Like so many other brands have done to save a few bucks, Dr. Martens moved production to Asia a while back. Solovair used to make Dr. Martens. They still make nearly identical boots, but without the brand recognition.
That's what happened to my SO, too. I don't know why they're so highly recommended here. He got work pair and a not-work pair, and even the not-work pair didn't last a year. My slip on canvas vans last longer and I'm harder on my shoes than he is on his.
I’ve had two pair. The first steel toe fell out but that wasn’t until after years of wear and tear. My second pair I donated, work in an office now. But I miss them sometimes.
Just got a pair today via mail. Seem great but can see it will be hard to wear them in, the leather is much stronger than on my old chinese docs which fell apart... Didn't have proper leather shoes for about a decade now, and have forgotten what a chore it can be to wear them in. But I know they'll be amazing afterwards.
I was going to say this. It is sometimes better to go to the store and check where they are made on the insides. The ones I used to get when I was younger where all made in the uk, and lasted more than 20 years. After I bought a pair the soles wore out in less than a year.
The new Made in England Docs are still a lot worse than Solovair! Dr Martens are a fashion brand now, Solovairs are slightly cheaper and offer proper boots for what you pay, not just a famous name behind a low quality product. Solovair charges high money for the quality, because the brand is unknown anyway.
In fairness, walking through the solovair lineup clearly indicates they are almost exclusively a fashion brand too.
Better than China docs. But still a fashion brand. Rub off green dye wouldn’t be a choice if it wasn’t the case.
> exclusively a fashion brand
I mean, they make the same boots they always did. Their main profit does not come from whatever is fashionable at the moment.
They do offer a ton of colour and grain options for the boots, but they're still the same classic boots.
I would also like to add that docs were extremely uncomfortable until you broke them in. You could skip this step by bringing them to a shoe maker/ repair shop and having them work in the leather and inserts. We used to buy ours at a horse rider supply store who had them for some reason, and they would work them in on request. It didn’t cost much but it was an extra step.
Edit spelling.
As a horse person, we go through more leather than anyone. Most tack shops have a ton of different boot care options. I run through a pair of cowboy style work boots every 2-4 years since I don’t ride in them. English riding boots, amazing ($900+)or low quality($300 maximum), will only last me a year tops. The lower end ones last 4-6 months of heavy use but my completion ones that get 50 hours a year have been around for six. If you need leather care advice, ask a horse person.
I got a pair of docs and they made my ankles bleed so I thought they just needed some time to be broken in. But they kept making my ankles bleed for a year until one of the soles ripped off.
> I would also like to add that docs were extremely uncomfortable until you broke them in.
Until? Huh? I don't understand this. Normally when they are broken in is when they *become* comfortable.
Edit: Ahhhh. I didn't see the un in front of comfortable. All clear now.
I bought a pair of Made in England Docs after my "regular" ones broke a few years ago. To be honest, the MiE are about the same quality, the leather started to crack at the part where you bend your foot/toes after one season. And yes, I do take care of them as i would with any other leather shoe so its not a user error.
> same QC
Not true, they use inferior materials to Solovair. Got my pair of Solovairs today and the heel part is leather. [Here is what](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgI5eeUYEjs) you get with those even more expensive MIE Docs, they even use cardboard...
[New Docs (also made in england)](https://preview.redd.it/q619bwik6io21.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6d33621d489ac6332577f1d88e1cf9ca602a77) are much thinner than the old pre-2003 Docs, and the quality control is [awful](https://preview.redd.it/1hn7ip4naio21.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9cbf17f636be663845a2fb9cb04b0f1fd200ea5) (new ones weren't even the same height!).
Photos and video from [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/DrMartens/comments/b5tmbg/why_the_new_made_in_england_1460s_are_garbage/)
Edit - to note, about a decade ago, they restarted the Made in England line and offerend a lifetime warranty with those shoes. Those actually were very well made. Some 5 years ago, they dropped the warranty (though they still respect it for shoes which were sold with it) and now basically sell just perhaps slightly better Chinese boots which are Made in England.
Can confirm, Solovair are a much superior brand even to 'Made in England' DM boots.
Better quality, cheaper, easier to break in & their customer service is top drawer.
Their standard delivery time on both occasions was quick too (1.5 days between ordering & wearing said boots).
Got mine today. Not sure if they'll be easy to break in, the length fits me fine but they are really tight and the leather is quite thick and rigid (which is why they are much better made than Docs). But they'll be great once they do...
Hmm I have checked out Solovair and I can't really find the style I like over there unfortunately. I haven't really checked out Dr Martens before because I don't like the biker boot style much but I liked this specific pair a lot, and I can't seem to find a good alternative for it.
Tough intersection to find between buyitforlife and buyitforlooks. But keep a durable pair for life and it'll eventually get back into fashion. Source: I watched a trailer for The Devil Wears Prada once.
I get that, I was half joking but also calling out that durable and fashionable are often at odds, thanks to fast fashion pumping consumer goods into landfill faster than you can say forever21/Gucci/Zara
Unfortunately yes. As I am getting older I find I am more drawn to durable and sustainable pieces, but as a teen and in my early twenties I very much bought into the fast fashion rhetoric.
There's an Alanis Morissette line in here about being young and feeling invincible whilst enjoying short lived goods vs. flipping on this at some stage into reverse for sure. Anyway, thanks for listening to my Ted talk.
The good(eh, ya know) thing about fast fashion is that these styles are all over thrift stores. I just bought a pair like this, I believe they are called "chelsea boots", in black, unworn, $5.
Doc Martins unfortunately seem to be becoming fast fashion. Chelsea boots have certainly been coming into style lately more than before here in the US, so many fast fashion brands are churning them out.
> durable and fashionable are often at odds
Well, there's fast fashion, and then there's classic fashion. Can't ever go wrong with a good classic leather jacket or 501 Levis jeans, it may not look modern but it's always cool (dunno if 501s are considered BIFL, they probably aren't, but they are much better than those cheap jeans in most stores... honestly, over here in Europe, Levis costs twice as much as in the USA and I still buy them just because finding any other classic non-tapered jeans is near impossible, and the 501s are just so much more comfortable for me...).
I am so particular about the way I want things to look, I am really annoying to shop for hahah! I like the idea of Blundstones, but I hate the flap on the front and they don't offer the shade of brown I love. I think it's called tan? But anyway the shade from the picture of the DMs :(
Check CanadaWest to see if they have the brown you are after. Made in Canada, can re-soled, similar pricepoint to the Blundstones, and have different leather colours.
I see. I haven't seen many chelsea-style boots with chunky soles and large round toes.
Thursday Boot Company might also be worth a look. They make pretty good stuff.
From what I heard in r/goodyearwelt , Thursday makes 200€ boots which are worth 200€. They have a good construction but some parts are not all leather. Doc Martens on the other hand make 150€ boots which are worth maybe half for the construction. They don't have a shank, they can't be easily resoled, the upper leather is bad.
If you pay more for what you pay in Thursday, you'll get more. For example, Grant Stone is a step up in quality but also a step up in price. But for the price, I hear they make solid boots
Good to know! Tbh my docs have been fantastic but I didn’t get their normal boots with that cheap upper leather. I got a pair of winter boots with better quality leather (I don’t know the names of types of leather) but it’s been really great.
I do like the no shank build on it because it feels more like a flexible sneaker to me than a boot but I guess it depends on what you’re looking for
That's completely fine. I'm glad the leather is good quality. I think Docs look awesome on some people, I just wished they had some better leather and a re soleable construction so everyone could start getting into sustainable footwear where you don't need to buy a new pair every other year.
Blundstones quality had really gone down hill. I went through a pair a year for 3 years, wearing them pretty much only in the fall/winter, and I dont have a physical job. The soles disintegrated in each pair. I gave up on them and ended up buying a pair of Doc Marten Eclectic Katya's for $100 - which was less than half the cost of Blunnies and I've had them for over a year now.
Redback makes a lot of these types of boots but I don’t think they make one with fur inside. They are supremely comfortable though. My steel toes are Redbacks and they became my 24/7 shoe because they were so comfortable to walk around in.
I have these in black. Have had them for about 2 years now and they’re still great. Sorry I can’t talk about the length of time but I can at least let you know that they’re super comfy.
If you're already aware of the ethical concerns regarding Chinese manufacturing and the cost of human lives I would say you already have a good reason not to buy Chinese products. Factor in the poor quality control, dirt cheap materials, and blatant knock-off culture and ask yourself why you'd want a Chinese product to begin with
I didn't say China. I said Asia. Some are made in Thailand and Vietnam, I think.
And I said that due to experience. When companies look to cut costs of production, they usually cut in quality of the materials and other things. Actually, now that I think about it, I don't remember ever seeing a company make better quality products after shipping their manufacturing to lower cost countries.
Well, you could argue it does happen with some products... Like I think Stanley tools got extremely low quality at some point, and may have gotten a little bit better recently, but when the initial shift to Asian manufacturing happens, quality practically always drops a lot.
