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The short version
The A.P.C. x Clarks Originals Desert Boot costs $190, and a regular Clarks Desert Boot costs $140. Same shape, same crepe sole, same lace-up. So the question is pretty simple: what does the extra $50 get you, and is it enough?
It gets you materials you can't buy on the standard boot, a glossy dark brown leather or a ribbed caramel suede, plus a small, removable A.P.C. charm. If you already love the Desert Boot and want a better-looking version that still reads as quiet, that's worth it. If you just want a Desert Boot, buy the original. And check your size first: the collab comes in whole sizes only, and the caramel is already gone in men's.
The verdict
Worth it, for the material
Here's exactly what changes, and who it's for.
For the guy who already owns a Desert Boot and wants a nicer one
A.P.C. x Clarks Originals Desert Boot
This is Clarks' Desert Boot, the 1950s chukka with the crepe sole, reworked by A.P.C., the Paris label best known for quiet, well-made basics. The shape, the lace-up and the natural rubber crepe sole stay exactly as they are.
What A.P.C. changes is the material. The dark brown version is a glossy smooth leather, and the caramel one is a ribbed suede A.P.C. describes as inspired by denim. Each pair comes with a small removable A.P.C. charm on a metal ring, made from the same leather or suede as the boot.
These come in whole sizes only, and men's sizing starts at 9. If you're a half size or smaller than a men's 9, this collaboration doesn't make your boot.
You love the Desert Boot shape and want a less common finish that still looks quiet.
You just want a good Desert Boot. The standard one is $50 less and the same shape.
The spec sheet
The spec sheet
Every figure here comes from A.P.C.'s US store.
What it actually is
A classic, barely touched
Clarks introduced the Desert Boot in 1950, and it's been one of the most copied shoes in menswear ever since: a simple suede chukka with a natural rubber crepe sole. A.P.C., the French label known for raw denim and plain, well-cut basics, is about as natural a partner as it gets. Neither brand is known for loud.
So the changes are small and deliberate. A.P.C. kept the shape, the lace closure and the crepe sole, and put its effort into the material. The dark brown pair is a smooth leather with a glossy finish, which dresses the boot up a little. The caramel pair is a ribbed suede that A.P.C. says is inspired by denim, which gives the surface a subtle texture you don't get on standard suede.
Each pair comes with a removable charm, a metal ring holding A.P.C. leather pieces in the same material as the boot. It's the only real branding, and you can take it off. The Weaver from the same collab gets an embossed A.P.C. logo on the side and a Clarks Originals key ring.
The $50 question
What the collab adds, line by line
Same boot, two price tags. Here's what actually differs.
| A.P.C. x Clarks | Clarks Originals | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $190 | $140 |
| Shape and lacing | Classic Desert Boot | Classic Desert Boot |
| Sole | Natural rubber crepe | Natural rubber crepe |
| Materials | Glossy leather or ribbed suede | Standard suede and leather options |
| Extras | Removable A.P.C. charm | None |
| Men's sizes | 9 to 13, whole sizes only | 5 to 14 with half sizes, on Amazon |
Put side by side, it's clear what you're buying. Not a better-built boot, the construction is the same, but a nicer surface and a quiet signal to anyone who knows. That's a fair trade at $50 if the material is what draws you in. It's a bad one if you were mostly after the shape.
Beyond the brand
What we know, and what we don't
This launched in September, so there aren't owner reviews to lean on yet.
What's solid
The materials, the crepe sole, the charm, the prices and the size run all come from A.P.C.'s own product pages, and the stock picture is what A.P.C.'s US store showed when we checked.
What's unknown
How the ribbed suede wears over a winter compared with Clarks' standard suede. Suede of any kind wants a protector spray and a dry day.
Our read
This is a refinement, not a reinvention. If you'd describe your style as quiet but particular, it's made for you.
What to buy instead
If you just want the boot
The original does the same job for $50 less, in far more sizes.
If you just want the boot
Clarks Originals Men's Desert Boot
The original. Same silhouette, same crepe sole, same lace-up, and a much wider spread of colors and men's sizes than the collab. If what you love is the Desert Boot itself, this is the one to buy.
You want the classic look and a full men's size run.
You specifically want A.P.C.'s ribbed suede or glossy leather.
The spec sheet
The spec sheet
Price from the Amazon listing.
The other half of the collab
A.P.C. x Clarks Originals Weaver
Clarks' Weaver, the moccasin-fronted cousin of the Desert Boot, in the same A.P.C. materials plus a navy suede. It has an embossed A.P.C. logo on the side and a Clarks Originals key ring in matching material. It's $20 more and a little more distinctive than the Desert Boot.
You want the collab to look less like a shoe you already own.
You want the most versatile option. That's the Desert Boot.
The spec sheet
The spec sheet
Figures from A.P.C.'s US store.
Before you buy
Four things worth checking
- Find your size first. Whole sizes only, men's 9 to 13. Half sizes and smaller feet are out of luck.
- Pick leather or suede on purpose. The glossy leather is the easier one for rain and dressier outfits. The ribbed suede is the more interesting texture.
- Move fast on caramel. It was already sold out in every men's size at A.P.C. when we checked. Dark brown was still in stock.
- Know the sole. Crepe is grippy and comfortable, but it collects dirt and doesn't love heat. A crepe brush keeps it clean.
Questions
The ones we get asked
How much are the A.P.C. x Clarks Desert Boots?
$190 at A.P.C. The Weaver from the same collaboration is $210. A standard Clarks Originals Desert Boot is $140 on Amazon, so the collab costs $50 more.
What's different from a regular Clarks Desert Boot?
The shape, the lace-up and the natural rubber crepe sole are the same. What changes is the material, a glossy dark brown leather or a ribbed caramel suede A.P.C. says is inspired by denim, plus a removable A.P.C. charm on a metal ring, made from the same material as the boot.
What sizes do they come in?
They're sold as unisex in whole sizes only, women's 5 to 11 and men's 9 to 13. There are no half sizes, and nothing below a men's 9.
Is the caramel suede sold out?
In men's sizes, yes, at A.P.C. when we checked. Every men's size from 9 to 13 in caramel was gone, while the dark brown leather was still available in men's 9 through 12.
Should I get the Desert Boot or the Weaver?
The Desert Boot is the cleaner, more versatile shoe, and it's $20 cheaper. The Weaver has a moccasin-style, box-stitched front and comes in caramel, navy and dark brown, so it's the one to pick if you want the collab to look a bit more distinct.
How do you care for a crepe sole?
Crepe is natural rubber, so it's grippy and soft but it picks up dirt and can get sticky in heat. A crepe brush or a plain rubber eraser lifts the grime, and keeping them out of hot cars helps.
How we did this
Our method, in full
Brand details, labeled
Materials, sizes and prices come from A.P.C.'s US store. The standard Desert Boot price is Amazon's.
Stock at the size level
Availability was read off A.P.C.'s store size by size, and we say when something was sold out.
No scores
We don't rate shoes out of ten. We tell you who they're for and who should skip them.
