In Review: The EXPRESS Suede Chukka Boot

EXPRESS Suede Chukka Boot – $138.00

NOTE: These can drop to as low as $82.80 during a 40% off sale.

These were a very, very pleasant surprise. Picked up on a whim during their most recent 40% off sale, these things certainly outperform the $80 – $100 price tag. Are they as good as the Nordstrom 1901 Suede Chukka? I think most would say no, they aren’t. That 1901 suede chukka is pretty fantastic. But these? When on sale? Certainly worth a good strong look if you’re trying to add a chukka to your rotation that’s more versatile than a crepe sole desert boot.

Nice shape, and the slim sole is much easier to dress up than a textured crepe.

They just might be stitched. Sure, a lot of shoemakers can go a long way, trying to make it look like the welt is stitched instead of cemented, but it seems that the sole on these might just be sewn instead of glued to the upper. Now, are you going to get them re-soled a couple years down the line? Almost certainly not. But a stitched sole means if you’re tough on shoes, it’s less likely that the sole will start to separate from the upper.

A stitched sole on an $80 pair of chukkas? Maybe?

Made in China, but the suede and construction feels impressively solid. The suede is nice and even, and doesn’t have any silly burnishing at the toe or heel. The uppers are thick but flexible, with an anything but flimsy feeling leather lining. Shape is great too. Not bulbous. Not pointy. The kind of boot you can dress up or dress down with ease. Sole is “leather” (almost certainly a composite of ground up scrap leather) and will be quite slippery to start. The laces feel good, not papery, and the eyelets are reinforced with metal grommets on the interior. Fit is true and they cinch up nice and comfortable right from the get go.

Good suede, good construction, can be had for a very, very good price.

Also available in tan and grey, but these medium brown numbers are what most will probably favor. Hang in there for a sale and you could score a menswear classic for quite a bit under $100. Ships for free since they’re over $50, and also returns for free since they’re shoes (Express makes an exception in the case of shoes, and waives the $6.99 return label fee).