It's good to hear from someone who actually walks in their boots. Lots of people wear them around an office and I just don't think that tells you much. Worn Docs for years but I may switch to these. Quality is better and they're made by craftsmen who are paid well, not kids overseas. I also like that they come in some more natural looking leathers. As I've gotten older, I'm less into the shiny styles.
@@Tom-ud8js nope. Still have a pair of Docs "For Life" collection which they don't make anymore. The oxblood ages really nicely and I basically use them as dress shoes. For work I'm in Lems Boulder boots. Barefoot shoes have been super comfortable and my back is healthier after switching. The Boulder is nice because they're super lightweight, barefoot feeling but also FEEL like boots and protect me fairly well. I got the waterproof ones because of my work and they're great. Either going to buy another pair(got 2.5 years out of them which is excellent for me) or get Jim Green African Rangers.
I finally wore out my 14 eye Solofair boots. I recently got a 20 eye pair of the High shine boots. The best way to break them in is to use a conditioner on the inside part of the boot so that it soaks into the leather. Mink oil or Cobbler's Choice. Putting leather conditioners on the outside is a complete waste of time since they have a coating over the leather not allowing it to absorb the conditioner. Just use it all over the inside of the boots and allow them to dry over night. It makes it so much easier and faster to break them in and it really helps the leather as well.
If you want them a little bit tighter you should straight lace them. It will take a little longer to lace them up this way, but it looks much sharper. It will also give you an overall better fit and you can overlap both sides if you need.
Recently bought some burgundy steel toe solovair's and so far the boots have been broken in with absolutely no pain or discomfort. definitely worth the price
I am also breaking in a new pair of Solovairs and have 3 tips I used for doc martens in the past and now Solovair: 1. Use dubbin on the INSIDE of the boot especially the fabric covered crease points behind the toebox. Really soak it in there. The rough leather can absorb the dubbin which the outside can't. 2. Quality german cork / leather inserts. The advantage of these boots are that they take inserts well. I currently have Birkenstock and Finn Comfort inserts. Finn Comfort if a lower arch and Birk if a higher arch. 3. Modify the lacing pattern so you can overlap the sides for a tighter fit around the ankle and shaft. With an over / under x pattern it laces quickly and gets maximum tightness. 3 eyes standard bar then 3-4 eyes under x, 4-5 over x, 5-6 under, 6-7 over, 7-8 under and out of 8 to tie it up
Mark Anthony Castaneda Pretty much. But Ive never had as comfortable as the ones I bought a siza bigger. They allow my feet a little more space, and nice inserts helped with the fit
I've had a pair of solovair 6 eye brogue boots for about 1.5 years now, wearing them about 3 times a week. So far they feel as good as when i first broke them in. Really sturdy yet soft and comfy, if that makes any sense.
Oh how did I not know their would be another anti doc marten blogger listen people this Solovair propaganda is getting so obvious it’s a joke , this firm is pissed because people have always bought doc martens because they made them under licence for doc marten but that’s in the past truth is no one knows them , just buy good old doc martens instead , I now find the comments are amusing …… shank ooh unlike DM this adds comfort by miles lol 😂 what normal person comes out with things like that ,
Hey, first of all love your video's. Ive been exclusively wearing docs since birth, and I never heard of solvair. They have some amazing leather options as wel. Ive ordered myself 2 pairs. Thanks showing me this brand! They are more original doc martens then the docs you can buy in stores these days.
@@user-xu9ot9zk9q You live in the US?? Then I would go for a pair of Corcoran spitshine paratrooper boots. I have a pair shipped to the Netherlands coupleof years ago and I must say they are great!!!!
@@stephenmacdonald76 couldnt be happier to be honest. Leather is very durable. Ive worn 1 pair every day to work since i got them. An they still look brand new
I found a local shop selling Solovairs. They just had a couple of models. I believe the materials and construction of the boots are better than the MIE Doc Martens. They also have 1/2 sizes which is great. One thing negative I noticed in their boot fit was something you also mentioned or referred to and that is the excessive vamp space (the area between the tongue length and one's foot), the size I tried on was great for the toe box area but excessive space in the vamp area. I was really hoping they had the "Astronaut" boots available to try on. I really like those and I hope the fit will be better. Thanks for the reviews, keep them coming.
My Doc Martin's cherry reds are getting on for 30yrs old. They've been extremely well looked after and have never been resoled. I am interested in the Solovair boots though,they looked good. Great review video 👍👍👍
If your docs are 30ish (1993/94), I think there's a good chance they were made by the Solovair manufacturer. Not exactly sure but I read that they parted ways in the mid nineties
@@nicksvinylbutty5488 Me neither, but if I were you I'd keep those boots! He did another video on this channel quite a ways back, where he cut a 30ish year old Doc Marten in half and you can really see the difference in quality from the new ones. I think they were still made by the Solovair company then but regardless of where it was made, looks like really sturdy stuff. Of course, nobody is saying that you shouldn't have more pairs of boots, and in that case that'll make two of us checking out Solovair :)
All that‘s left from DMs is the Name. The MIE ones are way to expensive for what they are. They say those are like the ones that came out in the 60s so they lack every bit of improvement. Mine took ages to break in. When I got into Martens in the 90s they where durable and affordable. Good long lasting boots and shoes. I won‘t throw any money at them again. The asian ones went in the trash and I wear the MIE rarely. Their products now are overprized crap and they just live of their reputation. Nobody would buy the asian rubber boots without the Dr. Martens name on them even for half the price. I hope that business runs well for Solovair so that they can keep on making the better boot. It‘s just my opinion about the DMs/ Solovair situation. Your reviews are fine and if you are lucky with DMs don’t feel offended.
Overseas the MiE Dr Martens have the advantage of availability though. That 50GBP shipping fee means Solovairs and Gripfasts are almost invariably more expensive.
@@UsernameInvalidTHIS both solovair and gripfast have online stores for the American market, with prices comparable to the Dr Martens MiE prices on the DM website including shipping. Plus, if you buy from Solovair's UK full website, they normally scale the total price including shipping to be similar to the listed price. I bought the 6eye brogue boots for £166 including shipping.
