@@gaboasis21 listen look at all the comments on all these dodgy videos the majority have bought doc martens for many years some have lasted for years and years one guy has same boots for 16 years , suddenly you tube is flooded with videos going on about another brand and comparing them to doc martens that’s because no one has heard of them that’s because they used to make doc martens under licence from doc martens , but people always go for the brand they know best and that’s doc martens not Solovair !! So now it’s a campaign by this firm to derail doc martens one of the main people behind this is Rose Anvil is he and everyone connected getting paid ? I have no proof I don’t know but judging by the sheer amount of videos slagging off doc martens I would really think about it ,
I'm so frustrated at how hard it is to find a decently made product anywhere anymore. Everything has gone down in quality and it's gone up in price. I wish I was around in the early 90's to buy a small stockpile of good vintage Doc Martins. I have a pair of vintage Levis jeans that are likely older than I am and they look brand new after a year of heavy wear and being second hand. My year old American Eagle jeans are trash, they look worn and not in a cool way.
My MIE docs (2 pairs) are great, my vintage (20 yo) Docs are as good and I have a pair of outsource docs that are not as good... you get what you pay for... so the reason for out sourcing was due to the company nearly going out of business when people were not buying them. They were bought and restructured to save the company...
I hear you buddy! Made in china docs are taxing hard and the quality is just sub par. In terms of sneakers my nike sb stefan janoskis are shit quality broke down after a few months. Its like companies are charging more for something that does not last. Now i either buy vintage from thrift shops, locally made goods, or if i buy name brand goods i make sure they are not made in asian factories. I found that i get more out of the money i spend. Hell my 2nd hand vintage docs lasted much longer than the ones not made in england.
Planned obsolescence is everywhere. Low quality products are taken as if they were good/average quality (so as the prices), while good/average quality products are now considered "luxury". We all dance to the sound that consumerism imposes on us, paying obscene sums for having a name adorning our products; brands are no longer necessarily an indication of quality, as it used to be long time ago.
Have a look at William Lennon boots. Traditional british work and outdoor boots. Nothing fancy, but thick high quality leather and traditional construction.
IMO if you look at various clothing in the store, materials they use nowdays often look and feel worse than the material on my old trousers I have worn daily at work and washed weekly for last 2 years. It's fucking ridiculous. There are still some local brands where I live, that make clothes out of good quality materials but sadly they don't make what I like and getting stuff custom tailored is just too expensive.
I bought my Solovairs over 5 years ago, wore them daily as soon as it was cold enough, and they are still by far my favourite footware. I resently got some made in Thailand doc Martens. Compared to my comfy Solovairs they feel as if they were made by a carpenter with arthritis, an absolute travesty
@@marianazh9117 The quality of Docs have unquestionably been going down for a while. They've cheaped out and begun coasting on the names reputation. I don't hate them, as they are still fashionable boots (hell, I've got a pair of Jadons coming in the mail), but if your just looking for a pair of standard 1460s, save your money, get solovairs.
I am not a brand snob , and I like quality , Solovair would be my choice . It is getting harder and harder to find decent quality products , even the expansive stuff can be really bad now .
I managed to get a pair of Solovair oxbloods 8-holers about 3-4 years ago - they look great and they are night and day compared to an appalling pair of Thailand-made DMs. The MiE DMs do look good, but would really think long and hard about getting a pair. Fatal mistake by DMs to outsource, lost their...ahem, soul. Solovair keeping the faith.
phil allan I am beginning to agree with this. I also am very disappointed with DM prices in 2020. They are selling for very high prices to get a stylish look. But my stylish DM platform boots have eyelets are coming out when I lace them up. The DM store will not return or fix them. Thanks for sharing
Ay, as much as much as I've come to detest DMs as a company, I'd still buy a pair of cherry red MIE 1490s if theh still made them and sold them at a reasonable price.
I've worn DM's every day for the last about 20 years. The last pair I bought 6 months ago I had to return for a manufacturing defect then the replacement pair just seem very poor quality compared to previous. I'm thinking about buying a different brand for the first time. It's a shame. I used to love them
I bought my first pair of Solovairs in 2013 and they're still in excellent condition. They're very comfortable, they took some time to break in but they're top quality.
Did you buy the hi shine leather? I am hesitant because my Doc Martens Made in England look terrible after only 2 years because of severe cracks in the toe area despite regular care...
This video literally came out as I was looking to buy new boots and was debating between these 2 pairs. I've had 1490s Thailand docs for 2 years and the sole is completely gone with a small crack forming, an eyehole coming out and the tongue ripped in half. Not to mention all the cracks. Really the only thing that was holding me back was the yellow stitching and groves on the sole. But the fact that the soles can be replaced sold me.
How have the solovairs held up now? I have a pair of docs that lasted me only 8 months! The inside is shredding and the grip on the bottom is completly gone! I want go supportive boots that will last!
Been going a year in on my Solovair 8 eye Derbies. If they make it passed February, they'll officially have held up longer than any pair of Docs I've ever had.
Thanks so much for this detailed review! I have bought my THIRD pair since you started this review because of this! I hope Solovair sends you a pair as a courtesy. The only complaint I have about them is that they are truly a "traditional" fit, so I have a slightly high arch and this means my foot is pressed up against the stitch between the tongue and the toe cap, and that's REALLY painful for break in. I have a pair of Docs with a softer leather and those broke in perfectly at Size 10, these ones are going to be super painful for a while. Also because I'm in the US, returns aren't really an option if you order from the UK, which I did.
I had a problem breaking in a pair of Docs recently, discovered new ways to tie shoes and boots, found a style that didn't cross where it was hurting the top of my foot, and used thick socks. Almost immediately I stopped having pain.
I like that your only complaint is so minimal. I have been really been torn between which boot to start out with and I think you answered the question for me. thx
Yes! Been avidly waiting for this update and I am totally in agreement, thanks to you I bought my solivairs and I bloody love them, soon to order a second pair in ox blood
I am seriously considering buying a pair of solovairs when they come back in stock. They look really good quality but then again for the guts of €200 they would want to be.
Great review! Thank you! I recently found out about Solovair. I'm definitely ordering a pair of Derby boots. I'm glad you mentioned that it's possible to have them re-soled when/if the need should arise
Thank you for your amazing coverage! Watched your 2 month review a couple of weeks ago then I decided to pull the trigger. Just received my Greasy 8-Hole Derby boots this past Friday. Was pretty paranoid if I got the right size cuz my feet are slightly bigger than a size 11 based on their chart, so I went for 11.5 and they fit perfectly. Always wanted a pair of DM's but after watching your videos and reddit, gave me confidence in solovair. I'm from Malaysia and oddly enough the price of a pair of Made in England DM 1460s is much more expensive compared to Solovair's best seller. Suffice to say I love my new boots. (Plus I get to nerd out about the history of this company, when people ask if what I'm wearing are a pair of Doc Martens)
Thanks so much for the reviews. Been wanting to get a solid pair of boots to last, so this has been super helpful research. Tired of buying new shoes every couple years after very normal daily wear.