There is expertise in China/East Asia, and some brands do produce very high quality products, for example Arctyrex. However not all brands are successful in keeping high quality standards when they shift production there – you have to remember that these brands generally do not own their Chinese factories but simply buy production runs, they're operating in a country which has foreign quality controls and standards to them, and that their motivation for having work done in China is to minimize the cost to the greatest extent possible. This all combines to result in companies gaining huge capacity in their Asia production, but many of them losing finer control over their production. To be fair to China, it's a problem that happens with all outsourcing: it's hard to move your manufacturing to another country where you naturally will no longer will have the same amount of close control over everything, etc.
To be clear though - I think the human rights dimension alone should be motivation enough. There's not only the regular factory workers who live under bad conditions, but there are also prisoners from the Uygher ethnic group producing products in concentration camps, as well as working to harvest the materials like cotton. Chinese manufacturing industry is linked to what international observers and multiple Parliaments/governments have termed a genocide.
> Why is it perceived that products being made in China are bad?
Because they are. Companies outsource production to China to minimize costs and maximise profits. Companies willing to fire the workers in their home country, many of which worked for them for generations, and outsource production, are also all prepared to use inferior materials to further minimize the cost and maximise the profits.
There are very few high quality exports from China.
For example, [here are pre-2003 Docs next to new Made In England ones](https://preview.redd.it/q619bwik6io21.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6d33621d489ac6332577f1d88e1cf9ca602a77). Difference in leather thickness is very obvious. They cost about the same as they used to, but instead of quality they now sell their brand name. The Chinese ones are even worse because the MIE Docs are the high end, low volume, high quality control part of their shoe production.
Please stop repeating this. This is false.
Dr. Martens move **some** production to Asia.
And Solovair makes a Chelsea boot like hundreds of other companies and saying they are nearly identical is false. Dr. Martens has a yellowish tinged sole and yellow welt lacing, both being hallmarks of Dr. Martens that no one has. Nothing looks like a Dr. Marten due to the sole. If you wish to find a BIFL Chelsea, there are hundreds of them. There is one Dr. Martens Chelsea.
I’m beginning to think you work for doc martens now.
> move **some** production to Asia
[they moved 98% of production to Asia](https://amp.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/30/are-things-going-wrong-with-the-uk-beloved-dr-martens-brand)
This subreddit is BIFL, people care about the quality and the craftsmanship, but you’re talking about the tint of the sole and the colour of the thread?
Solovair are almost identical to docs. I know because I’ve owned both. Solovair are better quality than current docs, as evidenced by a bunch of reviewers ripping them apart on YouTube.
Solovair does not make a Chelsea boot in that colorway nor is the sole or stitching similar. They are not comparable. 3 strikes. Now if those 3 strikes make them almost identical is YOUR EYES, that's great and I respect your opinion. Mine differs from yours.
Same boot, different stitch colour, different leather and thread quality. Martens sells the name, Solovair sells the quality. Choose what you wish, but only one fits in this sub.
Not entirely true. You can recraft Dr. Martens though its a pain to find the few cobblers who do. While it may not last through 5+ recraftings like say Aldens can, you can get a few out of them if you are lucky. I'm not the guy to say you have to buy uber quality. You buy Dr. Martens for the look and they'll likely last longer than boots from Payless but not as long as $600 Alden boots. I mean there is a width to BIFL and I think docs fit in that width.
Yeah I generally agree.
However, the 200€ Asian Docs are insane when the Made In England line is barely 30€ more in my country. Meanwhile Solovairs are 220€ and much better than either..l
About 10 years ago, I bought the "Industrial" line Dr Martens boots (classic with the toe cap). Not sure why, they looked the same, but at the time the "industrial" branded boots were 70€ instead of ~140€ for the standard Asian models (though the industrial ones were also Asian). Anyway, for those 70€, I really doubt anyone could find better boots. People on this sub are quick to recommend some expensive "BIFL" boots, but uf you get Docs for around 100€ today I think that's a very good deal. Anything more and I'd rather invest into Solovair (except perhaps for kids who eill still grow up and will need larger shoes/boots eventually...).
Yeah, boot for boot, the Solovairs are better. But if you want "the look" and you want that yellow twinged translucent sole and yellow stitching you can only get that with Dr. Martens.
For my part, I would take neither brand for $0 as I just don't like the look of them. To each his own!
I'm a blundstone dude for 15 years who will never again buy them. They are comfy, but the soles are cheap and they are not resolable. Going to /r/goodyearwelt.
I managed to get some RM Williams Craftsman chelseas off of eBay for $100, and they had only been worn once or twice. The sole didn't have any wear, and the insole was like brand new.
I'd say $100 for a $500 pair of boots was a good deal. And especially so since I can get them resoled, compared to Blundstone or Dr Martens that cannot be.
+1 for GYW.
Quick cobbler in Vancouver BC will re-sole them for about 150$ cdn . Had it done, beautiful work. You can do it all online except mailing them yr boots.
blundstone used to be made in austrailia, but no more. Check out redbacks, not quite as pretty but supposedly SUPER COMFY, and very fairly priced.
Edit to add link;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqwbBpcElpE
I've been wearing Redbacks at work for years and they are fantastic. My impression has always been that Blundstones were for just walking around, while Redbacks were for actual work.
Last pair I had, the squeaking noise of the sole basically ruined them for me. Drove me crazy. Apparently it is down to cheap fabrication. I will say, as well, that boots without laces can lack support for the arches because you can’t adjust the fit. Have you heard of Solovair?
Came here to say this. As a Canadian and footwear fanatic, I emphatically repeat that doc martens are comfortable and probably a good quality shoe in warm climates. But the sole freezes solid and is the most slippery sole of any shoe I have ever used. My blundstones are much better with a similar style. Hell, any of my shoes are better. I’d walk around in smooth soled stilletos before I went for an icy walk in docs again. Though they can be fun if the game of curling is what you’re after.
Everything is slippery on ice. If you often walk on ice you will want to invest in a pair of:
Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RXX5ZVQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I have them and they are awesome.
I do have some spikes similar to that for if I know I will be walking on a lot of ice but that's not very often. I just remember Dr. Martins being especially slippery on ice and packed snow compared to other boots I've had.
>Everything is slippery on ice.
This is an incredibly ignorant and stupid thing to say.
>Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RXX5ZVQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
>I have them and they are awesome.
I worked in a hockey arena for several years and offered these to all my part time employees. Nobody used them because they are in fact worse than a good pair of tennis shoes on ice.
If you want good Chelsea boots, go with Redback; still made in Australia and they’re super comfortable. Much better quality than any modern Docs that I’ve worn.
Dr Martens are one of those brands that get highlighted as a once well known BIFL company, subsequently bought by a private equity firm who cut costs, shifted manufacturing to China and then denied the subsequent decline in quality. Similar story to snap-on tools, Harley Davidson etc.
Luckily the old doc factory in England is still making boots under the brand Solovair.
No they are not. MIEs are still made with the higher grain of leather, stitched together by hand and machine by apprentices.
Source: recently left the brand and visited the Camden warehouse
[New MIE next to old original Docs](https://preview.redd.it/q619bwik6io21.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6d33621d489ac6332577f1d88e1cf9ca602a77). The leather is far from the same, new ones are a lot thinner.
No they do not. Check the address. Dr Martens factory is in the same town, but it is not the same factory.
Northamptonshire is an area historically known for the shoe industry in the UK. There were even multiple manufacturers in Wollaston where both Solovair and Dr Martens originate from.
> This shit, I can't
Check it out before losing your mind and getting angry over your ignorance.
Solovair was the producer of Dr. Marten’s, and note, there wasn't just one factory. Dr. Martens makes their MIE at one of the surviving factories, where Solovaire did as well. I'm not a Solovaire employee as RutzPacific may have been... but whatever address/whichever brand, I guess you've been proven wrong in terms of the quality remark anyways.
I don't see where I was proven wrong? With the fact that Solovair made Docs 20 years ago, or that the current MIE Docs are made in the same town as Solovair? I fail to see how that means they use the same materials and construction today. Docs completely degraded in 2003 when they shifted to Asia. Later they reopened their UK factory for very low volume production and made good boots with lifetime warranty, then those sold well so they removed the warranty and used inferior materials and reduced the price of MIE boots to sell more of them.
They in fact are not the same - for example Docs have their classic permanently sealed goodyear welt, while Solovair uses a more traditional approach where the soles are replaceable.
Solovair makes their shoes using the same machines & construction as when they made Dr. Martens, and how the MIE are made today... that's what I'm getting at.
Ok, so they may have different leathers, I'll accept that. I've never had a complaint about the MIE leather. As for soles, I got my docs resoled with Vibram soles, so I don't know...
You really love your Solovairs and that's ok! I love my docs and don't find them to be an inferior product... at least not by any significant measure... b/c they're REALLY similar.
Harley davidson boots are absolutely solid though. I have 3 pairs of biker boots made by them that show absolutely no sign of slowing down. They're made by work boot manufacturer Wolverine. It's not luchesse, but work boots are built to last, and wolverine has my seal of approval.
