I've bought five different pairs of Clarks over the past few years, and my size appears to be 10, which is half a size lower from my usual size.  But different brands can be that way.  Each one has its own peculiar fit.

In the case of the desert boots, however, my size is closer to 9.5, maybe even 9.0.  Don't often see that kind of difference between different models under the same brand.  Perhaps the construction of the desert boot is unique.  I don't know.

So be forewarned.

These shoes look pretty keen though.

I bought the beeswax leather, and treated them with a coating of beeswax shortly after receiving them.  It makes a big difference in their appearance.  They come out of the box sort of yellowish and dried out.  After rubbing in a thin layer of beeswax, they are a deep chestnut color with just a hint of yellow around where the creases form, and just the slightest glossy sheen.

They come with a small tab of untreated leather threaded through the laces, which you could possibly take with you to a store to see how different treatments would change the leather's appearance, before actually applying one to the shoe.

I want the crepe rubber soles to change color too.  In pictures, I see that they eventually turn to a dusty grey, but it will take at least a year or so of wear to get them there, I suppose.

A year of adventure, perhaps.

to be continued...?