@@goldcd I'm sure someone at DM and Solovair must watch these videos. C'mon guys , we challenge you to make a set of mini-boots for the Rose Anvil moggy!
I don't think many people appreciate just how geographically close Solovair and DM are. Literally a 2 minute walk from one business to the other. Glad to see that NPS Shoes is getting the coverage they deserve.
Hey! Thanks for the shoutout, greatly appreciated! Really interesting to see how those Solovairs are put together, I am a big believer in shanks so glad that they are built with one, even if it is just wood. I had heard the heel counter was leather underneath the cloth covering but clearly not! Your channel is great and growing quickly, well deserved; good content and good presentation! Best regards, Chris
I love how young cut them in half to see how they are made. Boot manufacturers have done some some really sneaky cost cutting stuff recently. Its nice to see what they are up to.
Solovair made a post on their Instagram with the following info on the WOODEN SHANK. "Here are some facts: * Our shanks are made from sustainable Beechwood. Their curved engineered shape flexes to support the foot arch whilst walking. * The shank is not easily breakable. You're more likely to break your foot before you damage the internal shank if you tried. (Of course, cutting a shank in half weakens it making it easily breakable as seen in the UA-cam review). * The grey or white (sustainably sourced) felt mid-sole where the shank sits supports the insole, provides cushioning and insulation."
I don't think the shank would be that strong, maybe working together with the sole it adds some reinforcement but by itself without being "weakened" it should still be pretty easy to break since what matters when it comes to wood is the thickness and the fiber direction and that doesn't actually changes in that piece even if you cut through it, still a wooden shank is better than nothing I guess.
I will take a wood shank over no shank any day though ha ha I was really impressed that they reached out and addressed some concerns with their product. Most companies wouldn't do that.
P Suemor I agree, as long as it doesn’t break of course. If it breaks, I feel the shank could move around, making the boot uncomfortable . This came to mind also, but probably highly unlikely? If walking on rough terrain causing the boot to flex a lot, the shank could shift around and poke through the boot. But idk, probably highly unlikely?
Most automakers get their leather from same source, even Mercedes uses the same cheap leather unless you're buying a amg or a maybach and most is not leather it's a combination of leather and vinyl. Ford For a while was using real leather in their seats on the King ranch f-150. But if you go to katskins the website that sells leather for interiors, you can find the leather for your car and for cheap. The leather in the affordable range of Audi's, Mercedes, and bmw is the same leather you'll find in a Honda Accord, a modern Honda, Chevy, Toyota etc has as much if not more technology and luxury than the affordable line of euro luxury cars.
I'm pretty sure he doesn't like anything. His voice is telling a lot about his personality. He likes to complain a lot, he is annoyed of everything and really judgemental.
Thanks for explaining the differences between DM’s and Solovair’s, in this great video.Back in 1973, I got my first pair of DM’s second hand from a school mate ,who was a full blown “skin/suede head”-sub culture movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s ,here in the U.K. He told me he was buying a pair of Solovair’s ,as any self respecting skin head would only be seen in a pair of Solovair’s ,and as such, they were considered an upgrade on the D M’s.Yeah,so now I know why Solovair’s are referred to as the “real” Dr Martens. By the way,I paid 75 pence for the boots- about £7 in today’s money. To be fair,my mate had sprayed the boots three different colours,which gave them a highly unique appearance!! Happy days.
Nice that you gave Devon a shout out. He reached the same conclusion as you, in terms of finding out the quality, though you took it a step further by doing a proper autopsy on the boots.
after a decade of wear, my docs are on death's door and the new ones (even the MIE) are just so disappointingly bad. but now that you and DevonReviewer finished your respective comparisons/reviews, i feel confident in making the switch to Solovair, so thank you!! and i'd love to see a pair of Danner hiking boots cut in half (either the Danner Light or the Mountain Light - or both?).
irajaxon ....I wore Docs for years too....then I discovered R.M. Williams Dynamic Flex Craftsman and they’re really nice boots....I have both Chestnut and Black pairs...still have my Docs but yep...these new boots, great....
My bros and I all had multiple pairs of Docs from late 80's and by the time we gave them away in the a decade later just because they went out of style, all of them were still in superb shape. When I looked at buying them again recently, there is no way I'd pay the current ridiculous prices for the shitty quality.
@@Benzyl Nope. DM's used to be really tough. They were originally made for industrial/work use after ww2. I have a pair that are over THIRTY years old ,from the eighties and no, they aren't wearable now but i promise you the materials and the construction are far better than the over priced fashionista crap they make now.
@@thewomble1509 I wore them from the mid eighties as well and they always fell apart in a variety of predictable ways, certainly the new ones seem to be worse but the old ones were far from being paragons of indestructible virtue.
@@thewomble1509 The guy from a few weeks back that claimed his were in mint condition after wearing them for thirty years was close enough. I get bored with people fantasizing about the fantastic quality of old DMs when my lived experience of them over a number of decades was hugely unimpressive.
Yea, I was almost tempted, but after years of buying stuff from china, and countless "THIS IS GENUINE PRODUCT!" that are obvious lies... It would be $30 wasted dollars, for sure.
i bought a pair of captain from thursday boots a couple months ago. i won't say they're luxury but definitely a nice pair of boots. the trenton and heath video was great but it never harm to have another person doing a review on the same product
I bought some made in England docs about 10 months ago. I used them as work boots and wore them everyday. They ended up ripping in the back and after contacting their customer service they replaced them free of charge. I wore them until the leather developed a hole towards the front. I bought Solovairs a few weeks ago and i'm pretty happy with them so far. I like that the leather is dyed all the way through. I found that the doc martens looked kind of nasty with the brown leather coming up through the scratches. Time will tell with how the Solovairs hold up though.
I have had this exact same experience with my docs. Im on my 2nd pair and they have desintigrated after only 3 months. Im going to send them back and get a refund and a pair of solovairs, how are yours holding up so i know if this is a good idea?
Actually I think the Docs are very hype boots and almost everyone has them, while the Solovair boots are rare and made with best quality. In my opinion, Solovair boots are more interesting.