On the basis of the previous review I decided to treat myself to some Solovairs. I visited their factory, where they have a factory shop, they sell the retail ones but also many well priced pairs in the factory shop side... I ended up buying a pair of their lovely leather desert boots too. Not only that a chum in the ‘States bought a pair each for himself and his wife, all extremely happy to support a traditional, small, English business. Thanks for putting me on to them!
Which solovair boots would everyone recommend (I would like them to look like the classic docs) so should I go for the greasy matte or the high shine? 😭
After many years of not wearing docs (since high school) I finally pulled the trigger on the horween made in England ones. They arrived today, I hope they hold up well. I have several pairs of boots though so they won’t get beaten down too bad as I’ll rotate them out
Thank you for this video! I was so close to buying Docs but this convinced me that Solovairs are the way to go and I have a pair on the way. The sole wear on the MIE Docs is shocking and not what I would have expected from them!
I used to be a Doc Marten retailer 1980- 1995 and was never happy with the DM soles. Their advert was "cool in summer warm in winter" while in reality it was the other way around. There used to be a police version which never had the stitching around the welt, the beat "bobbies" used to wear them out completely in six months.Also the soles were so bad in ice, they were useless. They did come out with commando grip soles which I loved and they looked cool. Dunno if they still do them but I would recommend them.
Thank you very much for sharing, this is a very valuable information. Could you please let me know if these Solovair Derby boots you mentioned are similar quality to the Solovair boots you reviewed, or they are too different to be compared?
I purchased the 1460 Made in England Boots 2 Years ago they were good but then I tried Solovair and I was very impressed they are so much more better quality and so much more softer on your Feet I also wear Gripfast as well which are now made by Solovair
I use to have a pair of Docs and the sole was a chunk of solid rubber , and i recently bought a new pair of Dr martens , and the sole is hollow , have any idea why?
I still have a pair of Ox Blood Docs i bought in 1989. the sole is coming up on the heel on one but still look amazing. I think i am sold on the Solovair.
Recently I finally buckled down and decided that I finally wanted to get myself some Dr. Martens, 'cause I grew up watching my sister wear them constantly all the time. My sister adores the shoes, she's had like three pairs or more over her lifetime. So I wanted some too, because I think the overall design and profile is just super neat. It fits my vibe. But now that I have done my own research... I went ahead and ordered myself a pair of Solovairs instead. I really hope that they work out for me, size wise, since I had to order online; you just never know with that. But I am very excited to give them a shot. Thank you for your thoughts on the brands after 6 months of use, it really helped me decide between the two. Ultimately, I value durability and longterm comfort over any kind of brand loyalty. (Can't really be all that loyal when I myself never owned the shoes though, just admired DMs from afar).
Do you polish your boots regularly? I'm not sure what the difference in the conditions of use are between us, mate but I've gotta tell you, my MIE Doctor Martens' soles show FAR less wear and I wear mine on the walk to & from work on the pavements + all day on the workshop floor. Also, I polish mine regularly and don't see that deterioration on the surface of the leather. I do agree, though...the Solovair boots are just a cut above in all respects. For reference, I have Black 8 hole MIE Doctor Martens boots and Oxblood 6 hole Astronaut Solovair boots.
One more thing that makes Solovair better is that the stitching you can see on the welt is decorative, the actual stitching holding the welt to boot is a blind stitch, witch is way way more protected from damage than the side stitch, the leather would fail before the blind stitch, also Solovair sell replacement soles, 3 types - 1 the one you have on your 8 hole derby, 2 a slightly thinner style for their comfort/lifestyle line of boots & shoes, 3 the classic Dr Martens style they call Commando, with a much more thick aggresive tread design that is much more slip resistant. I will be getting a few pairs of the Commando to fix my vintage Dr Martens and for when the Solovair 8 hole greasy derby boots I will be getting eventually wear out. Solovair have a lot more style boots and shoes than I thought, not as many as Dr Martens but most of them are the cheapo China/Thia made, The for Life pair I have are nice leather but the soles are not lasting and of corse the whole for life thing only lasted 3 years, also have the mono black, the left boot is tighter than the right even though label says same size for both, the leather is thin and feels like plastic plus the soles wore out in two months of light walking. Very sad Dr martens got so bad, I still have a pair from 1996 that if my feet didn't grow I'd still wear, soo comfy. My next boots will 100% be Solovair
honestly the stiching on my docs started coming apart after 3 months (and I wasn't walking all that much since this was in early corona times)... and at about 6 months my heel cap started disintegrating and crumbling out of my boots (which the fabric that holds the heel in place was worn through). The same with the toe cap... so yeah basically the boots have no support anymore... very disappointing judging by the fact I paid over 200 Euros for them on the online store...
When it comes to sole replacement could it be possible to have a solovair sole fitted to a DM boot? Both appear to be constructed very similarly but use different compounds when it comes to the rubber.
Not really. Solovairs soles are attached differently to DMs. The stitching you see on the outside of the Solovairs are for decoration only. Have a look on Rose Anvil's channel where he cuts in half a pair of Solovairs and shows you how they are constructed in comparison to a pair of 1440 DMs: ua-cam.com/video/0DzVq9RsMMQ/v-deo.html
@@BigHenFor that's the welt, not the sole, on both of the boots the sole and welt are heated together and adhere to each other, so i believe it should be possible to swap out the soles on docs
So glad I chose the 8 Hole Solovair Derby over the MIE. I My feet are quite wide across the toes. My Asian DMs are five years old and still hurt unless I loosen the lower laces a bit. My Solovairs are fine and I can cinch the laces up snug with no discomfort. I also assumed the cracking on the toes was a non issue with the MIEs due to the higher quality leather. I believe you can re-sole Solovairs as well. Not sure about the DMs. Pro tip. Next time wear one of each boot, you can cut your test time in half 🤣HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Is the solovair toe box even bigger than the Asian DMs toe box? I have the MIE Docs which fit me perfectly, and worried that the Solovairs will be too roomy for me.
I own two pair of Solovair Classic Derby boots. They're awesome. Far better quality than the outsourced Dr Martens. You say in your video that I can get them re-soled. How do I go about doing that? Shoe repair stores here in SoCal say they can't replace the original sole . . .
Funnily enough, I got a pair of Dr Martens boots and a pair of Solovair boots last week. Straight out the box Solovairs feel so premium compared to the Docs. Granted, they cost me a little more than Docs (£20) and were made in England vs Asia, but Dr Martens have increased their prices so much in the past several years I do not think they are worth purchasing anymore.
Been looking for a replacement for my Docs. I've had them for only four years but the tread is almost completely gone which is understandably dangerous in the wintertime. So glad I discovered these boots, these are a genuine consideration now, thank you.
