Desert boots have been a footwear staple for decades now, and although the ankle-length boot’s origins can be traced back to war times overseas, it was a man named Nathan Clark who popularized the classic design and brought the desert boot from, well, the desert to everyday street style.
And while Clarks has been a trusted footwear brand since it was founded in 1825 and has designed over 22,000 styles of shoes over the last two centuries, nothing is more iconic than the Clarks Original Desert Boot, which is just as in-demand today as it was when Nathan Clark designed the classic shoe in 1950 and brought it to the masses.
In addition to their Original Desert Boots, the brand also carries Clarks Bushacre, which to the untrained eye, look nearly identical to the tried-and-true design from the mid-1900s. However, there are some slight differences between the two designs, which we’ll break down below, as well as where you can wear desert boots, how to style them, and more.
What Are Clarks Bushacre Boots?
Clarks Bushacre boots are designed in a classic desert boot silhouette, hitting right at the ankle and boasting two eyelets for small lace-up detailing on the upper, as well as a 0.75 inch platform for additional height and a rubber sole for optimal durability. Clarks Bushacre boots are made from 100% leather and are also available in suede, and come in a wide range of colors, including classic black, light grey, white, tan, dark brown, and more.
“I love these boots,” one satisfied customer wrote. “They fit that hard-to-hit niche between being more formal than athletic shoes, but suitable for office and daily wear without being overpoweringly flashy and obviously made for going out in, like some Chelsea (Beatle boots) I own. They have a certain retro subtlety of style that can be hard to find in quality footwear.” How can you disagree with that?
Best Buy1. Clarks Bushacre Chukka Boot
Check Price An icon, re-engineered for modern life: introducing the Bushacre Chukka Boot, finished in premium beeswax leather. Remaining true to the authentic, instantly recognizable design of Nathan Clark’s pioneering Desert Boot created in 1950, it delivers enhanced, unrivaled comfort for the effortless all-day wear that 21st-century life demands
What Are Clarks Original Desert Boots?
The basic design of a desert boot features two eyelets on the upper, hits at the ankle, and is typically made from either leather or suede. The Clarks Desert Boots also feature a crepe rubber sole, which is a little more delicate than a synthetic rubber sole, which we’ll get into below. Like Clarks Bushacre, the Original Desert Boots come in leather and suede, and are also available in a wide range of colors.
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An icon, re-engineered for modern life: introducing the Bushacre Chukka Boot, finished in premium beeswax leather. Remaining true to the authentic, instantly recognizable design of Nathan Clark’s pioneering Desert Boot created in 1950, it delivers enhanced, unrivaled comfort for the effortless all-day wear that 21st-century life demands
- Clarks Original Desert Boot
Check Price Cultural cachet and design DNA: no shoe is quite like the Clarks Originals Desert Boot. Nathan Clark’s 1950 creation was inspired by a rough boot from Cairo’s Old Bazaar, and its minimal, progressive style sparked a worldwide footwear revolution – worn by beatniks, mods, Britpop bands, and Jamaican rude boys, from Paris to Kingston, Tokyo to London.
Cultural cachet and design DNA: no shoe is quite like the Clarks Originals Desert Boot. Nathan Clark’s 1950 creation was inspired by a rough boot from Cairo’s Old Bazaar, and its minimal, progressive style sparked a worldwide footwear revolution – worn by beatniks, mods, Britpop bands, and Jamaican rude boys, from Paris to Kingston, Tokyo to London.
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What Are the Main Differences Between Clarks Bushacre and Clarks Original Desert Boots?
Like we mentioned earlier, to the untrained eye, it’s really hard to tell the difference between Clarks Bushacre and Clarks Original Desert Boots; however, there are some subtle key differences that need to be addressed and will likely help aid in your decision when choosing between the two types of shoes.
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The main difference between the two is the material of the sole. Clarks Bushacre have a synthetic rubber sole, which means the shoe is more durable than the Clarks Original Desert Boot, which features a crepe rubber sole that wears out more quickly and also gets dirtier faster. However, Clarks Bushacre can be a little stiff and can take some time to wear in, while the Original Desert Boot may not take as long to break in, and are generally more comfortable for all-day wear, thanks to the soft crepe sole.
Another key difference between the two designs is the price; the Original Desert Boot is a little pricier in comparison to the Bushacre, but unless you’re on an extremely tight budget and watch every penny you spend, the difference in price isn’t that staggering, so the design you go with shouldn’t solely be based on price alone.
What Events or Occasions Are Appropriate To Wear Desert Boots?
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Well, as the name suggests, you can really only wear these bad boys in desert climates, so if you’re not near one, you’re shit outta luck. Just kidding, of course, as desert boots can be dressed up or down and can be worn in casual settings, like going out for drinks and dinner, working at a creative office or workspace, or meeting your Bumble date for coffee.
Desert boots can also be worn in settings that require smart casual attire – aka, an occasion in which the dress code is dressier than casual attire, but doesn’t err on the side of super formal. Of course, smart casual wear leaves tons of room for interpretation, but desert boots are a perfectly acceptable style of footwear when it comes to looking effortlessly put together.
How To Style Clarks Bushacre and Clarks Original Desert Boots
Luckily, desert boots are very versatile and easy to style, and like we mentioned above, can be worn on casual and casual smart occasions. If you’re gearing up for a night out with the boys, you can’t go wrong with a high-quality tee or short-sleeve button down paired with slim fit denim cuffed above the ankle to show off either Clarks desert boot style. If the weather’s a bit on the cooler side, throw on a denim jacket with a zip-up hoodie underneath for cool, laid back street style, or grab a bomber jacket for a fresh twist on a military-inspired outfit.
For smart casual events, like low key weddings, meetings at the office, or meeting your partner’s parents for the first time, desert boots look great with fitted chinos, a long sleeve button down, and a sport coat with eye-catching details like elbow patches, or a classic navy blazer to completely pull the look together.
And although desert boots can be worn with casual outfits like jeans and a tee, it’s best to avoid wearing them with ultra-casual outfits and loungewear, as they look weird and out of place when worn with joggers or sweatpants. You should also avoid wearing desert boots with shorts, even if they’re on the dressier side, as the ankle-length rise of a desert boot looks unusual and sloppy with bare legs.
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