I have both models. My Solovair have "commando" soles which are thicker. I've be wearing them for 4 years and the soles are still in very good condition. My DM's are more recent but my guess is the soles might wear out faster. Otherwise, both models are very comfortable and easy to break in. It's true that the yellow stiching adds an iconic touch to the DMs, but some retail stores still have old Solovairs in stock, with yellow instead of white or grey stiching. Made in England is pricy but the quality is good, and once you're used to bouncing soles you don't want to go back to any other kind of soles, like Grinders or Redwings for example.
I'm so glad to see in newer videos that this guy invested in a bandsaw, as seeing him trying to cut through thick leather and rubber with a knife was making a lot of work... not to mention bloody dangerous if he slipped.
I once did some art for a couple of Doc Martens releases a few years back and when I was photographing the boot samples I was sent for reference my cat would think I was giving more attention to the boots than him so I have 100's of photos of him "helping" with the photoshoot. So I have a little chuckle each time Toaster gets up to help you out.
After wearing a pair of solovair derby boots for 6 weeks they are noticeably more comfortable on the sole but they definitely are not wide enough and do not give the feet enough support due to the softer leather. The heel collapsed on mine after a few weeks, and the side of the boot offered little to no support and After 6 weeks the stitching fell apart on the upper to lower stitch on the inside of the boot. Boots were worn to work and polished every other week using nps polish.
I like the quality of the solovair boots but I am a sucker for the looks of docs. I love the yellow stitching. I would ideally love to own both, a pair of black docs made in England and those oxblood solovairs look great.
All hail Toaster! We love him. Also, excellent video covering Solovair. I was just watching "Devon Reviewer"'s latest video on his comparison of DMs vs Solovair.
I found Solovair shoes 4years ago and have bought a pair for every birthday for myself and my wife. They are the only shoe I wear and only shoe I recommend to anyone that wants these type of shoes. I have a pair for winter, hiking, summer, and just everyday. I have not had any issue with any of the shoes ever and they wear so well with very minimal maintenance. Highly highly recommend.
Allen Edmonds is a heritage brand with purportedly great quality leather and construction that lasts for decades. it would be very interesting to see if they live up to the hype for the price. ALLEN EDMONDS!!!!! Higgins Mill style. They retail for $400 but routinely go on sale for $300.
Your vid popped up in my recommended a few weeks back and I’m so glad I clicked. I don’t wear boots and don’t do leather craft, but you are very entertaining to watch. And that rexxie boy is the best!
Somehow stumbled onto your channels and just continuously watch you tear apart some good looking, expensive boots... Great content! I’m gonna sub so I don’t miss out! Thanks!
Not sure if anyone posted this yet but Solovair outsoles are used by British Timpsons the cobblers to resole Dr Martens. I had it done for £40 and I think the quility and durability is better than the original Dr Martens ones.
Thank you for doing the Solovair!!! I'd definitely be interested if/when you do a video about why shank vs no shank for heeled shoes and shank material/quality. I'd also like to put the John Fluevog's Blake up for vote - it's $300
I’ve been wearing DM safety shoes and boots for ~20 yrs. I’ve got wide feet, so on average DM’s toe box is a little wider than comparable solovairs, so for me the fit is nicer on DMs. That’s my $.02. But also, on average the leather and overall build quality has been better on solovairs than basically identical DM shoes and boots. I just wish wider foot patterns were more available for solovair boots/shoes in the US. Also, I prefer the standout yellow stitching on DM over the silver, tighter “flair” goodyear outer stitch on the solovairs.
I guess Steelies could be a different situation (and one I'm unfamiliar with) but your comment about toe box size flies in the face of everything I've heard and experienced. Everyone but you says Solovair is more generous in height and width
@@jeffmitchell72 I have a pair, I love them but they do seem to come up on the narrow side, I've read others saying the same. The 8 Eyes are UK F width I believe.
Great little vid again. What i can add is we had a repair team in the factory and stripping down the sole and welt was an easy job. Like you show, the yellow welt is not bomb proof but lucky at the time i worked for DM the repair side of things were great. We fitted a new sole Plus inserts and new welt onto the original upper no problem. Hows that for service!. You are bang on with the info about sister factories. Solovair, all those vintage DMs around the world most likely came from them. Original made.
Đức Anh Trần not necessarily a trend, just more popular. Also the fact that it’s getting more popular is great because it will force companies to create more realistic vegan leather
Toaster is new king of youtube!!!! All hail the cuddle toaster! Actually I really was interested to hear the differences here, oddly enough it is incredibly satisfying seeing you take these shoes apart and getting an inside look on shoes.
These videos are great. I have worn Thorogood work boots for years and would love to see them cut in half and the quality compared to others you have done.
The new soles on thorogood are terrible, i bought 2 pairs wire them for 6 months, gained plantar fasciitis and moved on to danner bull run"s. Much more comfortable for all day on the job use.
Love to see Blundstone next. Blundstone has a very similar story to Dr. Martens. Working class boot (of Australia instead of England) that purportedly sacrificed quality for profits when switching to overseas production.
I think since Allen Edmonds is a holy grail for some men, including other shoe-oriented you-tubers, they would be interesting to dissect. I really liked this video. If I decide on boots, I would get the Solovair rather than the MIE Docs. My only concern with either is if they run wide enough, as I wear many zero-drop minimal wide shoes and would not like crunched toes.
Stitching in the sole is the spot where they fail at keeping the water away, as it's quite literally a series of small holes going right to the inside. There are methods of impregnation to "patch" them a little that you can search for on the internet, hot waxing for example. When the thread is impregnated, you just have to care for them like for any leather shoes and they will work well in wet weather.
So I have found another company from England. Very interested on the brand but unfortunately their is not enough info about them. The name is gripfast boots. I would love if you made a review on them and see if their is any difference between the solovair and Dr Martens... thank you for your awesome channel very informative and full of knowledge much appreciated...