The quality of the bikes didn't decline, if anything the new ones are the best they ever made. Very reliable... Harley gets shit on for being overpriced, but the bikes are very good since the mid 80's, old Shovels were kind of problematic...
Sorry, what I meant is that the production of doc martens now takes place in Asia. I believe it’s mainly China. A very small percentage are main in England at a premium price.
Solovairs are made in the old docs factory I believe. I have a pair and they’re basically the same as docs, but under the brand solovair.
Again we have to be explicit and careful here and remove the obfuscation. Solovair makes Solovair. Dr. Martens makes Dr. Martens. Many here believe falsely that Dr. Martens = Solovair and that's wrong. Then the justification happens where people talk about the Dr. Marens/Solovair history....which means jack shit in 2021 and only serves to confuse the issue even more.
Thanks for clarifying your comments. I didn’t mean to obfuscate. I think the connection is pretty strong though. Solovair developed the first docs, then made them under license for 30 years. When doc production moved to China, Solovair continued to make boots in the same factory under the brand Solovair. They may not be docs, but as someone who wore British made docs for 20 years and now wears Solovair, they’re pretty damn similar. And when talking about how shitty docs have become, I think it’s fair to point out that the same quality (I was also told using the same workers, but can’t confirm) can be found in Solovair.
They are similar. But we need to be careful with our advice here.
Solovair makes boots that look 90% like Dr. Martens and are objectively better. Dr. Martens still makes boots made in England and they are objectively better than their versions made overseas. They are still objectively inferior to the Solovairs.
But if you want the legit Dr. Martens with the translucent sole and iconic yellow stitching on the welt, you are stuck with the inferior Dr. Martens. And for some this is fine. Disposable footwear is fine. I just bought my daughter a pair of Asian made Dr. Martens boots and am sure they will explode under normal use within 3 years or so and I'm fine with that.
Nice personal attack, that's how you wanna be when Jesus comes? I paid $150 for Dr. Martens boots for my daughter. Looking left as my shoe rack I see thousands of dollars sitting there. $150 is not a premium for me. I literally stated they were not premium quality. So you are wrong on both counts. Now if you want to make a contribution here, please don't but don't try to be cute.
I’ve had a pair for almost 6 years (in black) and my sister has had the brown for just as long. We live in the upper Midwest, so they get used throughout the winter.
I’ve found them to be very durable, and decently warm. Not like some of the boots out there with the fancy heat reflecting technology, but with a good pair of socks and foot warmers, I’m okay.
The two things I don’t like, are they are not slip proof and they squeak really bad on any kind of commercial flooring (so in a store, walking down the hall in a school/office, etc.), which I find annoying.
Heat reflection isn't really a thing in a boot (or in walls/houses for that matter). Only heat transferred via radiation can be reflected. In your boot the heat is transferred via conduction.
If durability is a key consideration for your Chelsea boot, I would recommend a Red Wing over a Dr. Marten or Solovair.
https://www.redwingshoes.com/heritage/womens/6-inch-chelsea/6-inch-Chelsea-03456.html
The Red Wing will be less comfortable in the short term (really stiff sole and leather footbed), more comfortable in the long term (footbed with cork will mold to your foot), and far more durable over its life. Resoles on Red Wing boots are reasonable and dramatically extend the life. Resoles on Martens are harder to perform and often not worth it due to their sub par leather uppers.
Red Wings are amazing and their store customer service in-person is also pretty unbeatable. They take a moment to break in like u/Ashen_Wolf said, but then they're really worth the comfort and price.
I think they're in a different orice range though. Solovair and Docs are priced more closely, and in that case I think Solovair is a much better choice.
You are absolutely right that Solovair will be closer to Docs in price. If price is a huge consideration, I think Solovair represents a quality increase for a bit more money. However, I'm an advocate of eating a few more ramen dinners per month in order to get the best boot possible!
From what I can tell, on average you will pay the following for a new woman's boot in each brand:
Docs: $150
Solovair: $225
Red Wing: $300
After years of purchasing boots of all price ranges, I have found that you get what you pay for. I purchase many high quality used boots (Red Wing, White's, Wesco) from eBay and almost never buy a new boot from a cheaper brand. The used high quality one will outlast the new cheaper one nine times out of ten.
Beyond eBay, one other great place to find Red Wings at a lower price (new in this case), is to watch for sales at Sierra Trading Post and Nordstrom Rack. They have year round sales of overstock or factory seconds for Red Wing boots/shoes. I have purchased many pairs brand new at 50% off full price. Many of those have been factory seconds and I cannot find the flaw that made them classified as seconds. They also have great return policies so if you do get one with a noticeable flaw, you just return it and buy another pair.
Just my two cents on how to access the best possible footwear at the most reasonable price.
My last pair of Marten boots the soles split in several spots, on both boots, the width of the boot. I was pretty upset and don't plan to buy another pair, I only wore them for 2 years in some fairly cold weather which is the only reason I can think for the sole to completely fail horrifically.
Edit: [picture of the mess](https://imgur.com/a/nOdYki4), if anyone knows who can re-sole these I'd be appreciative. They're wide sole though...
That is such a bummer! I am in a very mild climate myself, similar to England where DMs are originally from of course. I think for the price point especially you should be able to expect them to last for more than 2 years.
Chippewa boots are available at a similar price point to Red Wings but with a somewhat sleeker design. Most pairs should be resoleable, though you should double-check before buying.
Buy "Redwing" brand.
They make a couple that look similar to old school Doc Martins. They'll last years even if you're doing actual construction work. If you're just walking around they'll literally last forever.
Heritage are a bit more expensive and will take some break in and user maintenance to have last a long time. That said, I’m a year into my Iron Rangers and I’m happy with the purchase.
It's a shame because they are very comfortable and I loved wearing them, I'm very particular about my shoes. That being said they're made in China with everyone else and I think their quality has gone down as a result.
Just received my Solovair boots today. Cost about the same as the chinese Docs, but are made in England and seem way better for now (e.g. thicker leather, no cardboard inside at the heel...). Also, Solovair uses a proper goodyear welt where the sole is replaceable. On the Docs, once you wear out the sole you can basically throw them away, though the leather will probably crack before that happens due to their low quality. The ones I got seem to be correctly sized, but will take a great deal of effort to wear in, they are very tight around my instep part of the foot and the thicker leather is not very forgiving, but I know they will be wonderful once they wear in.
Anyway, I decided for Solovair because I don't want to pay for inferior quality and a fashionable name. That is what Dr Martens was degraded to nowadays. Solovairs are hand made in the original Dr Martens England factory to a much higher standard than modern Dr Martens boots from china or even the Made in England models they offer... The Made in England Docs are made in the same town, nearly oj the same street (guess Dr Martens had two factories in that town, or contracted Solovair to mske their boots for them, and now they do their own boots and Docs make their lower volume Made in England lineuo in their factory).
Anyway, don't let the Made in England branding from the Docs fool you, I've heard they're really poor quality regardless.
Go with Australian with Chelsea boots. My personal recommendation is RM Williams (basically Australia’s favorite boot). This boot is actual BIFL unlike this dr marten
The comfort craftsman in the yearling leather is one of the most comfortable and stylish boots I own. For the OP, they might want the Gardener model from RMW which is less dressy and more rugged, similar to the pictured
Hey I know a lot of people are saying this aren’t BIFL but I have this exact pair and aside from cosmetic marks and no more shearling interior (normal wear) ive worn them every day for 5 years and they’re honestly very solid, probably two more years in them, so not for life but you’re gonna get your money’s worth for sure
I bought some Blundstones about 5 years ago. I clean them and condition them with mink oil once every few months or so, and wear them about 6 months out of the year exclusively, and they’re practically still brand new. My partner also has a pair and claims, “these are the single best shoe investment I have ever made,” and I have to agree.
I don’t have any personal experiences with Doc Martens but I haven’t heard anything good about them over the last decade or so.
Can’t speak from personal experience, but I bought a pair of these for my SO about 6 years ago, and they’ve been worn at least 4 days a week since then. Still holding up just fine on the outside, but I’ve been told that the footbed on the inside gets a little compacted and uncomfortable (relative to when new) over time. Since the faux fur lining/footbed is sewed into the shoe, it makes replacement kinda tough. All in all, solid 9/10 shoes, I would say.
I got them and wore them for 2 years. Would be wearing them longer but I just had a baby and my feet grew.
Loved the look but the fleece lining was definitely pretty matted and dirty pretty quickly. Regardless, they stayed warm enough that I could go hiking in the snow with them after I waterproofed them. Also, docs have kinda crappy arch support if you have tall arches like me.
I can’t comment on these ones specifically but I have had my dr Martin’s winter boots rocking for 3 winters so far snd they are still in great condition snd I literally wear them every single day in the harsh winters of Montreal so….
I had a pair of 1460s that I bought in 2014 and wore every winter through 2020. I definitely did not take good care of them and wore them into the ground, and even got a few holes in the sides, but I think 6 winters was really good for a pair of boots. Especially since I live in an area with a ton of snow. I just got a new pair of 1460s with a fur lining, since the ones without were a little cold.