Hey I love your videos! I ended up buying a pair of Made in England boots but I might end up going with the 11 eye derby’s down the road just to have a pair of each. Also you should check out Rose Anvil on UA-cam! He cut open a pair of Docs and Solovairs but also gave your channel a shoutout! Good stuff
I've finally found the Solovairs that Id like to try, but theres so much contradictory views on the sizing vs the sizing of Doc's. I'd rather not have to order 3 pairs just to return 2 😢 but looks like that's my only option.
This is a very good video review, thank you. I bought a pair of greasy black Dr Martin boots the 1919 version. I was not happy with my purchase. The were made in Vietnam. I wanted the made in England version. In watching the real time review l am looking at the Solovair. More research is in my future. I always add a arch support insole as well. Thanks again for the info.
I want to get the docs as I found some MiE’s quite cheap. I plan on wearing them often but not daily, how long would you reckon they’d last for? Also I don’t plan on doing as much walking as you do. Cheers
I am ever so glad that I did some research before buying new boots. I've just received two pairs of knee high Solovair boots as a birthday present and will pretty much never buy any more DMs. The two pairs of DMs that I have I bought many years ago and to all intents and purposes it appears to be that DM's standards have slipped but Solovair's have not and so I know who I wish to support.
Thank you for this series of reviews -- love your SKX by the way. Would you put Grinders Cedric in the same league as these Solovairs since they are both made by NPS?
Thank you for this. I just bought a made in england pair of docs, after having given up on docs in the early 90s when the quality fell off a cliff, and as soon as I walked out of the store had buyers remorse, thinking of the times I've been burned by the doc. Haven't worn them yet. Did some reading. Learned about solovair. My solovairs showed up today, and now I just can't decide which pair to return. Good to know the Made in england docs are quality again, and I love the yellow stitching and how wide the sole sticks out beyond the stitching to give that sort of 'floating' look when you walk. I just read an article that says the made in england line of docs are actually made by solovair. I haven't figured out if there's truth to that yet, but if so, I'd probably just keep the docs, as I'm just a sucker for the aesthetics of docs. Good to know about the soles. Thanks for doing this.
I bought a pair of Solovair and the leather got cracked after a month of use... They told me that it was my fault for not taking good care of them. After 3 years the sole has splitted a bit. I don't want to buy the chinese Docs but this experience really disappointed me
Hello, I have a pair of docs and the bellow tongue is really hurting my feet. Will this be broken in after time or should I ask a cobbler to cut them up and stich them to the side?
Based largely on your videos I took a trip to a boot shop in Camden Town yesterday and picked up a pair of Solovair Chelsea boots. I've had bad luck with shoes and these are the most expensive pair I've ever bought, so I'm hoping that they last me a good while!
Foomandoonian Hey… You’re luckier than 99.9% of the people who watch these videos who can’t simply just drop by the shop in Camden though! :) If they fuck you over they are right there to get a new pair.
Good job on reviewing those! But I think I'll still go with another pair of BW2007 once mine finally break down (which they have already started after four years of wearing all year round). They might be less fancy, but they are also much more practical and half the price.
Thanks for your time to review both these iconic boots.Even though I already have 2 pairs of solovair boots,I've found their sizing to be a nightmare especially if you have narrower feet,plus their toebox felt much roomier and longer which I don't really like.Therefore I must have been among the very few lately who went back to Doc Martens.I never had a problem finding my size and a perfect fit with Docs.I still have 1919 steel toed ones and 1460 that fit perfectly.One other thing I ve found is that the Commander type of sole pattern on some Docs is equally durable to solovair and definately more durable than the waffle one.
I feel u on the solovair sizes, if I didn't go in store and try them on myself I never would've known to go down 2 sizes. Funnily enough I fit true to size in docs
THAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOUUUU, you just saved my money. I was looking for a boot that was the "Doc Marten" of the 90s because I wanted them again but they always felt SO cheap. Sir you SOLD me! I am heading to the Solovair website now. Thankyou. Rose Anvil sent me here, by the way
You way better off, I wanted to return my and only by great exception they refunded me. Quality is straight up garbage from Dr. Martens. I bought Greasy Black Solovairs, just came in! I am very curious how they are going to turn out after breaking them in.
Aw... what a shame. I so much wanted the MIE DM's to win because I grew up with them from the early 70's. It makes little difference to me now though at my age. Sad to see a legend die all the same... :(
I wear size 10 in doc marten boots im shopping on line i want some solovair boots would it be size 10 aswell do they run the same sizes thank you or would u switch to a nine an a half or keep it a ten
Hi there, I'm thinking of getting the Solovair Derby boots, but was hoping get your help about sizing. My feet fit the Dr. Martens Vintage Made in England 1490s size 5UK perfectly, because I have quite a low volume foot, where as the same size 5UK in the Asian Dr. Martens 1490 feel a lot more roomy, cause it seems they use different lasts, and the Asian toe box has more volume... I can just feet the front of the Vintage MIE boots if I stretch my front toes out (which I like), but I can't feel the front of the Asian boots unless I slide my foot forward. The Solovair Derby boots look larger in volume, at least in the toe box, so I'd like to ask, is the sizing more similar to the Asian Docs? I'm I fit size 5UK in the Vintage MIE, do you think it would be best to size down to a 4.5UK or even a 4UK? I like fitted boots without pain obviously, and hate when there's unnecessary extra space in the front.
What kind of black are your Solovairs? I don't think you mentioned if they were black high shine, the black patent, or neither. I can't seem to color match your boots to the ones on the website, they look nothing like the pictures too me.
Thank you for creating and sharing! This is very helpful, I appreciate you giving a six month review showing the wear in the soles. Definitely will go with Solovair, already have a vegan pair chosen. Cheers!✌ This is the third video I've watched comparing the two, and only ads for Dr. Martens come up, no Solovair. Someone's trying to save face.😋
I had some green Docs, I got 6-9 months out of them before the soles were worn and upper was cracked/split so not the best experience. I couldn't get them resoled locally either. They weren't the UK made ones either. Think I'll go for the Solovairs. Thanks for a great review!
@@fatal_goose4017 I actually got the burgundy rub off Dealer boots at Christmas 2022 - they're still in a much better way than the DMs were 8 months in. Highly recommended.
Have to say, I got my first pair of Thailand Docs in 2018 and up until now they were my most worn shoes since I bought them and the soleprofile still looks really good. BUT sadly the mid sole just cracked on the left boot. I wonder if it made a difference in the quality that those were limited edition joy divisions/new order ones 🤔 But after a lot of research I will really consider getting solovairs now
Docs split on the crease and takes ages to break in. Solovair boots last a very long time and you can resole when.they wear down they are comfortable from day one.
