- Introduction
- Defining Your Style
- Loafers
- Chukka Boots
- Reviewing The Best Chukka Boots
- 1. Clarks Men’s Bush Acre 2 Chukka Boot
- 2. Clarks Men’s Stinson Hi Chukka Boot
- 3. Timberland Men’s Chukka Boots
- 4. Bruno Marc Men’s Classic Suede Leather Chukka Boots
- 5. Vostey Men’s Hiking Boots Waterproof Casual Chukka Boots for Men
- 6. Kenneth Cole REACTION Men’s Desert Sun Chukka Boot
- Conclusion
Introduction
One of the best ways to level up your outfit is via your shoes. While they may be a subtle component of your daily wardrobe, they carry the potential to transform your outfit completely. However, navigating the diverse arena of shoes can be a confusing task for men, particularly because there are many different options. In this article, we will give you a complete breakdown of men’s fashion and a few other shoes that are out there. Then, we’ll review six chukka boots to compliment every outfit. Let’s dive right in!
Defining Your Style
The first step in crushing the men’s fashion game is defining your style. There are so many different ways to approach your outfits that it can get hard to decide on a unique style for you. Here are a few tips to help guide you to find your look.
Dress for Lifestyle
Your sense of style needs to align with your lifestyle. According to Real Men Real Style, it’s critical that men “keep [their] job in mind” when picking out their style. A banker knows that his profession takes place in a conservative setting that often calls for a formal outfit. He could flex his fashion sense by strategically placing flashes of color via pocket squares, socks, and ties. Use Suits Expert’s color guide to help you pick out the right combination for your suit.
On the other hand, a teacher operates in a more casual outfit – a suit and tie certainly wouldn’t suffice. Instead, he can wear sports jackets paired with a collared shirt to show his keen taste in clothing. Try finding a collection of clothing that complements your lifestyle instead of clashing with it.
Develop Your Eye
The following essential tip to help you dominate men’s fashion is to start developing your eye. Your fashion eye is how you identify unique styles and tastes in fashion. It’s how you pick out what looks good and matches your fashion. There are tons of men who claim that they don’t have the eye for stylish clothing. That’s rarely the case. Often, these men don’t know how to pick out clothes for themselves. Here is a powerful exercise that you can use today to help you develop your fashion eye. Take five minutes and “pick one or two celebrity men” whose sense of style you admire. It allows you to take inspiration and identify what direction you should go with your clothing.
Level Up With Accessories
Another powerful way to amplify your fashion and further define your style is to level up your outfit with accessories. If chosen correctly, accessories can perfectly complement your clothing choice by adding just the right amount of extra. According to Classy Men Collection, accessories are great ways to “personalize your style” and “reflect… a certain type of attitude.” However, they warn men that the wrong accessories could “break [your] whole outfit.” Let’s explore NextLuxury’s list of the best men’s accessories to compliment your outfit. They claim that rings are the number one accessory to elevate your look. When selecting jewels and size, they think that “simple bands are usually best.” They also love scarves, but only when the weather calls for one. Hats, ties, and necklaces are other subtle but effective ways to add a little flavor to your outfit.
Loafers
The first type of men’s shoe that we’ll look at is the classic loafer. According to Herring Shoes, the loafer is a leather shoe “easily slipped on and off without laces to worry about.” They add that it compares to moccasin due to its similarities in size and shape. Vionic Shoes further contributes to the loafers description by stating that “loafers sit right on edge between casual and formal men’s shoes,” which means you can wear them to the office, on a date, or out running errands.
Mainline Menswear gives some useful style tips for wearing loafers. According to them, these are the situations to wear and not wear loafers:
- Shirt + Jeans = Wear loafers
- T-shirt + Chinos = Wear Loafers
- T-shirt + Jeans = No Loafers
- T-shirt + Dress Pants = Wear Loafers
- Cuban Collar Shirt + Shorts = Wear Loafers
Chukka Boots
The following style of men’s shoe that we’ll be examining is the topic of this article: the Chukka boot. When considering the best boots to add to your collection, the Jodhpur boot or the Chelsea boot likely spring to mind. While these are all ankle boots that fit a casual look and share some similarities, they aren’t exactly interchangeable. According to Gentleman’s Gazette, here are some features of the Chukka boot:
- Lace-up ankle boots. They reach the ankle and no further
- Two or three lacing eyelets; anything else is not a chukka boot
- Traditionally made from calfskin suede leather
- Rounded toe-box
- Two parts, each made from a single piece of leather
- The quarters are sewn on top of the vamp
- Open lacing
- Thin soles
- Soles were traditionally leather-made (crepe rubber soles were later worn with desert boots)
- Historically unlined
Chukka Boots vs. Desert Boots
Top Work Boots gives an insightful description of the similarities and differences between chukka and desert boots. Both boots feature a classic silhouette consisting of material pieces, i.e., the vamp and quarter. They all feature a rounded toe, and they hit mid of the ankle in both. They do not have breathable, unlined, or other materials. They both feature eyelets of either two or three, making them easy to lace up. Both boots feature superior outsoles with excellent traction that doesn’t slip easily.