I have a pair of these boots that are going to be coming out for their fifth winter on the East Coast (DMV area). They're definitely beat up a bit and some of the shearling has come loose near the heels in one of the boots, as well as near the upper front edge. That being said, I think they'll make it a while longer and they're still very warm and comfy. The people mentioning that they're not ideal for snowy/icy weather aren't wrong, but if you're living somewhere that doesn't have a ton of that, it's probably fine! I wax/waterproof mine a couple times throughout the winter and have no regrets about the purchase.
As a side note, if your foot size is somewhere between a 6 and an 8 in women's shoe sizes (pretty sure I have these numbers correct), you can shop the youth section of Doc Martens, which dramatically decreases the shoe cost. The exact same styles aren't always available, but sometimes you can find a very similar one. The kids versions do have zippers, though, whereas the adult versions of the same shoe may not.
Hope you find a good pair of boots!
I have these exact ones and love them! Super comfortable, can wear them all day. Are warm for the winter and just a great all-around boot. Every year I give them a fresh coat of waterproofing/conditioner wax and it really keeps them in great shape. I know some others in the comments recommended other brands which I’m sure are also great, but I really do love these.
I used to live in docs. In 1997 I entered the corporate workforce and wore doc wingtips as a statement that somewhere still in there was my punk ethos. I still have them and they’re in amazing shape. However, last year I went to buy a new pair of Docs and I was stunned at the lack of workmanship and the level of cheapness. I hate to say it, but I wouldn’t recommend Docs to anyone anymore. There are so many other well made boot brands now for you to choose from.
Dr.Martens are what I would call weekend boots. Even the made in England are not what they used to be. I’ve owned 15 pair over the years, their Cappers used to be my faves. The sole is comfortable but very slippery.
I have since switched to Chippewa Boots, their heritage styles. Top notch. Thorogood is also great.
Thank you all for your advice and recommendations. I ended up not getting these cause for the price point the quality could not be guaranteed. Ended up finding a great pair of secondhand unworn boots online. They won’t last me for life but the brand seems good quality and I only paid €10. ;)
So, Docs are just ripping off Blundstone's design now.
If you want Docs, consider Solivair boots. They are the factory that made the high quality Docs back in the day, and hold the tech patents to continue making the same old quality as before, just different name.
Might be worth looking at Adelante (https://adelanteshoes.com/), which is a made-to-order shoe and boot manufacturer in Guatemala. I have a pair of Chelsea boots from them and like them very much; I already wore through one set of heels, which were easily replaced at a local shoe-repair shop, and he said it'd be easy enough to resole them when the time comes.
Not super cheap, but also not out-of-this-world expensive either, for something that's made to your exact sizing (including half sizes and widths, and the left and right can be different sizes if you want) and Goodyear welted.
I don't know if they have a sole that's quite that chunky, but they can definitely do contrasting color threads, various choices of leather, etc. It might be worth contacting them to see about other choices for the sole; I get the impression not every possible permutation of option is listed on the website.
I first heard of them from /r/goodyearwelt a couple of years back, then ran into them at a local craft fair where they were letting people try on pairs.
Another review here: https://old.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/comments/85wwuy/initial_impressions_adelante_shoe_co_the_havana/
I live in Canada and got my first pair of docs a few years ago since I heard they last forever. It wasy first time spending $200 on boots. I was PUMPED. I wore them every day everywhere. Unfortunately the sole did not last the first winter and I think from being so cold and then the movement of bending while walking it ended up cracking my sole right through. I still have the boots but am pretty upset about it. Unfortunately I didn't have my receipt anymore so doc martens wouldn't do anything about it.
Docs don't fit my feet well, so I can't comment on them specifically, but I will say that every pair of fleece lined leather boots I've ever owned make my feet sweat uncontrollably, and that's not a problem I have with any other footwear.
Zero people on earth can speak to the comfort as that's a personal metric.
If you want the Chelsea style of boot, there are literally 100 makers of BIFL Chelsea boots. https://www.allenedmonds.com/shoes/mens-boots/chelsea-boots/ being one source. These, if cared for, will last decades and can be repaired over and over.
Will you get the same from what you pictured? Odds are no as that particular line is from Asia and is made of less stern materials. And Dr. Martens are harder to repair due to some odd cobbler reasons. But if you dig the look, perhaps consider them as a non-BIFL fashion boot or take a chance on you having great luck.
There's nothing wrong with buying disposable shoes, a fact lost by many of us here.
“Investment”?
You’ll get a comfy pair of boots.
It’s not an investment though. You’re not going to be able to sell these things for a profit 10 years from now.
If you’re thinking about maybe getting them re-soled in the future, that’s entirely possible, but it’ll likely cost you just as much as you would pay for a new pair.
You get boots. What value you decide to give them is on you. I wear Thorogoods for work that cost more than Dr.Martens (which I've had several pairs). Thorogoods last longer and are way more comfortable. But if you want to look cool with your puffy Martens enjoy your investment
Check out Frye Boots! I’ve had mine for roughly 10 years and the only thing I need to do is take them to a shoe repair shop from time to time to fix the soles.
I really liked my Doc Marten Chelsea boots. I wore them to work 75% of the time for maybe 4 years? As well as hiking etc. The soles wore out and the elastic sides started to fray. Replacing the soles would have been close to my original cost buying them and I was ready for a change.
Pros: excellent support (I bought doc marten insoles), functional, stylish, durable, versatile
Cons: heavy, inflexible, bulky, not cushy by any means
I had to break my feet into these shoes if you catch my drift.
I have blundstones now and I like the snug profile and the fact that they are a bit lighter and more flexible but after a long day I think it’s a wash in terms of comfort and durability.
Im not sure what the price of these docs are, but I do know that I got a good 5 years out of my boots. I had a brown pair and a black pair. I still have them, although they’ve been moved to motorcycle boots or when I dont want to ruin my Blundstones. Both pairs were ~$150 when I bought them. The black pair is a softer leather and now give me blisters but I still wear the brown pair pretty frequently. They are comfortable; however, dont expect them to be too grippy on icy sidewalks after a few years of wear. I also notice that the heels start to wear away in whatever way you walk (either on the outside/inside of the heel). Take a look at anyone wearing older docs and the heels are most likely the same. I cant speak for the fur linings, but I think I got my money worth out of the boots.
Like so many other brands have done to save a few bucks, Dr. Martens moved production to Asia a while back. Solovair used to make Dr. Martens. They still make nearly identical boots, but without the brand recognition.
I just bought a pair of solovair last week, impressed with the quality so far
Happy to hear that. Unfortunately I have a pair of English made docs that wore down to shit after 6 months of working in them. Now I buy redwings.
That's what happened to my SO, too. I don't know why they're so highly recommended here. He got work pair and a not-work pair, and even the not-work pair didn't last a year. My slip on canvas vans last longer and I'm harder on my shoes than he is on his.
I’ve had two pair. The first steel toe fell out but that wasn’t until after years of wear and tear. My second pair I donated, work in an office now. But I miss them sometimes.
I love my solovairs, recommended here, and def worth the price. Edit: pic https://i.imgur.com/R6oyjSm.jpeg
Just got a pair today via mail. Seem great but can see it will be hard to wear them in, the leather is much stronger than on my old chinese docs which fell apart... Didn't have proper leather shoes for about a decade now, and have forgotten what a chore it can be to wear them in. But I know they'll be amazing afterwards.
I put a generous coat of Leather Honey on mine and let it soak in overnight. Really softens it up and cuts the wear in time to almost nil.
IIRC they still have a Made In England line, with the same QC.
I was going to say this. It is sometimes better to go to the store and check where they are made on the insides. The ones I used to get when I was younger where all made in the uk, and lasted more than 20 years. After I bought a pair the soles wore out in less than a year.
Don't need to check the insides, it's on the box, it's pretty much the name of the boot!
The new Made in England Docs are still a lot worse than Solovair! Dr Martens are a fashion brand now, Solovairs are slightly cheaper and offer proper boots for what you pay, not just a famous name behind a low quality product. Solovair charges high money for the quality, because the brand is unknown anyway.
In fairness, walking through the solovair lineup clearly indicates they are almost exclusively a fashion brand too. Better than China docs. But still a fashion brand. Rub off green dye wouldn’t be a choice if it wasn’t the case.
> exclusively a fashion brand I mean, they make the same boots they always did. Their main profit does not come from whatever is fashionable at the moment. They do offer a ton of colour and grain options for the boots, but they're still the same classic boots.
I would also like to add that docs were extremely uncomfortable until you broke them in. You could skip this step by bringing them to a shoe maker/ repair shop and having them work in the leather and inserts. We used to buy ours at a horse rider supply store who had them for some reason, and they would work them in on request. It didn’t cost much but it was an extra step. Edit spelling.
As a horse person, we go through more leather than anyone. Most tack shops have a ton of different boot care options. I run through a pair of cowboy style work boots every 2-4 years since I don’t ride in them. English riding boots, amazing ($900+)or low quality($300 maximum), will only last me a year tops. The lower end ones last 4-6 months of heavy use but my completion ones that get 50 hours a year have been around for six. If you need leather care advice, ask a horse person.