Lord Balzamore yes that may be the price difference in the UK. I tried to explain my opinion about the value. Pricing here in Germany is also a little bit different because solovair is relatively unknown here.
Wait for the sales. just got a pair of the MiE with Horween leather for around $150. if it weren't for the sale I would've just had my old ones resoled
Great looking boots. While I like the Doc's, I do like how the Solvair don't have the bright yellow stitching around the welt. Going to be interesting to see how the Doc's hold up to the same challenge after 2 weeks. I'm also glad you talked about sizing and that the Solvair are available in half sizes. What you didn't mention, or I missed it, was what the price difference was. Thanks for posting.
Depends on where you live. If you're in the US, it'll run about 10 bucks more ($210) than the vintage MiE 1460 Doc Martens. They also don't sell half sizes on their US/Canada direct website, much like docs.
In my heart I want the Doc Martens to 'win' because I've been wearing them sincxe the early seventies. Having said that, I have to admit that despite my brand loyalty, I'm growing to like those Solovairs. My D.M. 'For Life' boots (now no longer available) still have plenty of wear left in them though so it might take some time.. Excellent (ongoing) review - thanks for posting. :)
Time will tell, I am hoping both boots stand up well and that the root of DMs recent issues is outsourced production. From my current assessment the Solovair will offer a much better long term sole... I do like the DM leather though!
If you're partial to the yellow stitching you can find cobblers who have yellow threads and will do it on Solovairs. May as well get new soles while you're at it though.
I just got my 8 hole black derby hi-shine in today! I found the opposite problem with the tongue compared to my made in china Docs. The Solovair tongue seems to be much more ridgid and it is difficult for me to get them laced up so that I can get my foot more snug cuz my heal is a bit wobbly in it now. I hope this will be less of an issue after breaking in. And the toe box does seem a bit roomier too, but not too bad at all. I think if it comes down to it, just a thicker sock or an insole unless this is the rigid tongue issue which may work itself out. Thank you for your comparison.
I ordered a half size down: the tongue is extremely hard and digs in pretty severely. The heel is very loose and the toe box is too tight. The fit is a bit all over the place! I'll be sending them back.
Great update video! If you are looking into arch support Insoles I personally recommend SuperFeet. Typically I wear the Green insoles but in the case of the Solovairs I had to go with one with a smaller profile because the green SuperFeet would press my toes up against the top of the shoe and left no room to wiggle about. I ended up going with their Carbon style insoles.
If you have thin anlkes then simply overlap the two ends for a tighter fit. Use extra long laces to wrap around the leg of the boot a few times to hide the overlap.
I had a pair of steel toe DM's back in 2006-2007. Incredibly uncomfortable, especially as I wore the soles in. The leather cracked after only a year of use or so. They put me off that style of shoe for quite a while until I decided to give the Solovair gibson style shoes a try. Got them in 2017 and they lasted all the way until now with minimal care for the leather. Super comfortable too as I used them for daily wear and work. In the long run the soles kept a level of comfort that the Doc Martens simply didn't have any more after a few months. I'm really sad to see my Solovairs go!
Recently bought the Solovair Derby Burgundy Rub Off. Sizing and comfort the same as my DM 1460. But the Solovair have marks along the stitching from the foot of the sewing machine as well as glue drippings on the boot. I expected better from Solovair since I paid considerably more than the DM. I would rate them the same as DM. As much as I love the looks of both boots, they are both incredibly overpriced for what you get.
Greetings to all lovers of nice boots. I would like to ask about the Hi-Shine leather used to make Solovairs. I am considering buying them. On the solovair website it is stated that this leather contains a man-made coating on the surface to achieve a high gloss. My question is for long-time owners of Hi-Shine Solovairs boots (burgundy, oxblood, Black... ). How long can such leather last without breaking this man-made coating? Of course, we take into account adequate care, or the use of shoe trees. Thank you very much for your reply.
Slovair have a You Tube channel that may interest you. One of the videos is from a TV show called The One Show which is quite good considering it's off the telly, the channel is NPS Solovair.
I’ve had mixed results with Docs in the past. I’ve worn English and off shore examples since the 80s. My son currently has a pair of 2year old Oxblood MIE that he loves but the soles are taking a beating! The Solovairs are looking very good indeed. I think it’s time for me to look into getting a pair here in Canada. Fingers crossed.
Interesting thing to add to the conversation; Solovair sell replacement soles. Something DM do not do, making Solovair a non-disposable boot....once DMs wear down, you're stuck. That said, both being PVC we should be able to re-sole DMs with Solovair soles....
Even though I take very good care of my boots. The leather tares down faster then my soles. Ive had 7 year old 1460. soles were fine. But the leather broke down.
I'm hoping to resole a pair of 1460 Pascals I have when they wear down. The leather has gained a really nice patina, better than any of the over-corrected smooth leathers. That's one thing I can say about DM, is that they occasionally put out some fantastic boots such as Horween Chromexel, Dublin and other leathers. The downside is that the lifetime of these boots seems limited by the replaceability of the sole. It makes business sense for DM to keep customers renewing their product, however I believe Solovair offering replacement soles deserves our support when and where possible. Can't wait to snag a pair of Astronauts sometime!
I know this is an older video, but could you give some sizing advice? My Bannock is 9.5EEE and the best fit for an iron ranger, for example, is a 9EE but those boots hate my foot regardless. In made in Asia 1460s I feel that the 10 is too tight at the ball of the foot but the 11s are comically large. Combs, fit okay in 10 and 11 but neither are great. I was thinking 10.5 for Solovair. But I hear they run a tad larger. Yeah, you can email them, but they always say, "we can't compare sizes to other companies", lol. Thanks if you get the time.
Thanks for the review. One question: Did you experience any pain cause by the inner seam that connects the tongue to the boot? The oberlap there is massive and it is impossible for me to slip in the boot without bending that overlap forward which is them causing pain. I was wondering if that is something normal which will disappear after breaking them in.