The key differences are that the desert boot is more lightweight than the chukka boot. Another big difference is the sole of each boot. While chukka boots feature a leather sole, desert boots have a crepe sole.
Chukka Boots vs. Chelsea Boots
Next Luxury offers an interesting analysis of the differences between chukka boots and Chelsea boots. They state that chukka boots are more versatile than Chelsea boots and pair better with more outfits. Chelsea boots are a bit more modern due to their laceless design, and chukka boots tend to have a lower ankle than their counterpart.
Reviewing The Best Chukka Boots
Now that we’ve taken some time to understand the nuances of men’s fashion and chukka boots specifically let’s move on to the main focus of this article: reviewing the best chukka boots. We’ll look at six different chukka boots on the market today, giving you a basic description, the critical value adds, and each boot’s ratings, rankings, and reviews. These are the six chukka boots we’ll be reviewing:
- Clarks Men’s Bush Acre 2 Chukka Boot
- Clarks Men’s Stinson Hi Chukka Boot
- Timberland Men’s Chukka Boots
- Bruno Marc Men’s Classic Suede Leather Desert Chukka Boots
- Vostey Men’s Hiking Boots Waterproof Casual Chukka Boots for Men
- Kenneth Cole REACTION Men’s Desert Sun Chukka Boot
Let’s dive right in!
by Clarks
1. Clarks Men’s Bush Acre 2 Chukka Boot
Clark’s Store makes the first pair of suede boots that we’ll be reviewing. These boots are made from 100% imported leather and feature a synthetic rubber sole. The shaft measures approximate ankle height, and the shoe’s platform measures about 0.75 inches. The upper material is suede, while the lining material is leather. They are available in 13 different colors and range in size from 7 to 15 (including variations for wide feet.)
These boots are ranked #2 in men’s chukka boots. They have an overall rating of 4.4 stars out of 5 from 19,519 global ratings. It breaks down to 69% five-star ratings, 15% four-star ratings, 7% three-star ratings, 3% two-star ratings, and 5% one-star ratings. One happy customer said these are “iconic boot[s] that [go] with everything.” Another buyer was not pleased, stating that these shoes “need better quality.”
by Clarks
2. Clarks Men’s Stinson Hi Chukka Boot
Clark’s Store also makes the next ankle-length boot we have for you. These are the Stinson Hi Chukka Boots. They are made from 100% imported leather and feature a man-made sole. The heel is substantial, at about 1.18 inches. These boots offer comfort features such as an EVA molded footbed, smooth textile linings, and durable TPR outsoles. They come in 7 different colors and range from sizes 7 to 13.
These boots are ranked #185 in men’s chukka boots in terms of rankings. However, they have a rating of 4.7 stars out of 5, from 5,721 global ratings. It breaks down to 81% five-star ratings, 12% four-star ratings, 4% three-star ratings, 1% two-star ratings, and 3% one-star ratings. One consumer was “reasonably satisfied” with his purchase, adding that these boots are “nice in appearance, soft, and comfortable.” Another happy buyer said these shoes are “true to size” and “feel great on [his] feet.”
by Timberland
3. Timberland Men’s Chukka Boots
This pair of chukka boots come courtesy of Timberland, one of the world’s most popular boot manufacturers. They are made from 100% leather and feature a rubber lining. They offer lace-up closure but have far more eyelets than the typical chukka. They have premium full-grain leather uppers and provide a soft, breathable textile lining. The laces are 100% organic cotton. These chukka boots come in 9 different color variations, most of which are some shade of black. Their size ranges from 7 to 13.
