being poor is expensive, still you should save to spend more on the things you typically wouldn't/couldn't, shopping for fresh food rather than fast etc.., either way good luck man, get those solovairs, dont settle fore mediocrity, its not predestined you can shape what you are
@@ladder85if you’re in the uk and have a car I’d recommend going to the solovair factory outlet, I got mine literally half price cause they’d been worn once
The Captain Samuel Vimes’ “boot” theory of socio-economic fairness has become how I break this down (Thanks to Terry Pratchett). $50 is absolutely a lot of money for some- I got Docs when I needed something with more coverage while in art school and was only able to do that by getting a “big kids’” size.
I'm glad you appreciated that! I cut out a LOT from this video (I can talk for an hour straight about anything boot related) but I really wanted to emphasize the money thing because a lot of boot guys don't think to address it
Walmart has combat boots for women they are selling that look a lot like Doc Martens. Noticed them as I was walking down the aisle past the shoe section.
I first saw Dr Martens in London when I was 16 years old. I really wanted to buy some! I didn't have any money. Credit cards weren't heard of. The boots I saw cost 7 pounds and 15 shillings! I only earned 4 pounds 10 shillings per week--before deductions! Happy days in 1968.
I switched to Solovair years ago. I love them. The older ones have yellow and black stitching with blue labels. I’m lucky I still have some vintage Dr Martens - the ones with nipples at the rear of the shoe. 15 years ago, I had to buy a pair of made in China Docs. They are really good. Go figure.
I agree about comparing boots in a similar price zone is the right way to do it because then you can compare "value". I have 2 pairs of Trickers boots (gorgeous but not in this price bracket so unfair to compare). For everyday wear I choose from two Solovair boots (albeit a dealer and brogue). Made in England (I'm English) is very important. I've had DMs 1460s (and still own a couple of shoes) but the Solovairs are just all round "better" for less money than made in England DMs - , half sizes, better construction, resoleable according to the manufacturer and the brand is a talking point
It should be noted that MOST Doc Martens were made by R Griggs (The UK brand holder) themselves in a factory which employed a couple of thousand people at its peak. Solovair are a tiny company by comparison with around 80 employees I believe. So Solovair used to make a fairly small number of Doc Martens for R Griggs under contract and certainly were not the main manufacturer. My guess is that they made some of the more speciality versions that didn't fit into the regular production lines as, despite some internet myths, Doc Martens main lines were always made of cheap leather or plastic coated leather. You only need to see punks were wearing back in the day. They were always a cheap, utilitarian boot.
@@4thinternational283 About 170 quid on the UK site. Online inflation calculators say £12 in 1981 = £57 today, and £36 in 1996 = £84 today. My Docs cracked and gave me blisters in just a year of wear when I got them about 10 years ago now, they were oversized because of the lack of half sizes, and the treads essentially completely wore out.
@@4thinternational283 Based on average wages (which is complicated due to different rates of pay for men and women and for different age groups, overtime and bonuses etc.) I'd estimate that those boots that cost you £12 in 1981 would be the equivalent of £70 to £75 now. Those boots that cost you £36 in 1996 would be in the £90 to £95 range now. I've obviously no idea if those were sales bargains (1981 in particular was a pretty bad year for the economy) but going to the Doc Marten site and the outlet page, you can certainly get some models for around £70 though the more popular styles are much more expensive. It's possible that the non sale prices will fall substantially in the January sales (there's no "Black Friday" sale) or in the summer when boot sales decline significantly and you can get good bargains from many brands in my experience.
It doesn't matter where they are made. Any country, can make anything, and at different levels of quality. People tend to scoff at items made in China. Yet, some of the best quality consumer goods are from China.
I love my Solovairs. I’ve had them for about 5 years now, and wear them fairly regularly. Also, if for some reason you want the yellow stitching you can use wax pencils, aka China Markers, to color the stitches or to brighten up the stitches on your Docs.
Hello, I live and am from the UK. I am 50, I wore Docs years ago, as they were affordable and TBH, part of the scene being grunge. This video is good, if you have MONEY, if not that king of money, check out Grinders, now these are more industrial, but they are a good boot. PS i am not sponsored by the company
Grinders kinda went the way of Docs and moved manufacturing to China. From everything I've read, the quality nose dived they even abandoned the custom soles, I had a pair of those but the soles ripped off.
Avoid any high-shine footwear. Another name for it is book binder leather. The poor quality leather is covered in a lacquery plastic (a polyurethane/acrylic solution) that will crack and peel over time. It's like patent leather, and once these flaws appear they can't be remedied with shoe polish.
Not true universally, Hi-Shine leather can be created by the spazzolato technique, requiring no application of a synthetic coating because the process significantly increases impermeability as well as resistance to scratching. Prada sells women's loafers for well over $1,000 made from leather treated this way. They need almost no care, the leather is beautifully shiny and very resilient.
I have an odd (and OLD) pair of England-made Docs that have translucent green soles with a deep tread design, leather insole material and an external toecap that just are so much better quality than any of the other Docs that I ever had. Still going strong! Also enjoy my John Fluevogs with the Angelic soles (resoleable), but all I have is loafers from them (multiple pairs, though - in crazy colors!). My recent purchases have been from Jim Green - African Rangers and then a pair of Houston Green Barefoot models - really love them.
The leather you mentioned as crappy isn’t the only leather in DM’s catalogue tho. True, the ones mentioned that are prone to cracking are from their 1460 smooth line, because they are very corrected forms of leather. But they also have crazy horse, greasy and waxed full grain leathers that are very sturdy, supple, does not crack and definitely would stand the test of time, with the minimum amount of care. Still not heavy duty work boots, but for $170(and sometimes lower when on sale), and used as an everyday casual boot, and in rotation with other boots and shoes like most people, I’d say you’re getting your money’s worth.
@@josephc4119 yeah, i was hesitating between the made in england 1460 or the nappa and i choose the nappa. Heard the made in england 1460s have problems with the coating.
From 1977, until 1985, I was a UK Skinhead, (Listen to Ska, Reggae, rocksteady etc) I wore the Steel toe capped Highlanders (Black) or Southerners (Brown/tan) Im still a Skinhead and Doc Martin don't make them anymore as you mentioned. But, Solovair do, I currently own the Solovair Highlanders (Black) and will the buying the Southerners (Brown/Tan) steel toe caps boots. plus they do half sizes, and are more comfortable and cheaper (£199) than my Made in England DM boots (£219).
I had a pair of Doc Marten high heeled boots that I got about 10 years ago. I hadn’t worn them for a while, and I pulled them out to wear and the rubber on the sole had turned to goo! It was as if they were melting, and they weren’t kept near anything hot.
I own both Solovairs and Docs. Love both. Got the solovairs in 2021, breaking them in took a lot less time than I remember from the Docs. They are allaround lovely, my only gripe is that they are much skinnier than Docs and don't have a removable in-sole. I gotta say tho, I bought my Docs, classic black 1460s, in 2014 - and they are still holding up beautifully!! Got some scratches and worn down soles and they recently started to develop some wrinkling, but overall I am amazed at how well the held up. Been wearing them a lot, gone to a quite a few different countries, often went hiking and to festivals in them.
That British boot shop in Camden is the biggest scam to rip off gullible tourists. They mainly sell grinders and solovair. For the full RRP + around 40% on top. Their shop is also filled with china made grinders , despite them claiming everything they sell is UK made.
Just found you and I’m enjoying your content. About 20 years ago I tried on the guaranteed for life Docs, which I don’t think they sell anymore. Since they don’t make half sizes none fit me well enough to justify buying them. I just purchased Thursday Captains and I’m blown away by the price/quality ratio. When looking for boots I didn’t even bother to look at Docs-they have the size problem and it’s now extremely well documented that the quality is very poor, or at best hit or miss.