I like comparisons. It would be really useful if you could bring out The bang for the buck-shoes that meet your quality standards and aren't overly expensive. I mean it's quite obvious that Dr. Martens aren't really as good as their reputation and Solovairs are closer to it but what about an overview of boots? What to choose if you're on the budget or if you can put quality first?
I wanted to thank you for introducing me to Solovair via the comparison video. I like my Dr Martens, but the style options on Solovair fill the gaps the Dr Martens doesn't make (like dress Chelsea boots, etc).
I've been wearing Dr. Martens 1460s and 1461s since 1994 when I was in junior high. Typically, I get 6-7 years out of a pair of shoes and boots and after seeing this video I bought my first pair of Solovair 1460s in Crazy horse. As a made in England enthusiast that only buys MIE Dr. Martens, I have to say these boots are really nice. The leather is definitely thicker and the soul is definitely more dense and hard. I am excited to give these a try over 2023 and see how they go. The fact that they are $70.00 cheaper is a huge plus. I am sure like so many I had never heard of Solovair but your video introduced me to them and I am excited to report back how I like them. Thanks for the video!
Watching this many moons after its release. Toaster is my favorite part of your vlogs. I come for Toaster and stay for your content. Lol. Love your channel.
Interesting video. I have a pair of the Solovair 'Premium' 6 eye Derby boots which I believe has a different construction to the other boots Solovair makes. It would be interesting to see a video on those too.
I've had a few pair of Georgia/Georgia Giant work boots in a non steel toe lace up and wellington. They were always very affordable even on a high school kids budget. a non steel toe 6 inch lace up was around $50 in the late 90's. they look like hell after a few months of wear, but were always very comfortable. I would love to see what's inside. I think they're made in the Dominican Republic
Hey! Thanks so much for your review. If not for this, I wouldn't know that Solovairs even existed. Went ahead and returned my Docs, and got a pair of solovairs. Very very happy. :D
Hey would you say the solovairs are a good pair of boots? Not just that they are better than the docs, but are they good in and of themselves, relative to boots generally? Huge fan of your content btw! Ty!
Part of me really wants to see the insides on an rm williams boot, but another (perhaps bigger part) really doesn't want a pair of rm's to get torn apart
Thank you for creating and sharing! I've never owned Dr. Martens, but wanted a pair- until I learned of Solovair (and that most of Martens are not made in England). This video solidified my decision on Solovair, so cheers!✌ Btw, shout out to both brands making vegan shoes for the compassionate consumer, otherwise I wouldn't be here lol.
Theres nothing wrong with having leather boots or goods, people will always eat meat, its not gonna go away just because some feel bad about eating a yummy juicy steak or some bacon, if your a Christian, god put them here to sustain us, other animals eat animals, its normal and natural, also most of the leather used comes from the animals that were already being used for meat, so at least nothing is going to waste, there meat nourishes millions of people, there hides clothe and protect millions, there sacrifice does not go unnoticed
Wow Weston I love your videos, my absolute favorite is the new WW 2 series, just watchin this video 2yrs old you've got the hang of it nowadays, watchin you knife the whole boot in half, compared to your new saw blade style today is freakin funny
Thank you for the review! I bought Dr Martens about two years ago and their sole tore in half... Fortunately I could refund them, but it is still dissapointing. I bought them because I thought they would last longer. I'll try Solovair next time✨
I've owned many pairs of Solovairs and my wife sells vintage clothing, so from time to time she gets vintage Doc Martens. Of the two it's absolutely no contest, as much as I've loved every pair of Solovairs they have major weaknesses that are misunderstood. The biggest issue is that because the sole is made from a harder material it is substantially more brittle. That's the price you pay. Sure it's harder wearing, but it cracks much more easily. My Solovair soles always crack long before the soles on my vintage Docs wear down to air pockets. The material isn't as repairable when it cracks either. With old Docs a cracked sole can be repaired with a hot knife, the same technique doesn't work on the Solovairs, again because the rubber isn't soft enough, or as sticky when hot. Also you failed to notice that the soles are just hot knifed together at the mid sole, rendering the interior stitching entirely useless. The sole normally parts from the mid sole like old glue after about two years. I've also found the leather to be O.K, but no where near vintage Docs. It's too stiff, prone to cracking and isn't as abrasion resistant. I'm going to sound like a cork sniffer, and I don't know if you got a bad pair, but the leather in vintage Docs is nothing short of witchcraft. I've seen pairs of Docs decades old, soles worn to nub with leather in mint condition, I've taken those Docs and worn them for 5 plus years until there is no sole left and the leather is still perfect. Straight up witchcraft. Solovairs are like caste iron, hard but brittle. Vintage Docs are like fine steel, the may loose their edge faster, but... I forgot where I was going with this analogy.
Really? That seems unlikely from the folks i have talked to about solovairs. !🤔...did you use yours to stop by using your feet on a fast motor bike or something ?? 😳😁
Doesn't really seem fair to compare current Solovair's to vintage Docs. That isn't what was done in this video. Yes, I'll take vintage Doc's over Solovair's, but I'll take Solovair's over anything sold by DM today. Yes, I've heard of the cracking soles, but not anymore than I've heard of that and separation happening on current Doc's.
Fell out with DM. Wore them for years. Some lasted forever and some did not last six months. Now I am having some foot pain. Not enough to go and see a podiatrist but it is there. Never owned Solovair unless I had an old pair of DM's made by them which could have happened. Seems Solovair is just a slightly upscale DM and between quality issues and pains it's over. I still can't get over the Paint Stir as a shank. I should start my own line of boots. Punji Stick Wear or the upscale version Puickar. Over time wearing the boot a sharpened bit of bamboo starts piercing the wearers foot for extra comfort.
I would like to see you take apart a pair of $40.00 side zip Walmart boots. They were more comfortable and lasted longer than any pair of boots I had for work in the last 15 years. Better than 200 dollar name brand boots. I would love to see what is hiding inside them. Forget about 500 dollar stuff. I can't afford Allen Edmond boots, I would hate to see them wasted! Thanks for sharing another great video!