These chukka boots are ranked #1,046 in men’s chukka boots. They have an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 from 5,119 global ratings. It breaks down to 72% five-star ratings, 16% four-star ratings, 5% three-star ratings, 2% two-star ratings, and 4% one-star ratings. One pleased consumer said this was a “fantastic shoe.” Another happy buyer added that these boots have an “awesome look and feel.”
by Bruno Marc
4. Bruno Marc Men’s Classic Suede Leather Chukka Boots
The next ankle boot we have for you is by Bruno Marc, one of the largest men’s fashion brands around. These boots are made from 100% suede leather and feature another man-made sole. The shaft is about 4 inches from the arch. They offer you a comfortable lining with good breathability to avoid odorous feet. These boots carry an elegant look via their premium suede leather. They also have a soft, elastic footbed with EVA foam to provide shock absorption as you walk. They come in 7 different colors and range from size 6.5 to 15.
These boots are ranked #44 in the men’s chukka boots category. They have rated 4.5 stars out of 5 overall from 4,363 global ratings. It breaks down to 71% five-star ratings, 17% four-star ratings, 6% three-star ratings, 2% two-star ratings, and 3% one-star ratings. This satisfied customer said these are “awesome chukka boots” that are relatively “inexpensive.” Another happy buyer said these boots are “great quality.”
by Vostey
5. Vostey Men’s Hiking Boots Waterproof Casual Chukka Boots for Men
The Vostey Store manufactures this pair of chukka boots. They are 100% imported synthetic material, and they have a rubber sole. These boots feature a textured upper that is from hand-selected, high-quality materials. They are waterproof, making these boots a rugged option for various outdoor activities. The shoelaces are polished with a wax treatment to improve their appearance and lifespan. The boots have exquisite stitching that strengthens the shoe’s body to avoid cracking. The skin-friendly, soft fabric at the shoe’s mouth protects your ankles and helps you stay comfortable. These boots are available in 12 different color options, such as a few shades of brown, black, and even grey. The size of these boots ranges from size 8 to size 13.
These chukka boots by Vostey are ranked #51 in men’s chukka boots and #54 in men’s hiking boots. They have an overall ranking of 4.4 stars out of 5 from 3,004 global ratings. That breaks down to 71% five-star ratings, 17% four-star ratings, 6% three-star ratings, 2% two-star ratings, and 3% one-star ratings. It means that roughly 1 out of 10 consumers felt this was a one or two-star purchase. One pleased buyer said these shoes “are very comfortable” and “fit as expected.” Another unhappy consumer said these boots “lasted two weeks” before they had holes on the inside. They also stated that these shoes are “permanently wet” on the inside, implying that they are not waterproof.
by Kenneth Cole REACTION
6. Kenneth Cole REACTION Men’s Desert Sun Chukka Boot
The last pair of chukka boots that we’ll be reviewing is by Kenneth Cole, another titan in the men’s fashion industry. These boots are 100% leather and feature a crepe sole. They feature a lace-up front closure with blind eyelets, which adds a touch of elegance to the appearance of these boots. They have textile lining at the insole and an accent stripe at the midsole. The outsole is durable rubber. These boots are available in 12 different color options, a few of which are brown, walnut suede, and navy suede. The size ranges from 7 to 13.
These chukka boots are ranked #134 in the men’s chukka boots category. They have an overall rating of 4.4 stars out of 5 from 1,141 global ratings. That breaks down to about 67% five-star ratings, 17% four-star ratings, 7% three-star ratings, 4% two-star ratings, and 5% one-star ratings. Let’s take a look at some reviews for these boots. One customer was initially happy with their purchase, stating that these were “very nice shoes.” However, after wearing them for a few months, “they are getting ripped.” Another customer had a more pleasant experience, stating that these are one of their “favorite… shoes of all time.” There were undoubtedly more than a few consumers who had such an experience. Another buyer whose shoes fell apart said that after wearing them twice a week for six months, the heel support within the shoe began to crack into tiny pieces that spilled everywhere. They concluded that this shoe is “not well made” and they will not buy from this brand again.
Conclusion
It takes patience and experimentation to truly master the game when it comes to men’s fashion. These essential tips are: dress for your lifestyle, develop your fashion eye, and level up with accessories. Furthermore, play around with different shoes! We took some time to explore the key differences between the Chelsea boot, chukka boots, and the desert boot. Consider purchasing one of the six different chukka boots that we reviewed!