My experience of Doc Martins is great. I bought a pair as a student in the 90’s. I am now 53 and still own the same pair. They are a gardening boot but no cracked soles, split leather or anything. Yes, they are stiff and old and look worn but still do the job and in working order.
Shoutout to Sanders from the UK. Bought their Kelso boot while on a visit to London. Probably better build than the ones mentioned in this video, similar look to the 1460 albeit more refined. The black has been on sale for around £200 or so for some time.
that's so funny i had never heard of Sander's until yesterday and now here you are in the comments telling me about them. I might be visiting their factory next month, I'll tell them you sent me Edgar
I had a pair of Docs nearly 30 years ago, I pretty much lived in them as my primary footwear for the best part of 4 years they were brilliant they survived motorbike usage (a few tumbles), the moshpit every weekend, college, work, out and about in all weather they were simply fantastic, i stopped wearing them mostly due to my career (They didn't quite go with the business casual aesthetic nor were they great boots to do the work day drive). Got a new pair of 1460s about a year ago. Can't say the quality is on the same level as they used to be, as they started to show wear and tear after about 8 months of 2 - 3 times a week of light usage for a few hours. They simply wouldn't survive the life style I lived at 17/18
I think I am going to dive in on a pair of Solovair's. I had a pair of DM's but the oxford style shoes 'Made in england". They would rub the back of my heel so badly I had to get rid of them. I love the glossy look of the boots though. They look like combat boots to me.
I bought a pair of Doc Martins years ago and it felt like i was wearing flimsy, floppy trash-bags on my feet. Absolutely zero arch support and the thinnest leather Ive ever experienced.
I agree on the comfy but not the wearing well; I've had two pairs and both completely wore out (big holes in the soles, straps falling off etc) after about a year of wear.
@saphirefoxirl that's a shame. I've a pair I've had since I was 18. I'm 37 now. I've a pair of the military platform ones on the go a year now and I've worn them to festivals and all. Sorry that happened
One of the reasons why I exclusively wore Doc Martens for around ten years (yes, year round, with wool socks over cotton socks, it was great) was that a pair lasted me two years (I weighed next to nothing, that's why) and once a pair started falling apart, I could just buy a new one in five seconds and never ever think about shoes, look for shoes, try on shoes, decide for shoes, it was so sweet and nice. I switched to a more durable brand uh... around flve years ago, boots for cold weather, sandals for warm weather, and those are still doing well (granted, I rarely leave the House, so....)
Ooh I'm very interested in this topic! Docs are cute but I have permanent scars on my heels/ankles from them. On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE my Fryes (Veronica lace up combat). They have a different look (the docs are more trendy, while the fryes look more old-timey), but boy are they comfy. Even though they don't have cushioning in the sole, I can wear them to work and walk all day without any discomfort. I still would like a boot with more platform just for the style, but just about every boot out there is excessively stiff (which is how I got the heel scarring) and has a stupidly narrow toe box 😭
The best alternatives are actually vintage german army boots (readily availible for unter 100 Euros) and Austrian Bundesheer Feldstiefel leicht (arround 100-150 Euros). Much better construction and leather (german: 2,8-3mm leather, norwegian stitch, leather insole) then these alternatives or at least much cheaper if you live in Europe.
is the norwegian stitch better than the goodyear welt? Also i just got the austrian fieldboot brand new and i was wondering. Do you need to condition the leather insole?
@@gezujapan1473 «Norwegian welt» is just a variant of Goodyear welt, I believe. It looks like Doc Martens, actually: It’s when you have a Goodyear welt, but then also stitch the (extra large) welt «sideways» into the upper. It’s called a «storm welt» if you just have the extra large welt, without the stitches. It’s a bit more weather proof. Heschung makes a lot of shoes with Norwegian welts.
@@gezujapan1473 Conditioning the insole is adviseable for vintage shoes or shoes after a lot of wear, but not heavily to not losen the gemming. A little bit of e.g. leather oil on a sponge and wipe the whole insole. Again, do not overdo it. A quick rinse beforehand with diluted vinegar will take care of many salts etc from sweat.
I’ve just bought a pair of Solovair. They’re still in the box so no comment on how they’ll wear. I have, of course, tried them on & they feel great though. I used to wear the DM steel toe capped work boot, but apart from them being hard to find now, the leather always cracks on the same place, just below the lace holes on the inside. In Belfast we have a place that re-soles them for £25. They use genuine soles & I’ve had it done a couple of times. For those local enough to use it, it’s the Fountain Heel Bar in Fountain Street.
Good video. Tip for everyone wearing leather shoes: take care of them. Clean them carefully if they get dirty, rinse with water if they get salt over them (winter thing in certain places), remember to use small amount of some grease regularly to protect the leather from drying and polish them to protect the surface - also makes them look better. Occasionally it's a good idea to remove the excess wax. If you don't take care of your shoes the leather will crack and your boots are ruined. You can ask your cobbler for instructions and tools for this. Don't use anything that has silicone, if a cobbler suggests products like that run away.
Can you do a video about the best socks and your sock collection? What are the best brands to buy socks. Nordic socks. Work socks. Plain socks. Cotton socks. Wool socks. No show socks. All about socks. I find socks frustrating. I hate all my socks. And I don't know where to buy them.
I wear orthopedic insoles and I love my docs(genuinely one of a few street shoes I've been comfortable in) but the high sides of my insoles mess up the leather wayy too quickly and because they don't do half sizes I don't fit any of their harder leather models. I've been looking for alternatives for a while. Might look more into these thank you for the video
Goral makes nice footwear. Somewhat pricey, but you pay for quality. Thursday I think would be the better boot for the money. Just in the terms of style and comfort and how they are built. Can't wait to see your video on the new Challenger boots from them. I already ordered a pair of them in the Stone Rambler leather from C F Stead in England. Thanks for another good video..
Had a pair of Underground steel-toed boots years ago, original soles had screws, resoled them twice, lasted six years of daily wear, great boots they were.
Wore DMs as a teen in England in the 70s. All my male friends did too. Recently bought a pair of Bruno Magli Joca boots direct from the BM website because they reminded me of DMs. On sale for $130 USD. Not Goodyear welted but seem well made, nice leather, good looking. Great boot for $130 USD.
I bought 3 pairs of boots over the past year and the Solovair soles have held up the best of any of the boots I've purchased. I went for the gaucho crazy horse browns are really love them. I have a pair of Thursday loggers in waxed cacao and the leather is much thicker but they were a genuinely tough break-in. Overall both of the boots are stellar but I have already had to resole the heels and the wear on the front part of the Thursday storm soles is very noticeable. I live in CC Philadelphia and mostly walk on concrete and asphalt and was surprised how quickly the Thursday boots soles wore down. I walk probably 6-8 miles daily and cycle my boots to keep the wear minimized but the Solovair soles just last. I bought a pair of gripfast (also solovair) for a more punk look but they are less water resistant than my Derby style boots. once these soles wear out I will probably just have the boots re-welted because of how much I like the uppers. I think I accidentally became a bit of a Solovair superfan but I think it's really neat how they were a workey Co-Op and have carried on making really nice punk footwear despite losing the Dr. Martens license
Got my SOLOVAIRs @ the British Boot Co in London (Camden) and have loved them ever since. I can't wear very thick socks with them as the midsole leather will fold under and hurt my feet. Merino wool thin hiking socks work great.