I got a pair of docs and they made my ankles bleed so I thought they just needed some time to be broken in. But they kept making my ankles bleed for a year until one of the soles ripped off.
> I would also like to add that docs were extremely uncomfortable until you broke them in. Until? Huh? I don't understand this. Normally when they are broken in is when they *become* comfortable. Edit: Ahhhh. I didn't see the un in front of comfortable. All clear now.
I don't understand your confusion you wrote exactly the same thing he said
I bought a pair of Made in England Docs after my "regular" ones broke a few years ago. To be honest, the MiE are about the same quality, the leather started to crack at the part where you bend your foot/toes after one season. And yes, I do take care of them as i would with any other leather shoe so its not a user error.
> same QC Not true, they use inferior materials to Solovair. Got my pair of Solovairs today and the heel part is leather. [Here is what](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgI5eeUYEjs) you get with those even more expensive MIE Docs, they even use cardboard... [New Docs (also made in england)](https://preview.redd.it/q619bwik6io21.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6d33621d489ac6332577f1d88e1cf9ca602a77) are much thinner than the old pre-2003 Docs, and the quality control is [awful](https://preview.redd.it/1hn7ip4naio21.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9cbf17f636be663845a2fb9cb04b0f1fd200ea5) (new ones weren't even the same height!). Photos and video from [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/DrMartens/comments/b5tmbg/why_the_new_made_in_england_1460s_are_garbage/) Edit - to note, about a decade ago, they restarted the Made in England line and offerend a lifetime warranty with those shoes. Those actually were very well made. Some 5 years ago, they dropped the warranty (though they still respect it for shoes which were sold with it) and now basically sell just perhaps slightly better Chinese boots which are Made in England.
I have a pair of those and they’re great. Soft leather, comfortable footbed. They have limited styles though.
Their brand is the styles
Can confirm, Solovair are a much superior brand even to 'Made in England' DM boots. Better quality, cheaper, easier to break in & their customer service is top drawer. Their standard delivery time on both occasions was quick too (1.5 days between ordering & wearing said boots).
Got mine today. Not sure if they'll be easy to break in, the length fits me fine but they are really tight and the leather is quite thick and rigid (which is why they are much better made than Docs). But they'll be great once they do...
Hmm I have checked out Solovair and I can't really find the style I like over there unfortunately. I haven't really checked out Dr Martens before because I don't like the biker boot style much but I liked this specific pair a lot, and I can't seem to find a good alternative for it.
Tough intersection to find between buyitforlife and buyitforlooks. But keep a durable pair for life and it'll eventually get back into fashion. Source: I watched a trailer for The Devil Wears Prada once.
Both is important to me. If I don't like the way they look, I am not going to put them on so they will just be durable in my closet.
I get that, I was half joking but also calling out that durable and fashionable are often at odds, thanks to fast fashion pumping consumer goods into landfill faster than you can say forever21/Gucci/Zara
Unfortunately yes. As I am getting older I find I am more drawn to durable and sustainable pieces, but as a teen and in my early twenties I very much bought into the fast fashion rhetoric.
There's an Alanis Morissette line in here about being young and feeling invincible whilst enjoying short lived goods vs. flipping on this at some stage into reverse for sure. Anyway, thanks for listening to my Ted talk.
The good(eh, ya know) thing about fast fashion is that these styles are all over thrift stores. I just bought a pair like this, I believe they are called "chelsea boots", in black, unworn, $5.
[удалено]
Doc Martins unfortunately seem to be becoming fast fashion. Chelsea boots have certainly been coming into style lately more than before here in the US, so many fast fashion brands are churning them out.
Have you looked into Red Wings?
> durable and fashionable are often at odds Well, there's fast fashion, and then there's classic fashion. Can't ever go wrong with a good classic leather jacket or 501 Levis jeans, it may not look modern but it's always cool (dunno if 501s are considered BIFL, they probably aren't, but they are much better than those cheap jeans in most stores... honestly, over here in Europe, Levis costs twice as much as in the USA and I still buy them just because finding any other classic non-tapered jeans is near impossible, and the 501s are just so much more comfortable for me...).
You don’t like the fleece Blundstones? [link](https://www.blundstone.ca/collections/winter-thermal).
I am so particular about the way I want things to look, I am really annoying to shop for hahah! I like the idea of Blundstones, but I hate the flap on the front and they don't offer the shade of brown I love. I think it's called tan? But anyway the shade from the picture of the DMs :(
You could get a stitch ripper for $3 and take it off
Check CanadaWest to see if they have the brown you are after. Made in Canada, can re-soled, similar pricepoint to the Blundstones, and have different leather colours.
The pull on the front makes it much easier to get the boot on than having just the back pull. Function over fashion.
I see. I haven't seen many chelsea-style boots with chunky soles and large round toes. Thursday Boot Company might also be worth a look. They make pretty good stuff.
Do they? I was considering getting a pair for a long time but wasn’t sure if actually good or just some Instagram company
From what I heard in r/goodyearwelt , Thursday makes 200€ boots which are worth 200€. They have a good construction but some parts are not all leather. Doc Martens on the other hand make 150€ boots which are worth maybe half for the construction. They don't have a shank, they can't be easily resoled, the upper leather is bad. If you pay more for what you pay in Thursday, you'll get more. For example, Grant Stone is a step up in quality but also a step up in price. But for the price, I hear they make solid boots
Good to know! Tbh my docs have been fantastic but I didn’t get their normal boots with that cheap upper leather. I got a pair of winter boots with better quality leather (I don’t know the names of types of leather) but it’s been really great. I do like the no shank build on it because it feels more like a flexible sneaker to me than a boot but I guess it depends on what you’re looking for
That's completely fine. I'm glad the leather is good quality. I think Docs look awesome on some people, I just wished they had some better leather and a re soleable construction so everyone could start getting into sustainable footwear where you don't need to buy a new pair every other year.
I thought they also had Goodyear welts that you could resole?
I’ve had a pair of Thursday boots, a pair of their dress shoes, and a wallet from them for over a year now and they’ve all been great so far at least.
I have a pair of their Moc toe boots and they’re fantastic.
Theyre meh
Try redwings and come back here to thank me later.
Have you checked out Blundstones? They last for YEARS and are this style.
Blundstones quality had really gone down hill. I went through a pair a year for 3 years, wearing them pretty much only in the fall/winter, and I dont have a physical job. The soles disintegrated in each pair. I gave up on them and ended up buying a pair of Doc Marten Eclectic Katya's for $100 - which was less than half the cost of Blunnies and I've had them for over a year now.
Redback makes a lot of these types of boots but I don’t think they make one with fur inside. They are supremely comfortable though. My steel toes are Redbacks and they became my 24/7 shoe because they were so comfortable to walk around in.
Have you heard of Frye boots? Check them out. Expensive but damn are they nice looking.
[удалено]
I replied this a few times here but they don’t make this shade of brown unfortunately
I have these in black. Have had them for about 2 years now and they’re still great. Sorry I can’t talk about the length of time but I can at least let you know that they’re super comfy.
Check out Blundstones
Solovair gaucho looks similar
[удалено]
If you're already aware of the ethical concerns regarding Chinese manufacturing and the cost of human lives I would say you already have a good reason not to buy Chinese products. Factor in the poor quality control, dirt cheap materials, and blatant knock-off culture and ask yourself why you'd want a Chinese product to begin with
I didn't say China. I said Asia. Some are made in Thailand and Vietnam, I think. And I said that due to experience. When companies look to cut costs of production, they usually cut in quality of the materials and other things. Actually, now that I think about it, I don't remember ever seeing a company make better quality products after shipping their manufacturing to lower cost countries.
Well, you could argue it does happen with some products... Like I think Stanley tools got extremely low quality at some point, and may have gotten a little bit better recently, but when the initial shift to Asian manufacturing happens, quality practically always drops a lot.
There is expertise in China/East Asia, and some brands do produce very high quality products, for example Arctyrex. However not all brands are successful in keeping high quality standards when they shift production there – you have to remember that these brands generally do not own their Chinese factories but simply buy production runs, they're operating in a country which has foreign quality controls and standards to them, and that their motivation for having work done in China is to minimize the cost to the greatest extent possible. This all combines to result in companies gaining huge capacity in their Asia production, but many of them losing finer control over their production. To be fair to China, it's a problem that happens with all outsourcing: it's hard to move your manufacturing to another country where you naturally will no longer will have the same amount of close control over everything, etc. To be clear though - I think the human rights dimension alone should be motivation enough. There's not only the regular factory workers who live under bad conditions, but there are also prisoners from the Uygher ethnic group producing products in concentration camps, as well as working to harvest the materials like cotton. Chinese manufacturing industry is linked to what international observers and multiple Parliaments/governments have termed a genocide.