I have a pair of 1460 smooth Docs and I've been wearing them almost everyday for the past 8 years. The past month or so the leather has began to crack quite drastically in the toe crease and the soles have only just wore down to the air cushion sections. Considering my feet usually ruin shoes after a few months I'm surprised my Docs lasted this long! Of course there are better boots out there but I think Docs are still a good option.
I think Docs' quatity started to noticeably go down in the last five years or so. I bought a pair of Docs in 2012 and they're just now starting to show some real wear and tear. Anyone I talked to who had bought a pair of Docs more recently has complained about their durability and overall quality, though
@Devonreviewer Thanks for your review. I was thinking about buying DM's and came across Solovair ( and your video) while doing that. Your videos were really helpful. I got my boots a couple of days ago and, so far, am very happy with them.
I was able to have a pair in 1978, not sure if it was a Christmas present. It was the Red pair. My first memories where a lot of pain for the first 6 weeks wearing them in. The crease of the toes, very uncomfortable, so I think I may have alternated at the beginning between what I wore to School. When they were worn in they were great and very comfortable, my best boots. However I did see excessive wear on the souls like in your video, I do remember that for sure. The Airwear at the beginning was interesting but it was shortly lived and I think they wore through on the heal. I cannot remember how long I had them for but it wasn't years that's for sure , my overall thoughts were disappointing because the soul wore out. The worst thing was at School, some people thought I wasn't " Hard enough" to have docs, it's true it was the Punk era. But deep down I was hard enough I just didn't show it.
I have the same Solovair eight hole derby boot. They are excellent and I’ll never go back to DM’s ever again. The soles on my last pair of DM’s split across the ball of the foot after six months. Very poor wear and tear. Solovair is the winner by far and they are still going strong.
Hay, can you please tell us what size in CM you measured your foot at when talking about sizing please. Is your "normal" size in other footwear a size uk8? Because the size guide of solovair is much different than I would choose of the shelf. I would like to compare your measurements to the guide to see where I am. thank you
Enjoyed all reviews regarding Doc Martens boots, last few pairs I've owned have been the 7 eyelet steel toed one and I've found the soles at much more hard wearing than both the 1460 and 1914 I've had in the past. Keep the videos coming 😁
Last year I purchased a pair of Dr. Martens Abandon's MIE, I have worn them a lot and that includes Canadian winter. They still look amazing and the soles are fine, the one different thing about mine than a lot of the ones I have see reviewed is mine are stamped with noth "The Original" and "Made In England" on the sole which seems to be more common on vintage doc's that were better built. Does anybody know if maybe that could be the sole to look for? I would love to try a pair of Solovair's but they charge extra shipping to Canada and once you add that to the US exchange and duty/tax it's considerably more than buying MIE Dr. Martens in person here, maybe next time I am in the UK but for the time being I would spend that sort of money on Red Wings or the new Boulet Casual line.
I've worked security for 3.5 years and I'm looking at moving to a trade as a pipe fitter. For the last 3 years I've used 511 tactical and Bates tactical boots. In that time I had to use a composite toe which has limited my options. With as much as I've walked which is approximately 1000 to 2000 miles a year give or take the soles of these boots has been my biggest gripe with every pair I've used they wear down really fast and have foam in the mid sole and with as much as I walked the outsole will wear right into the midsole. I'm thinking about buying a pair of solovair steel toe derby boots and I'm hoping that these will serve me better than the Bates or 511 tactical. This review has been very helpful.
Compared to my 1994 Doc, the outsoles were much robust and deeper. I can believe the new Doc has so thin threads that worn out so easily. Frankly speaking, I would not recommend Doc nor similar because Doc took months to break in. Even after break-in, it is still not as comfortable as many other brands. I rather pamper myself with more comfortable shoes.
Sadly neither of these are waterproof witch is especially disappointing for the solovairs considering I paid $210 for a pair of boots made in a first world country know for its particularly wet weather and there are big holes in the base of the tongue were the gusset begins and yet you can easy get a boot for half that price that will never leak 😩but hey they do look cool and there’s no painful break in and there quite comfy so idk 😐 still pretty worth it I guess
I would strongly advise a day trip to Northampton and visit the factory shops of SM ans Solovair - you cann even do a factory tour at Solovair. DM shop is often cheaper than high street shops, but Solovair is lovely, just like a proper old school shoe shop with very knowledgeable staff. My son got some black 18 hole prototype never went to production boots about 5 years ago, they still look amazing and always gets compliments when hes out and about. I recentky bought a pair of waxed/greased DM shoes, more for nostalgia really, and they are comfortable, but going back to Solovair for my next urban walking boot, once they have my size back in stock!!
Have you notice the solovair’s heel cup leather? This is a problem they got. The leather on the heel is not supported at all and “falls” down to the stitches!!! Dr martens are super strong there! I own 2 pairs of solovairs 11 eye boots and they both have the same problem!
I will probably never try either unfortunately, ( size 11 1/2 2E ), no half sizing or wide sizing avaiable that I could find on either site Will stick to my Red Wing boots or maybe I might try a pair of Thorougood boots here in the future It seem to be the same story though with alot of boot / shoe manufacturers anymore, prices just seem to keep going up and the quality is just not there anymore
Rose Anvil sent me here. Thank you very much for your great review.
Same. Only because Ive never heard of Solovair before! Im stunned!
Me too
yup
Same shit...and ill buy a Solovair pair soon as i can
@@gaboasis21 listen look at all the comments on all these dodgy videos the majority have bought doc martens for many years some have lasted for years and years one guy has same boots for 16 years , suddenly you tube is flooded with videos going on about another brand and comparing them to doc martens that’s because no one has heard of them that’s because they used to make doc martens under licence from doc martens , but people always go for the brand they know best and that’s doc martens not Solovair !! So now it’s a campaign by this firm to derail doc martens one of the main people behind this is Rose Anvil is he and everyone connected getting paid ? I have no proof I don’t know but judging by the sheer amount of videos slagging off doc martens I would really think about it ,
I'm so frustrated at how hard it is to find a decently made product anywhere anymore. Everything has gone down in quality and it's gone up in price. I wish I was around in the early 90's to buy a small stockpile of good vintage Doc Martins. I have a pair of vintage Levis jeans that are likely older than I am and they look brand new after a year of heavy wear and being second hand. My year old American Eagle jeans are trash, they look worn and not in a cool way.
My MIE docs (2 pairs) are great, my vintage (20 yo) Docs are as good and I have a pair of outsource docs that are not as good... you get what you pay for... so the reason for out sourcing was due to the company nearly going out of business when people were not buying them. They were bought and restructured to save the company...
I hear you buddy! Made in china docs are taxing hard and the quality is just sub par. In terms of sneakers my nike sb stefan janoskis are shit quality broke down after a few months. Its like companies are charging more for something that does not last. Now i either buy vintage from thrift shops, locally made goods, or if i buy name brand goods i make sure they are not made in asian factories. I found that i get more out of the money i spend. Hell my 2nd hand vintage docs lasted much longer than the ones not made in england.