From what I remember, back in the 70’s and early 80’s Doc Martens were just cheap boots we were bought to wear for school. Also, Punks/Skinheads bought them as they were cheap, and probably wasn’t much alternative to DM back then. By the mid 80’s most of us were wearing Puma and Adidas black leather trainers. Much more comfortable for a kid playing football on the playground or the street.
I have some vintage work style Docs, short and chunky which are my favorite Doc's of all. They are thick, cozy and so sturdy. Docs make you feel really special when you wear them.
Thank you for this! I have had around 6 pairs of Martens now. Like you mentioned all of these problems. It sucks because they are expensive but I really like the look and of course wearing them everywhere and to any occasion
it's hard to find one I want to put more than $200 into. Thanks for the Thursday recommendation. Where does Redwings Blacksmith fit? I haven't paid $300 for boots (one time, rough job) Dr. Marten's are usually half price $70-$100 online. There's limited prints and 40 some colors. Insane hardware...MIGHT NOT BE HALF PRICE, you gotta get them if you love them, they disappear in days sometimes. Nappy suede, butter soft suede, crazy horse ❤oil tanned, analine vegetable tanned leather, I don't recommend black patent w/ 20 colors...leather is cheaply made on lots of the Earth 🌍 There's BEN (bouncy grip), Original (everyday), Pascal (soft), BEX (durable harder), platforms, giant platforms, &Wintergrip soles. The half size....just walk on the heel for a week or 2. It stretched perfectly for half size. Boot stretchers, lots of people swear buy them. I COMPARE DOCS TO CONVERSE....UNISEX FOOTWEAR....both are famous for being comfortable, cheap, & colorful. Hi-tops for ankle support low-tops for less laces.
I love Dr. Martin boots have severl pair in different colors. I have some for work some for church some for casual. Also have Red Wings Tony Lamas and Justin boots.
I have a pair of brown Gaucho Crazy 8 Hole Solovair's. I bought on a trip to London at the British Boot Company in Camden Town. They're far more comfortable than the pair of black Chinese Docs I own. Huge difference in a 10 hour work day on my feet. I'm probably going to buy a black pair to replace my Docs next time I'm able to get to London. I like the idea of wearing a keepsake rather than just shipping them here (I live in the US).
I think doc martens changed a lot when they started trying to be fashionable. Also, when they changed manufacturing. I have some doc martens that are 40ish years old. I was given them by a friend who had barely worn them. I've had a couple of minor repairs made to them. I wear them every winter. They are extremely comfortable and have held up very well. They get basic care. For free shoes, I've barely spent anything on upkeep.
I loved my Doc Marttens in the 90s but i stopped wearing them around the 2000s. The Quality went really down during that time and i switched to old Army Boots. Much better qualiy for a bargain. Sadly full leather Boots are out of fashion in most armies so it became difficult to find some good surplus. My Tip for everyone who loves full grain high boots is the norwegian M70. I have 3 pairs and they are awesome after you walked them in. I brougt one pair to a cobbler to shorten them and it worked pretty well.
I have Solovair but you should also consider another British brand called Loake. They also resole their boots, many are made in the UK and have a few styles that look like Docs. They are definitely a step up in quality.
I got really lucky getting a vintage pair of 1460s with the monochromatic black stitching and tab, second hand. I can’t wear them year round due to how cold and deep the snow gets here, but if it was an option I absolutely would!
Replaced my much loved martens with Fly (emergency economy replacement). Amazing buy. Very comfy. Great leather and beautifully made, even down to the pics of flies printed inside 😂. Also do 1/2 sizes. Recommend if you're looking to save cash and want something well made and durable!!
I bought the cherry thursday stompers w/ the side zipper last year and they’re pretty great compared to a dm. Squeaky as hell tho. Gonna try some solovairs next.
I have no idea why this video popped up in my feed cause I’ve never had a problem with my docs. I’ve worn them almost every day for about 7-8 years, and they are still the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. No cracking in the leather or soles, soles haven’t worn down, as great as the day I bought them. Before I got them I always heard that they were a pain to wear in, but I never had a problem with that either.
I have a pair of London bought Solovair greasys that have the yellow stitching. The merchant just said they can't sell them in the US with that stitching bc of Doc Marten's trademark. So if you want the Doc look, but want Solovairs, you're gonna have to travel for it.
I bought a pair of White's black moc toes and took a page from Wyatt and Dad and blacked out the stitching on the boot black and tried to use yellow dye on the sole stitching but it didn't take...wanted to make my own "Moc Dartens". When these need a resole I'll try to find a cobbler that can do them with yellow stitching. Wanted to go with either Solovair (for a true Doc Marten replacement) or Goral (I do like that side bumper and CMX leather but no half sizes) but not working right now so the boot quest is on standby. Besides I already have Stompers in side zip (makes doffing/donning much easier) but will check out the Hero.
I still have pair of DMs my parner bought for me in 1998. Made in England and very well made with high grade leather. I have walked 1000s of miles in these boots and only now are the soles wearing thin. The leather has cracked in places but has not split thru. These were built to a standard. Today they are built down to a price.
I have a pair of suede, lace up Thursdays that i got maybe four years ago, and i have to say i was sorely disappointed to find that the outsoles didn’t even last one year before they started separating. I got them resoled and they’ve been great boots ever since. So….I don’t know. Maybe their boots are better now?
I used to live in the village in Northamptonshire where they are made, it was almost the standard issue school boot for like £14 (if you knew someone who worked there), also solovair do a really nice oxblood version
Ok. I've actually never heard of Thursdays before. Looks interesting. Out of my budget for right now.... (unemployed, it happens) but the features look nice and the price isn't bad for a decent pair of boots.
As a guy living in Finland in an area where winters are long and cold I can't agree with any of the "suck" arguments. I bought mine about 7 years ago, wore them as my primary shoes for a couple of years around the year moving them to be my secondary shoes for a couple of years after that around the year and now using them when I feel like it, around the year, I can't find any of the flaws from them pointed out in the video. The leather is in good shape, there are not even cracks on the soles and the only issue which I had was that I had to replace the shoelaces after two years of active use. There are things like shoe polish to help to keep the leather in shape, which I frequently use. So if yours break and crack then maybe it's a user related and negligence based issue. The "oil grip" was very grippy even on ice covered with powder snow for the first two years and they still are safe to use in above -10 celsius. Below that the air pockets turn stiff due freezing and then they are not the best on snow and ice covered roads. They are also the only shoes which I can use without insoles and they are incredibly solid while they are also soft to walk. Oh boy...
Ive been wearing Dr Nartens fir 40 years. I wore akternate Doc Narten lines tgat Solovair produced for them back i. The mid/ late 80s. I boyght the Sokovair Oxblood 6 eye astronaut boot and it us one if the very best boots that can be purchased. The quality is incredible ,the fit us much better than DMs and the silhouette just acreams that Spirut of 69 early Skinhead fashion aesthetic . I highly recommend the Solivair 6 hokes. Sharp looking and quality through and through
My experience has been good with DMs, but... The weather in my city is very friendly to make shoes last, unless they're very low quality, a pair of shoes (any type of shoes) can last for several years. However, as comfortable as my DMs are and as much support they give my ankles, I hate the "breaking them" part, they are SOOOO uncomfortable before they are wearable and I don't like that, I want a boot I can wear ALL DAY as soon as I leave the store, not one I have to "break" before I can wear them for more than one hour. Here in Mexico there's a brand that's been getting notoriety for their price (some models cost a 3rd of the DMs price), with amazing quality because of their artisans and materials, they have so many designs and models, they don't need "breaking", and since they stopped restocking DMs to Mexican stores, they became an amazing alternative. The brand is Offlander, I do recommend them, specially if you live in Mexico (or any country in their shipping list) and you like the DM's look, check them out.