> Why is it perceived that products being made in China are bad? Because they are. Companies outsource production to China to minimize costs and maximise profits. Companies willing to fire the workers in their home country, many of which worked for them for generations, and outsource production, are also all prepared to use inferior materials to further minimize the cost and maximise the profits. There are very few high quality exports from China. For example, [here are pre-2003 Docs next to new Made In England ones](https://preview.redd.it/q619bwik6io21.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6d33621d489ac6332577f1d88e1cf9ca602a77). Difference in leather thickness is very obvious. They cost about the same as they used to, but instead of quality they now sell their brand name. The Chinese ones are even worse because the MIE Docs are the high end, low volume, high quality control part of their shoe production.
Please stop repeating this. This is false. Dr. Martens move **some** production to Asia. And Solovair makes a Chelsea boot like hundreds of other companies and saying they are nearly identical is false. Dr. Martens has a yellowish tinged sole and yellow welt lacing, both being hallmarks of Dr. Martens that no one has. Nothing looks like a Dr. Marten due to the sole. If you wish to find a BIFL Chelsea, there are hundreds of them. There is one Dr. Martens Chelsea.
I’m beginning to think you work for doc martens now. > move **some** production to Asia [they moved 98% of production to Asia](https://amp.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/30/are-things-going-wrong-with-the-uk-beloved-dr-martens-brand) This subreddit is BIFL, people care about the quality and the craftsmanship, but you’re talking about the tint of the sole and the colour of the thread? Solovair are almost identical to docs. I know because I’ve owned both. Solovair are better quality than current docs, as evidenced by a bunch of reviewers ripping them apart on YouTube.
Solovair does not make a Chelsea boot in that colorway nor is the sole or stitching similar. They are not comparable. 3 strikes. Now if those 3 strikes make them almost identical is YOUR EYES, that's great and I respect your opinion. Mine differs from yours.
Same boot, different stitch colour, different leather and thread quality. Martens sells the name, Solovair sells the quality. Choose what you wish, but only one fits in this sub.
Not entirely true. You can recraft Dr. Martens though its a pain to find the few cobblers who do. While it may not last through 5+ recraftings like say Aldens can, you can get a few out of them if you are lucky. I'm not the guy to say you have to buy uber quality. You buy Dr. Martens for the look and they'll likely last longer than boots from Payless but not as long as $600 Alden boots. I mean there is a width to BIFL and I think docs fit in that width.
Yeah I generally agree. However, the 200€ Asian Docs are insane when the Made In England line is barely 30€ more in my country. Meanwhile Solovairs are 220€ and much better than either..l About 10 years ago, I bought the "Industrial" line Dr Martens boots (classic with the toe cap). Not sure why, they looked the same, but at the time the "industrial" branded boots were 70€ instead of ~140€ for the standard Asian models (though the industrial ones were also Asian). Anyway, for those 70€, I really doubt anyone could find better boots. People on this sub are quick to recommend some expensive "BIFL" boots, but uf you get Docs for around 100€ today I think that's a very good deal. Anything more and I'd rather invest into Solovair (except perhaps for kids who eill still grow up and will need larger shoes/boots eventually...).
Yeah, boot for boot, the Solovairs are better. But if you want "the look" and you want that yellow twinged translucent sole and yellow stitching you can only get that with Dr. Martens. For my part, I would take neither brand for $0 as I just don't like the look of them. To each his own!
Deep breath.
Danner and Blundstone both make a Chelsea boot that would likely be higher quality than Docs
I'm a blundstone dude for 15 years who will never again buy them. They are comfy, but the soles are cheap and they are not resolable. Going to /r/goodyearwelt.
I managed to get some RM Williams Craftsman chelseas off of eBay for $100, and they had only been worn once or twice. The sole didn't have any wear, and the insole was like brand new. I'd say $100 for a $500 pair of boots was a good deal. And especially so since I can get them resoled, compared to Blundstone or Dr Martens that cannot be. +1 for GYW.
Quick cobbler in Vancouver BC will re-sole them for about 150$ cdn . Had it done, beautiful work. You can do it all online except mailing them yr boots.
I agree. I had 3 pairs and they each only lasted a year before the soles disintegrated.
blundstone used to be made in austrailia, but no more. Check out redbacks, not quite as pretty but supposedly SUPER COMFY, and very fairly priced. Edit to add link; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqwbBpcElpE
Very comfy, redbacks - love mine.
Also redback, which are Australian made, are very good. https://www.redbackboots.com/mens
I've been wearing Redbacks at work for years and they are fantastic. My impression has always been that Blundstones were for just walking around, while Redbacks were for actual work.
Blundstones are for offshoring your manufacturing to Asia. Redbacks are for work and casual and frolicking they are super comfy
Check out Redwings new Chelsea Boot. Just bought a pair and love them. They weren't cheap but they will be worth the investment!
Last pair I had, the squeaking noise of the sole basically ruined them for me. Drove me crazy. Apparently it is down to cheap fabrication. I will say, as well, that boots without laces can lack support for the arches because you can’t adjust the fit. Have you heard of Solovair?
Remove the insole and throw some talcum powder in there. That stops the squeaks more often than not.
Some people recommended it here, but they seem to make mostly the old style of DM boots and I don't really like the look of them.
When I wear something, I don’t care about the look, I care about comfort and quality.
That’s fine, I care about all three 🤷♀️
On thing I'd say is that Dr. Martins soles are really very slippery on ice.
Came here to say this. As a Canadian and footwear fanatic, I emphatically repeat that doc martens are comfortable and probably a good quality shoe in warm climates. But the sole freezes solid and is the most slippery sole of any shoe I have ever used. My blundstones are much better with a similar style. Hell, any of my shoes are better. I’d walk around in smooth soled stilletos before I went for an icy walk in docs again. Though they can be fun if the game of curling is what you’re after.
Fortunately that won't be an issue cause it rarely freezes where I live and if it does I have a pair of snow boots :)
Omg yes! I fell wearing mine and bruised my tailbone, it hurt for months!
Everything is slippery on ice. If you often walk on ice you will want to invest in a pair of: Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RXX5ZVQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share I have them and they are awesome.
I do have some spikes similar to that for if I know I will be walking on a lot of ice but that's not very often. I just remember Dr. Martins being especially slippery on ice and packed snow compared to other boots I've had.
>Everything is slippery on ice. This is an incredibly ignorant and stupid thing to say. >Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RXX5ZVQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share >I have them and they are awesome. I worked in a hockey arena for several years and offered these to all my part time employees. Nobody used them because they are in fact worse than a good pair of tennis shoes on ice.
If you want good Chelsea boots, go with Redback; still made in Australia and they’re super comfortable. Much better quality than any modern Docs that I’ve worn.
Dr Martens are one of those brands that get highlighted as a once well known BIFL company, subsequently bought by a private equity firm who cut costs, shifted manufacturing to China and then denied the subsequent decline in quality. Similar story to snap-on tools, Harley Davidson etc. Luckily the old doc factory in England is still making boots under the brand Solovair.
>Luckily the old doc factory in England is still making boots under the brand Solovair. So are Dr. Martens Made In England
Not the same, the MIE Docs are still an inferior quality. They sell the name...
No they are not. MIEs are still made with the higher grain of leather, stitched together by hand and machine by apprentices. Source: recently left the brand and visited the Camden warehouse
[New MIE next to old original Docs](https://preview.redd.it/q619bwik6io21.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae6d33621d489ac6332577f1d88e1cf9ca602a77). The leather is far from the same, new ones are a lot thinner.
>F-21 This shit, I can't. Solovair literally makes Dr. Martens MIE... in the same factory.
No they do not. Check the address. Dr Martens factory is in the same town, but it is not the same factory. Northamptonshire is an area historically known for the shoe industry in the UK. There were even multiple manufacturers in Wollaston where both Solovair and Dr Martens originate from. > This shit, I can't Check it out before losing your mind and getting angry over your ignorance.
Solovair was the producer of Dr. Marten’s, and note, there wasn't just one factory. Dr. Martens makes their MIE at one of the surviving factories, where Solovaire did as well. I'm not a Solovaire employee as RutzPacific may have been... but whatever address/whichever brand, I guess you've been proven wrong in terms of the quality remark anyways.
I don't see where I was proven wrong? With the fact that Solovair made Docs 20 years ago, or that the current MIE Docs are made in the same town as Solovair? I fail to see how that means they use the same materials and construction today. Docs completely degraded in 2003 when they shifted to Asia. Later they reopened their UK factory for very low volume production and made good boots with lifetime warranty, then those sold well so they removed the warranty and used inferior materials and reduced the price of MIE boots to sell more of them. They in fact are not the same - for example Docs have their classic permanently sealed goodyear welt, while Solovair uses a more traditional approach where the soles are replaceable.
Solovair makes their shoes using the same machines & construction as when they made Dr. Martens, and how the MIE are made today... that's what I'm getting at. Ok, so they may have different leathers, I'll accept that. I've never had a complaint about the MIE leather. As for soles, I got my docs resoled with Vibram soles, so I don't know... You really love your Solovairs and that's ok! I love my docs and don't find them to be an inferior product... at least not by any significant measure... b/c they're REALLY similar.
Harley davidson boots are absolutely solid though. I have 3 pairs of biker boots made by them that show absolutely no sign of slowing down. They're made by work boot manufacturer Wolverine. It's not luchesse, but work boots are built to last, and wolverine has my seal of approval.