Have owned & worn both Blundstones & R.M Williams. At least the "R.M's" (high top - 8"/10"?, pull on, sold a lot to farmers,horsemen etc). I wore them mainly as motorcycle boots & as general all purpose hunting,farming etc. Lasted me 10 years with a couple of resoles.
I've never owned either pair, this was the final piece of the puzzle to make up my mind about my next pair of boots. My only question is: can the wood shank break easily?, if so, will it affect the comfort of the boot or will I feel it poking my foot? Great video, thanks for sharing!
My first pair of doc's were from 91.they were very comfortable got the 8 years I had them with original soles. The leather wore out just above the stitching at the toes. That eight years of almost daily wear in a kitchen environment. I want the solovairs.
How well do those perform as a winter boot in mild (equal to maybe NYC but with snow) Winters? Would you reckon they'd be usable as a day to day boot from October to April? I think the Solovairs are much nicer looking than docs, less bulky, more functional. More fitting to a regular waredrobe.
Most times when the shank breaks (nearly in every pair I have repaired) the wearer does not notice. If you get a pair when they are ready for a repair asking the repairer to use a nylon/plastic shank, they are stronger but inmo just as flexible and comfortable as the wood ones
Pablo Papaya It all depends on how long you stay outdoors. They provide excellent water insulation, and nice weather insulation(they are no Sorel’s) . Maybe if you want to use them througjout the winter Id opt for one size bigger than yours, and use thick socks.
Vegetarian Shoes, based in Brighton, England make the best DM-style boot and they are cruelty-free. They are still manufactured in the UK, unlike Doc Martens which have moved a lot of their production to China.
It seems Doc Martens used this company to make a name for themselves and then tried to kick them to the curb in favor of slightly higher profit margins. Glad to see you bringing attention to quality made goods
Solovair retail for about £180. For £250 I bought some Hoggs of fife Rannoch boots. Veltshoen construction. Leather insole good quality leather upper and solid rubber outsole. I have no affiliation with hoggs of fife. I just like the boots.
Get some high quality, premium American leather goods from the Rose Anvil shop here - bit.ly/44jXLNu
Who is this guy that’s always featured in toasties videos?
He'd look so sweet with a custom set of DMs
"Puss 'n Boots" gotta be worth a million views.
"You like cats?" "You like boots?" - "You'll Luuurve..."
James Halliday Shut up this is the best idea ever
@@goldcd I'm sure someone at DM and Solovair must watch these videos. C'mon guys , we challenge you to make a set of mini-boots for the Rose Anvil moggy!
😂
Agreed somebody get toaster some Boots!!
"everyone likes him more than me, its fine."
-every cat owner in the world
I don't think many people appreciate just how geographically close Solovair and DM are. Literally a 2 minute walk from one business to the other. Glad to see that NPS Shoes is getting the coverage they deserve.
“I will not be ignored, human.” ~Toaster
Then toastie gets a palm to the face☹
@@ivanmartinez9083 Poor lil guy
Joëlle Weetjewel I replayed that way too many times
*ignored
I read that in Glenn Close’s Fatal Attraction voice 😅
Hey! Thanks for the shoutout, greatly appreciated! Really interesting to see how those Solovairs are put together, I am a big believer in shanks so glad that they are built with one, even if it is just wood. I had heard the heel counter was leather underneath the cloth covering but clearly not! Your channel is great and growing quickly, well deserved; good content and good presentation! Best regards, Chris
guys, you are the best. Subcribe to both of you
I love how young cut them in half to see how they are made. Boot manufacturers have done some some really sneaky cost cutting stuff recently. Its nice to see what they are up to.
Solovair made a post on their Instagram with the following info on the WOODEN SHANK.
"Here are some facts:
* Our shanks are made from sustainable Beechwood. Their curved engineered shape flexes to support the foot arch whilst walking.
* The shank is not easily breakable. You're more likely to break your foot before you damage the internal shank if you tried. (Of course, cutting a shank in half weakens it making it easily breakable as seen in the UA-cam review).
* The grey or white (sustainably sourced) felt mid-sole where the shank sits supports the insole, provides cushioning and insulation."
I don't think the shank would be that strong, maybe working together with the sole it adds some reinforcement but by itself without being "weakened" it should still be pretty easy to break since what matters when it comes to wood is the thickness and the fiber direction and that doesn't actually changes in that piece even if you cut through it, still a wooden shank is better than nothing I guess.
There full of crap, there shanks are crap.
I will take a wood shank over no shank any day though ha ha I was really impressed that they reached out and addressed some concerns with their product. Most companies wouldn't do that.
P Suemor I agree, as long as it doesn’t break of course. If it breaks, I feel the shank could move around, making the boot uncomfortable . This came to mind also, but probably highly unlikely? If walking on rough terrain causing the boot to flex a lot, the shank could shift around and poke through the boot. But idk, probably highly unlikely?
Thank goodness. Solovair finally gets some recognition!
A look at the "leather" used in cars would be interesting.
Mercedes vs Chevy. Lol. I like it! 👍
Sven Sjögren Made out of genuine ‘Corinthian’ leather.
Brother!
Most automakers get their leather from same source, even Mercedes uses the same cheap leather unless you're buying a amg or a maybach and most is not leather it's a combination of leather and vinyl. Ford For a while was using real leather in their seats on the King ranch f-150. But if you go to katskins the website that sells leather for interiors, you can find the leather for your car and for cheap. The leather in the affordable range of Audi's, Mercedes, and bmw is the same leather you'll find in a Honda Accord, a modern Honda, Chevy, Toyota etc has as much if not more technology and luxury than the affordable line of euro luxury cars.
@@cgr88m I had red and black Katskins in my 93 Miata. Fantastic product.
Would love to see a video on the boots you personally own and like
Not necessarily cutting them up lol
Eli Jone Thats actually a pretty good idea, since he knows so much about quality of leather on boots Im sure he knows whats worth the money nowadays.
Yesss!
I'm pretty sure he doesn't like anything. His voice is telling a lot about his personality. He likes to complain a lot, he is annoyed of everything and really judgemental.