So much talk about relative cost that I thought you were going to go into _the Sam Vimes "Boots" theory of socioeconomic unfairness_ ! I love my Solovair! I switched to them nearly a decade ago and have never looked back.
I have a pair of red/oxblood Solovairs from before they had to ditch the yellow stitching. Looks prima. And those boots must be what, 13-14 years now and still hold up. To be fair i rotate between pairs but still.
I'm from León, Guanajuato, Mexico. As a long-time Dr. Martens owner, I recently discovered Capa de Ozono, a Mexican brand offering boots similar to the 1460 Dr. Martens. I was impressed by their competitive pricing and exceptional quality. # Informal "Hi, I'm from León, Guanajuato, Mexico. I've had Dr. Martens for ages, but I just tried Capa de Ozono, a Mexican brand with boots similar to the 1460. Their prices and quality blew me away!" # Spanish Translation "Soy de León, Guanajuato, México. Como dueño de Dr. Martens desde hace tiempo, descubrí Capa de Ozono, una marca mexicana que ofrece botas similares a las 1460 de Dr. Martens. Me impresionó su precio competitivo y calidad excepcional."
My Thursdays were terrible. I have the StormKing sole and the heel is too tall, making it so you feel as if you are leaning forward all the time, and after a little while toe pain. Some of the least comfortable boots I've ever worn and I worked construction/outside jobs in similar type boots for years.
I personally don’t use leather for ethical reasons but I got the Airseal Boulder Boot from Vegetarian Shoes about a year ago now, they use the same sole as the Solovairs and also look a lot like the original DM’s, and I absolutely love them! They still look pretty much brand new even though I’ve wear them basically every day, and I work as a mechanic.
When I was about 10yrs old I noticed it was always a particular type of person wearing these type of boots. My innocent observation of them was that they looked unhappy with an air of distain about them. I promised myself I would never wear those boots because I don’t wanna end up being one of those people. Probably about 18 by the time I figured out who the boot people were. Glad I listened to my gut for all those years. It’s surprising how much you can read about a situation by what people decide to wear.
The best boots I ever had was the Graninge . A swedish brand. ( Nowodays made in Portugal). I had them for 7 years! Almost every day use and not only in city but also heavy duty on a farm and walked a lot in them. Did not even had to resole them. Nowodays they are around 200 us dollars . Yes maybe not as cool looking but more confortable than docs. (And yes I have had docs also) .
The issue I always have with docs is the fact that the instep and toe are almost always low, and they don’t have ee/eee widths. I have wide feet and wear orthotics, so there’s no way docs ever fit. So I’m still looking for doc-like style but a less cramped fit. I generally wear us made (corcoran or similar) all leather combat boots, but those are very limited in style.
A few years back I got plain toe Wolverine 1000 Mile boots with a lugged vibram sole. For the higher price point boot, I think it is closer aesthetically to the docs.
The problem with all these boots is almost none of them come in a wide enough boot. I'll try the Thursday though since they do sell them in a wide at least.
Just for info, I have a pair of Solovairs made with Horween CXL and they certainly used some higher quality leathers than the DM copies a few years ago.
I still have my well loved Solovairs from 2014. They're still in great condition even if I wore them almost every day for 5 years (I still wear them but only on special ocassions).
I managed to wear a hole through the sole of two separate pairs of doc’s within a year each. So they’re not really cheaper at that point. Vs my redwings that yeah, I had to get on ebay to afford them, but I’ve had them for 5 years with almost no signs of wear on the sole at all. I did end up with a pair of docs chelsea boots from the thrift because they make them so wide in the toe box they’re basically slippers- so if they’re slipper priced I’m ok with it 🙂
I’ve been looking for a good quality boot that doesn’t have the yellow stitching of docs - I want a boot that’s going to be more versatile, and just about fitting into dress codes is a lot easier when you have a plain black boot than one with bright yellow on it
Even as a Brit, I’d opt for the Thursdays every time. Easily resoled anywhere and longer lasting is an easy choice. I see that you’re edging closer to 100k subscribers. Anything planned for such a milestone?
I'm getting there so damn slowly I wouldn't know when to schedule it but I guess I could do a Q&A? How do people do that I just do a 'tell me your questions' post in the YT community tab and on instagram and read them out, right
i replaced my need for a kickass boot with a matte black timbaland. very cool and sexy looking and i've had them since 2017. only let down is the laces
I’m new to boots. I have on pair of Thursdays that I’ve had for a couple years. How often do people actually resole their boots? I know there are a lot of factors, but I have lots of other shoes and don’t wear these in the summer.
Thank you for saying $50 is a lot of money for some. I get upset when people say just spend more.
being poor is expensive, still you should save to spend more on the things you typically wouldn't/couldn't, shopping for fresh food rather than fast etc.., either way good luck man, get those solovairs, dont settle fore mediocrity, its not predestined you can shape what you are
@@ladder85if you’re in the uk and have a car I’d recommend going to the solovair factory outlet, I got mine literally half price cause they’d been worn once
Any decent all black combat boots are usually new
The Captain Samuel Vimes’ “boot” theory of socio-economic fairness has become how I break this down (Thanks to Terry Pratchett). $50 is absolutely a lot of money for some- I got Docs when I needed something with more coverage while in art school and was only able to do that by getting a “big kids’” size.
I'm glad you appreciated that! I cut out a LOT from this video (I can talk for an hour straight about anything boot related) but I really wanted to emphasize the money thing because a lot of boot guys don't think to address it
I wonder if anyone saw you with boots on ur hands walking down the street like that ?
😂
He's just New Boot Goofin! 😄
Walmart has combat boots for women they are selling that look a lot like Doc Martens. Noticed them as I was walking down the aisle past the shoe section.
I first saw Dr Martens in London when I was 16 years old. I really wanted to buy some! I didn't have any money. Credit cards weren't heard of. The boots I saw cost 7 pounds and 15 shillings! I only earned 4 pounds 10 shillings per week--before deductions! Happy days in 1968.
Shillings?
Pirate money?
@@Apoc_Bone_Daddy There were twenty shillings to a pound pre decimilisation and twelve pennies to a shilling.
All I know is Pirates of the Caribbean Shillings is money LMAO
That's the absolute extent of my knowledge
Sorry
@@tomconnor7786
I'm 16 now and in the same situation as you were in back then. Funny to think about how timeless certain things are
@@benjeiy7347 Ha ha! -and now I'd never want Dr Martins!
I switched to Solovair years ago. I love them. The older ones have yellow and black stitching with blue labels. I’m lucky I still have some vintage Dr Martens - the ones with nipples at the rear of the shoe. 15 years ago, I had to buy a pair of made in China Docs. They are really good. Go figure.
The made in vietnam DMs since at least 2012 aren't that good. Had 3 pairs of that. Nevermore. No quality like 80-90s for real.
I have just bought a pair of 1461s that are made in Bangladesh.
Solovair made the original DMs.
@@maureenlancaster1694 Exactly, then Dr. Martens closed the contract, and Solovair produced them on their own label...Solovair.
Most of the vintage docs were made in the solovair factory next door.
I agree about comparing boots in a similar price zone is the right way to do it because then you can compare "value". I have 2 pairs of Trickers boots (gorgeous but not in this price bracket so unfair to compare). For everyday wear I choose from two Solovair boots (albeit a dealer and brogue). Made in England (I'm English) is very important. I've had DMs 1460s (and still own a couple of shoes) but the Solovairs are just all round "better" for less money than made in England DMs - , half sizes, better construction, resoleable according to the manufacturer and the brand is a talking point
It should be noted that MOST Doc Martens were made by R Griggs (The UK brand holder) themselves in a factory which employed a couple of thousand people at its peak.