Planned obsolescence is everywhere. Low quality products are taken as if they were good/average quality (so as the prices), while good/average quality products are now considered "luxury".
We all dance to the sound that consumerism imposes on us, paying obscene sums for having a name adorning our products; brands are no longer necessarily an indication of quality, as it used to be long time ago.
Have a look at William Lennon boots. Traditional british work and outdoor boots. Nothing fancy, but thick high quality leather and traditional construction.
IMO if you look at various clothing in the store, materials they use nowdays often look and feel worse than the material on my old trousers I have worn daily at work and washed weekly for last 2 years. It's fucking ridiculous. There are still some local brands where I live, that make clothes out of good quality materials but sadly they don't make what I like and getting stuff custom tailored is just too expensive.
I bought my Solovairs over 5 years ago, wore them daily as soon as it was cold enough, and they are still by far my favourite footware. I resently got some made in Thailand doc Martens. Compared to my comfy Solovairs they feel as if they were made by a carpenter with arthritis, an absolute travesty
Did you break in? I was sure I wanted dr martens but now I don't even know, I thought they were really high quality
Solovairs can have their soles repaired for £50 where Dr martens can't be repaired and you need to buy a new pwir
@@marianazh9117 The quality of Docs have unquestionably been going down for a while. They've cheaped out and begun coasting on the names reputation. I don't hate them, as they are still fashionable boots (hell, I've got a pair of Jadons coming in the mail), but if your just looking for a pair of standard 1460s, save your money, get solovairs.
@@grugg3108 thank you for this info, in the end I decided that it's not worth it and I looked into solovairs but I didn't like the green
i think u mean a cobbler with arthritis
I am not a brand snob , and I like quality , Solovair would be my choice . It is getting harder and harder to find decent quality products , even the expansive stuff can be really bad now .
I managed to get a pair of Solovair oxbloods 8-holers about 3-4 years ago - they look great and they are night and day compared to an appalling pair of Thailand-made DMs. The MiE DMs do look good, but would really think long and hard about getting a pair. Fatal mistake by DMs to outsource, lost their...ahem, soul. Solovair keeping the faith.
phil allan I am beginning to agree with this. I also am very disappointed with DM prices in 2020. They are selling for very high prices to get a stylish look. But my stylish DM platform boots have eyelets are coming out when I lace them up. The DM store will not return or fix them. Thanks for sharing
When you watch the guy cutting them in half, neither are very good.
Ay, as much as much as I've come to detest DMs as a company, I'd still buy a pair of cherry red MIE 1490s if theh still made them and sold them at a reasonable price.
Keep the faith!
I've worn DM's every day for the last about 20 years. The last pair I bought 6 months ago I had to return for a manufacturing defect then the replacement pair just seem very poor quality compared to previous. I'm thinking about buying a different brand for the first time. It's a shame. I used to love them
buy red wings
Me too 👍🏻
Travis Spencer thx no Buy DM’s 👌🏻👍🏻
You may have bought the "cheaper" imports the video talks about. If I buy docs again, I will make sure they are full made in england/UK.
I bought my first pair of Solovairs in 2013 and they're still in excellent condition. They're very comfortable, they took some time to break in but they're top quality.
Did you buy the hi shine leather? I am hesitant because my Doc Martens Made in England look terrible after only 2 years because of severe cracks in the toe area despite regular care...
According to this video i ordered my first pair of solovairs just now.
😂😂😂
Hi, how long did your Solovair boots last? Would you recommend them?
This video literally came out as I was looking to buy new boots and was debating between these 2 pairs. I've had 1490s Thailand docs for 2 years and the sole is completely gone with a small crack forming, an eyehole coming out and the tongue ripped in half. Not to mention all the cracks. Really the only thing that was holding me back was the yellow stitching and groves on the sole. But the fact that the soles can be replaced sold me.
How have the solovairs held up now? I have a pair of docs that lasted me only 8 months! The inside is shredding and the grip on the bottom is completly gone! I want go supportive boots that will last!
Great! Now I can go and buy some Solovairs, I was waiting to see how this turned out first.
Been going a year in on my Solovair 8 eye Derbies. If they make it passed February, they'll officially have held up longer than any pair of Docs I've ever had.
Did they make it? How are they holding up after a year and some change?
Answer, damn it!
That saddens me to think the docs haven't lasted a year for you. Docs should last a lot longer!
@@colinwiseman It depends on the environment you use your boots. For some professions, no boot will last more than 2 years regardless of price.
how are they now
Copped a pair of Solovair a week ago, been loving them since 👍 thank you for your content
Thanks so much for this detailed review! I have bought my THIRD pair since you started this review because of this! I hope Solovair sends you a pair as a courtesy.
The only complaint I have about them is that they are truly a "traditional" fit, so I have a slightly high arch and this means my foot is pressed up against the stitch between the tongue and the toe cap, and that's REALLY painful for break in. I have a pair of Docs with a softer leather and those broke in perfectly at Size 10, these ones are going to be super painful for a while.
Also because I'm in the US, returns aren't really an option if you order from the UK, which I did.
get the Derby 8 eye Greasy Solovair...pre- broken in
I had a problem breaking in a pair of Docs recently, discovered new ways to tie shoes and boots, found a style that didn't cross where it was hurting the top of my foot, and used thick socks. Almost immediately I stopped having pain.
katie_incredible Just found the North America distributor solovairdirect.com. Have you tried them?
I like that your only complaint is so minimal. I have been really been torn between which boot to start out with and I think you answered the question for me. thx
Yes! Been avidly waiting for this update and I am totally in agreement, thanks to you I bought my solivairs and I bloody love them, soon to order a second pair in ox blood
I am seriously considering buying a pair of solovairs when they come back in stock. They look really good quality but then again for the guts of €200 they would want to be.
Any chance we could get one more update? Bought solovairs because of this review among others.
I will definitely provide more Solovair content, but not in direct comparison as I have stopped wearing these in equal rotation.
Great review! Thank you!
I recently found out about Solovair. I'm definitely ordering a pair of Derby boots. I'm glad you mentioned that it's possible to have them re-soled when/if the need should arise
Hi, did you ever end up buying the Solovair derby boots? I'd like to know how they were, and if they held up
@@Tom-ud8js no sir, unfortunately o haven't been able to just yet
Thank you for your amazing coverage! Watched your 2 month review a couple of weeks ago then I decided to pull the trigger. Just received my Greasy 8-Hole Derby boots this past Friday. Was pretty paranoid if I got the right size cuz my feet are slightly bigger than a size 11 based on their chart, so I went for 11.5 and they fit perfectly. Always wanted a pair of DM's but after watching your videos and reddit, gave me confidence in solovair. I'm from Malaysia and oddly enough the price of a pair of Made in England DM 1460s is much more expensive compared to Solovair's best seller. Suffice to say I love my new boots. (Plus I get to nerd out about the history of this company, when people ask if what I'm wearing are a pair of Doc Martens)
I've purchased a couple new 1460s, outsourced. I probably won't again. I wish the made in England would make more feminine colors.
