More Chukka Boots We Love
What to Look for in a Great Pair of Chukka Boots
Good chukka boots aren’t hard to find—if you know what you to look for. And if you’ve spent any time reading GQ’s shopping content, you’ll know that any garment or shoe worth copping comes down to materials, construction, and price.
Real-Deal Leather (and a Sturdy Sole)
The uppers are the most important part of a pair of shoes. Not only do they give the shoe its essential character, but the quality of the materials can mean the difference between a simple trip to the cobbler or a toss in the trash. Look for chukkas that are made of a full-grain leather or suede. The more details a brand can dispel about the leather—provenance, tannery, tanning processes, etc.—the more likely it is to be of high quality.
As for the soles, many chukkas and desert boots will use crepe rubber, a natural latex material that comes from the sap of rubber trees. They’re inherently squishy, yet firm, which makes them a comfortable material for shoes. Though, they tend to be not as grippy when it comes to wet surfaces. Studded rubber soles are a great option for inclement weather. Dressier leather soles are preferred for more formal occasions, but are best saved for when the skies are clear.
Top-Notch Construction
Classic desert boots normally use a method called stitchdown construction which fixes the uppers directly to the midsole. While it’s not as durable as the gold-standard Goodyear welted construction, it does give the shoe greater flexibility and is still resolable to a certain extent.
Chukka boots on the other hand, have a similar upper design but are often constructed with either Goodyear welted stitching or Blake stitching—both methods give a sleeker appearance and often come with leather or studded rubber soles.
There are some chukkas/desert boots which veer into sneaker-style hybrids and are made with simple cemented construction. These are typically cheaper and won’t last nearly as long.
Overall Value
Surprisingly, there aren’t mainy chukka boots out there below $150. At least, not many we would actually recommend. The sweet spot of quality to value seems to hover in the range of $200-$300. Everyone’s budget is different, and if you have a bit more to spend, you’ll get minute upgrades that shoe snobs can appreciate—but a chukka that’s $500 won’t necessarily be twice as good as one that’s $250. And if your budget is a bit tighter, honestly, Clarks is your best bet. Like the Levi’s 501, Clarks Desert boots are the OG and have done a great job at maintaining their cache—both culturally and in quality.
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
