Comments
glass_harp t1_jdgqjhq wrote
Solovair is the company that used to make Docs back in the day. They still have the same models and are hand manufactured by a small company in England. Quality is amazing and the leather looks premium. Much better than current plastic leather Docs. Got my pair of Solovair Gibsons some time ago upgrading from 1461s and they are the best shoes I had in a long time!
glass_harp t1_jdgqocb wrote
One more thing: they are actually sewn together (not welded/glued like Docs) and therefore you can resole them. They even offer the replacements and service themselves.
Muncie4 t1_jdh5o01 wrote
You can resole Dr. Martens and they are actually sewn together, Solovair are just attached more traditionally.
glass_harp t1_jdhf9gx wrote
Yeah, ask a cobbler to resole your Docs. Good luck! I asked at least five different cobblers and nobody was willing to resole Docs.
Muncie4 t1_jdhjnsc wrote
They are more challenging, but with the interwebs, all things are possible.
77tassells t1_jdhxeuu wrote
They are melted on and the welt is fake. it can be done. I’ve definitely seen videos, but from what I’ve read most cobblers won’t do it.
Muncie4 t1_jdi0w34 wrote
Please don't. It is a version of a blind welt.
GenerousStray t1_jdgzovl wrote
Just search for "Solovair" on reddit and see tons of posts with problems, even on this subred:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/comments/11rnclw/dropped_a_can_of_soda_on_my_solovairs/
https://www.reddit.com/r/BIFLfails/comments/ynrf0f/solovair_boots_split_after_a_week_of_wear/
https://www.reddit.com/r/nps_solovair/comments/yxapj1/solovairbuyer_beware/
Meanwhile I have Docs which everyone loves to hate on these days and wear them since I bought like 4 years ago and don't have a single complaint
77tassells t1_jdhxkfr wrote
There’s a rose anvil video comparing the 2 boots. The construction is indeed better on the solovairs. It doesn’t mean people won’t have issues though.
glass_harp t1_jdhf1zk wrote
I have had a pair of 1461s for the last 8 years and they are perfectly fine. When I purchased a new pair 3 years ago, they only lasted me 1.5 years and literally fell apart. No hate on the brand, just suggesting an alternative. Just telling by the quality of leather and stitching I feel this is a more premium product in comparison. Time will tell whether it translates to durability.
ALittleUnsettling t1_jdfyrsb wrote
I have docs from the 90’s that are still in perfect condition. My husband bought a pair more recently (no longer made in England unless you want to pay double for them) and the soles broke in half within 3 months. My daughter’s Chelsea’s zipper just broke and they were purchased in September. It’s really unfortunate
BolivianDancer t1_jdfrkds wrote
Pepperidge Farms remembers.
Some Docs are good quality, others not.
rejiranimo t1_jdgkqe6 wrote
Docs quality seems to be all over the place these days. I had a Thai made pair that I used almost daily for ~7 years until the soles wore through. Every bit as good as the English ones. Other people have been a lot less lucky. Not worth the gamble IMHO.
DonzoTheGog t1_jdijhk2 wrote
Did you try resole them?
rejiranimo t1_jdji6ds wrote
No. I didn’t even think of it as an option at the time, unfortunately.
jrhawk42 t1_jdid6ch wrote
I have a Thai pair also I've had for 10 years and they look fairly new. I barely use them though.
niccernicus t1_jdg6vnf wrote
Very hard to resole a doc from what I’ve seen.
ProfessionalTruck7 t1_jdi9twh wrote
No. Not even the English ones. I had a pair last one year.
Muncie4 t1_jdh795m wrote
Dr. Martens are still made in England. Their quality is good.
Having said that, they...like many brands...have overseas fashion models under their brand which people ignorantly buy and get SuperMAD when they realize they aren't tanks. For example, their English 1460s are $260 and the overseas ones are $170 and to the normal consumer that makes a decision in .002 seconds they won't see this to stop and consider.
Now, zero people would consider Dr. Martens to be still in their killer, last 200 years heyday. But the internet, being a fickle beast, is mostly wrong about Dr. Martens as its a tale of two cities: Made in England versions and made overseas versions with a hat tip to the English versions. Will they last you 20 years? Probably not. Will they last you 300% longer than Mr. Dartens from Target? Yep.
pickles55 t1_jdt7gp4 wrote
You really have to go out of your way to find the English made ones. The ones in most shoe stores are the cheap black ones made in Asia
77tassells t1_jdhxx48 wrote
Does target carry dr martens?
this_is_sy t1_jdj04k6 wrote
No, Target only carries their own brands of shoes for the most part. (I think there are some exceptions for kids shoes?)
xzl830 t1_jdi3r14 wrote
Solovair my friend. look into them.
Chonkalonkfatneek t1_jdi5vvf wrote
My sister has had a pair Worn daily for 7 years, only had to change one lace.
Starman68 t1_jdj1yc1 wrote
They do 2 ranges. Regular black docs are made in Thailand. The Made in England ones are made in Northampton and are usually the bright colours and special editions. I don’t think either are BIFL.
