole shoes, and they’re holding up far better to the pedal grip studs than my leather sole shoes and my sneakers with foam soles. Since they’re navy, I also don’t have to worry as much about road dirt than I would with a lighter pair.Overall, if you’re looking for a nice, casual, comfortable boot, go ahead and get these! I highly recommend the navy- it’s a super versatile color and a bit more sophisticated than the more traditional (ie, common) sand or beeswax, in my opinion.

These shoes look and feel great. I went backpacking through Europe last summer and wanted some shoes that fit a few different criteria:1) Be able to handle differences in climate and environment including snow/ice (I went to the Swiss Alps), lots of pavement and walking (Rome, Barcelona), long plane and train travel, and dirt/possible mud (for the Pyrenees mountains in Spain).2) Look good doing it. I didn't want to wear sneakers all the time for all the walking I was going to be doing, shoes like flats or sandals wouldn't work for long distances, and it was too warm outside for boots of any kind. These were perfect and didn't make me seem too "touristy," which I appreciate.3) Not have any wear and tear on my feet or heels. I experienced absolutely no blisters, chaffing, sweating, or irritation of any kind going very long distances in these boots. I did feel as if they were slightly more comfortable wearing socks that went up past my ankle, but mostly I wore these with ankle socks.4) Be easy to get on and off without being too loose. These are simple and take a few seconds to tie up.These Clarks fit all of these criteria and exceeded my expectations. I get many compliments on them from people of all ages.I got the size 8 after reading the reviews and seeing what other people said. They fit perfectly. I decided to include some measurements of my foot in case they could help anyone with fit.Length: 9"Width at widest point (ball of my foot): 3.5"Circumference of ankle: 9"I have a moderately high arch of my foot which sometimes makes it hard to get into boots of any kind, but these are great.The Beeswax color looks wonderful. I did not experience a "wearing in" period where the shoes were uncomfortable at first, but they definitely have gotten more comfortable with time. I have been wearing them for nearly a year and they are in great condition even after nearly daily use. These shoes will last you a long time and are classic.

I wear a 7.5 and 8 and my feet are normal-to-narrow. I bought an 8 size shoe in the Beeswax Leather color. I can't believe how uncomfortable these are! After 30 minutes of wearing them, I've put bandages on my toes to avoid blisters. But I'm going to give them a week or two to conform to my foot. The heel area is loose-ish and the toe area is very narrow and tight. The leather is a nice brown but begins to crease immediately upon wearing. But I love how it looks; the leather feels strong and beautiful. The shoe feels like it's made of good-quality materials and the workmanship feels excellent, so I don't regret buying these (yet!). I'll update later on about how well the shoe stretches and feels.UPDATE six months later: I've added a star because it finally stretched and now I'm able to wear this shoe without discomfort. The leather is hard so it's not as comfortable as my leather shoes that are made of a soft leather. But at the same time, I feel like these will last twenty years. They also feel very durable, which is great. So I guess in the end, I don't regret buying these shoes!