War. What’s the point? Absolutely nothing… other than giving birth to one of the world’s favorite shoe options in the form of the desert boot.

In 1941, as the planet sank deeper into the terrors of WWII, a young infantryman deployed to Burma noticed that the shoe of choice among officers was a lightweight and durable ankle boot made of suede with a crepe sole. adherent. This soldier was Nathan Clark, as in Clarks shoes, and the boot was a form of chukka familiar in southern Africa, by shoemakers in Cairo. Clark took the idea home and developed the family company’s most popular shoe, the Desert Boot.

Flash-forward 70 years and it’s still a favorite. It is still manufactured by Clarks, as well as many other brands. While you won’t find many pairs that deviate too much from the age-old design, take a closer look and you’ll find subtle differences – materials, colors, details, height, fit – which mean not all pairs are created equal. Pretty good news, then, that we’ve picked the best desert boots on offer to you, right now.

Clarks Nutmeg

We are kicking things off with the delight of the proven crowd. You won’t go wrong with the holy trinity of a nutmeg suede upper, sheepskin lining and crepe sole.

Buy from Clarks | £ 110

Astorflex Greenflex

The phrase “la scarpa buona” is etched into the insole of each of Astorflex’s original Italian boots, which means * Google Translate * “the right shoe”. This is a claim we’re in no way inclined to argue, given its truly magnificent construction (from quality vegetable-tanned suede) and its ability to look primo with anything, from evening chinos to your heartbeat. pub denim.

Buy from End Clothing | £ 125

Russell & Bromley Jermyn

The smart London boys from Russell & Bromley travel to Portugal to make their Jermyn desert boots, where unparalleled craftsmanship and top-notch materials help make these blue beauties a bit special. However, all that Iberian sun doesn’t stop them from adding a quintessentially British detail – a sturdy rubber sole for those treacherously slippery city sidewalks.

Buy from Russell & Bromley | £ 195

Barbour kalahari

Barbour makes the difference with his bravery in tweaking the magical desert boot design formula, with an exceptional two-tone heel panel. And it works! We’re also huge fans of the secret pattern on the bottom of this buttery crepe sole – kick your feet up in a muddy field and a dapper man will watch you from the imprint of your tread.

Buy at Barbour | £ 99.95 (currently reduced to £ 60)

Hugo Boss Calfskin Suede

These bare boots are comfy thanks to those chubby rubber soles under the suede upper of the soft calf. If you laugh at 10,000 steps, then put them on your hard working feet.

Buy from Hugo Boss | £ 299

Fairfax & Favor

More streamlined and pointed than most, the pair from Fairfax & Favor comes dangerously close to rock ‘n’ roll Chelsea boots. And that’s not a bad thing – wear them with tailored pants and a crisp shirt when the dress code calls for something a little reasonable (Monday through Friday) and with skinny jeans when you feel like it. driving a Rolls Royce in a swimming pool (5:00 p.m. Fri-Sun).

Buy from Fairfax & Favor | £ 195

Nice green leather

It’s all about textures with this entry into the stakes of the desert boot. Deep grained leather and a rough crepe sole give off a strong geography teacher feel, leaning more towards the end of the “spiritual awakening in the Borneo jungle” spectrum rather than “Vauxhall Astra 1994 and coffee blast”.

Buy from Pretty Green | £ 100

Sahara Lake

One would expect better from a premium brand like Loake. And by that we mean we expect it to cost more. With Loake’s coveted leather brogues often costing around £ 400, just breaking three digits seems like a steal for these desert boots, especially considering the delicious suede and 140 years of expertise. in the manufacture of footwear.

Buy from Loake | £ 115

Dune London Bertie Castle II

Salute yourself, Dune, for delivering a set of attractive, wallet-friendly beauties that stick a check mark in all the good boxes of desert boots. What more could you ask for?

Buy at Dune | £ 85

J Crew x RM Williams Sturt

Casual American chic meets Australian footwear heritage in this solid, sturdy and simple suede boot set. The biscotti color also made us want something to dip in our tea.

Buy from J Crew | £ 279