Adventureadverts t1_jdjr368 wrote
Let’s be realistic here: there are no boots that will last you forever that wouldn’t suck to wear
AutoModerator t1_jdfrcyi wrote
Hello /u/Unhallowedhopes! Thank you for your submission! The AutoMod thought that your post might be a request type post and has changed the flair accordingly, but if this was wrong feel free to change it back!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
SimpleVegetable5715 t1_jdhq3ei wrote
Most are made in China, but some are still made in England. I have no idea on the quality though, because my feet are just not made for them (quite painful).
Unhallowedhopes OP t1_jdhvpcu wrote
I agree, they aren’t the most comfortable, that’s why mine lasted so long. I wear them occasionally. When you wear Hoka One One daily, then put the Docs on, well my feet love the Hokas. Lol
LongIslandaInNJ t1_jdic8a7 wrote
I feel the same about the Hoka's. My issue with the Doc Martens is there was no half sizes so I sized up and just always felt too big. I still have a pair from many years ago I wore often and recently bought a pair at a thrift store which looked brand new which I will try out.
this_is_sy t1_jdizt1j wrote
I have a pair of docs I bought around 2010, made in China. They are still in great shape after ~13 years of regular wear.
That said, the soles are really different from these, and IMO they don't have the grip they used to in the 90s. I definitely wouldn't wear them for outdoorsy type pursuits nowadays, they're for fashion only.
pickles55 t1_jdt6c5u wrote
They've never had good grip in my experience, the urethane soles are like bars of soap in the winter
Abaddon_Jones t1_jdrcjzo wrote
My GF has Docs from the factory in Nottingham. They cost about £15 more than the standard.(£200ish IIRC) One quick way to tell the difference is the leather strip that covers the back vertical seam is uncoloured on the edge. The others have the edge dyed black. She also has a 24holed embroidered foreign pair and a brand new nubuck steel toe capped pair she is currently breaking in on an Azerbaijan oil rig manufacturing site….does anyone remember the Alexei Sayle song that declares the retail price of £19.99??..@1984
[deleted] t1_jdfsn0m wrote
[removed]
LauraDurnst t1_jdgraao wrote
Bought some a few weeks ago (through a work promotion) and they've already scuffed, which you'd expect with some cheap plastic shoes. Wouldn't mind so much if they weren't still charging nearly £200.
pickles55 t1_jdt83os wrote
They use a pretty heavy coating to give the leather that smooth look. It's cheaper than getting really smooth leather but the downside is that you can't buff the scuffs out. I suspect they're relying more on the coating to cover up cheaper leather now based on all the quality issues people have been having lately.
LauraDurnst t1_jdud8pd wrote
They're putting prices up again too. It's getting to the point where there isn't a reason to go for DMs
IpsoFactoReacto t1_jdiawws wrote
Still have a pair of cherry red 1460's I purchased in 91. Made in England of course. They are still technically wearable, but I don't. Sole has gotten a bit hard.
Flossthief t1_jdiuquv wrote
They have england docs available but most of them are assembled in China nowadays
It's a shame I used to get years out of those boots and now it's more like 1 year before the boot separates form the sole
MandoBaggins t1_jdj7ljd wrote
Just gonna drop this here… r/goodyearwelt
Azalea_lastname t1_jdkbzyo wrote
No I don't.
tesslouise789 t1_jdkq3k3 wrote
I have second hand docs which I believe to be made in the last 10 or less years. I love them and the quality is great. They were pre-loved and I have had them for 6 years and wear them multiple times a week. They’ve held up great. I just bought a new pair recently but can’t comment on the quality of those yet. I have heard that the quality had gone down tho since manufacturing moved to china :(
NoAbbreviations9416 t1_jdq1jx1 wrote
If you want a decent pair of boots in a similar style to that, search for trickers, Crockett and Jones or Grenson. They are super high quality English shoe makers which can be re soled. Shame about the anecdotes people tell about doc martens. My mother in law is always trying to get me to buy them even though I have a pair of crocket and jones which are far superior
pickles55 t1_jdt3u74 wrote
The ones they make currently are mostly crap. Solovair bought the machines when Dr martens went overseas so if you're in the market for a new pair check them out. The asian import docs look like the $20 boots at Walmart, I was really surprised to see how shitty they are now. They still make some in England and while I personally think they're overpriced the quality is much better. here's a comparison video of solovair and the england docs
Longjumping-Ad-9541 t1_jdjgwcv wrote
Yeah the pair I spent a ton on for my kid lasted barely 3 years. Mine are 30 years old.
witchmedium t1_jdjivpo wrote
My last pair lastet 3 years with almost daily wearing. I wound not recommend buying them. The quality is decreasing. Maybe the made in England ones are a better quality, but I will probably not try again.
strangefaerie t1_jdjlrr7 wrote
I bought a pair last year and the seam in the back ripped apart within literally 3 wears.
ETA: my partner has a pair of docs he bought about 5 years ago now that are still going strong. To me, the quality seems kind of all over the place, but I’m sure you can them repaired or replaced by the store you bought them at.
pickles55 t1_jdt4aau wrote
Solovair bought the old machines when Dr martens went overseas and they still make boots the way they used to make them. They're more expensive than docs but you're getting a quality boot for your money, not just the name tag. Rose anvil made a comparison video where he cuts them in half and shows the difference in build quality if you're interested
strangefaerie t1_jdt5guv wrote
Thank you for the info, I’ll check that video out!
Cowabunga4Life t1_jdgkxkj wrote
You can still buy made in England Docs it’s part of their range.