I do currently have the same problem with may solovair boots. Did you get a bigger size, return them, or was the pain gone after breaking the boots in?
Great vid and am looking into getting the 11 eye Englander boot in black..My question is this.... do Solovair's break in easier than the original Dr. Martens. ( back when Docs were made well. ) I currently have an oxblood pair of Gripfast 11 eye steel toes that did not have a break in period. First day to now very soft leather and soles are still good for a long time as well. Thanks in advance.
I have a pair of steel toe made in China doc martens (they were given to me by a friend who works for the power company when they didn’t fit him) I have three complaints. 1) The leather is way too soft/thin 2) The heel cup is so flimsy as to not really do much. 3) There is a major lack of a serious tongue gusset, and the tongue tends to slide to the side (I have tried correcting this and can’t get it to work). However, these are the most comfortable steel toe boots I’ve ever owned. If they corrected the above issues, they would be a fantastic pair of boots. My question is if the Solovairs or MIE DM correct these issues? I would really be interested in owning a non steel toe pair of either brand if they did.
Thanks for the great review. As another reference point for sizing, I was wondering if you could also give us an idea of what size you wear for certain sneakers (stan smiths, converse, vans, etc) ? Thanks again :)
Sorry I couldnt quite make out what you said when you said - "Sizing was good, could have probably gone a half-size......." Did you mean bigger or smaller half-size than usual?
If I decide to buy a pair, I would look at a half size bigger because I would need a aftermarket arch support insole. I usually use a mink oil paste which I would heat with a hair dryer. I also wouldn't wear them in cold weather. They aren't insulated but more importantly the soft PVC sole can crack due to cold temps. I'd wear them with one of my kilts. An ode to the punk rock era.
Hello, is it better to break in the boot with just wearing it dry, or puting some mink oil or wax to break them quicker and easier, will the longer dry break in be better looking?
Anything you put on the outside of DM or Solovairs will just sit on the surface. Others have suggested conditioning the inside, but I havent found that neccesary on my MIE Docs.
You worried me about the dry ,bent areas on your doc martens so I started out using Bicks4 and 100% mink oil from the inside,(my colors are blue and purple and didn't want to darken the leather), I used saphire and Tarrago moisturizing polishes on the outside. I just today followed up behind the polishes with the Martens Balsam. I am trying very hard not to have the solita you spoke of. All this during the first month. Hopefully being proactive in the beginning will.prevent future problems. P.S. please ask Solivaire to offer some feminine colors for women. We'd like a better boot too. Those are still cutely fashioned after docs. I'd make the switch.
The loose collar of my solovars boots drives me crazy. I can’t tighten them up properly. I never hear people talk about that. I m wondering if it’s just my pair. Others than that a great boot.
The heel patch is so stiff it cuts into my ankle. Have only worn them around the house and a short trip outside (+/-35mins). It would be impossible to wear them longer due to blisters and pain. Anybody had the same issue? Does it break in eventually or not?
Are the Solovair 8 Eyed Steel Toes supposed to be more true to fit? I’m normally a U.K. 11.5 and I had to go with a size 10 because that’s what the chart and measurements suggested, as well as Solovair. However, they seem a little tight on me. But I still get that slight slip when I walk, so I’m wondering if maybe they’re too narrow. They do bite my toes a little, however. Will these stretch out a little as they break in? Also, I’ve noticed that alot of shoe manufacturers fail to mention that your feet will swell up 1-4-1/2 size when you wear boots. That’s normal.
Lol never listen to advice, measure your own foot length and width and get brannoch size from official table with that you'll always have correct size. 10UK for me or 11US or 44EU. No company makes shoes that stray from official dimensions it's all perceptions of individual customers with all different feet obviously
Yeah, I measured the length. Spend two hours measuring using the wall as a back stop, etc. The 5400 last that they use really is one size bigger because normal U.K. 11s are a little tight on me. But the problem is that I’m a half size 12 1/2 US/11 1/2 U.K., or in this case 10 1/2 U.K. So I’m just gonna break them in more, or use a shoe stretcher. The company says the width will definitely stretch, but not so much the length.
Awesome videos mate as always! I know you have a awesome boot collection from watching your videos. I wear a SZ 11 US in Red wing Moc toes heritage. Do you think UK 11 would fit? The sizing is confusing with all the different lasts. Cheers!! 👍🏻
What was your foot measurement using Solovair's foot measuring guide? According to their guide I'm between UK8 and UK8.5 and I'm not sure which to buy.
Hi, is this shine or greasy version? I'm new with boots. My continent don't really wear boot as they usually wear sneakers instead, but I'm in love with boots since my friends introduce it to me.
They are much wider left to right and fit looser front to back. They seem to fit about a half size larger than my new dr martens. I have 14 eye of booth .
I've watched couple of videos stated that solovair are much more comfy, better leather etc. once i got them in hand, i'd admit their quality are as good as these videos stated, however, they are not comfortable! the first pair i went true to size, turned out they are small for me, specially the area between the tongue and the toe, its too tight. after a second pair i sized up from UK 10 to 11 the over all length is too long. So i put insole on, the area between tongue and toe getting tight again! it really hurts for two weeks in!
Did the tightness at the end of the tongue get better? I also feel I've just ordered the right side, but am experiencing tightness in this same spot (slightly more on my right which is my 'bigger' foot)
Does anybody know what i should do? I measure my feet exactly, they were 29,7 cm. I added 4mm on top, so i ordered size 10,5. But when i tried them on, my toes touched the Front of the inner shoe very lightly while walking. Now i ordered size 11. Will they fit?
How did the size work out? I have not ordered yet, I measured 29.5 on my largest foot with a sock on. I was going to order 10.5 also but I have ordered a exact size in another boot before and it ended up being small…
@@Dsam04 After my question here i ordered size 11 and they fit perfect now. As i see your longest foot is quiet the Same in lenght like mine, so i recommend you to Order size 11. Also i'm very satisfied with using a good quality insole that is more comfy in the inside. The best insole i found was from the German Brand sunbed, the model "Standard" in size 46 for the size 11 Solovairs. They fit absolutely perfect with the inner shape of the Sole. After 2 month now they went more and more comfy and i love them. The quality is very good. The whole Style of how they Made is very classic and tough.