Solovair are a tiny company by comparison with around 80 employees I believe. So Solovair used to make a fairly small number of Doc Martens for R Griggs under contract and certainly were not the main manufacturer.
My guess is that they made some of the more speciality versions that didn't fit into the regular production lines as, despite some internet myths, Doc Martens main lines were always made of cheap leather or plastic coated leather. You only need to see punks were wearing back in the day. They were always a cheap, utilitarian boot.
Thank you
utilitarian is quite a stretch. not uncommon for a doc to fall apart after a few months.
I had my first pair of DM boots around 1981, they coast around £12. The last pair I had was around 1996 costing £36. And they're now how much!??
@@4thinternational283 About 170 quid on the UK site. Online inflation calculators say £12 in 1981 = £57 today, and £36 in 1996 = £84 today.
My Docs cracked and gave me blisters in just a year of wear when I got them about 10 years ago now, they were oversized because of the lack of half sizes, and the treads essentially completely wore out.
@@4thinternational283 Based on average wages (which is complicated due to different rates of pay for men and women and for different age groups, overtime and bonuses etc.) I'd estimate that those boots that cost you £12 in 1981 would be the equivalent of £70 to £75 now. Those boots that cost you £36 in 1996 would be in the £90 to £95 range now.
I've obviously no idea if those were sales bargains (1981 in particular was a pretty bad year for the economy) but going to the Doc Marten site and the outlet page, you can certainly get some models for around £70 though the more popular styles are much more expensive. It's possible that the non sale prices will fall substantially in the January sales (there's no "Black Friday" sale) or in the summer when boot sales decline significantly and you can get good bargains from many brands in my experience.
I don’t mind boots made in México. My parents are from there and Mexico has a boot culture similar to the United States
It doesn't matter where they are made. Any country, can make anything, and at different levels of quality. People tend to scoff at items made in China. Yet, some of the best quality consumer goods are from China.
I've a pair of genuine, made in mexico boots. They do have excellent quality, for real.
I would kill for some authentic Mexican cowboy boots made from genuine cow hide.
@@kevinrox666 I have a pair of original, made in mexican boots - but now cowboy style, instead, looking more like Docs.
My❤@@kevinrox666
I love my Solovairs. I’ve had them for about 5 years now, and wear them fairly regularly. Also, if for some reason you want the yellow stitching you can use wax pencils, aka China Markers, to color the stitches or to brighten up the stitches on your Docs.
Hello, I live and am from the UK. I am 50, I wore Docs years ago, as they were affordable and TBH, part of the scene being grunge. This video is good, if you have MONEY, if not that king of money, check out Grinders, now these are more industrial, but they are a good boot. PS i am not sponsored by the company
Grinders kinda went the way of Docs and moved manufacturing to China. From everything I've read, the quality nose dived they even abandoned the custom soles, I had a pair of those but the soles ripped off.
I was hoping he was going to cover grinder boots as I like the look
Gripfast?
Avoid any high-shine footwear. Another name for it is book binder leather. The poor quality leather is covered in a lacquery plastic (a polyurethane/acrylic solution) that will crack and peel over time. It's like patent leather, and once these flaws appear they can't be remedied with shoe polish.
Not true universally, Hi-Shine leather can be created by the spazzolato technique, requiring no application of a synthetic coating because the process significantly increases impermeability as well as resistance to scratching.
Prada sells women's loafers for well over $1,000 made from leather treated this way. They need almost no care, the leather is beautifully shiny and very resilient.
I have an odd (and OLD) pair of England-made Docs that have translucent green soles with a deep tread design, leather insole material and an external toecap that just are so much better quality than any of the other Docs that I ever had. Still going strong! Also enjoy my John Fluevogs with the Angelic soles (resoleable), but all I have is loafers from them (multiple pairs, though - in crazy colors!). My recent purchases have been from Jim Green - African Rangers and then a pair of Houston Green Barefoot models - really love them.
Love my Derby Swirls!
The leather you mentioned as crappy isn’t the only leather in DM’s catalogue tho. True, the ones mentioned that are prone to cracking are from their 1460 smooth line, because they are very corrected forms of leather. But they also have crazy horse, greasy and waxed full grain leathers that are very sturdy, supple, does not crack and definitely would stand the test of time, with the minimum amount of care. Still not heavy duty work boots, but for $170(and sometimes lower when on sale), and used as an everyday casual boot, and in rotation with other boots and shoes like most people, I’d say you’re getting your money’s worth.
i have the nappa 1460 and it doesnt have that plastic finish. Maybe its a better option than the smooth leather ones.
Came here to say this. Yes the smooth black is most popular, but it’s literally the worst leather they offer.
@@josephc4119 yeah, i was hesitating between the made in england 1460 or the nappa and i choose the nappa. Heard the made in england 1460s have problems with the coating.
Been wearing Docs since early 80s’, and I believe this guy is just a TAD bit jealous or at the least, envious of Doc Martens! lol!
…in reference to the guy in this video, that is…
they stopped making the steel toe docs. I've beeen wearing them to work for years. I needed this video!
If you like the black on black you might look into a pair of thorogood midnight series boots, if you don't mind the moc toe look.
From 1977, until 1985, I was a UK Skinhead, (Listen to Ska, Reggae, rocksteady etc) I wore the Steel toe capped Highlanders (Black) or Southerners (Brown/tan) Im still a Skinhead and Doc Martin don't make them anymore as you mentioned. But, Solovair do, I currently own the Solovair Highlanders (Black) and will the buying the Southerners (Brown/Tan) steel toe caps boots. plus they do half sizes, and are more comfortable and cheaper (£199) than my Made in England DM boots (£219).
I had a pair of Doc Marten high heeled boots that I got about 10 years ago. I hadn’t worn them for a while, and I pulled them out to wear and the rubber on the sole had turned to goo! It was as if they were melting, and they weren’t kept near anything hot.
Same. Got my hardly worn wedge heel boots out the box in the wardrobe, where they had been for years, and the soles had perished.
To be fair: This happens with any rubber sole - the softer the faster. That’s why I believe it is nonsense to collect sneakers 😅.
6:04 looks like my sleep paralysis demon
Hahahah that’s what I said when I was filming it! I think I referenced either the exorcist stair walker or that faceless nightmare guy on Louie
😂😂😂😂
Makes me think of the Ghost Devil from CSM
I own both Solovairs and Docs. Love both. Got the solovairs in 2021, breaking them in took a lot less time than I remember from the Docs. They are allaround lovely, my only gripe is that they are much skinnier than Docs and don't have a removable in-sole.
I gotta say tho, I bought my Docs, classic black 1460s, in 2014 - and they are still holding up beautifully!! Got some scratches and worn down soles and they recently started to develop some wrinkling, but overall I am amazed at how well the held up. Been wearing them a lot, gone to a quite a few different countries, often went hiking and to festivals in them.
My girlfriend wanted a pair of DMs, she was going to get them in Camden for £125, I took her to Blackman's and got the same boots for £45.
That British boot shop in Camden is the biggest scam to rip off gullible tourists. They mainly sell grinders and solovair. For the full RRP + around 40% on top. Their shop is also filled with china made grinders , despite them claiming everything they sell is UK made.