@@leandracohen4047 I think he probably still wears shoes lol
Thanks for explaining the differences between DM’s and Solovair’s, in this great video.Back in 1973, I got my first pair of DM’s second hand from a school mate ,who was a full blown “skin/suede head”-sub culture movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s ,here in the U.K. He told me he was buying a pair of Solovair’s ,as any self respecting skin head would only be seen in a pair of Solovair’s ,and as such, they were considered an upgrade on the D M’s.Yeah,so now I know why Solovair’s are referred to as the “real” Dr Martens. By the way,I paid 75 pence for the boots- about £7 in today’s money. To be fair,my mate had sprayed the boots three different colours,which gave them a highly unique appearance!! Happy days.
Nice that you gave Devon a shout out. He reached the same conclusion as you, in terms of finding out the quality, though you took it a step further by doing a proper autopsy on the boots.
after a decade of wear, my docs are on death's door and the new ones (even the MIE) are just so disappointingly bad. but now that you and DevonReviewer finished your respective comparisons/reviews, i feel confident in making the switch to Solovair, so thank you!!
and i'd love to see a pair of Danner hiking boots cut in half (either the Danner Light or the Mountain Light - or both?).
irajaxon ....I wore Docs for years too....then I discovered R.M. Williams Dynamic Flex Craftsman and they’re really nice boots....I have both Chestnut and Black pairs...still have my Docs but yep...these new boots, great....
They’ve helped me too.
2 years. Any updates on your Solovairs?
My bros and I all had multiple pairs of Docs from late 80's and by the time we gave them away in the a decade later just because they went out of style, all of them were still in superb shape. When I looked at buying them again recently, there is no way I'd pay the current ridiculous prices for the shitty quality.
A decade later? They must have spent over nine years in a cupboard to have survived that long intact.
@@Benzyl Nope. DM's used to be really tough. They were originally made for industrial/work use after ww2. I have a pair that are over THIRTY years old ,from the eighties and no, they aren't wearable now but i promise you the materials and the construction are far better than the over priced fashionista crap they make now.
@@thewomble1509 I wore them from the mid eighties as well and they always fell apart in a variety of predictable ways, certainly the new ones seem to be worse but the old ones were far from being paragons of indestructible virtue.
@@Benzyl Who said they were indestructible?
@@thewomble1509 The guy from a few weeks back that claimed his were in mint condition after wearing them for thirty years was close enough. I get bored with people fantasizing about the fantastic quality of old DMs when my lived experience of them over a number of decades was hugely unimpressive.
Now do one of the $30 knock-off Doc Martens available all over the internet.
This would be really interesting. Just imagine if, except for the the welt, everything is the same.
I bought some from China but they are currently lost in the mail ha ha so maybe one day I will review them
Yea, I was almost tempted, but after years of buying stuff from china, and countless "THIS IS GENUINE PRODUCT!" that are obvious lies... It would be $30 wasted dollars, for sure.
@@blacksunapocalypse The point is not that China is bad. The point is that MiC docs are no different from AliExpress ones.
I have a pair of Doc Martens knockoffs that turned out to be quite durable and comfy. Even more durable than authentic ones to my surprise.
Do thursday boots, the ones youtubers advertise as affordable luxury boots.
yes +1
Trenton and Heath have already done a teardown
They are lux
These boots, especially docs are dog shit
I would love to see a teardown of the Explorer Thursday model as they don't get a whole lot of love and are more the combat style boot like Docs
@@salvadorjimenez2502 lux?
i bought a pair of captain from thursday boots a couple months ago. i won't say they're luxury but definitely a nice pair of boots. the trenton and heath video was great but it never harm to have another person doing a review on the same product
"So I read it somewhere on the internet, so... It's probably true" Lmao
I bought some made in England docs about 10 months ago. I used them as work boots and wore them everyday. They ended up ripping in the back and after contacting their customer service they replaced them free of charge. I wore them until the leather developed a hole towards the front. I bought Solovairs a few weeks ago and i'm pretty happy with them so far. I like that the leather is dyed all the way through. I found that the doc martens looked kind of nasty with the brown leather coming up through the scratches. Time will tell with how the Solovairs hold up though.
I have had this exact same experience with my docs. Im on my 2nd pair and they have desintigrated after only 3 months. Im going to send them back and get a refund and a pair of solovairs, how are yours holding up so i know if this is a good idea?
Please give us an update on the Solovairs!
I would use some other type of boots for work if I were you
Every shoe shine boy knows... Care for the leather my dudes... Clean-Dye-Polish-Conditioner-Spitshine-Repeat!
Update?
Cut an army boot in half. Dem boots are strong as heck!
Maybe some Belleville's?
There are many many differing army boots out there :P
Bates 👍
Danner boots
I'd like to see the Blundstones, but they're not as expensive as RM Williams, so do RM Williams.
I’m more interested in the Blundstones though !!
The more premium pairs can get up there too lol 🤷♂️
Thank you for showing Toaster the cat!
Love his gentle, gracious and refined presence.
Actually I think the Docs are very hype boots and almost everyone has them, while the Solovair boots are rare and made with best quality. In my opinion, Solovair boots are more interesting.
@@inftube the quality is not the same lol
@@inftube it's literally not the same, even the mie docs sadly
Best quality? Least worst maybe.
Tried two pairs and I’m totally not impressed with the fit or overall look of either. I’m sending them all back.
I have both models. My Solovair have "commando" soles which are thicker. I've be wearing them for 4 years and the soles are still in very good condition. My DM's are more recent but my guess is the soles might wear out faster. Otherwise, both models are very comfortable and easy to break in. It's true that the yellow stiching adds an iconic touch to the DMs, but some retail stores still have old Solovairs in stock, with yellow instead of white or grey stiching.
Made in England is pricy but the quality is good, and once you're used to bouncing soles you don't want to go back to any other kind of soles, like Grinders or Redwings for example.
I'm so glad to see in newer videos that this guy invested in a bandsaw, as seeing him trying to cut through thick leather and rubber with a knife was making a lot of work... not to mention bloody dangerous if he slipped.
