Clarks Originals Wallabee, Wallabee Lite, Desert Boot & Desert Trek Sizing Guide

Clarks Originals Wallabee shoe in cola suede on a crepe sole

Clarks Originals makes four shoes that have been worn by everyone from the mods of London to the rude boys of Kingston: the Wallabee, the Wallabee Lite, the Desert Boot and the Desert Trek. They share a heritage and a sizing system, but each one looks and feels a little different. This guide covers the story and the fit of each, the difference between a crepe and an EVA sole, and a full UK to EU size chart, from an official Clarks Originals stockist.

The short answer

Clarks Originals fit true to size. Order your usual UK size in all four styles. The Wallabee's moccasin toe gives a little more room across the front than a trainer, and suede softens as you wear it in, so if you are between sizes, take the smaller one.

The Wallabee

The moccasin on a crepe sole. Lance Clark created the Wallabee in the late 1960s, inspired by a German moccasin called the Grasshopper made by Sioux, and the first pairs were made in Kilkenny, Ireland. Its moccasin-style upper, stitched around the top of the foot, sits on a thick crepe sole, which is what gives the Wallabee its unmistakable shape. It comes as a low shoe and as an ankle-high boot, and both fit true to size with a roomy toe. Shop Clarks Originals

Clarks Originals Wallabee Lite Boots Ink SuedeShop

Clarks Originals Wallabee Lite Shoes Black SuedeShop

Clarks Originals Wallabee Lite Shoes Cola SuedeShop

The Wallabee Lite

The same shape, lighter and more affordable. The Wallabee Lite first appeared in 1986, and Clarks Originals brought it back in July 2026. It keeps the Wallabee's moccasin silhouette and suede upper but swaps the crepe for a lightweight EVA foam sole, so it weighs less underfoot and costs less than the crepe-soled original. It comes as a shoe and a boot, and it fits true to size, so take the same size you would in the Wallabee.

The Desert Boot

The original, since 1950. Nathan Clark, a member of the Clark family, was serving with the British Army in Burma during the Second World War when he noticed officers wearing simple crepe-soled suede boots that had been made in the bazaars of Cairo. He brought the idea home to Somerset, and the Desert Boot went on sale in 1950. It is an ankle-high lace-up in suede with a leather lining and a crepe sole, and it fits true to size.

The Desert Trek

The one with the seam down the middle. Launched in the early 1970s, the Desert Trek is a lower lace-up shoe with a single seam running down the centre of the toe, a crepe sole and the Trek Man, a figure carrying a satchel, on the heel. In Jamaica, where Clarks Originals has a devoted following, that figure earned the shoe the nickname Bank Robbers. It is one of our best sellers, and it fits true to size.

Crepe or EVA

Crepe for the classic feel, EVA to go lighter. Crepe is natural rubber made from the latex of the rubber tree, and Clarks describes it as a natural shock absorber that is also water-repellent. It gives the Wallabee, the Desert Boot and the Desert Trek their soft, springy step. EVA is a lightweight foam, the same family of material used in trainer midsoles, and it is what makes the Wallabee Lite lighter and less expensive. Choose crepe for the authentic original, or the Lite for a lighter everyday shoe at a lower price.

Size chart

UK to EU sizes and foot length, as published by Clarks. Measure your foot and match it to the row below. Every product page also carries that style's own size chart, so check it before you order.

UK	EU	Foot (cm)	Foot (in)
UK 6	39.5	24.6 cm	9.7"
UK 7	41	25.4 cm	10.0"
UK 8	42	26.3 cm	10.4"
UK 9	43	27.2 cm	10.7"
UK 10	44.5	28.0 cm	11.0"
UK 11	46	28.9 cm	11.4"
UK 12	47	29.8 cm	11.7"

How to measure

Heel to longest toe. Stand with your heel against a wall and measure from the wall to the tip of your longest toe. Measure both feet, because they are rarely identical, and use the longer one. Measure at the end of the day, when your feet are at their largest, then match the result to the foot length in the chart above.

Common questions

Do Clarks Wallabees run big?

Clarks Originals Wallabees fit true to size, so order your usual UK size. The moccasin toe gives a little more room across the front than a trainer and the suede softens with wear, so if you are between sizes, take the smaller one.

What is the difference between the Wallabee and the Wallabee Lite?

They share the same moccasin shape. The Wallabee sits on a natural crepe rubber sole, while the Wallabee Lite uses a lightweight EVA foam sole, which makes it lighter and less expensive. The Lite first came out in 1986 and Clarks Originals relaunched it in 2026.

What is the difference between the Desert Boot and the Desert Trek?

The Desert Boot is an ankle-high lace-up boot, first sold in 1950. The Desert Trek, from the early 1970s, is a lower lace-up shoe with a single seam running down the centre of the toe and the Trek Man logo on the heel. Both sit on a crepe sole and both fit true to size.

Do Clarks Desert Boots run big?

No. The Desert Boot fits true to size, so order your usual UK size. If you are unsure, measure your foot and check it against the foot lengths in the size chart.

How do I look after suede Clarks Originals?

Brush suede regularly with a suede brush to lift the nap and remove dirt, and treat new pairs with a suede protector before you wear them. If they get wet, let them dry naturally away from direct heat.

Still unsure

Email the team and we will help you pick. We are an official Clarks Originals stockist, so if you tell us your usual shoe size and the style you are after, we will tell you the size to order. If the size is not right, exchanges are free, and UK returns are £3.00 within 14 days with a pre-paid Royal Mail label. Contact us · Shop Clarks Originals

Written by the Spiral Seven buying team · Updated 23 September 2026 · Official Clarks Originals stockist