My US size is 9.5 on all sneakers and my feet are exactly 27.5 centimeters. When trying on the Solovair, Derby run true to size. So, 9 US is too small for me, 10 is too big, so i bought 9.5 US and im very happy with the size.
@@DevonReviewer Hi and thanks for the video. I have just bought a pair of Solovair High Shine Derbys. They are snug width. Length is spot on. I'm tempted to return for a half size up but don't want to end up with a boot too long ! Would you think high shine will stretch much ? I understand it is "coated" so will this prevent stretch no matter how much oil/balsam I put on ? Thanks
@@kyrafernsby6665 Did you measure your shoes according to solovair's instructions? How many centimeters long is your foot and what size have you chosen? best regards
it must suck to always be compared to your brother whos a little more mediocre than you in every single aspect yet you only hear... its kinda like what he did, almost
Comparing Solvair to Docs is like comparing Picasso to Davinci. You just can't do it without sounding like a loon. Solvair were the ORIGINAL manufacturers for Doc back in the day, so it's the same damn shoe. just with cheaper prices and better quality today.
Be very wary of buying Solovair, you may get a pair of boots or you may just receive a lighter wallet and nothing to show for it. To say their customer service is unresponsive is an understatement.
Not for that price. Corrected leather will get cracked creases soon or later, so, forget about longevity. This is just another form of programmed obsolescence; well-made products of old times are now considered luxury products and mediocre ones as supposedly well-made and honest products.
@@user-cf4eb4is2d Yeah, greasy leather that makes boots look very different from the classic look and cannot be polished. Why just don`t use some decent calf leather instead of charging more money for an already overpriced boots?
[Deleted] from my understanding the original Docs were made with corrected grain leather. Solovair have some regular finished full grain leather options with their premium line. Then they have NPS shoes that use calf for around £180-£210. These really aren’t overpriced.
@@user-cf4eb4is2d If I want some pair of good quality standard-looking boots, there are plethora of brands with better value for money than Solovair/Dr.Martens; if I would get a pair of Solovair/Dr.Martens, in most cases, it would be for the iconic look (chunky shape, eight eye or more, air-cushion sole with the stitching), the same look as the boots reviewed in the video, and, if a company like Solovair has a "premium line" made of good quality leather but with a standard looking, like any other boots brand, ¿Why, as a company, you make your classic line with an inferior quality leather at almost the same price if you have the resources to do it better? It`s ridiculous. Also, you cannot compare the quality of vintage Dr.Martens with the modern ones, even if the old leather was corrected leather as you suppose, it was a very good quality leather that don`t leave cracking creases like the modern ones, they last for many many years in comparison. This is where experience is above theory. Apologies for my english.
It's good to hear from someone who actually walks in their boots. Lots of people wear them around an office and I just don't think that tells you much. Worn Docs for years but I may switch to these. Quality is better and they're made by craftsmen who are paid well, not kids overseas. I also like that they come in some more natural looking leathers. As I've gotten older, I'm less into the shiny styles.
Did you ever end up switching to them?
@@Tom-ud8js nope. Still have a pair of Docs "For Life" collection which they don't make anymore. The oxblood ages really nicely and I basically use them as dress shoes. For work I'm in Lems Boulder boots. Barefoot shoes have been super comfortable and my back is healthier after switching. The Boulder is nice because they're super lightweight, barefoot feeling but also FEEL like boots and protect me fairly well. I got the waterproof ones because of my work and they're great. Either going to buy another pair(got 2.5 years out of them which is excellent for me) or get Jim Green African Rangers.
I finally wore out my 14 eye Solofair boots. I recently got a 20 eye pair of the High shine boots. The best way to break them in is to use a conditioner on the inside part of the boot so that it soaks into the leather. Mink oil or Cobbler's Choice. Putting leather conditioners on the outside is a complete waste of time since they have a coating over the leather not allowing it to absorb the conditioner. Just use it all over the inside of the boots and allow them to dry over night. It makes it so much easier and faster to break them in and it really helps the leather as well.
Agree nothing absorbs through the coated leather
If you want them a little bit tighter you should straight lace them. It will take a little longer to lace them up this way, but it looks much sharper. It will also give you an overall better fit and you can overlap both sides if you need.
Recently bought some burgundy steel toe solovair's and so far the boots have been broken in with absolutely no pain or discomfort. definitely worth the price
I am also breaking in a new pair of Solovairs and have 3 tips I used for doc martens in the past and now Solovair:
1. Use dubbin on the INSIDE of the boot especially the fabric covered crease points behind the toebox. Really soak it in there. The rough leather can absorb the dubbin which the outside can't.
2. Quality german cork / leather inserts. The advantage of these boots are that they take inserts well. I currently have Birkenstock and Finn Comfort inserts. Finn Comfort if a lower arch and Birk if a higher arch.
3. Modify the lacing pattern so you can overlap the sides for a tighter fit around the ankle and shaft. With an over / under x pattern it laces quickly and gets maximum tightness. 3 eyes standard bar then 3-4 eyes under x, 4-5 over x, 5-6 under, 6-7 over, 7-8 under and out of 8 to tie it up
Rik Shaw pls do a video on this
Dubbin is basic mate, you are quite right. never thought about the cork, will try next time.
Did you get the same size of solovair with your dr. Martens?
Mark Anthony Castaneda Pretty much. But Ive never had as comfortable as the ones I bought a siza bigger. They allow my feet a little more space, and nice inserts helped with the fit
You're rather thorough, which Leeds me to believe you know what the hell you're talking about. Cheers mate.
I've had a pair of solovair 6 eye brogue boots for about 1.5 years now, wearing them about 3 times a week. So far they feel as good as when i first broke them in. Really sturdy yet soft and comfy, if that makes any sense.
Also Solovair has a shank unlike DM. This adds to the comfort by miles
Unfortunately it's a wooden shank, not metal
@@josephaugustinerhodenhiser1353 Why is that a bad thing? The wooden shank will never break and should in theory absorb a little extra shock.