Blackmans for boots and banter 😂⚒️
Just found you and I’m enjoying your content. About 20 years ago I tried on the guaranteed for life Docs, which I don’t think they sell anymore. Since they don’t make half sizes none fit me well enough to justify buying them. I just purchased Thursday Captains and I’m blown away by the price/quality ratio. When looking for boots I didn’t even bother to look at Docs-they have the size problem and it’s now extremely well documented that the quality is very poor, or at best hit or miss.
My experience of Doc Martins is great. I bought a pair as a student in the 90’s. I am now 53 and still own the same pair. They are a gardening boot but no cracked soles, split leather or anything. Yes, they are stiff and old and look worn but still do the job and in working order.
Unfortunately, Doc Martin quality is not the same as it was in the 90's
Shoutout to Sanders from the UK. Bought their Kelso boot while on a visit to London. Probably better build than the ones mentioned in this video, similar look to the 1460 albeit more refined. The black has been on sale for around £200 or so for some time.
that's so funny i had never heard of Sander's until yesterday and now here you are in the comments telling me about them. I might be visiting their factory next month, I'll tell them you sent me Edgar
I recently purchased some Sidewinder Leather boots for work. Quite happy with them. Very comfortable.
I had a pair of Docs nearly 30 years ago, I pretty much lived in them as my primary footwear for the best part of 4 years they were brilliant they survived motorbike usage (a few tumbles), the moshpit every weekend, college, work, out and about in all weather they were simply fantastic, i stopped wearing them mostly due to my career (They didn't quite go with the business casual aesthetic nor were they great boots to do the work day drive). Got a new pair of 1460s about a year ago. Can't say the quality is on the same level as they used to be, as they started to show wear and tear after about 8 months of 2 - 3 times a week of light usage for a few hours. They simply wouldn't survive the life style I lived at 17/18
Also, love the natural leather color the Goral's have under the surface, reminds me of old combat boots
I think I am going to dive in on a pair of Solovair's. I had a pair of DM's but the oxford style shoes 'Made in england". They would rub the back of my heel so badly I had to get rid of them. I love the glossy look of the boots though. They look like combat boots to me.
I bought a pair of Doc Martins years ago and it felt like i was wearing flimsy, floppy trash-bags on my feet. Absolutely zero arch support and the thinnest leather Ive ever experienced.
New Rocks need a shout-out here. Instantly comfortable and wear well.
I agree on the comfy but not the wearing well; I've had two pairs and both completely wore out (big holes in the soles, straps falling off etc) after about a year of wear.
@saphirefoxirl that's a shame. I've a pair I've had since I was 18. I'm 37 now. I've a pair of the military platform ones on the go a year now and I've worn them to festivals and all. Sorry that happened
One of the reasons why I exclusively wore Doc Martens for around ten years (yes, year round, with wool socks over cotton socks, it was great) was that a pair lasted me two years (I weighed next to nothing, that's why) and once a pair started falling apart, I could just buy a new one in five seconds and never ever think about shoes, look for shoes, try on shoes, decide for shoes, it was so sweet and nice. I switched to a more durable brand uh... around flve years ago, boots for cold weather, sandals for warm weather, and those are still doing well (granted, I rarely leave the House, so....)
Ooh I'm very interested in this topic! Docs are cute but I have permanent scars on my heels/ankles from them. On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE my Fryes (Veronica lace up combat). They have a different look (the docs are more trendy, while the fryes look more old-timey), but boy are they comfy. Even though they don't have cushioning in the sole, I can wear them to work and walk all day without any discomfort. I still would like a boot with more platform just for the style, but just about every boot out there is excessively stiff (which is how I got the heel scarring) and has a stupidly narrow toe box 😭
The best alternatives are actually vintage german army boots (readily availible for unter 100 Euros) and Austrian Bundesheer Feldstiefel leicht (arround 100-150 Euros).
Much better construction and leather (german: 2,8-3mm leather, norwegian stitch, leather insole) then these alternatives or at least much cheaper if you live in Europe.
is the norwegian stitch better than the goodyear welt? Also i just got the austrian fieldboot brand new and i was wondering. Do you need to condition the leather insole?
@@gezujapan1473 «Norwegian welt» is just a variant of Goodyear welt, I believe. It looks like Doc Martens, actually: It’s when you have a Goodyear welt, but then also stitch the (extra large) welt «sideways» into the upper. It’s called a «storm welt» if you just have the extra large welt, without the stitches.
It’s a bit more weather proof. Heschung makes a lot of shoes with Norwegian welts.
@@GrevMarkussen Thanks for the detailed reply.
@@gezujapan1473 Google has some easy to understand pictures of the construction vs goodyear welt.
Correct, more waterproof and looks cool.
@@gezujapan1473 Conditioning the insole is adviseable for vintage shoes or shoes after a lot of wear, but not heavily to not losen the gemming. A little bit of e.g. leather oil on a sponge and wipe the whole insole. Again, do not overdo it. A quick rinse beforehand with diluted vinegar will take care of many salts etc from sweat.
I’ve just bought a pair of Solovair. They’re still in the box so no comment on how they’ll wear. I have, of course, tried them on & they feel great though. I used to wear the DM steel toe capped work boot, but apart from them being hard to find now, the leather always cracks on the same place, just below the lace holes on the inside. In Belfast we have a place that re-soles them for £25. They use genuine soles & I’ve had it done a couple of times. For those local enough to use it, it’s the Fountain Heel Bar in Fountain Street.
Update… worn for a full day and little discomfort to report. So far, so good!
this video came out on the perfect time! planning to buy new boots for the winter
Good video. Tip for everyone wearing leather shoes: take care of them. Clean them carefully if they get dirty, rinse with water if they get salt over them (winter thing in certain places), remember to use small amount of some grease regularly to protect the leather from drying and polish them to protect the surface - also makes them look better. Occasionally it's a good idea to remove the excess wax. If you don't take care of your shoes the leather will crack and your boots are ruined. You can ask your cobbler for instructions and tools for this. Don't use anything that has silicone, if a cobbler suggests products like that run away.
Can you do a video about the best socks and your sock collection? What are the best brands to buy socks. Nordic socks. Work socks. Plain socks. Cotton socks. Wool socks. No show socks. All about socks. I find socks frustrating. I hate all my socks. And I don't know where to buy them.
I love my solovairs- I got the gripfast steel toes a few years ago and they are incredible
I wear orthopedic insoles and I love my docs(genuinely one of a few street shoes I've been comfortable in) but the high sides of my insoles mess up the leather wayy too quickly and because they don't do half sizes I don't fit any of their harder leather models. I've been looking for alternatives for a while. Might look more into these thank you for the video
Goral makes nice footwear. Somewhat pricey, but you pay for quality. Thursday I think would be the better boot for the money. Just in the terms of style and comfort and how they are built. Can't wait to see your video on the new Challenger boots from them. I already ordered a pair of them in the Stone Rambler leather from C F Stead in England. Thanks for another good video..
Had a pair of Underground steel-toed boots years ago, original soles had screws, resoled them twice, lasted six years of daily wear, great boots they were.
Wore DMs as a teen in England in the 70s. All my male friends did too. Recently bought a pair of Bruno Magli Joca boots direct from the BM website because they reminded me of DMs. On sale for $130 USD. Not Goodyear welted but seem well made, nice leather, good looking. Great boot for $130 USD.
I bought 3 pairs of boots over the past year and the Solovair soles have held up the best of any of the boots I've purchased. I went for the gaucho crazy horse browns are really love them. I have a pair of Thursday loggers in waxed cacao and the leather is much thicker but they were a genuinely tough break-in. Overall both of the boots are stellar but I have already had to resole the heels and the wear on the front part of the Thursday storm soles is very noticeable. I live in CC Philadelphia and mostly walk on concrete and asphalt and was surprised how quickly the Thursday boots soles wore down.