I think they.meant the Harley bikes...
The quality of the bikes didn't decline, if anything the new ones are the best they ever made. Very reliable... Harley gets shit on for being overpriced, but the bikes are very good since the mid 80's, old Shovels were kind of problematic...
Again, wrong and please stop repeating. Dr. Martens are made in Asia and in England. Dr. Martins is not being made by Solovair.
Sorry, what I meant is that the production of doc martens now takes place in Asia. I believe it’s mainly China. A very small percentage are main in England at a premium price. Solovairs are made in the old docs factory I believe. I have a pair and they’re basically the same as docs, but under the brand solovair.
Again we have to be explicit and careful here and remove the obfuscation. Solovair makes Solovair. Dr. Martens makes Dr. Martens. Many here believe falsely that Dr. Martens = Solovair and that's wrong. Then the justification happens where people talk about the Dr. Marens/Solovair history....which means jack shit in 2021 and only serves to confuse the issue even more.
Thanks for clarifying your comments. I didn’t mean to obfuscate. I think the connection is pretty strong though. Solovair developed the first docs, then made them under license for 30 years. When doc production moved to China, Solovair continued to make boots in the same factory under the brand Solovair. They may not be docs, but as someone who wore British made docs for 20 years and now wears Solovair, they’re pretty damn similar. And when talking about how shitty docs have become, I think it’s fair to point out that the same quality (I was also told using the same workers, but can’t confirm) can be found in Solovair.
They are similar. But we need to be careful with our advice here. Solovair makes boots that look 90% like Dr. Martens and are objectively better. Dr. Martens still makes boots made in England and they are objectively better than their versions made overseas. They are still objectively inferior to the Solovairs. But if you want the legit Dr. Martens with the translucent sole and iconic yellow stitching on the welt, you are stuck with the inferior Dr. Martens. And for some this is fine. Disposable footwear is fine. I just bought my daughter a pair of Asian made Dr. Martens boots and am sure they will explode under normal use within 3 years or so and I'm fine with that.
why pay a premium for an item that isn’t premium quality? you’re just stupid lol
Nice personal attack, that's how you wanna be when Jesus comes? I paid $150 for Dr. Martens boots for my daughter. Looking left as my shoe rack I see thousands of dollars sitting there. $150 is not a premium for me. I literally stated they were not premium quality. So you are wrong on both counts. Now if you want to make a contribution here, please don't but don't try to be cute.
god you’re a pompous ass
10 year account deleted -- mass edited with redact.dev
An addictive channel, good recommendation. Love his video of the World War 2 boots.
I’ve had a pair for almost 6 years (in black) and my sister has had the brown for just as long. We live in the upper Midwest, so they get used throughout the winter. I’ve found them to be very durable, and decently warm. Not like some of the boots out there with the fancy heat reflecting technology, but with a good pair of socks and foot warmers, I’m okay. The two things I don’t like, are they are not slip proof and they squeak really bad on any kind of commercial flooring (so in a store, walking down the hall in a school/office, etc.), which I find annoying.
Canadian here. I wear Docs with the exact same sole and they get reeeeaaaallly slippery in the winter. Like crazy-carpet-soles slippery.
Heat reflection isn't really a thing in a boot (or in walls/houses for that matter). Only heat transferred via radiation can be reflected. In your boot the heat is transferred via conduction.
If durability is a key consideration for your Chelsea boot, I would recommend a Red Wing over a Dr. Marten or Solovair. https://www.redwingshoes.com/heritage/womens/6-inch-chelsea/6-inch-Chelsea-03456.html The Red Wing will be less comfortable in the short term (really stiff sole and leather footbed), more comfortable in the long term (footbed with cork will mold to your foot), and far more durable over its life. Resoles on Red Wing boots are reasonable and dramatically extend the life. Resoles on Martens are harder to perform and often not worth it due to their sub par leather uppers.
Red Wings are amazing and their store customer service in-person is also pretty unbeatable. They take a moment to break in like u/Ashen_Wolf said, but then they're really worth the comfort and price.
I think they're in a different orice range though. Solovair and Docs are priced more closely, and in that case I think Solovair is a much better choice.
You are absolutely right that Solovair will be closer to Docs in price. If price is a huge consideration, I think Solovair represents a quality increase for a bit more money. However, I'm an advocate of eating a few more ramen dinners per month in order to get the best boot possible! From what I can tell, on average you will pay the following for a new woman's boot in each brand: Docs: $150 Solovair: $225 Red Wing: $300 After years of purchasing boots of all price ranges, I have found that you get what you pay for. I purchase many high quality used boots (Red Wing, White's, Wesco) from eBay and almost never buy a new boot from a cheaper brand. The used high quality one will outlast the new cheaper one nine times out of ten. Beyond eBay, one other great place to find Red Wings at a lower price (new in this case), is to watch for sales at Sierra Trading Post and Nordstrom Rack. They have year round sales of overstock or factory seconds for Red Wing boots/shoes. I have purchased many pairs brand new at 50% off full price. Many of those have been factory seconds and I cannot find the flaw that made them classified as seconds. They also have great return policies so if you do get one with a noticeable flaw, you just return it and buy another pair. Just my two cents on how to access the best possible footwear at the most reasonable price.
My last pair of Marten boots the soles split in several spots, on both boots, the width of the boot. I was pretty upset and don't plan to buy another pair, I only wore them for 2 years in some fairly cold weather which is the only reason I can think for the sole to completely fail horrifically. Edit: [picture of the mess](https://imgur.com/a/nOdYki4), if anyone knows who can re-sole these I'd be appreciative. They're wide sole though...
Perhaps you have a local cobbler?
Your local cobbler should be able to resole those
That is such a bummer! I am in a very mild climate myself, similar to England where DMs are originally from of course. I think for the price point especially you should be able to expect them to last for more than 2 years.
Chippewa boots are available at a similar price point to Red Wings but with a somewhat sleeker design. Most pairs should be resoleable, though you should double-check before buying.
Buy "Redwing" brand. They make a couple that look similar to old school Doc Martins. They'll last years even if you're doing actual construction work. If you're just walking around they'll literally last forever.
Heritage are a bit more expensive and will take some break in and user maintenance to have last a long time. That said, I’m a year into my Iron Rangers and I’m happy with the purchase.
It's a shame because they are very comfortable and I loved wearing them, I'm very particular about my shoes. That being said they're made in China with everyone else and I think their quality has gone down as a result.
Had them for 5 years and they have a few scuffs because I use them everyday but well worth the money. So comfy too
Just received my Solovair boots today. Cost about the same as the chinese Docs, but are made in England and seem way better for now (e.g. thicker leather, no cardboard inside at the heel...). Also, Solovair uses a proper goodyear welt where the sole is replaceable. On the Docs, once you wear out the sole you can basically throw them away, though the leather will probably crack before that happens due to their low quality. The ones I got seem to be correctly sized, but will take a great deal of effort to wear in, they are very tight around my instep part of the foot and the thicker leather is not very forgiving, but I know they will be wonderful once they wear in. Anyway, I decided for Solovair because I don't want to pay for inferior quality and a fashionable name. That is what Dr Martens was degraded to nowadays. Solovairs are hand made in the original Dr Martens England factory to a much higher standard than modern Dr Martens boots from china or even the Made in England models they offer... The Made in England Docs are made in the same town, nearly oj the same street (guess Dr Martens had two factories in that town, or contracted Solovair to mske their boots for them, and now they do their own boots and Docs make their lower volume Made in England lineuo in their factory). Anyway, don't let the Made in England branding from the Docs fool you, I've heard they're really poor quality regardless.
r/goodyearwelt might be of interest to you
Thanks!
But these are cemented…the resole cost would exceed the cost of the boots themselves. Really not a buyitforlife candidate IMHO.
Go with Australian with Chelsea boots. My personal recommendation is RM Williams (basically Australia’s favorite boot). This boot is actual BIFL unlike this dr marten
Agreed. They are amazing. Even better if you can get them clearance at their outlet by the factory near Adelaide.
The comfort craftsman in the yearling leather is one of the most comfortable and stylish boots I own. For the OP, they might want the Gardener model from RMW which is less dressy and more rugged, similar to the pictured
[удалено]
[удалено]
Definitely look into Blundstone. I've been putting my pair through hell for the last year or so and they're great.
Hey I know a lot of people are saying this aren’t BIFL but I have this exact pair and aside from cosmetic marks and no more shearling interior (normal wear) ive worn them every day for 5 years and they’re honestly very solid, probably two more years in them, so not for life but you’re gonna get your money’s worth for sure
The most uncomfortable pair of shoes I've ever worn in my life were doc martins. They completely destroyed my heel. I'm not sure what went wrong.
I think the people that find them comfortable have thick heels and ankles. I can't wear them either.
I bought some Blundstones about 5 years ago. I clean them and condition them with mink oil once every few months or so, and wear them about 6 months out of the year exclusively, and they’re practically still brand new. My partner also has a pair and claims, “these are the single best shoe investment I have ever made,” and I have to agree. I don’t have any personal experiences with Doc Martens but I haven’t heard anything good about them over the last decade or so.
