Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill vs Clarks Desert Boot
99 facts in comparison
Based on 133 Reddit opinions. Higgins MillAllen Edmonds Higgins Mill leads by 6 points.
133 opinions
Higgins Mill leads by 6pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
77%
B
Based on
197 Redditors
Winner
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
~$550
49 opinions
tldr; American dress shoe/boot mainstay. Recraftable, wide size range. Quality dipped after acquisition.
Check pricesVS
71%
B-
Based on
234 Redditors
Clarks Desert Boot
~$139.95
84 opinions
tldr; The original crepe sole chukka. Iconic casual boot. Not GYW but culturally significant.
Check prices⭐LEA
⭐CON
❤️COM
🔧DUR
📐FIT
52
Points
57
Points
Score by Category
Leather Quality
33%67%
Construction
38%20%
Comfort & Break-in
100%79%
Durability
33%23%
Fit & Sizing
40%50%
Why is Clarks Desert Boot better than Edmonds Higgins Mill?
- Better fit (50% vs 40%)
- Better value (100% vs 67%)
- Better leather quality (67% vs 33%)
- British design classic since 1950
- Iconic casual desert boot
- Crepe sole wears quickly
Based on 431 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the Higgins MillAllen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Winning by 6 points (77% vs 71%)
Better comfort
Better construction
Better durability
High confidence (431 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 431 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Higgins Mill
7.7/10
197 mentions
Desert Boot
7.1/10
234 mentions
COMFORT
Higgins Mill10.0/10
Desert Boot7.9/10
CONSTRUCTION
Higgins Mill3.8/10
Desert Boot2.0/10
VALUE
Higgins Mill6.7/10
Desert Boot10.0/10
LEATHER QUALITY
Higgins Mill3.3/10
Desert Boot6.7/10
FIT
Higgins Mill4.0/10
Desert Boot5.0/10
DURABILITY
Higgins Mill3.3/10
Desert Boot2.3/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Higgins Mill | Desert Boot |
|---|---|---|
Comfort | 100% | 79% |
Construction | 38% | 20% |
Value | 67% | 100% |
Leather Quality | 33% | 67% |
Fit | 40% | 50% |
Durability | 33% | 23% |
Category Wins
Higgins Mill: 3|Desert Boot: 3
Head to Head
Higgins Mill: 3|Desert Boot: 3
ComfortHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill100%
Desert Boot79%
ConstructionHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill38%
Desert Boot20%
ValueDesert Boot
Higgins Mill67%
Desert Boot100%
Leather QualityDesert Boot
Higgins Mill33%
Desert Boot67%
FitDesert Boot
Higgins Mill40%
Desert Boot50%
DurabilityHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill33%
Desert Boot23%
Higgins Mill
77%
71%
Desert Boot
Higgins Mill77%
Desert Boot71%
Higgins Mill wins by 6 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill | Clarks Desert Boot |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Allen Edmonds | Clarks |
| Manufacturer | Allen Edmonds | Clarks |
| Color | Brown | Various |
| Weight | 4.1 pounds | 1.3225 Pounds |
| Upper Material | — | Beeswax leather or suede (cowhide leather) |
Key Highlights
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
🇺🇸 Made in Wisconsin
🎨 CXL and Weatherproof options
🪡 GYW construction, resoleable
⚠️ QC concerns post-2017 acquisition
💰 Best during sales at $250-300
Clarks Desert BootWinner
🇨🇧 British design classic since 1950
👞 Iconic casual desert boot
⚠️ Crepe sole wears quickly
💰 Budget-friendly at $130-160
📏 Runs TTS to slightly large
Topic Battles
Higgins Mill: 3|Tied: 0|Desert Boot: 2
⭐Leather Quality
Desert Boot winsHiggins Mill
33%
Desert Boot
67%
⭐Construction
Higgins Mill winsHiggins Mill
38%
Desert Boot
20%
❤️Comfort & Break-in
Higgins Mill winsHiggins Mill
100%
Desert Boot
79%
🔧Durability
Higgins Mill winsHiggins Mill
33%
Desert Boot
23%
📐Fit & Sizing
Desert Boot winsHiggins Mill
40%
Desert Boot
50%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Top Criticism
+14 pts“I’ve encountered problems with ‘off the shelf’ Higgins Mill and other AE products. I’m also not a big fan of how they completely ruin the ‘weatherproof’ cxl, might as well remove the Horween name from that garbage. However, let me tell you that my shell Higgins Mill that they made when I placed an order (7 weeks) is one of the best boots I’ve ever worn. And it’s a damn shame that one has to pay $1k just for them to get the basics correct. Those off the shelf HM should be made just as well as the custom ordered shell pair I received, and it’s garbage that there is such a difference.”
r/goodyearwelt
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Clarks Desert Boot
Top Criticism
+36 pts“I do like desert boots but they are not comfy in my experience, barely any cushion between your foot and the pavement. I could not walk far in them”
r/malefashionadvice
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Higgins Mill
Clarks Desert Boot
📈Historical Price Data
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Clarks Desert Boot
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
All-time low: $276.5(2021-04)
Clarks Desert Boot
All-time low: $60(2023-11)
$0 below 90-day avg
Which is Better?
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill Wins
77%
Mill
vs
71%
Boot
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill leads by 6 points based on 431 Reddit opinions.
Why Higgins MillWinner
- 🇺🇸 Made in Wisconsin
- 🎨 CXL and Weatherproof options
- 🪡 GYW construction, resoleable
Why Desert Boot
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 67%)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
19%Positive
Positive
19%Neutral
75%Negative
6%Based on 197 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
25%Positive
Positive
25%Neutral
64%Negative
11%Based on 234 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill or Clarks Desert Boot?
Based on 431 Reddit comments, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill is the preferred choice with 77% positive sentiment vs Clarks Desert Boot's 71%. Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill leads by 6 percentage points.
Should I buy Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill or Clarks Desert Boot?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill has stronger approval ratings (77% vs 71%). However, Clarks Desert Boot may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill?
Reddit users highlight: Made in Wisconsin. CXL and Weatherproof options. GYW construction, resoleable. With 197 mentions and 77% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Clarks Desert Boot?
Reddit users highlight: British design classic since 1950. Iconic casual desert boot. Crepe sole wears quickly. With 234 mentions and 71% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 431 Reddit comments: 197 about Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill and 234 about Clarks Desert Boot. Data was sourced from Quality Boots community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
133 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/27/2026