I walk probably 6-8 miles daily and cycle my boots to keep the wear minimized but the Solovair soles just last. I bought a pair of gripfast (also solovair) for a more punk look but they are less water resistant than my Derby style boots. once these soles wear out I will probably just have the boots re-welted because of how much I like the uppers. I think I accidentally became a bit of a Solovair superfan but I think it's really neat how they were a workey Co-Op and have carried on making really nice punk footwear despite losing the Dr. Martens license
Got my SOLOVAIRs @ the British Boot Co in London (Camden) and have loved them ever since. I can't wear very thick socks with them as the midsole leather will fold under and hurt my feet. Merino wool thin hiking socks work great.
From what I remember, back in the 70’s and early 80’s Doc Martens were just cheap boots we were bought to wear for school. Also, Punks/Skinheads bought them as they were cheap, and probably wasn’t much alternative to DM back then. By the mid 80’s most of us were wearing Puma and Adidas black leather trainers. Much more comfortable for a kid playing football on the playground or the street.
I have some vintage work style Docs, short and chunky which are my favorite Doc's of all. They are thick, cozy and so sturdy. Docs make you feel really special when you wear them.
Thank you for this! I have had around 6 pairs of Martens now. Like you mentioned all of these problems. It sucks because they are expensive but I really like the look and of course wearing them everywhere and to any occasion
Only one reason to wear Dr. Martens. The AirSole. Every step feels good.
I’m glad I made sure to call out that it is indeed a very nice soft cushy experience
it's hard to find one I want to put more than $200 into.
Thanks for the Thursday recommendation. Where does Redwings Blacksmith fit? I haven't paid $300 for boots (one time, rough job)
Dr. Marten's are usually half price $70-$100 online.
There's limited prints and 40 some colors. Insane hardware...MIGHT NOT BE HALF PRICE, you gotta get them if you love them, they disappear in days sometimes.
Nappy suede, butter soft suede, crazy horse ❤oil tanned, analine vegetable tanned leather, I don't recommend black patent w/ 20 colors...leather is cheaply made on lots of the Earth 🌍
There's BEN (bouncy grip), Original (everyday), Pascal (soft), BEX (durable harder), platforms, giant platforms, &Wintergrip soles.
The half size....just walk on the heel for a week or 2. It stretched perfectly for half size. Boot stretchers, lots of people swear buy them.
I COMPARE DOCS TO CONVERSE....UNISEX FOOTWEAR....both are famous for being comfortable, cheap, & colorful.
Hi-tops for ankle support low-tops for less laces.
It's so awful without a shank or rigidity. I donated them to the thrift immediately.
It’s so funny how different peoples opinions can be, I should do a video about this comment thread
@@Stridewise Opinions Vary. We are a polarized community.
my 1460s cracked exactly where your photo did. Thanks for this vid!
Rocking my Solovairs right now!
Wish you could've mentioned something like MIE Grinders or other alternatives with steel toes, boots like these ought to have em
I love Dr. Martin boots have severl pair in different colors. I have some for work some for church some for casual. Also have Red Wings Tony Lamas and Justin boots.
I have a pair of brown Gaucho Crazy 8 Hole Solovair's. I bought on a trip to London at the British Boot Company in Camden Town. They're far more comfortable than the pair of black Chinese Docs I own. Huge difference in a 10 hour work day on my feet. I'm probably going to buy a black pair to replace my Docs next time I'm able to get to London. I like the idea of wearing a keepsake rather than just shipping them here (I live in the US).
I think doc martens changed a lot when they started trying to be fashionable. Also, when they changed manufacturing.
I have some doc martens that are 40ish years old. I was given them by a friend who had barely worn them. I've had a couple of minor repairs made to them. I wear them every winter. They are extremely comfortable and have held up very well. They get basic care. For free shoes, I've barely spent anything on upkeep.
I loved my Doc Marttens in the 90s but i stopped wearing them around the 2000s. The Quality went really down during that time and i switched to old Army Boots. Much better qualiy for a bargain. Sadly full leather Boots are out of fashion in most armies so it became difficult to find some good surplus.
My Tip for everyone who loves full grain high boots is the norwegian M70. I have 3 pairs and they are awesome after you walked them in. I brougt one pair to a cobbler to shorten them and it worked pretty well.
I have Solovair but you should also consider another British brand called Loake. They also resole their boots, many are made in the UK and have a few styles that look like Docs. They are definitely a step up in quality.
I got really lucky getting a vintage pair of 1460s with the monochromatic black stitching and tab, second hand. I can’t wear them year round due to how cold and deep the snow gets here, but if it was an option I absolutely would!
Replaced my much loved martens with Fly (emergency economy replacement). Amazing buy. Very comfy. Great leather and beautifully made, even down to the pics of flies printed inside 😂. Also do 1/2 sizes. Recommend if you're looking to save cash and want something well made and durable!!
I just have a thing for toe caps, the steel toe version of the Solovair boot looks amazing.
wtf, in Europe, 1460 made in China drMartens cost 200eur ....thats cca 225 usd
Made in Thailand actually
I don’t know the quality now but 20 years ago the UK and in general alternative Doc boot was Grinders.
So genuinely glad you're staying in a similar price point!!
I bought the cherry thursday stompers w/ the side zipper last year and they’re pretty great compared to a dm. Squeaky as hell tho. Gonna try some solovairs next.
I have no idea why this video popped up in my feed cause I’ve never had a problem with my docs. I’ve worn them almost every day for about 7-8 years, and they are still the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. No cracking in the leather or soles, soles haven’t worn down, as great as the day I bought them. Before I got them I always heard that they were a pain to wear in, but I never had a problem with that either.
I have a pair of London bought Solovair greasys that have the yellow stitching. The merchant just said they can't sell them in the US with that stitching bc of Doc Marten's trademark. So if you want the Doc look, but want Solovairs, you're gonna have to travel for it.
I bought a pair of White's black moc toes and took a page from Wyatt and Dad and blacked out the stitching on the boot black and tried to use yellow dye on the sole stitching but it didn't take...wanted to make my own "Moc Dartens". When these need a resole I'll try to find a cobbler that can do them with yellow stitching.
Wanted to go with either Solovair (for a true Doc Marten replacement) or Goral (I do like that side bumper and CMX leather but no half sizes) but not working right now so the boot quest is on standby. Besides I already have Stompers in side zip (makes doffing/donning much easier) but will check out the Hero.
I still have pair of DMs my parner bought for me in 1998. Made in England and very well made with high grade leather. I have walked 1000s of miles in these boots and only now are the soles wearing thin. The leather has cracked in places but has not split thru. These were built to a standard. Today they are built down to a price.
I have a pair of suede, lace up Thursdays that i got maybe four years ago, and i have to say i was sorely disappointed to find that the outsoles didn’t even last one year before they started separating. I got them resoled and they’ve been great boots ever since. So….I don’t know. Maybe their boots are better now?
I used to live in the village in Northamptonshire where they are made, it was almost the standard issue school boot for like £14 (if you knew someone who worked there), also solovair do a really nice oxblood version
Ok. I've actually never heard of Thursdays before. Looks interesting. Out of my budget for right now.... (unemployed, it happens) but the features look nice and the price isn't bad for a decent pair of boots.
As a guy living in Finland in an area where winters are long and cold I can't agree with any of the "suck" arguments. I bought mine about 7 years ago, wore them as my primary shoes for a couple of years around the year moving them to be my secondary shoes for a couple of years after that around the year and now using them when I feel like it, around the year, I can't find any of the flaws from them pointed out in the video. The leather is in good shape, there are not even cracks on the soles and the only issue which I had was that I had to replace the shoelaces after two years of active use. There are things like shoe polish to help to keep the leather in shape, which I frequently use. So if yours break and crack then maybe it's a user related and negligence based issue.