@@natebot321 It should never break in normal conditions but too much warping or a bad step on a corner and its over for the arch support
@@pm-yp5ri Im pretty sure you will break your foot before that happens, but thats just my humble opinion
Oh how did I not know their would be another anti doc marten blogger listen people this Solovair propaganda is getting so obvious it’s a joke , this firm is pissed because people have always bought doc martens because they made them under licence for doc marten but that’s in the past truth is no one knows them , just buy good old doc martens instead , I now find the comments are amusing …… shank ooh unlike DM this adds comfort by miles lol 😂 what normal person comes out with things like that ,
I bought a pair of brown grain solovairs last week. Normally wear an 11 but went down to a 10.5. Added solovair insoles and they're perfect!
I wear redwing is uk6,so I need to buy uk6 by solovair ?thanks
Hey, first of all love your video's. Ive been exclusively wearing docs since birth, and I never heard of solvair. They have some amazing leather options as wel. Ive ordered myself 2 pairs. Thanks showing me this brand! They are more original doc martens then the docs you can buy in stores these days.
vincienator what site did you order them from?? Any site that delivers to the US??
@@user-xu9ot9zk9q You live in the US?? Then I would go for a pair of Corcoran spitshine paratrooper boots. I have a pair shipped to the Netherlands coupleof years ago and I must say they are great!!!!
What you think of them? I'm considering giving them a bash
@@stephenmacdonald76 couldnt be happier to be honest. Leather is very durable. Ive worn 1 pair every day to work since i got them. An they still look brand new
@@vincienator thank you, you might just have swung it for me
I found a local shop selling Solovairs. They just had a couple of models. I believe the materials and construction of the boots are better than the MIE Doc Martens. They also have 1/2 sizes which is great. One thing negative I noticed in their boot fit was something you also mentioned or referred to and that is the excessive vamp space (the area between the tongue length and one's foot), the size I tried on was great for the toe box area but excessive space in the vamp area. I was really hoping they had the "Astronaut" boots available to try on. I really like those and I hope the fit will be better. Thanks for the reviews, keep them coming.
My Doc Martin's cherry reds are getting on for 30yrs old. They've been extremely well looked after and have never been resoled.
I am interested in the Solovair boots though,they looked good.
Great review video 👍👍👍
If your docs are 30ish (1993/94), I think there's a good chance they were made by the Solovair manufacturer. Not exactly sure but I read that they parted ways in the mid nineties
@@Annalovesautumn
Many thanks for the comment...I'm certainly no expert,so I wouldnt have a clue ???
@@nicksvinylbutty5488 Me neither, but if I were you I'd keep those boots! He did another video on this channel quite a ways back, where he cut a 30ish year old Doc Marten in half and you can really see the difference in quality from the new ones. I think they were still made by the Solovair company then but regardless of where it was made, looks like really sturdy stuff.
Of course, nobody is saying that you shouldn't have more pairs of boots, and in that case that'll make two of us checking out Solovair :)
@@Annalovesautumn
Thanks again for dropping a comment....I'll take a look at that video 👍👍👍
All that‘s left from DMs is the Name. The MIE ones are way to expensive for what they are. They say those are like the ones that came out in the 60s so they lack every bit of improvement. Mine took ages to break in. When I got into Martens in the 90s they where durable and affordable. Good long lasting boots and shoes. I won‘t throw any money at them again. The asian ones went in the trash and I wear the MIE rarely. Their products now are overprized crap and they just live of their reputation. Nobody would buy the asian rubber boots without the Dr. Martens name on them even for half the price.
I hope that business runs well for Solovair so that they can keep on making the better boot.
It‘s just my opinion about the DMs/ Solovair situation. Your reviews are fine and if you are lucky with DMs don’t feel offended.
Overseas the MiE Dr Martens have the advantage of availability though. That 50GBP shipping fee means Solovairs and Gripfasts are almost invariably more expensive.
@@UsernameInvalidTHIS both solovair and gripfast have online stores for the American market, with prices comparable to the Dr Martens MiE prices on the DM website including shipping. Plus, if you buy from Solovair's UK full website, they normally scale the total price including shipping to be similar to the listed price. I bought the 6eye brogue boots for £166 including shipping.
The Dr Martens cost £4 more than the Solovairs, I wouldn't say they're way too expensive.
Lord Balzamore yes that may be the price difference in the UK. I tried to explain my opinion about the value. Pricing here in Germany is also a little bit different because solovair is relatively unknown here.
Wait for the sales. just got a pair of the MiE with Horween leather for around $150. if it weren't for the sale I would've just had my old ones resoled
Great looking boots. While I like the Doc's, I do like how the Solvair don't have the bright yellow stitching around the welt. Going to be interesting to see how the Doc's hold up to the same challenge after 2 weeks. I'm also glad you talked about sizing and that the Solvair are available in half sizes. What you didn't mention, or I missed it, was what the price difference was. Thanks for posting.
175 pounds Solovair, very similar to Doc's.
Solovair no longer have the yellow stitching because Dr Marten now have a copyright on it.
Depends on where you live. If you're in the US, it'll run about 10 bucks more ($210) than the vintage MiE 1460 Doc Martens. They also don't sell half sizes on their US/Canada direct website, much like docs.
I have a brand new pair of 11-Hole Solovairs. Wore them two times yet, no problems.
I use leather insoles for a softer step and thick socks.
In my heart I want the Doc Martens to 'win' because I've been wearing them sincxe the early seventies. Having said that, I have to admit that despite my brand loyalty, I'm growing to like those Solovairs. My D.M. 'For Life' boots (now no longer available) still have plenty of wear left in them though so it might take some time.. Excellent (ongoing) review - thanks for posting. :)
Time will tell, I am hoping both boots stand up well and that the root of DMs recent issues is outsourced production. From my current assessment the Solovair will offer a much better long term sole... I do like the DM leather though!
The DMs you wore in the early seventies may well have been DMs by Solovairs!
@@pixadavid Really? I definately didn't know that..!!