I would hate to see R.M Williams be torn apart, but I need to see what the things are made of!
pls continue the wallet series as well. Id really be interested in comparing old coach vintage wallets vs their current ones..
I once did some art for a couple of Doc Martens releases a few years back and when I was photographing the boot samples I was sent for reference my cat would think I was giving more attention to the boots than him so I have 100's of photos of him "helping" with the photoshoot. So I have a little chuckle each time Toaster gets up to help you out.
After wearing a pair of solovair derby boots for 6 weeks they are noticeably more comfortable on the sole but they definitely are not wide enough and do not give the feet enough support due to the softer leather. The heel collapsed on mine after a few weeks, and the side of the boot offered little to no support and After 6 weeks the stitching fell apart on the upper to lower stitch on the inside of the boot. Boots were worn to work and polished every other week using nps polish.
I had the exact same experience, really disappointed with them, trash 🗑️
It'll be painful to see it cut, but I'd really like to see the inside of R.M. Williams!
I like the quality of the solovair boots but I am a sucker for the looks of docs. I love the yellow stitching. I would ideally love to own both, a pair of black docs made in England and those oxblood solovairs look great.
All hail Toaster!
We love him.
Also, excellent video covering Solovair. I was just watching "Devon Reviewer"'s latest video on his comparison of DMs vs Solovair.
This is my new "cut in half" channel
I found Solovair shoes 4years ago and have bought a pair for every birthday for myself and my wife. They are the only shoe I wear and only shoe I recommend to anyone that wants these type of shoes. I have a pair for winter, hiking, summer, and just everyday. I have not had any issue with any of the shoes ever and they wear so well with very minimal maintenance. Highly highly recommend.
Hi, which shoe exactly do you have for hiking
Allen Edmonds is a heritage brand with purportedly great quality leather and construction that lasts for decades. it would be very interesting to see if they live up to the hype for the price. ALLEN EDMONDS!!!!! Higgins Mill style. They retail for $400 but routinely go on sale for $300.
Allen Edmonds make entry level GY welt shoes. And if you compare them to European counterparts in the same price range they don't stand a chance.
Luobo Mu you’re probably right. Care to make a suggestion that this guy’s audience would be into??
W Evans they’re also made in the United States which really helps with quality control
woohoo thank you for doing the solovair cut in half video been waiting for this.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yesssss!!! Thanks so much for making a video about Solovair!
I would like to see Wolverine Thousand Mile boots.
Agreed. Just got a pair of Evans and love them.
Your vid popped up in my recommended a few weeks back and I’m so glad I clicked. I don’t wear boots and don’t do leather craft, but you are very entertaining to watch. And that rexxie boy is the best!
Somehow stumbled onto your channels and just continuously watch you tear apart some good looking, expensive boots... Great content! I’m gonna sub so I don’t miss out! Thanks!
Cats like “who you talking to bro?”
Not sure if anyone posted this yet but Solovair outsoles are used by British Timpsons the cobblers to resole Dr Martens. I had it done for £40 and I think the quility and durability is better than the original Dr Martens ones.
Do some Blundstones! Ty for finally introducing Toaster to us :3
Shared your video to a Devon Rex group on Facebook. Toaster will probably be getting some more fans.
Solovair for me from now on. Thanks for all the info!
Thank you for doing the Solovair!!! I'd definitely be interested if/when you do a video about why shank vs no shank for heeled shoes and shank material/quality. I'd also like to put the John Fluevog's Blake up for vote - it's $300
Blundstones. I love them and wanna see how they're made. And I hope I'm not disappointed at the end of your video. Fingers crossed.
Sweet, thanks for this. After a pair of Chineseum Docs fell apart after less than a year, I've been eyeballing Solovairs.
I’ve been wearing DM safety shoes and boots for ~20 yrs. I’ve got wide feet, so on average DM’s toe box is a little wider than comparable solovairs, so for me the fit is nicer on DMs. That’s my $.02. But also, on average the leather and overall build quality has been better on solovairs than basically identical DM shoes and boots. I just wish wider foot patterns were more available for solovair boots/shoes in the US. Also, I prefer the standout yellow stitching on DM over the silver, tighter “flair” goodyear outer stitch on the solovairs.
I guess Steelies could be a different situation (and one I'm unfamiliar with) but your comment about toe box size flies in the face of everything I've heard and experienced. Everyone but you says Solovair is more generous in height and width
@@jeffmitchell72 I have a pair, I love them but they do seem to come up on the narrow side, I've read others saying the same. The 8 Eyes are UK F width I believe.
Great little vid again. What i can add is we had a repair team in the factory and stripping down the sole and welt was an easy job. Like you show, the yellow welt is not bomb proof but lucky at the time i worked for DM the repair side of things were great. We fitted a new sole Plus inserts and new welt onto the original upper no problem. Hows that for service!. You are bang on with the info about sister factories. Solovair, all those vintage DMs around the world most likely came from them. Original made.
Just curious to know your opinion on Dr Marten Vegan “leather” boots and your general opinion on vegan leather items ?
He need to cut the vegan ones into half
I’ve had 4 pair and they are great but I’d love to hear his thought:)
Vegan or fake leather used to be cheap as no one wanted it. Now it becomes a trend 😂
Đức Anh Trần I know ahah, it’s strange to think about
Đức Anh Trần not necessarily a trend, just more popular. Also the fact that it’s getting more popular is great because it will force companies to create more realistic vegan leather
Toaster is new king of youtube!!!! All hail the cuddle toaster!
Actually I really was interested to hear the differences here, oddly enough it is incredibly satisfying seeing you take these shoes apart and getting an inside look on shoes.
These videos are great. I have worn Thorogood work boots for years and would love to see them cut in half and the quality compared to others you have done.
The new soles on thorogood are terrible, i bought 2 pairs wire them for 6 months, gained plantar fasciitis and moved on to danner bull run"s. Much more comfortable for all day on the job use.