Thank yous so much for this video! I got myself for Christmas a pair of solovairs and they are absolutely fantastic ❤️
Thanks so much for the reviews. Been wanting to get a solid pair of boots to last, so this has been super helpful research. Tired of buying new shoes every couple years after very normal daily wear.
On the basis of the previous review I decided to treat myself to some Solovairs. I visited their factory, where they have a factory shop, they sell the retail ones but also many well priced pairs in the factory shop side... I ended up buying a pair of their lovely leather desert boots too. Not only that a chum in the ‘States bought a pair each for himself and his wife, all extremely happy to support a traditional, small, English business. Thanks for putting me on to them!
Which solovair boots would everyone recommend (I would like them to look like the classic docs) so should I go for the greasy matte or the high shine? 😭
definitely hi shine
After many years of not wearing docs (since high school) I finally pulled the trigger on the horween made in England ones. They arrived today, I hope they hold up well. I have several pairs of boots though so they won’t get beaten down too bad as I’ll rotate them out
Dunkaroos great boots, I got a pair a week or so ago!
Horween?? Whaaat
ryan timony yup yup, check the website they are the 1460 “Dublin” boots $260 usd
Eying some Horween ones myself. How have yours held up?
@@oxfordrc1613 How much were they and how're they doing?
Thank you for this video! I was so close to buying Docs but this convinced me that Solovairs are the way to go and I have a pair on the way. The sole wear on the MIE Docs is shocking and not what I would have expected from them!
What pair did you get?
@@podomuss Greasy black 8 eye derby boots. I wear them almost every day 👍
@@AlexB-Music-UK good to hear. I’m a first time buyer and am getting the black Hi-shine 8 eye derby on the 28th.
I used to be a Doc Marten retailer 1980- 1995 and was never happy with the DM soles. Their advert was "cool in summer warm in winter" while in reality it was the other way around. There used to be a police version which never had the stitching around the welt, the beat "bobbies" used to wear them out completely in six months.Also the soles were so bad in ice, they were useless. They did come out with commando grip soles which I loved and they looked cool. Dunno if they still do them but I would recommend them.
Thank you very much for sharing, this is a very valuable information.
Could you please let me know if these Solovair Derby boots you mentioned are similar quality to the Solovair boots you reviewed, or they are too different to be compared?
Hi. Great update. How are they shaping up now? Are they still going strong, the soloviars? Thanks.
I purchased the 1460 Made in England Boots 2 Years ago they were good but then I tried Solovair and I was very impressed they are so much more better quality and so much more softer on your Feet I also wear Gripfast as well which are now made by Solovair
Are the 1460 Made in England boots the same sizing as the Solovair, or do you think the Solovair run larger?
I use to have a pair of Docs and the sole was a chunk of solid rubber , and i recently bought a new pair of Dr martens , and the sole is hollow , have any idea why?
ᛉ W E R W O L F ᛉ cost cutting :(
I think it's meant to make them bouncier, idk how good it actually is
@@ez5993 it's not cost cutting lol, it's the air cushioned sole which their brand is built off
I still have a pair of Ox Blood Docs i bought in 1989. the sole is coming up on the heel on one but still look amazing. I think i am sold on the Solovair.
Recently I finally buckled down and decided that I finally wanted to get myself some Dr. Martens, 'cause I grew up watching my sister wear them constantly all the time. My sister adores the shoes, she's had like three pairs or more over her lifetime. So I wanted some too, because I think the overall design and profile is just super neat. It fits my vibe. But now that I have done my own research... I went ahead and ordered myself a pair of Solovairs instead. I really hope that they work out for me, size wise, since I had to order online; you just never know with that. But I am very excited to give them a shot. Thank you for your thoughts on the brands after 6 months of use, it really helped me decide between the two. Ultimately, I value durability and longterm comfort over any kind of brand loyalty. (Can't really be all that loyal when I myself never owned the shoes though, just admired DMs from afar).
How have the Solovairs held up so far?
Do you polish your boots regularly? I'm not sure what the difference in the conditions of use are between us, mate but I've gotta tell you, my MIE Doctor Martens' soles show FAR less wear and I wear mine on the walk to & from work on the pavements + all day on the workshop floor. Also, I polish mine regularly and don't see that deterioration on the surface of the leather. I do agree, though...the Solovair boots are just a cut above in all respects. For reference, I have Black 8 hole MIE Doctor Martens boots and Oxblood 6 hole Astronaut Solovair boots.
I used to wear Doc’s, both shoes and boots but I always found them hard to break in and the soles split on me.
One more thing that makes Solovair better is that the stitching you can see on the welt is decorative, the actual stitching holding the welt to boot is a blind stitch, witch is way way more protected from damage than the side stitch, the leather would fail before the blind stitch, also Solovair sell replacement soles, 3 types - 1 the one you have on your 8 hole derby, 2 a slightly thinner style for their comfort/lifestyle line of boots & shoes, 3 the classic Dr Martens style they call Commando, with a much more thick aggresive tread design that is much more slip resistant. I will be getting a few pairs of the Commando to fix my vintage Dr Martens and for when the Solovair 8 hole greasy derby boots I will be getting eventually wear out. Solovair have a lot more style boots and shoes than I thought, not as many as Dr Martens but most of them are the cheapo China/Thia made, The for Life pair I have are nice leather but the soles are not lasting and of corse the whole for life thing only lasted 3 years, also have the mono black, the left boot is tighter than the right even though label says same size for both, the leather is thin and feels like plastic plus the soles wore out in two months of light walking. Very sad Dr martens got so bad, I still have a pair from 1996 that if my feet didn't grow I'd still wear, soo comfy. My next boots will 100% be Solovair
honestly the stiching on my docs started coming apart after 3 months (and I wasn't walking all that much since this was in early corona times)... and at about 6 months my heel cap started disintegrating and crumbling out of my boots (which the fabric that holds the heel in place was worn through). The same with the toe cap... so yeah basically the boots have no support anymore... very disappointing judging by the fact I paid over 200 Euros for them on the online store...
When it comes to sole replacement could it be possible to have a solovair sole fitted to a DM boot? Both appear to be constructed very similarly but use different compounds when it comes to the rubber.
I was wondering the same thing ...
The Solovair soles are for sale on the Solovair website in various treads too for £15/20 a pair.