If you're partial to the yellow stitching you can find cobblers who have yellow threads and will do it on Solovairs. May as well get new soles while you're at it though.
@@sputumtube Yes, Solovair made DM branded boots for decades until the licencse wasnt renewed in the late 90's.
I use boot oil to help with the back of the boot to avoid heel rub
I just got my 8 hole black derby hi-shine in today! I found the opposite problem with the tongue compared to my made in china Docs. The Solovair tongue seems to be much more ridgid and it is difficult for me to get them laced up so that I can get my foot more snug cuz my heal is a bit wobbly in it now. I hope this will be less of an issue after breaking in. And the toe box does seem a bit roomier too, but not too bad at all. I think if it comes down to it, just a thicker sock or an insole unless this is the rigid tongue issue which may work itself out. Thank you for your comparison.
I ordered a half size down: the tongue is extremely hard and digs in pretty severely. The heel is very loose and the toe box is too tight. The fit is a bit all over the place! I'll be sending them back.
Great update video! If you are looking into arch support Insoles I personally recommend SuperFeet. Typically I wear the Green insoles but in the case of the Solovairs I had to go with one with a smaller profile because the green SuperFeet would press my toes up against the top of the shoe and left no room to wiggle about. I ended up going with their Carbon style insoles.
Thanks I will check them out!
If you have thin anlkes then simply overlap the two ends for a tighter fit. Use extra long laces to wrap around the leg of the boot a few times to hide the overlap.
I had a pair of steel toe DM's back in 2006-2007. Incredibly uncomfortable, especially as I wore the soles in. The leather cracked after only a year of use or so. They put me off that style of shoe for quite a while until I decided to give the Solovair gibson style shoes a try. Got them in 2017 and they lasted all the way until now with minimal care for the leather. Super comfortable too as I used them for daily wear and work. In the long run the soles kept a level of comfort that the Doc Martens simply didn't have any more after a few months. I'm really sad to see my Solovairs go!
I love my solovairs. I found I had to size down half a size but, man they are wo comfortable and look great. Durability...we'll see.
So are your boots durable?
Any update? :)
Did you follow the cm sizing?
@@neinnine4592 yes!
@@two-tee nah
I'm US8 UK7 26cm on other shoes. Maybe I should get their UK6 which is 26.2cm
Recently bought the Solovair Derby Burgundy Rub Off. Sizing and comfort the same as my DM 1460. But the Solovair have marks along the stitching from the foot of the sewing machine as well as glue drippings on the boot. I expected better from Solovair since I paid considerably more than the DM. I would rate them the same as DM. As much as I love the looks of both boots, they are both incredibly overpriced for what you get.
Greetings to all lovers of nice boots. I would like to ask about the Hi-Shine leather used to make Solovairs. I am considering buying them. On the solovair website it is stated that this leather contains a man-made coating on the surface to achieve a high gloss. My question is for long-time owners of Hi-Shine Solovairs boots (burgundy, oxblood, Black... ). How long can such leather last without breaking this man-made coating? Of course, we take into account adequate care, or the use of shoe trees. Thank you very much for your reply.
oo i didn’t think about heaviness but a clompy boot is very fun
Slovair have a You Tube channel that may interest you. One of the videos is from a TV show called The One Show which is quite good considering it's off the telly, the channel is NPS Solovair.
I’ve had mixed results with Docs in the past. I’ve worn English and off shore examples since the 80s. My son currently has a pair of 2year old Oxblood MIE that he loves but the soles are taking a beating! The Solovairs are looking very good indeed. I think it’s time for me to look into getting a pair here in Canada. Fingers crossed.
Interesting thing to add to the conversation; Solovair sell replacement soles. Something DM do not do, making Solovair a non-disposable boot....once DMs wear down, you're stuck. That said, both being PVC we should be able to re-sole DMs with Solovair soles....
Even though I take very good care of my boots. The leather tares down faster then my soles. Ive had 7 year old 1460. soles were fine. But the leather broke down.
I'm hoping to resole a pair of 1460 Pascals I have when they wear down. The leather has gained a really nice patina, better than any of the over-corrected smooth leathers. That's one thing I can say about DM, is that they occasionally put out some fantastic boots such as Horween Chromexel, Dublin and other leathers. The downside is that the lifetime of these boots seems limited by the replaceability of the sole. It makes business sense for DM to keep customers renewing their product, however I believe Solovair offering replacement soles deserves our support when and where possible. Can't wait to snag a pair of Astronauts sometime!
In the UK you can resole both Solovair and DMs
@@sammich7141 I'm over in Finland, so no dice there unfortunately.
Using solovair replacement soles - i was thinking exactly this myself
I know this is an older video, but could you give some sizing advice? My Bannock is 9.5EEE and the best fit for an iron ranger, for example, is a 9EE but those boots hate my foot regardless. In made in Asia 1460s I feel that the 10 is too tight at the ball of the foot but the 11s are comically large. Combs, fit okay in 10 and 11 but neither are great. I was thinking 10.5 for Solovair. But I hear they run a tad larger. Yeah, you can email them, but they always say, "we can't compare sizes to other companies", lol.
Thanks if you get the time.
U gotta bar the laces sun.look real good
Thanks for the review. One question: Did you experience any pain cause by the inner seam that connects the tongue to the boot? The oberlap there is massive and it is impossible for me to slip in the boot without bending that overlap forward which is them causing pain. I was wondering if that is something normal which will disappear after breaking them in.
I do currently have the same problem with may solovair boots. Did you get a bigger size, return them, or was the pain gone after breaking the boots in?
Any feedback from anyone on this issue? Having the same
Great vid and am looking into getting the 11 eye Englander boot in black..My question is this.... do Solovair's break in easier than the original Dr. Martens. ( back when Docs were made well. ) I currently have an oxblood pair of Gripfast 11 eye steel toes that did not have a break in period. First day to now very soft leather and soles are still good for a long time as well. Thanks in advance.
