10 Best Chukka Boots in 2021

Chukka boots are a comfortable and stylish model of casual men’s footwear, ideal for almost any situation. They’re available in many outlets, in an enormous range of styles and models, and with such a wide market it can be difficult to determine which are the best Chukka boots on the market in 2021. These simple leather or suede ankle boots are increasingly popular and have a long history, making them a great choice for anyone in search of a new pair of durable and classy shoes for casual or formal wear.

We’ve explored the market for Chukka boots in 2021 very thoroughly, and have chosen 10 of our favorite models of the best chukka boots out there, narrowing down the market a little to help simplify your decision a little when you’re looking to buy men’s chukka boots. Below, you can find our best chukka boots reviews, breaking down our top 10 chukka boot models and exploring why we like them so much and what helps them to stand out from the competition.

Related; Men’s Dress Shoes.

View the Best Chukka Boots, Below.

• Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot
• Thursday Boot Company Chukka Boot
• London Fog Mens Belmont Chukka Boot
• BRUNO MARC NEW YORK Classic Original
• UGG Men’s Neumel Chukka Boot
• Timberland Men’s EK Brook Park
• Calvin Klein Men’s Ulysses Suede
• Kenneth Cole REACTION Boots
• Sorel Men’s Waterproof Madson Chukka
• Steve Madden Men’s Harken Chukka Boot

1. Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot

The Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot is a well designed and comfortable 100% leather chukka boot that offers a sharp look and a comfortable fit that goes well with a wide range of different styles of outfit. This model of chukka boot isn’t as durable as some other models of leather chukka boot, but its comfort and accessibility make it a good choice regardless. While most models of chukka boot only come in a handful of earthy browns and blacks, the Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot is available in a full 30 different colors!

This is a soft and flexible leather chukka boot that requires minimal breaking in, making it appropriate to wear for extended periods of time almost straight out of the box. In addition to this, the Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot is available in a wide range of colors, coming in 30 different color styles and ensuring that you can easily find the perfect color for your personal style without needing to customize your boots at all.

The feature of the Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot that makes these chukka boots stand out from the crowd is the range of colors available.

2. Thursday Boot Company Chukka Boot

Combining classic chukka boot aesthetics, design and construction with a number of modern quirks and added features for comfort and practicality, the Thursday Boot Company Chukka Boot is one of the best chukka boots available for most purposes. The high-quality leather upper looks smart and ages well, helping this model of chukka boot to look just as great after heavy use as it does when freshly purchased, while the full glove leather lining keeps your feet comfortable with a close-fitting, soft surface.

The ergonomic footbeds mold to fit your feet over time, ensuring a high level of comfort even when wearing these chukka boots for an extended period of time and the studded rubber outsoles boost the grip of the boots substantially without adding visible texture or thickness to the soles of these chukka boots.

Classic and sophisticated, yet comfortable and modern, the Thursday Boot Company Chukka Boot is a classy and refined model of Chukka boot ideal for more formal situations as well as casual everyday wear.

3. London Fog Mens Belmont Chukka Boot

The London Fog Men’s Belmont Chukka Boot departs from traditional chukka boot construction and design in a couple of major ways but follows enough of the traditions to still be classified as a chukka boot. Instead of the leather or suede uppers common to most chukka boots, the London Fog Men’s Belmont Chukka Boot is constructed with an upper made from durable, scuff resistant denim.

This makes these chukka boots less appropriate for formal wear than many other models, but a great choice for casual occasions or more rugged outdoor wear. These chukka boots offer a high level of comfort and protection at an affordable price, making them a great entry level pair of chukka boots. These might not be the most breathable boots on the market, but the thick denim build provides a high level of insulation, keeping your feet warm effectively in cold weather!

Far cheaper than most models of chukka boots, the London Fog Mens Belmont Chukka Boot is an exceptionally good value purchase.

4. BRUNO MARC NEW YORK Classic Original

The Bruno Marc New York Classic Original Chukka Boot is a traditionally styled chukka boot made for style and a simple, refined aesthetic. Its suede upper features simple lines and a durable construction, available in a range of different colors, and the textile lining is comfortable and relatively breathable.

A flexible elastic panel adds a little stretch to the boots, making them easy to slip on and off without compromising on the classic suede design of the chukka boots, while the outsole is made from non-slip rubber to give a high level of grip for such a thin, minimally textured sole surface.