Not really. Solovairs soles are attached differently to DMs. The stitching you see on the outside of the Solovairs are for decoration only. Have a look on Rose Anvil's channel where he cuts in half a pair of Solovairs and shows you how they are constructed in comparison to a pair of 1440 DMs: ua-cam.com/video/0DzVq9RsMMQ/v-deo.html
@@BigHenFor that's the welt, not the sole, on both of the boots the sole and welt are heated together and adhere to each other, so i believe it should be possible to swap out the soles on docs
ua-cam.com/video/EatME6K387I/v-deo.html
This was informative and insightful. Thanks for doing the work you do.
So glad I chose the 8 Hole Solovair Derby over the MIE. I My feet are quite wide across the toes. My Asian DMs are five years old and still hurt unless I loosen the lower laces a bit. My Solovairs are fine and I can cinch the laces up snug with no discomfort. I also assumed the cracking on the toes was a non issue with the MIEs due to the higher quality leather. I believe you can re-sole Solovairs as well. Not sure about the DMs. Pro tip. Next time wear one of each boot, you can cut your test time in half 🤣HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Is the solovair toe box even bigger than the Asian DMs toe box? I have the MIE Docs which fit me perfectly, and worried that the Solovairs will be too roomy for me.
i own Dr. Marten made in Thailand which i bought in 2008 in UK. I wear rarely amd its still rocking .
I own two pair of Solovair Classic Derby boots. They're awesome. Far better quality than the outsourced Dr Martens. You say in your video that I can get them re-soled. How do I go about doing that? Shoe repair stores here in SoCal say they can't replace the original sole . . .
Funnily enough, I got a pair of Dr Martens boots and a pair of Solovair boots last week. Straight out the box Solovairs feel so premium compared to the Docs. Granted, they cost me a little more than Docs (£20) and were made in England vs Asia, but Dr Martens have increased their prices so much in the past several years I do not think they are worth purchasing anymore.
Dr Martens would be decent boots between -40%, half the price they sell for even for the MIE ones.
My only dilemma is do i get Ox blood Doctor Martens MIE or Ox blood Solovairs later in the year.
Been looking for a replacement for my Docs. I've had them for only four years but the tread is almost completely gone which is understandably dangerous in the wintertime. So glad I discovered these boots, these are a genuine consideration now, thank you.
Hey I love your videos! I ended up buying a pair of Made in England boots but I might end up going with the 11 eye derby’s down the road just to have a pair of each.
Also you should check out Rose Anvil on UA-cam! He cut open a pair of Docs and Solovairs but also gave your channel a shoutout! Good stuff
I've finally found the Solovairs that Id like to try, but theres so much contradictory views on the sizing vs the sizing of Doc's. I'd rather not have to order 3 pairs just to return 2 😢 but looks like that's my only option.
This is a very good video review, thank you. I bought a pair of greasy black Dr Martin boots the 1919 version. I was not happy with my purchase. The were made in Vietnam. I wanted the made in England version. In watching the real time review l am looking at the Solovair. More research is in my future. I always add a arch support insole as well. Thanks again for the info.
I want to get the docs as I found some MiE’s quite cheap. I plan on wearing them often but not daily, how long would you reckon they’d last for? Also I don’t plan on doing as much walking as you do. Cheers
Hello, i have a pair of Docs 1460 china in 8UK that fit me right, a little bit tight but they will break in, in solovair derbys should i order 8uk?
go down half a size from ur sneaker size
I am ever so glad that I did some research before buying new boots. I've just received two pairs of knee high Solovair boots as a birthday present and will pretty much never buy any more DMs. The two pairs of DMs that I have I bought many years ago and to all intents and purposes it appears to be that DM's standards have slipped but Solovair's have not and so I know who I wish to support.
Thank you for this series of reviews -- love your SKX by the way.
Would you put Grinders Cedric in the same league as these Solovairs since they are both made by NPS?
Thank you for this. I just bought a made in england pair of docs, after having given up on docs in the early 90s when the quality fell off a cliff, and as soon as I walked out of the store had buyers remorse, thinking of the times I've been burned by the doc. Haven't worn them yet. Did some reading. Learned about solovair. My solovairs showed up today, and now I just can't decide which pair to return. Good to know the Made in england docs are quality again, and I love the yellow stitching and how wide the sole sticks out beyond the stitching to give that sort of 'floating' look when you walk. I just read an article that says the made in england line of docs are actually made by solovair. I haven't figured out if there's truth to that yet, but if so, I'd probably just keep the docs, as I'm just a sucker for the aesthetics of docs. Good to know about the soles. Thanks for doing this.
A most fair, thoughtful comparison. I'll spend extra for quality product. Respect!
I bought a pair of Solovair and the leather got cracked after a month of use... They told me that it was my fault for not taking good care of them. After 3 years the sole has splitted a bit. I don't want to buy the chinese Docs but this experience really disappointed me
Did you buy the Hi-shine version?
Hello, I have a pair of docs and the bellow tongue is really hurting my feet. Will this be broken in after time or should I ask a cobbler to cut them up and stich them to the side?
Based largely on your videos I took a trip to a boot shop in Camden Town yesterday and picked up a pair of Solovair Chelsea boots. I've had bad luck with shoes and these are the most expensive pair I've ever bought, so I'm hoping that they last me a good while!
Foomandoonian
Hey… You’re luckier than 99.9% of the people who watch these videos who can’t simply just drop by the shop in Camden though! :) If they fuck you over they are right there to get a new pair.
Good job on reviewing those!
But I think I'll still go with another pair of BW2007 once mine finally break down (which they have already started after four years of wearing all year round). They might be less fancy, but they are also much more practical and half the price.
How is the toebox in the derby compare to the dealer boot vs made in england chelsea boot doc martins
Thank you,from Moscow.
I wear a size 10 sneaker should I get a 9.5 in this boot?
Thanks for your time to review both these iconic boots.Even though I already have 2 pairs of solovair boots,I've found their sizing to be a nightmare especially if you have narrower feet,plus their toebox felt much roomier and longer which I don't really like.Therefore I must have been among the very few lately who went back to Doc Martens.I never had a problem finding my size and a perfect fit with Docs.I still have 1919 steel toed ones and 1460 that fit perfectly.One other thing I ve found is that the Commander type of sole pattern on some Docs is equally durable to solovair and definately more durable than the waffle one.
I feel u on the solovair sizes, if I didn't go in store and try them on myself I never would've known to go down 2 sizes. Funnily enough I fit true to size in docs
THAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOUUUU, you just saved my money. I was looking for a boot that was the "Doc Marten" of the 90s because I wanted them again but they always felt SO cheap. Sir you SOLD me! I am heading to the Solovair website now. Thankyou. Rose Anvil sent me here, by the way
You way better off, I wanted to return my and only by great exception they refunded me. Quality is straight up garbage from Dr. Martens. I bought Greasy Black Solovairs, just came in! I am very curious how they are going to turn out after breaking them in.
