Customer Reviews

Clarks Men's Natureveldt Oxford (8.5m, Chestnut Leather)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I just bought a pair of these shoes from Amazon - 10.5 Medium Width - after trying on a 10.5 in my local shoestore. The 10.5 from Amazon was larger than the 10.5 in my local Clark's store; however it was the same shoe in design and form. It also had the same manufacture and origin markings, and same "feel" to the leather. Since the fit was a bit large, I ordered a 10 to see how that shoe fits and am giving away as a gift the 10.5's. I have yet to receive the 10's from Amazon, and will post an update when I do.
The shoe feels comfortable, but I can almost "swim" in the toe box compared to most other shoes. There is a lot of room. In fact the 10.5's in the local shop had about 3/8" inch from the toe to the end of the shoe - the 10.5's from Amazon had about 3/4" from the end of my toe to the tip of the shoe.
If the 10's from Amazon don't work out I'll probably pay the sizeable price premium and buy the shoes locally. The local shoes felt better on my foot for some odd reason.
Don't get me wrong, it's a nice shoe - it's just that typically I am a 10.5 and this shoe really didn't feel true-to-size while the shoe at my local store did.
So my advice is try the shoe based on how it fits, not necessarily on the sizing indicated on the box or in the shoe.

UPDATE:
The 10's from Amazon arrived, and they fit perfectly. They fit snugly with no slippage and just enough wiggle-room. I am very pleased and eager to put some wear on these shoes and report back on how they perform over the mid-to-long term. With regard to sizing, I believe that if you have a size 10-10.5 foot, go with the 10's. If you're between 10.5 and 11, use the size 10.5 shoe.

I've been wearing Clarks Natureveldt shoes for at least 7 years now and have gone through about 4 pairs during that time.

Previous pairs had been made in Europe, however, the two pairs (one black and one brown leather) that I recently purchased were made in China. So far, the fit is the same between the Chinese manufactured shoes and the European made ones. There are however some design differences, of which the tongue is the most apparent as it appears to be made a little bit cheaper than previously. The laces also appear to be a bit cheaper.

Should note though that overall the design/build of the shoe appears to be about the same or better in most areas. Time will tell however, as these shoes are pretty much legendary for lasting a long time.

The main thing that I've always liked about these shoes is how comfortable they are even from the first wear. They do not require any break-in whatsoever due to the type of leather used, how they are constructed and how they fit on your foot.

They just feel good on my feet. They are also pretty comfortable to walk in and since I have flat feet, this is a must have in a shoe for me.

I personally like the style of the shoe, although some might find them to be a bit too classic, laid back or casual for a leather shoe.

All in all, these are the only leather shoes that I really feel good about buying these days, however that might change if the move to China significantly decreases the useful life of the shoe.

I bought a 2nd pair after loving the 1st pair I bought about 5 years ago. This pair, although priced lower, fit nothing like the first. They were much narrower with a thinner sole. I noticed the 1st pair was made in Pakistan while the inferior 2nd pair in China. Buyer beware!

I've been wearing this model of Clark shoe for about 25 years now. I regularly wear them out. I didn't know what foot comfort was until I tried on a pair of Natureveldt's back in the 80s. I used to have heel soreness problems. With these shoes, that problem is gone. And the current pricing makes them a bargain. I have paid from $110 per pair (in the 80s) to $135 per pair (early 2000's) and they are worth every dime. I HIGHLY recommend trying these shoes.

When I checked other reviews there was mention that the shoes are now made in China. I was a little concerned after wearing this style/model for almost 20 years. My foot shape fits very few shoes, maybe 2 different models at best. I ordered them and they are now made in China instead of England, Portugal, and other European countries. They fit properly. The natural leather was equal to my previous pairs. (Most leather shoes have artifical leather "skins" added in processing for a uniform appearance. Only Natureveldts have the original cow hide finish so they vary from each pair to the next. Breathability) The only difference I could spot was a 20% thinner polyurethane sole section. This air chamber sole has a perfect shock absorbing character that makes it impossible to go back to leather soles. So far they perform as good as the originals.

I have used this model for 20 years. I love it. The last pair I bought on February 2007 provides the same comfort, space and flexibility as the previous ones but I think that the quality of the product (leather, even the shoelaces) is somehow lower. One of my tan shoes had a little black spot. As a whole I am still happy with them because comfort is my priority.

I've been wearing this exact shoe since 1990. This is my 4th pair. If I wear them every day they'll last just about 4 years. At one point I attempted a "comfort upgrade" and moved to a $400.00 Mephisto shoe. They weren't half as comfortable and the soles needed to be replaced after less than 2 years (at a cost of $85.00).

These shoes were once made in Europe and were fine shoes. They are now made in China and are not the same. The leather is much thinner and the shoes wear out in the heel very quickly inside. A lot of products are finely constructed in China, for example Apple Computer products. Clark needs to compare the quality of their former version of this shoe to the current version. It's all about supervising the manufacture, not the fault of the Chinese factory. I own a pair of the former version and the current. They don't feel quite the same to the foot either when wearing them.

The previous three pairs of this shoe were made in Europe and they lasted for over 3-4 years, however, the two new pairs (black and brown leather) were made in China AND THEY FELL APART IN 3 MONTHS.

It is very deceptive to sell at $130 quality shoe and then produce a highly inferior shoe. The base of the brown shoe was worn out after only 10 walks. The specialist that shines my shoes told me that the cheaper thin material and assembled poorly in China.

Clarks Men's Natureveldt, purchased through Gabriel Shoes came apart after wearing them moderately for 4 month. Gabriel shoes did not provide any help just because the order passed 90 days policy.
Awful product, awful service.