Love to see Blundstone next. Blundstone has a very similar story to Dr. Martens. Working class boot (of Australia instead of England) that purportedly sacrificed quality for profits when switching to overseas production.
Allen Edmonds boots for sure. Also it's nice to see Toaster get some recognition
I think since Allen Edmonds is a holy grail for some men, including other shoe-oriented you-tubers, they would be interesting to dissect. I really liked this video. If I decide on boots, I would get the Solovair rather than the MIE Docs. My only concern with either is if they run wide enough, as I wear many zero-drop minimal wide shoes and would not like crunched toes.
Are the solovair boots a good shoe to wear everyday on a rainy weather?
Or will they eventually get wet if worn frequently?
Stitching in the sole is the spot where they fail at keeping the water away, as it's quite literally a series of small holes going right to the inside. There are methods of impregnation to "patch" them a little that you can search for on the internet, hot waxing for example. When the thread is impregnated, you just have to care for them like for any leather shoes and they will work well in wet weather.
So I have found another company from England. Very interested on the brand but unfortunately their is not enough info about them. The name is gripfast boots. I would love if you made a review on them and see if their is any difference between the solovair and Dr Martens... thank you for your awesome channel very informative and full of knowledge much appreciated...
I like comparisons. It would be really useful if you could bring out The bang for the buck-shoes that meet your quality standards and aren't overly expensive. I mean it's quite obvious that Dr. Martens aren't really as good as their reputation and Solovairs are closer to it but what about an overview of boots? What to choose if you're on the budget or if you can put quality first?
Good clothes cost money.
I wanted to thank you for introducing me to Solovair via the comparison video. I like my Dr Martens, but the style options on Solovair fill the gaps the Dr Martens doesn't make (like dress Chelsea boots, etc).
I've been wearing Dr. Martens 1460s and 1461s since 1994 when I was in junior high. Typically, I get 6-7 years out of a pair of shoes and boots and after seeing this video I bought my first pair of Solovair 1460s in Crazy horse.
As a made in England enthusiast that only buys MIE Dr. Martens, I have to say these boots are really nice. The leather is definitely thicker and the soul is definitely more dense and hard.
I am excited to give these a try over 2023 and see how they go. The fact that they are $70.00 cheaper is a huge plus.
I am sure like so many I had never heard of Solovair but your video introduced me to them and I am excited to report back how I like them. Thanks for the video!
I literally bought two pairs of solovairs after seeing your videos
Based on their website, I get the impression they run true to size. So a US 11 would be a UK 10. Would you say that's right?
Your channel is blowin' up man, keep up the great work :)
For all the complaints about the "UA-cam algorithm" - I've no idea how else I'd be hitting a bell for a leather-worker who cuts up boots.
Toaster is awesome! Typical Devon. I can’t do anything on my work bench without my Devon overseeing my project.
Watching this many moons after its release. Toaster is my favorite part of your vlogs. I come for Toaster and stay for your content. Lol. Love your channel.
Interesting video. I have a pair of the Solovair 'Premium' 6 eye Derby boots which I believe has a different construction to the other boots Solovair makes. It would be interesting to see a video on those too.
I definitely want to dig into some more Solovairs. It would be interesting to compare a few versions that they carry
@@RoseAnvil Pls do, it would be awesome :D
Bought my first pair Doc Martens shoes 1999, but since they moved production to Asia, I started buying Solovair, and they are great.
I've had a few pair of Georgia/Georgia Giant work boots in a non steel toe lace up and wellington. They were always very affordable even on a high school kids budget. a non steel toe 6 inch lace up was around $50 in the late 90's. they look like hell after a few months of wear, but were always very comfortable. I would love to see what's inside. I think they're made in the Dominican Republic
Hey! Thanks so much for your review. If not for this, I wouldn't know that Solovairs even existed. Went ahead and returned my Docs, and got a pair of solovairs. Very very happy. :D
I’d like to see some Frye boots there’s not many reviews of them out there.
Hey would you say the solovairs are a good pair of boots? Not just that they are better than the docs, but are they good in and of themselves, relative to boots generally?
Huge fan of your content btw! Ty!
Yay suede & nubuck overview!! Also check out Guardian Nighttime sleep-aid, or NyQuil for some sleep.
Thanks for this really well executed comparison. It helps my purchase decision a lot, only had to watch your video alone and I had my mind made up. 🙏
Blundstones! I know I've said it before but I wear mine every day and would love to know what they're made of.
Part of me really wants to see the insides on an rm williams boot, but another (perhaps bigger part) really doesn't want a pair of rm's to get torn apart
Haha. Alright. Thanks for the suggestion. 😄
Thank you for creating and sharing! I've never owned Dr. Martens, but wanted a pair- until I learned of Solovair (and that most of Martens are not made in England). This video solidified my decision on Solovair, so cheers!✌
Btw, shout out to both brands making vegan shoes for the compassionate consumer, otherwise I wouldn't be here lol.
I’m a vegan. But you do know leather has nothing to do with anything. You can still wear it and use it to make clothes. Ignorant
Theres nothing wrong with having leather boots or goods, people will always eat meat, its not gonna go away just because some feel bad about eating a yummy juicy steak or some bacon, if your a Christian, god put them here to sustain us, other animals eat animals, its normal and natural, also most of the leather used comes from the animals that were already being used for meat, so at least nothing is going to waste, there meat nourishes millions of people, there hides clothe and protect millions, there sacrifice does not go unnoticed
Wow Weston I love your videos, my absolute favorite is the new WW 2 series, just watchin this video 2yrs old you've got the hang of it nowadays, watchin you knife the whole boot in half, compared to your new saw blade style today is freakin funny
How's the motorcycle build coming along? I would love to see more of it!
Agreed
Yeah, I kept thinking about bikes all the way through the video. I've actually bought from that place
Toaster deserves all the screen time Toaster desires...no more booping Toaster away
It's cool you gave devonreviewer a shout out, I watch both of you and he is from my city :)
Thank you for the review! I bought Dr Martens about two years ago and their sole tore in half... Fortunately I could refund them, but it is still dissapointing. I bought them because I thought they would last longer. I'll try Solovair next time✨
I've owned many pairs of Solovairs and my wife sells vintage clothing, so from time to time she gets vintage Doc Martens.