8:37 similar problem with work boots, just added a little quarter inch pad ei; heel pad. Cut to fit tongue
I have a pair of steel toe made in China doc martens (they were given to me by a friend who works for the power company when they didn’t fit him)
I have three complaints.
1) The leather is way too soft/thin
2) The heel cup is so flimsy as to not really do much.
3) There is a major lack of a serious tongue gusset, and the tongue tends to slide to the side (I have tried correcting this and can’t get it to work).
However, these are the most comfortable steel toe boots I’ve ever owned. If they corrected the above issues, they would be a fantastic pair of boots.
My question is if the Solovairs or MIE DM correct these issues? I would really be interested in owning a non steel toe pair of either brand if they did.
Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the great review. As another reference point for sizing, I was wondering if you could also give us an idea of what size you wear for certain sneakers (stan smiths, converse, vans, etc) ? Thanks again :)
Sorry I couldnt quite make out what you said when you said - "Sizing was good, could have probably gone a half-size......."
Did you mean bigger or smaller half-size than usual?
Really informative video, thanks a lot.
My feet are two different sizes. The right is snugg the left very tight. What to do?
The question is, did they make Docs before? Are they the docs we purchased years ago? But with a different name
Yes, the parent brand for Solovair is NPS, and NPS manufactured DMs from 1960 until the mid 90s
I have a DMs like a 93 or 96, cant remember, and innthe innersole they say ”made by solovair”
If I decide to buy a pair, I would look at a half size bigger because I would need a aftermarket arch support insole. I usually use a mink oil paste which I would heat with a hair dryer. I also wouldn't wear them in cold weather. They aren't insulated but more importantly the soft PVC sole can crack due to cold temps. I'd wear them with one of my kilts. An ode to the punk rock era.
Hello, is it better to break in the boot with just wearing it dry, or puting some mink oil or wax to break them quicker and easier, will the longer dry break in be better looking?
Anything you put on the outside of DM or Solovairs will just sit on the surface. Others have suggested conditioning the inside, but I havent found that neccesary on my MIE Docs.
You worried me about the dry ,bent areas on your doc martens so I started out using Bicks4 and 100% mink oil from the inside,(my colors are blue and purple and didn't want to darken the leather), I used saphire and Tarrago moisturizing polishes on the outside. I just today followed up behind the polishes with the Martens Balsam. I am trying very hard not to have the solita you spoke of. All this during the first month. Hopefully being proactive in the beginning will.prevent future problems. P.S. please ask Solivaire to offer some feminine colors for women. We'd like a better boot too. Those are still cutely fashioned after docs. I'd make the switch.
The loose collar of my solovars boots drives me crazy. I can’t tighten them up properly. I never hear people talk about that. I m wondering if it’s just my pair. Others than that a great boot.
Longer laces, wrap around the top of the boot, tie em.
@@CD-gh1uf yes. But then there is extra leather that creates this weird fold. It's just too big at the opening. Maybe they are not all like that.
The heel patch is so stiff it cuts into my ankle. Have only worn them around the house and a short trip outside (+/-35mins). It would be impossible to wear them longer due to blisters and pain. Anybody had the same issue? Does it break in eventually or not?
It is plastic outside so leather wax will not do the trick, the leather will dry out in time.
Would these be still good in rainy and snowy weather?
Are the Solovair 8 Eyed Steel Toes supposed to be more true to fit? I’m normally a U.K. 11.5 and I had to go with a size 10 because that’s what the chart and measurements suggested, as well as Solovair. However, they seem a little tight on me. But I still get that slight slip when I walk, so I’m wondering if maybe they’re too narrow. They do bite my toes a little, however. Will these stretch out a little as they break in? Also, I’ve noticed that alot of shoe manufacturers fail to mention that your feet will swell up 1-4-1/2 size when you wear boots. That’s normal.
Lol never listen to advice, measure your own foot length and width and get brannoch size from official table with that you'll always have correct size. 10UK for me or 11US or 44EU. No company makes shoes that stray from official dimensions it's all perceptions of individual customers with all different feet obviously
Yeah, I measured the length. Spend two hours measuring using the wall as a back stop, etc. The 5400 last that they use really is one size bigger because normal U.K. 11s are a little tight on me. But the problem is that I’m a half size 12 1/2 US/11 1/2 U.K., or in this case 10 1/2 U.K. So I’m just gonna break them in more, or use a shoe stretcher. The company says the width will definitely stretch, but not so much the length.
@@theleadsearcher4421 so after all this Time did you make the right call on the size?
Will you be reviewing the solovair sneakers?
Awesome videos mate as always! I know you have a awesome boot collection from watching your videos. I wear a SZ 11 US in Red wing Moc toes heritage. Do you think UK 11 would fit? The sizing is confusing with all the different lasts.
Cheers!! 👍🏻
You will need a UK size 10
Are the 409 Last derbys noticebly wide?
What kind of insole do the Solovair boots have?
Solivair...the better boot. Looks better as well.
In your headline you misspelled "Solovair" as 'Solvair'
What was your foot measurement using Solovair's foot measuring guide? According to their guide I'm between UK8 and UK8.5 and I'm not sure which to buy.
Please get in touch with us directly via our Contact Us page on our website for sizing assistance
Hows the 666 iron hearts and the custom sole red wings?
The heel cap on my left hi-shine steel cap derby digs in really bad and is making it unpleasant to continue wearing.
Those look like my old US military combat boots with urethane soles.
You must have feet of steel!!!, Just bought a pair and they have cut the feet off me :P
I love the MIE Docs, but I bet they don't break in as easy! :-)
Is there a lot of room for the top of the foot in the solovair? compared to dr martens please? because dr martens hurt me so much and I even bruise
does the leather coating crack in the toebox area after some time?
Look better then Docs
What if I want to put an insole? Are the insoles removable?
Do you have just the “black” or the “greasy black”?
Hi, is this shine or greasy version?
I'm new with boots. My continent don't really wear boot as they usually wear sneakers instead, but I'm in love with boots since my friends introduce it to me.
Muz this is the high shine version
@@giakhanhthehinhcoban Thanks bro.
