Leather vs Suede Boots

The call

Smooth leather is the more versatile, more durable, lower-maintenance choice, and the better single pair if you want boots that handle weather and dress up under trousers. Suede (and its tougher cousin nubuck) reads softer and more casual and can look excellent, but it stains and water-marks more readily and needs a protector spray and gentle upkeep. For a first quality boot in a wet climate, smooth leather wins on both durability and cost per wear; suede is a worthwhile second pair for dry-weather, casual rotation. Whatever the surface, construction (welt vs cemented) still decides whether the boot lasts long enough to justify the price.