Simple and classic, the Bruno Marc New York Classic Original pairs traditional chukka boot design aesthetics with modern quality of life tweaks, making it a little more comfortable and easy to get on and off than other traditional boot designs.

5. UGG Men’s Neumel Chukka Boot

The UGG Men’s Neumel Chukka Boot is, as one might expect from UGG boots, one of the less traditional models of chukka boots on our list of our 10 favorite chukka boots. Sacrificing some of the typical restrictions on chukka boots in favor of comfort and casual design, this model of chukka boot is a bit more relaxed than most others.

Its sole is thicker and more heavily textured, giving a look more like that of the original UGG boot than of a traditional chukka boot, while the wool lining inside the boot makes the whole assembly a little chunkier and thicker than most models of chukka boot.

Focused on comfort and padding over traditional chukka boot design, the UGG Men’s Neumel Chukka Boot offers a high level of padding and comfortable design for a more modern, luxurious shoe.

6. Timberland Men’s EK Brook Park

Made from 100% natural full grain leather, the Timberland Men’s EK Brook Park chukka boots have a tough and durable upper with stylish leather accents on the heel in complementary colors. The Green Rubber sole features an L7 lug design with beveled lug sidewalls, giving a high level of grip on any surface, even rougher or more unstable outdoor terrain, while the insole is lined with leather for comfort and natural durability.

The lining of these chukka boots is made from 100% recycled PET, for a tough but breathable surface, making these a pair of chukka boots ideally suited for outdoor use. These are a great choice for anyone looking for something a bit tougher and more suited to outdoor activities.

Tough and rugged for practical outdoor use, the Timberland Men’s EK Brook Park chukka boots are made from 100% durable leather.

7. Calvin Klein Men’s Ulysses Suede

An understated model of chukka boot, the Calvin Klein men’s Ulysses suede chukka boots are simple and classy in any environment, with a couple of design features such as well chosen neutral colors and a sleek design with unobtrusive stitching and paneling that help them to stand out from the crowd a little.

It’s worth noting, however, that these chukka boots run a little larger than expected; unusually for shoe sizing, it is worth buying this particular model of chukka boots one half a size smaller than your usual size in order to get a good fit.

Simple and understated, the Calvin Klein Men’s Ulysses Suede chukka boots look great with any outfit, offering a classy and streamlined look in a neutral dark brown that pairs well with any other items of clothing.

8. Kenneth Cole REACTION Boots

Made from durable leather uppers and a sturdy rubber sole, the Kenneth Cole Desert Sun REACTION chukka boot is a tough and comfortable chukka boot for everyday use. Its use of stitching and laces in contrasting colors to the upper, combined with an unusually low cut profile, helps this model of chukka boot to stand out as something a little different and flashier than most traditional chukka boot designs.

Lower cut than most chukka boots, the Kenneth Cole REACTION Men’s Desert Sun Chukka Boot is an eye-catching and differently designed model of chukka boot that isn’t quite like any other style of chukka boot on the market.

9. Sorel Men’s Waterproof Madson Chukka

The Sorel Men’s Madson Chukka Waterproof promises a high level of waterproofing from its suede upper, keeping your feet as dry as possible in even the worst weather. The sole is made from rugged, highly textured molded rubber for a long lifespan and great grip on any surface, and the insole features a molded Ortholite footbed made from memory foam to maximize comfort.

Chunkier than most traditional models of chukka boot, the Sorel Men’s Madson Chukka Waterproof offers a more rugged style with a focus on comfort and grip in poor conditions.

Focused on comfort and waterproofing, the Sorel Men’s Madson Chukka Waterproof chukka boot uses the core of chukka boot design to build a sturdy and comfortable boot that promises to keep your feet happy and comfortable in any weather condition.

10. Steve Madden Men’s Harken Chukka Boot

The upper of the Steve Madden Men’s Harken Chukka Boot is made from 100% leather but styled with a slightly distressed finish. This gives a great rugged style to the boots but makes them a little less appropriate for more formal occasions than some other models of chukka boots. The build quality of these chukka boots is high, however, ensuring that they last for a long time if looked after properly, and the chunky seams offer a high level of strength as well as an eye-catching, stylish look.

A tough, well built classic style Chukka boot, the Steve Madden Men’s Harken Chukka boot promises a long lifespan and a high level of comfort once the boots have been properly broken in. These are durable and long lasting boots that will stay in great condition if properly maintained.