Muz you're welcome
I have to size up on the solovair
So if i wear a size 8(US) for iron rangers RW, what size should i get for these?
Are the insoles removable?
Is this true to size or I have to follow the cm sizing?
Can somebody tell me how is the sizing on these compared to the china/thai docs? Thanks!
They are much wider left to right and fit looser front to back. They seem to fit about a half size larger than my new dr martens. I have 14 eye of booth .
I've watched couple of videos stated that solovair are much more comfy, better leather etc. once i got them in hand, i'd admit their quality are as good as these videos stated, however, they are not comfortable! the first pair i went true to size, turned out they are small for me, specially the area between the tongue and the toe, its too tight. after a second pair i sized up from UK 10 to 11 the over all length is too long. So i put insole on, the area between tongue and toe getting tight again! it really hurts for two weeks in!
Did the tightness at the end of the tongue get better? I also feel I've just ordered the right side, but am experiencing tightness in this same spot (slightly more on my right which is my 'bigger' foot)
Does anybody know what i should do? I measure my feet exactly, they were 29,7 cm. I added 4mm on top, so i ordered size 10,5. But when i tried them on, my toes touched the Front of the inner shoe very lightly while walking. Now i ordered size 11. Will they fit?
How did the size work out? I have not ordered yet, I measured 29.5 on my largest foot with a sock on. I was going to order 10.5 also but I have ordered a exact size in another boot before and it ended up being small…
@@Dsam04 After my question here i ordered size 11 and they fit perfect now. As i see your longest foot is quiet the Same in lenght like mine, so i recommend you to Order size 11. Also i'm very satisfied with using a good quality insole that is more comfy in the inside. The best insole i found was from the German Brand sunbed, the model "Standard" in size 46 for the size 11 Solovairs. They fit absolutely perfect with the inner shape of the Sole.
After 2 month now they went more and more comfy and i love them. The quality is very good. The whole Style of how they Made is very classic and tough.
Are these hi shine solovair
Can you review Clarks? Highly recommend my batcombe lords
I am a 8,5 , should i get them in a 8 ? Or i go for the 8,5 ?
My US size is 9.5 on all sneakers and my feet are exactly 27.5 centimeters. When trying on the Solovair, Derby run true to size. So, 9 US is too small for me, 10 is too big, so i bought 9.5 US and im very happy with the size.
Great content. You just gained a subscriber!
Hello from Italy can you tell me if the solovair black is hi-shine colour as mentioned on the website?
Best regards
Yes I believe Hi Shine hopefully the model number I sent over on insta confirms.
@@DevonReviewer Hi and thanks for the video.
I have just bought a pair of Solovair High Shine Derbys. They are snug width. Length is spot on. I'm tempted to return for a half size up but don't want to end up with a boot too long ! Would you think high shine will stretch much ? I understand it is "coated" so will this prevent stretch no matter how much oil/balsam I put on ? Thanks
You wear it without socks? After breaking in?
How many eyelets high does everyone lace up? I go 7.
All 8
11 on my 11 eye boots
Are these the high shine version??
Yeah, its the S8-551-BK-G. Had to check his instagram
@@johnchan1367 ay thanks for replying - couldn’t figure it out
Solovair=Sole of air 😉
Is the Solovair sizing similar to DM’s? Are your DM’s and Solovair’s the same size?
@@GRIMDARK.PAGE.TURNER No.
I'm a size 9 in the made in england 1460 would I be the same in these boots there is nowhere to try these on were I live
@@kyrafernsby6665 cheers thanks
@@kyrafernsby6665
Did you measure your shoes according to solovair's instructions? How many centimeters long is your foot and what size have you chosen? best regards
Everyone should use insoles.
good luck with emailing them ...they never answered mine
You bought plastic coated boots so non of that conditioner will sink into the leather… you have to apply it from the inside inclusive greasy socks…
Solvair i think are better than Dr. Martens
한국으로 오세요....
저런거 그냥줍니다.
2~3년 정도 군생활하면....
yes
it must suck to always be compared to your brother whos a little more mediocre than you in every single aspect yet you only hear... its kinda like what he did, almost
Comparing Solvair to Docs is like comparing Picasso to Davinci. You just can't do it without sounding like a loon.
Solvair were the ORIGINAL manufacturers for Doc back in the day, so it's the same damn shoe. just with cheaper prices and better quality today.
Be very wary of buying Solovair, you may get a pair of boots or you may just receive a lighter wallet and nothing to show for it. To say their customer service is unresponsive is an understatement.
I have found them to be helpful, I had a question about the construction and they got right back to me
Corrected leather is not bad, as long as original material was good to begin with.
Not for that price. Corrected leather will get cracked creases soon or later, so, forget about longevity. This is just another form of programmed obsolescence; well-made products of old times are now considered luxury products and mediocre ones as supposedly well-made and honest products.
[Deleted] they offer a full grain greasy leather for £10 more.
@@user-cf4eb4is2d Yeah, greasy leather that makes boots look very different from the classic look and cannot be polished. Why just don`t use some decent calf leather instead of charging more money for an already overpriced boots?
[Deleted] from my understanding the original Docs were made with corrected grain leather. Solovair have some regular finished full grain leather options with their premium line. Then they have NPS shoes that use calf for around £180-£210. These really aren’t overpriced.
@@user-cf4eb4is2d If I want some pair of good quality standard-looking boots, there are plethora of brands with better value for money than Solovair/Dr.Martens; if I would get a pair of Solovair/Dr.Martens, in most cases, it would be for the iconic look (chunky shape, eight eye or more, air-cushion sole with the stitching), the same look as the boots reviewed in the video, and, if a company like Solovair has a "premium line" made of good quality leather but with a standard looking, like any other boots brand, ¿Why, as a company, you make your classic line with an inferior quality leather at almost the same price if you have the resources to do it better? It`s ridiculous.
Also, you cannot compare the quality of vintage Dr.Martens with the modern ones, even if the old leather was corrected leather as you suppose, it was a very good quality leather that don`t leave cracking creases like the modern ones, they last for many many years in comparison. This is where experience is above theory.
Apologies for my english.