Of the two it's absolutely no contest, as much as I've loved every pair of Solovairs they have major weaknesses that are misunderstood.
The biggest issue is that because the sole is made from a harder material it is substantially more brittle. That's the price you pay. Sure it's harder wearing, but it cracks much more easily. My Solovair soles always crack long before the soles on my vintage Docs wear down to air pockets. The material isn't as repairable when it cracks either. With old Docs a cracked sole can be repaired with a hot knife, the same technique doesn't work on the Solovairs, again because the rubber isn't soft enough, or as sticky when hot.
Also you failed to notice that the soles are just hot knifed together at the mid sole, rendering the interior stitching entirely useless. The sole normally parts from the mid sole like old glue after about two years.
I've also found the leather to be O.K, but no where near vintage Docs. It's too stiff, prone to cracking and isn't as abrasion resistant.
I'm going to sound like a cork sniffer, and I don't know if you got a bad pair, but the leather in vintage Docs is nothing short of witchcraft. I've seen pairs of Docs decades old, soles worn to nub with leather in mint condition, I've taken those Docs and worn them for 5 plus years until there is no sole left and the leather is still perfect. Straight up witchcraft.
Solovairs are like caste iron, hard but brittle. Vintage Docs are like fine steel, the may loose their edge faster, but... I forgot where I was going with this analogy.
Really? That seems unlikely from the folks i have talked to about solovairs. !🤔...did you use yours to stop by using your feet on a fast motor bike or something ?? 😳😁
Doesn't really seem fair to compare current Solovair's to vintage Docs.
That isn't what was done in this video.
Yes, I'll take vintage Doc's over Solovair's, but I'll take Solovair's over anything sold by DM today.
Yes, I've heard of the cracking soles, but not anymore than I've heard of that and separation happening on current Doc's.
Fell out with DM. Wore them for years. Some lasted forever and some did not last six months. Now I am having some foot pain. Not enough to go and see a podiatrist but it is there. Never owned Solovair unless I had an old pair of DM's made by them which could have happened. Seems Solovair is just a slightly upscale DM and between quality issues and pains it's over. I still can't get over the Paint Stir as a shank. I should start my own line of boots. Punji Stick Wear or the upscale version Puickar. Over time wearing the boot a sharpened bit of bamboo starts piercing the wearers foot for extra comfort.
ALL HAIL TOASTIE. im starting a religion. the toastivites. his will be done
ilse Under His Eye
This is the way.
Im inN
TOASTIVITES RISE UP
*His
Take care and don’t get burned out. Your channel is great. Would hate to see you get sick because you pushed too hard.
I'm putting my vote in for the Blundstones.
I'd love to see a HitchandTimber review from you my man, loving the channel ✌🏻
Do the RM Williams!
Mikael Albertsson ....Which model of RM Williams boots? Does he do the standard Craftsman, Comfort Craftsman or Dynamic Flex Craftsman??
I would like to see you take apart a pair of $40.00 side zip Walmart boots. They were more comfortable and lasted longer than any pair of boots I had for work in the last 15 years. Better than 200 dollar name brand boots.
I would love to see what is hiding inside them. Forget about 500 dollar stuff. I can't afford Allen Edmond boots, I would hate to see them wasted! Thanks for sharing another great video!
As an Aussie; R. M. Williams
nooooo, i like those, don't want to watch it be cut
And blundstones for a low/high
Have owned & worn both Blundstones & R.M Williams.
At least the "R.M's" (high top - 8"/10"?, pull on, sold a lot to farmers,horsemen etc). I wore them mainly as motorcycle boots & as general all purpose hunting,farming etc.
Lasted me 10 years with a couple of resoles.
it would be interesting if you cut open some RM Williams boots
Bought myself a pair of Solovair Derby's instead of 1460's because of a handfull of reviews by you and others. So, wish me luck :)
I've never owned either pair, this was the final piece of the puzzle to make up my mind about my next pair of boots.
My only question is: can the wood shank break easily?, if so, will it affect the comfort of the boot or will I feel it poking my foot?
Great video, thanks for sharing!
My first pair of doc's were from 91.they were very comfortable got the 8 years I had them with original soles. The leather wore out just above the stitching at the toes. That eight years of almost daily wear in a kitchen environment. I want the solovairs.
Dont worry about the shank, I have over 8 pairs and no shank break has let me down
How well do those perform as a winter boot in mild (equal to maybe NYC but with snow) Winters? Would you reckon they'd be usable as a day to day boot from October to April? I think the Solovairs are much nicer looking than docs, less bulky, more functional. More fitting to a regular waredrobe.
Most times when the shank breaks (nearly in every pair I have repaired) the wearer does not notice. If you get a pair when they are ready for a repair asking the repairer to use a nylon/plastic shank, they are stronger but inmo just as flexible and comfortable as the wood ones
Pablo Papaya It all depends on how long you stay outdoors. They provide excellent water insulation, and nice weather insulation(they are no Sorel’s) . Maybe if you want to use them througjout the winter Id opt for one size bigger than yours, and use thick socks.
Blundstone for sure. So, so comfortable.
Polo Ralph Lauren Ranger boots, havent seen any videos about this boot.
I just got and am currently wearing the Solovairs I got because of your videos. Thanks for all the good information!
Tear apart a gucci or lv wallet maybe?
Vegetarian Shoes, based in Brighton, England make the best DM-style boot and they are cruelty-free. They are still manufactured in the UK, unlike Doc Martens which have moved a lot of their production to China.
It seems Doc Martens used this company to make a name for themselves and then tried to kick them to the curb in favor of slightly higher profit margins. Glad to see you bringing attention to quality made goods
Solovair retail for about £180. For £250 I bought some Hoggs of fife Rannoch boots. Veltshoen construction. Leather insole good quality leather upper and solid rubber outsole. I have no affiliation with hoggs of fife. I just like the boots.