Chukka Boots Buyer’s Guide

Chukka boots vs. Desert Boots

Chukka Boots and Desert boots are almost indistinguishable; in fact, desert boots are a type of chukka boot with a couple of subtle stylistic tweaks that make them appropriate for slightly different occasions and environments.
Desert boots feature a crepe rubber sole, which is a little thicker and softer than the thin leather or hard rubber sole of most chukka boots.

This, combined with their tendency to be a little more casual and rugged in construction than most chukka boots, with rougher suede uppers and chunkier stitching, makes them more appropriate for casual situations than formal occasions.

Desert boots were used extensively by the British army in the early 20th century and probably evolved out of standard chukka boots. Nowadays, though, they are a common and popular style of chukka boot that you can find in shoe stores everywhere!

What are Chukka Boots?

Chukka boots, otherwise known as Desert boots, are simple ankle high leather boots with uppers made from suede or leather, and soles made from leather or rubber. They typically have an open lacing system with only two or three sets of eyelets, but there’s a fair bit of variety in that area of chukka boots design.

There are many different varieties of chukka boot, however, so attempting to clearly define what is and what is not classified as a chukka boot can be difficult and futile. The main unifying features of all varieties of chukka boots are the length and the approximate design of the uppers; materials and construction can vary significantly, but chukka boots or desert boots are always designed to reach up to the ankle, but no further.

This mid length design is made from two parts, a rear sheet and a front sheet, each made from a single piece of material, and the front of the boot only features two or three pairs of lacing eyelets. The number of eyelets is the feature most commonly used to identify chukka boots; similar boots with differing amounts of eyelets are easily dismissed as not actually being true chukka boots!

How to Wear Chukka Boots?

Chukka boots are a classic and effortlessly stylish style of men’s footwear, offering a unique and distinctive aesthetic that combines well with a wide range of different outfits, from the formal to the casual. These are exceptionally versatile boots, and the range of options available under the general style umbrella of chukka boots only adds to this versatility; you can wear a pair of chukka boots with almost any ensemble. That being said, there are some style tips we can offer to help you to get the best out of your chukka boots!

Chukka boots are inherently fairly casual but can be worn for formal occasions too with a little care. For casual situations, little to no effort is required, as they pair well with jeans and almost any top; try casual denim jackets and plain button down shirts! More neutral designs of chukka boots, such as suede models in neutral browns, are a great and flexible choice for pairing with almost any casual outfit possible.

For more formal occasions, chukka boots in black or other dark colors are a good choice. These look smarter and classier and are easy to pair with darker colors. Smart trousers or chinos, a plain white shirt, and a blazer or respectable sweater go well with darker chukka boots for a refined yet relaxed style.

How to Clean Chukka Boots?

Suede boots such as chukka boots can easily become scuffed or dirty, and require careful cleaning to restore them to their original glories and keep you looking respectable and sharp in any situation. Fortunately, chukka boots are easy to keep clean if you take a little time and care with them; you don’t even need any advanced equipment or training, although for stubborn stains that you can’t remove by hand it may be worth taking them to a professional cleaner, as deep cleaning of suede can be challenging to do without risking damage to the material.

Suede is a soft, flexible leather that’s more comfortable and relaxed than most other types of leather, but it picks up stains and scuffs more easily than many other types of leather. To keep your cleaning straightforward, spray your chukka boots with a waterproofing spray once you purchase them, and then do your best to avoid getting them wet whenever possible. Dry suede is far easier to clean than wet suede!

To remove dirt, simply wipe down your chukka boots with a clean, damp cloth. Scuff marks can be gently rubbed away with a regular pencil eraser, which will return most minor scuff marked areas to pristine cleanliness. Larger or more stubborn scuff marks will require a toothbrush for cleaning. Stroke the surface gently with the brush to remove the marks, as intense scrubbing can lead to further scuff marks!

Once you’ve cleaned off any marks, the surface of your suede may look rough and less attractive. This is easy to fix with a simple suede brush, designed for restoring the texture (often called the “nap”) of suede surfaces and helping them to look as new and fresh as possible.

Expert Tip

Leather chukka boots are generally more durable than suede models. Despite their extra expense, these are well worth buying, as a good pair of leather chukka boots can last for years, keeping you smart and comfortable in any situation without showing anywhere near as much wear as suede chukka boots.

Did you know?

Nobody knows exactly where the name “Chukka boot” comes from for sure, but it possibly originates from the game of Polo, in which a “Chukka” is the name for a seven and a half minute period of play!