Boot Choice: Clark's Norley Cedar vs. Fitflop Byker

[polyhymnia]

Looking for some comfortable and not too boring short flat bikerish boots to wear mainly with skinny jeans.

Choice currently narrowed to this:
www.clarks.co.uk/find/product-is-20347369

or this:

www.fitflop.com/new-season/byker-boot-chocolate/invt/bykerchocolate/

Clarks are much cheaper and, I guess, better looking. Also have a zip. But the material seems pretty thin and floppy (both the leather and the 'fleece') and I don't know how it'll wear - have never had boots from Clark's - but have my doubts.

Fitflop's main virtue is that I know their boots are super comfortable and wear well, as I know from having had them over last two winters and worn them hard. These have quite a nice fleecy lining which doesn't really show.

Anyone going to argue for the Fitflop?? - all views welcome anyway.

[cyb]

Those fitflop ones look like a slice of chocolate fudge cake with buckles

So I say the Clarks ones

P L E A S E

[Pascha]

I tried on the Clarks ones and found them uncomfortable - poorly fitting to my foot and generally clunky. Shame because they are the nicer pair. I don't like the fitflops.

[sassyTHEFIRST]

Clarks surprisingly nice

Fitflops surprisingly fugly

No contest.

[faustina]

I tried on those fitflop boots and they are not nice. The shearling lining smelt awful too.

[polyhymnia]

Oh dear, am going off both now.

Like pascha I too did not find the Clark's ones perfectly comfortable. The Fitflops have no takers as yet!! Are these any better, or not really:

www.fitflop.com/view-all-womens/hooper-boot-leather-chocolate/invt/hooperchocolate/ ??

[RightUpMyRue]

Flitflop ones are horrible. Clarks ones are nice.

[LynetteScavo]

I actually like the fitflop pair just for the school run and popping into town.

[DamselInDisarray]

I have the Clarks ones. They're both nice and very comfy (and I rarely find comfy shoes). The sizing comes up quite big on them.

[polyhymnia]

Lynette - yes those were just the sort of uses I had in mind for the FFs. Though don't have a school run. And did really want to wear them to uni in London as well.

Damsel your view on comfort is encouraging - I should probably go back to shop with my own socks and try them again, in 2 sizes.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Fit flop boots are horrid.

The Clarks ones are nice, I have them, but they aren't as comfy as I had hoped.

I wouldn't but them again tbh.

[miche8]

i almost ordered those clarks ones until i saw them in store, they are not as nice in real life.

Fitflop boots last and last and are so comfy, i prefer some of the other fitflop boots to the ones you have chosen, but if i had to pick one of your choices i would go with the fitflop ones.

[polyhymnia]

Which Fitflop boots do you like better, miche? Do agree on their comfort and long wear.

[LynetteScavo]

www.fitflop.com/view-all-womens/hooper-boot-leather-chocolate/invt/hooperchocolate/
I really like these.

[teta]

I bought a pair of the hooper boots last year and wore them virtually everyday and they still look new.I really like some Clarks boots but never find them comfortable and so would always go for the Fitflops.I don't think they're ugly tbw but then i wear the sparkly fitflops all summer too and purchased the purple suede long ones last year [and had lots of admiring comments about them].

[stbm]

I bought these fitflop boots:

www.fitflop.com/view-all-womens/charley-boot-leather-black/invt/charleyblack/

and they are so comfy. Perfect for wearing with jeans tucked in or with tights and skirts.

I also have a pair of the Clarkes you linked to. They have hardly been worn since I got the fitflops.

[miche8]

polyhymnia i have a pair similar to the short hooper from last year which i love and am considering the tall black charley this year not that i need another pair. I really wish i had got the ugg type ones too instead of real uggs. I get lots of positive comments when ever i'm wearing fitflops.

Used to be a fan of clarks until i discovered fitflops way more comfy, i live in them and they still look new. Theres no going back for me.

[polyhymnia]

I have the 'ugg type' FFs from last year, miche in 2 colours and they've been so incredibly comfortable and hard-wearing that I'm very motivated to stick with FitFlop.

Think I've probably read enough doubts raised about the Clark's ones comfort to rule them out as unlikely to be a good long-term investment. Tbh, have to admit to some anti-Clark's prejudice, on grounds of both style and comparatively low price, which has meant I've never actually bought anything from there as an adult except some sturdy walking sandals. But I do know this probably isn't reasonable, because lots of S and B people here who obviously have great taste and style do like particular Clark's styles.

Think next step will be to try the FF short Hoopers - which both Lynette and I posted above - and take it from there.

[hester]

I'm afraid I've got to the age when I look at Fitflops and almost salivate at the comfiness of it all. I can't wait till I'm old enough to wear those beige lattice wide-fitting shoes you see in the back of sunday magazines, I really can't.

I know it's wrong. I'm not proud of it. But I'd go for the fitflops (though maybe not the style you've chosen).

[daffyd]

Hi, I have the clarks ones, I am very fussy as have metatarsalgia so need thick soles and good ball of foot support.The clarks ones are very comfortable and look stylish.I also love fitflops and have the short mukluks and the grey tall boots from last year, very comofortable, but sometimes dont fit the style stakes, so I swap between normal comfy boots and fitflop.Depends what you are using them for.Personally the hooper ones look better than Byker ones. Depends if you want to look vaguely stylish or not, you can dress the fitflop ones up to look good but depends on what jeans/leggings etc you wear.

[polyhymnia]

I do want to look 'vaguely stylish' as well as comfortable, particularly on days I'm in London for college or other reasons.

Most of my jeans now are skinny, though I have a couple of bootlegs, which I tend to keep for going to the supermarket, etc, and a couple of straight legs. I find straight legs the hardest of all to wear with boots - too baggy to tuck in to most boots but tight enough for tops of most ankle boots to make a bulge in them so they don't hang well.

Also have some Boden jeggings - so far have only worn these for local pottering around. But good thing about them is they'll tuck into anything.

[daffyd]

If stylish then definitely Clarks better! I found the Fitflop mukluk ones are nice, as look like uggs but much more supportive, but wont cover smartish days, more for lounging or very cold days.The fitflop long boots however look much smarter, so maybe the hooper tall or charley would be better suited for your needs.( can you tell I am a boot addict?!)

[Winetimeisfinetime]

I have the Hooper Fitflop boots and they are great - so comfortable. I like the look of them as well. I think they look better on than in the picture from the link.

[polyhymnia]

daffyd - yes I have two pairs ofmukluks, from last year and year before and agree, both on comfort and on them not being 'smart' (though did wear them to college when cold - fine in a student-y environment, even though I'm a v. mature student!)

winetime do you have the short or long Hoopers. And how easy are they to wear over jeans?

[Winetimeisfinetime]

I have the short Hoopers and there is plenty of room to tuck jeans/leggings in. Looking at the description though, they must have changed the design slightly since last year as mine don't have zips but that should make them easier to tuck things in etc.

Have a good look around if you decide to buy them as there are lots of Fitflop sales around atm, I got mine half price about this time last year from a local shop.

[KWL51]

I brought a pair of boots almost identical to the clarks ones from a cheap shoe shop called show zone for £25. i think they may be slightly shorter but are very comfortable and ive been wearing them everyday.
i would normally spend more money on a pair of boots buti brought these to tide me over until i found a pair i really liked for winter but love these now and very warm so great for catching the tube/bus in winter.
www.shoezone.com/Womens-Boots/Womens-Faux-Shearling-Buckle-Ankle-Boot-in-Brown/18613

they sell them in black too.