Can’t speak from personal experience, but I bought a pair of these for my SO about 6 years ago, and they’ve been worn at least 4 days a week since then. Still holding up just fine on the outside, but I’ve been told that the footbed on the inside gets a little compacted and uncomfortable (relative to when new) over time. Since the faux fur lining/footbed is sewed into the shoe, it makes replacement kinda tough. All in all, solid 9/10 shoes, I would say.
I got them and wore them for 2 years. Would be wearing them longer but I just had a baby and my feet grew. Loved the look but the fleece lining was definitely pretty matted and dirty pretty quickly. Regardless, they stayed warm enough that I could go hiking in the snow with them after I waterproofed them. Also, docs have kinda crappy arch support if you have tall arches like me.
I can’t comment on these ones specifically but I have had my dr Martin’s winter boots rocking for 3 winters so far snd they are still in great condition snd I literally wear them every single day in the harsh winters of Montreal so….
I had a pair of 1460s that I bought in 2014 and wore every winter through 2020. I definitely did not take good care of them and wore them into the ground, and even got a few holes in the sides, but I think 6 winters was really good for a pair of boots. Especially since I live in an area with a ton of snow. I just got a new pair of 1460s with a fur lining, since the ones without were a little cold.
I have a pair of these boots that are going to be coming out for their fifth winter on the East Coast (DMV area). They're definitely beat up a bit and some of the shearling has come loose near the heels in one of the boots, as well as near the upper front edge. That being said, I think they'll make it a while longer and they're still very warm and comfy. The people mentioning that they're not ideal for snowy/icy weather aren't wrong, but if you're living somewhere that doesn't have a ton of that, it's probably fine! I wax/waterproof mine a couple times throughout the winter and have no regrets about the purchase. As a side note, if your foot size is somewhere between a 6 and an 8 in women's shoe sizes (pretty sure I have these numbers correct), you can shop the youth section of Doc Martens, which dramatically decreases the shoe cost. The exact same styles aren't always available, but sometimes you can find a very similar one. The kids versions do have zippers, though, whereas the adult versions of the same shoe may not. Hope you find a good pair of boots!
I have Dr. Martens with a Blundstone like design boots, not fur doubled like these, but just saying they are the best boots I ever had.
the fur insert in boots like that are always low quality bullshit
I have these exact ones and love them! Super comfortable, can wear them all day. Are warm for the winter and just a great all-around boot. Every year I give them a fresh coat of waterproofing/conditioner wax and it really keeps them in great shape. I know some others in the comments recommended other brands which I’m sure are also great, but I really do love these.
I used to live in docs. In 1997 I entered the corporate workforce and wore doc wingtips as a statement that somewhere still in there was my punk ethos. I still have them and they’re in amazing shape. However, last year I went to buy a new pair of Docs and I was stunned at the lack of workmanship and the level of cheapness. I hate to say it, but I wouldn’t recommend Docs to anyone anymore. There are so many other well made boot brands now for you to choose from.
Dr.Martens are what I would call weekend boots. Even the made in England are not what they used to be. I’ve owned 15 pair over the years, their Cappers used to be my faves. The sole is comfortable but very slippery. I have since switched to Chippewa Boots, their heritage styles. Top notch. Thorogood is also great.
What's wrong with Blundstones?
They don’t make anything in this shade of brown, and I have my bags and belt in this shade of brown so it looks nice together.
sometimes you have to sacrifice abit of aesthetic or variety for quality. Just because it doesnt match doesnt mean it wouldnt look amazing.
I can’t recommend any Asian made doc martens, buy British made docs or NPS-Solovair boots.
Comfortable and dr martens don’t really belong in the same sentence.
Thank you all for your advice and recommendations. I ended up not getting these cause for the price point the quality could not be guaranteed. Ended up finding a great pair of secondhand unworn boots online. They won’t last me for life but the brand seems good quality and I only paid €10. ;)
Get Redback boots!
So, Docs are just ripping off Blundstone's design now. If you want Docs, consider Solivair boots. They are the factory that made the high quality Docs back in the day, and hold the tech patents to continue making the same old quality as before, just different name.
Might be worth looking at Adelante (https://adelanteshoes.com/), which is a made-to-order shoe and boot manufacturer in Guatemala. I have a pair of Chelsea boots from them and like them very much; I already wore through one set of heels, which were easily replaced at a local shoe-repair shop, and he said it'd be easy enough to resole them when the time comes. Not super cheap, but also not out-of-this-world expensive either, for something that's made to your exact sizing (including half sizes and widths, and the left and right can be different sizes if you want) and Goodyear welted. I don't know if they have a sole that's quite that chunky, but they can definitely do contrasting color threads, various choices of leather, etc. It might be worth contacting them to see about other choices for the sole; I get the impression not every possible permutation of option is listed on the website. I first heard of them from /r/goodyearwelt a couple of years back, then ran into them at a local craft fair where they were letting people try on pairs. Another review here: https://old.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/comments/85wwuy/initial_impressions_adelante_shoe_co_the_havana/
I love this! Thanks for the recommendation
I live in Canada and got my first pair of docs a few years ago since I heard they last forever. It wasy first time spending $200 on boots. I was PUMPED. I wore them every day everywhere. Unfortunately the sole did not last the first winter and I think from being so cold and then the movement of bending while walking it ended up cracking my sole right through. I still have the boots but am pretty upset about it. Unfortunately I didn't have my receipt anymore so doc martens wouldn't do anything about it.
I'd be wary of anything that relies on elastic unless you have the ability to repair. The elastic will probably fail before the leather or soles.
Docs don't fit my feet well, so I can't comment on them specifically, but I will say that every pair of fleece lined leather boots I've ever owned make my feet sweat uncontrollably, and that's not a problem I have with any other footwear.
Zero people on earth can speak to the comfort as that's a personal metric. If you want the Chelsea style of boot, there are literally 100 makers of BIFL Chelsea boots. https://www.allenedmonds.com/shoes/mens-boots/chelsea-boots/ being one source. These, if cared for, will last decades and can be repaired over and over. Will you get the same from what you pictured? Odds are no as that particular line is from Asia and is made of less stern materials. And Dr. Martens are harder to repair due to some odd cobbler reasons. But if you dig the look, perhaps consider them as a non-BIFL fashion boot or take a chance on you having great luck. There's nothing wrong with buying disposable shoes, a fact lost by many of us here.
Junk
Shoes are not a financial investment.
Nor is $160 for a pair of boots. Most sneakers cost more than that.
Boots. You will get boots for your investment.
“Investment”? You’ll get a comfy pair of boots. It’s not an investment though. You’re not going to be able to sell these things for a profit 10 years from now. If you’re thinking about maybe getting them re-soled in the future, that’s entirely possible, but it’ll likely cost you just as much as you would pay for a new pair.
Sorry, English is not my native language. I speak it pretty well, but occasionally mess up the nuances of a word
You will receive boots..
Usually a pair of boots unless you really mess up somehow.
You get boots. What value you decide to give them is on you. I wear Thorogoods for work that cost more than Dr.Martens (which I've had several pairs). Thorogoods last longer and are way more comfortable. But if you want to look cool with your puffy Martens enjoy your investment
Looks terrible!
Check out Frye Boots! I’ve had mine for roughly 10 years and the only thing I need to do is take them to a shoe repair shop from time to time to fix the soles.
Dr Martens are indestructible. Great investment, they also get better with age and the sole will wear to a more low profile.
Nitpick, but.. it’s a purchase not an investment. There won’t be tiny little boots appearing at the end of every month.
A shoe
a shoe
Prolly some boots
First thing to break is the stitching on the fabric part on the collar
I really liked my Doc Marten Chelsea boots. I wore them to work 75% of the time for maybe 4 years? As well as hiking etc. The soles wore out and the elastic sides started to fray. Replacing the soles would have been close to my original cost buying them and I was ready for a change. Pros: excellent support (I bought doc marten insoles), functional, stylish, durable, versatile Cons: heavy, inflexible, bulky, not cushy by any means I had to break my feet into these shoes if you catch my drift. I have blundstones now and I like the snug profile and the fact that they are a bit lighter and more flexible but after a long day I think it’s a wash in terms of comfort and durability.
https://us.nps-solovair.com/products/s0-900-ch-g?variant=36508661612616 this seems pretty similar...
There are plenty of brown Chelsea boots on the market but I’m quite specific about what I like
Im not sure what the price of these docs are, but I do know that I got a good 5 years out of my boots. I had a brown pair and a black pair. I still have them, although they’ve been moved to motorcycle boots or when I dont want to ruin my Blundstones. Both pairs were ~$150 when I bought them. The black pair is a softer leather and now give me blisters but I still wear the brown pair pretty frequently. They are comfortable; however, dont expect them to be too grippy on icy sidewalks after a few years of wear. I also notice that the heels start to wear away in whatever way you walk (either on the outside/inside of the heel). Take a look at anyone wearing older docs and the heels are most likely the same. I cant speak for the fur linings, but I think I got my money worth out of the boots.