The "oil grip" was very grippy even on ice covered with powder snow for the first two years and they still are safe to use in above -10 celsius. Below that the air pockets turn stiff due freezing and then they are not the best on snow and ice covered roads.
They are also the only shoes which I can use without insoles and they are incredibly solid while they are also soft to walk.
Oh boy...
Could you please do this for the doc marten chelsea boots
Ive been wearing Dr Nartens fir 40 years. I wore akternate Doc Narten lines tgat Solovair produced for them back i. The mid/ late 80s. I boyght the Sokovair Oxblood 6 eye astronaut boot and it us one if the very best boots that can be purchased. The quality is incredible ,the fit us much better than DMs and the silhouette just acreams that Spirut of 69 early Skinhead fashion aesthetic . I highly recommend the Solivair 6 hokes. Sharp looking and quality through and through
My experience has been good with DMs, but... The weather in my city is very friendly to make shoes last, unless they're very low quality, a pair of shoes (any type of shoes) can last for several years. However, as comfortable as my DMs are and as much support they give my ankles, I hate the "breaking them" part, they are SOOOO uncomfortable before they are wearable and I don't like that, I want a boot I can wear ALL DAY as soon as I leave the store, not one I have to "break" before I can wear them for more than one hour.
Here in Mexico there's a brand that's been getting notoriety for their price (some models cost a 3rd of the DMs price), with amazing quality because of their artisans and materials, they have so many designs and models, they don't need "breaking", and since they stopped restocking DMs to Mexican stores, they became an amazing alternative. The brand is Offlander, I do recommend them, specially if you live in Mexico (or any country in their shipping list) and you like the DM's look, check them out.
I’ve been wearing a pair of DM Tobias boots for the last 5 years and other than a worn down tread they are perfect.
Hi Nick! Any chance you can do a review of the new Red Wing Beckmans? That would be awesome
So much talk about relative cost that I thought you were going to go into _the Sam Vimes "Boots" theory of socioeconomic unfairness_ !
I love my Solovair! I switched to them nearly a decade ago and have never looked back.
I have a pair of red/oxblood Solovairs from before they had to ditch the yellow stitching. Looks prima. And those boots must be what, 13-14 years now and still hold up. To be fair i rotate between pairs but still.
Loake make a similar boot called the Niro with a heat sealed PVC sole which is probably closer to DMs than the Thursday boot.
I'm from León, Guanajuato, Mexico. As a long-time Dr. Martens owner, I recently discovered Capa de Ozono, a Mexican brand offering boots similar to the 1460 Dr. Martens. I was impressed by their competitive pricing and exceptional quality.
# Informal
"Hi, I'm from León, Guanajuato, Mexico. I've had Dr. Martens for ages, but I just tried Capa de Ozono, a Mexican brand with boots similar to the 1460. Their prices and quality blew me away!"
# Spanish Translation
"Soy de León, Guanajuato, México. Como dueño de Dr. Martens desde hace tiempo, descubrí Capa de Ozono, una marca mexicana que ofrece botas similares a las 1460 de Dr. Martens. Me impresionó su precio competitivo y calidad excepcional."
I have a pair of waxy Leather Doc Martens, had them for 13 years and still in excellent condition
My Thursdays were terrible. I have the StormKing sole and the heel is too tall, making it so you feel as if you are leaning forward all the time, and after a little while toe pain. Some of the least comfortable boots I've ever worn and I worked construction/outside jobs in similar type boots for years.
I got a pair of Thursdays, I love em.
Excellent presentation 👏👏👏👏👏👍🏼
I personally don’t use leather for ethical reasons but I got the Airseal Boulder Boot from Vegetarian Shoes about a year ago now, they use the same sole as the Solovairs and also look a lot like the original DM’s, and I absolutely love them! They still look pretty much brand new even though I’ve wear them basically every day, and I work as a mechanic.
I have my recrafted Thursday captains I got done by Wyatt and Dad .. I’m looking to try some of Thursdays new models
When I was about 10yrs old I noticed it was always a particular type of person wearing these type of boots. My innocent observation of them was that they looked unhappy with an air of distain about them. I promised myself I would never wear those boots because I don’t wanna end up being one of those people. Probably about 18 by the time I figured out who the boot people were. Glad I listened to my gut for all those years. It’s surprising how much you can read about a situation by what people decide to wear.
The best boots I ever had was the Graninge . A swedish brand. ( Nowodays made in Portugal). I had them for 7 years! Almost every day use and not only in city but also heavy duty on a farm and walked a lot in them. Did not even had to resole them. Nowodays they are around 200 us dollars . Yes maybe not as cool looking but more confortable than docs. (And yes I have had docs also) .
take a look on wrangler spike mids
The issue I always have with docs is the fact that the instep and toe are almost always low, and they don’t have ee/eee widths. I have wide feet and wear orthotics, so there’s no way docs ever fit.
So I’m still looking for doc-like style but a less cramped fit.
I generally wear us made (corcoran or similar) all leather combat boots, but those are very limited in style.
A few years back I got plain toe Wolverine 1000 Mile boots with a lugged vibram sole. For the higher price point boot, I think it is closer aesthetically to the docs.
The problem with all these boots is almost none of them come in a wide enough boot. I'll try the Thursday though since they do sell them in a wide at least.
I’d buy Thursday boots but the shipping to my country costs 104$ , so that’s not happening 😀
You're not missing anything.
You’re getting close to 100k subscribers!! Hope you get it soon and get your silver play button!!
Just for info, I have a pair of Solovairs made with Horween CXL and they certainly used some higher quality leathers than the DM copies a few years ago.
I still have my well loved Solovairs from 2014. They're still in great condition even if I wore them almost every day for 5 years (I still wear them but only on special ocassions).
I managed to wear a hole through the sole of two separate pairs of doc’s within a year each. So they’re not really cheaper at that point. Vs my redwings that yeah, I had to get on ebay to afford them, but I’ve had them for 5 years with almost no signs of wear on the sole at all.
I did end up with a pair of docs chelsea boots from the thrift because they make them so wide in the toe box they’re basically slippers- so if they’re slipper priced I’m ok with it 🙂
would it be possible to resole Docs but use leather for the welts instead?
Yes if the upper is a good quality like Horween but no yellow stitches if you don’t like flashy colors.
I’ve been looking for a good quality boot that doesn’t have the yellow stitching of docs - I want a boot that’s going to be more versatile, and just about fitting into dress codes is a lot easier when you have a plain black boot than one with bright yellow on it
I have Grinders, UK made and no fucked up heel in the breaking in period, love them.
Even as a Brit, I’d opt for the Thursdays every time. Easily resoled anywhere and longer lasting is an easy choice.
I see that you’re edging closer to 100k subscribers. Anything planned for such a milestone?
I'm getting there so damn slowly I wouldn't know when to schedule it but I guess I could do a Q&A? How do people do that I just do a 'tell me your questions' post in the YT community tab and on instagram and read them out, right
look up jadd boots very similar, made in Northampton fairly cheep, horween options...
i replaced my need for a kickass boot with a matte black timbaland. very cool and sexy looking and i've had them since 2017. only let down is the laces
What do you think about steel?
I’m new to boots. I have on pair of Thursdays that I’ve had for a couple years. How often do people actually resole their boots? I know there are a lot of factors, but I have lots of other shoes and don’t wear these in the summer.