Hi, are you still wearing the Solovair boots? Can you recommend them? @@djakkdjakkd
You should review some new rock boots, I'm curious what you would think
One thing I know is solovair sell their soles on their shop, £15 for a pair. Maybe you could buy a pair of them, and take your old docs to a cobbler?
Aw... what a shame. I so much wanted the MIE DM's to win because I grew up with them from the early 70's. It makes little difference to me now though at my age. Sad to see a legend die all the same... :(
I wear size 10 in doc marten boots im shopping on line i want some solovair boots would it be size 10 aswell do they run the same sizes thank you or would u switch to a nine an a half or keep it a ten
Hi buddy, are both these boots true to size, meaning if I wear size 7, should I order 7 or up in size...???
Hi there, I'm thinking of getting the Solovair Derby boots, but was hoping get your help about sizing. My feet fit the Dr. Martens Vintage Made in England 1490s size 5UK perfectly, because I have quite a low volume foot, where as the same size 5UK in the Asian Dr. Martens 1490 feel a lot more roomy, cause it seems they use different lasts, and the Asian toe box has more volume... I can just feet the front of the Vintage MIE boots if I stretch my front toes out (which I like), but I can't feel the front of the Asian boots unless I slide my foot forward.
The Solovair Derby boots look larger in volume, at least in the toe box, so I'd like to ask, is the sizing more similar to the Asian Docs? I'm I fit size 5UK in the Vintage MIE, do you think it would be best to size down to a 4.5UK or even a 4UK? I like fitted boots without pain obviously, and hate when there's unnecessary extra space in the front.
what did you get.?
@@mrsthatcher9815 I ended up getting neither. Might do in the future.
What kind of black are your Solovairs? I don't think you mentioned if they were black high shine, the black patent, or neither. I can't seem to color match your boots to the ones on the website, they look nothing like the pictures too me.
These are a Hi-Shine finish
Do they rub the back of the ankle like docs do? Huge issue for me 😢
Is that a Matt Heafy 7 string Epiphone in the backround?
Thanks for the video.... Can you resole the Solovair when the sole eventually wears out?
Yes the soles can be replaced
Thank you for creating and sharing! This is very helpful, I appreciate you giving a six month review showing the wear in the soles. Definitely will go with Solovair, already have a vegan pair chosen. Cheers!✌
This is the third video I've watched comparing the two, and only ads for Dr. Martens come up, no Solovair. Someone's trying to save face.😋
I had some green Docs, I got 6-9 months out of them before the soles were worn and upper was cracked/split so not the best experience. I couldn't get them resoled locally either. They weren't the UK made ones either. Think I'll go for the Solovairs. Thanks for a great review!
Exact same problem as me! did you end up getting the solovairs? If so how did they hold up?
@@fatal_goose4017 I actually got the burgundy rub off Dealer boots at Christmas 2022 - they're still in a much better way than the DMs were 8 months in. Highly recommended.
Have to say, I got my first pair of Thailand Docs in 2018 and up until now they were my most worn shoes since I bought them and the soleprofile still looks really good. BUT sadly the mid sole just cracked on the left boot. I wonder if it made a difference in the quality that those were limited edition joy divisions/new order ones 🤔
But after a lot of research I will really consider getting solovairs now
Conclusion Solovair is better and cheaper. Thank you.
more expensive but worth it
Where can I find that green glowing Rocket lamp in the Background?
Docs split on the crease and takes ages to break in.
Solovair boots last a very long time and you can resole when.they wear down they are comfortable from day one.
I have a pair of 1460 smooth Docs and I've been wearing them almost everyday for the past 8 years. The past month or so the leather has began to crack quite drastically in the toe crease and the soles have only just wore down to the air cushion sections. Considering my feet usually ruin shoes after a few months I'm surprised my Docs lasted this long! Of course there are better boots out there but I think Docs are still a good option.
I think Docs' quatity started to noticeably go down in the last five years or so. I bought a pair of Docs in 2012 and they're just now starting to show some real wear and tear. Anyone I talked to who had bought a pair of Docs more recently has complained about their durability and overall quality, though
@Devonreviewer Thanks for your review. I was thinking about buying DM's and came across Solovair ( and your video) while doing that. Your videos were really helpful. I got my boots a couple of days ago and, so far, am very happy with them.
Hi, are you still wearing the Solovairs? I am thinking of purchasing a pair. Would want to know how they hold up. Thanks.
I was able to have a pair in 1978, not sure if it was a Christmas present. It was the Red pair. My first memories where a lot of pain for the first 6 weeks wearing them in. The crease of the toes, very uncomfortable, so I think I may have alternated at the beginning between what I wore to School. When they were worn in they were great and very comfortable, my best boots. However I did see excessive wear on the souls like in your video, I do remember that for sure. The Airwear at the beginning was interesting but it was shortly lived and I think they wore through on the heal. I cannot remember how long I had them for but it wasn't years that's for sure , my overall thoughts were disappointing because the soul wore out. The worst thing was at School, some people thought I wasn't " Hard enough" to have docs, it's true it was the Punk era. But deep down I was hard enough I just didn't show it.
I have the same Solovair eight hole derby boot. They are excellent and I’ll never go back to DM’s ever again. The soles on my last pair of DM’s split across the ball of the foot after six months. Very poor wear and tear. Solovair is the winner by far and they are still going strong.
It is interesting how round the transition from the heel has worn in the Docs, showing how important even a wooden shank really is!
Hay, can you please tell us what size in CM you measured your foot at when talking about sizing please. Is your "normal" size in other footwear a size uk8? Because the size guide of solovair is much different than I would choose of the shelf. I would like to compare your measurements to the guide to see where I am. thank you
Just received my solovair but not shure if this is true that the gresey is a better leather vs hi shine
Enjoyed all reviews regarding Doc Martens boots, last few pairs I've owned have been the 7 eyelet steel toed one and I've found the soles at much more hard wearing than both the 1460 and 1914 I've had in the past. Keep the videos coming 😁
are these the hi shine or patent solovairs? thx!
Last year I purchased a pair of Dr. Martens Abandon's MIE, I have worn them a lot and that includes Canadian winter. They still look amazing and the soles are fine, the one different thing about mine than a lot of the ones I have see reviewed is mine are stamped with noth "The Original" and "Made In England" on the sole which seems to be more common on vintage doc's that were better built. Does anybody know if maybe that could be the sole to look for? I would love to try a pair of Solovair's but they charge extra shipping to Canada and once you add that to the US exchange and duty/tax it's considerably more than buying MIE Dr. Martens in person here, maybe next time I am in the UK but for the time being I would spend that sort of money on Red Wings or the new Boulet Casual line.
Make a video after wearing them for 12 months!
I bought my 8 eye Derby Solovair in November 2016 and they're still going strong now!!
@WrathSeasonShow very, you won't be disappointed
how are they holding up
@@fico8400 great!! I posted a video on my channel to show people them after 7 years of wear 😁
I've worked security for 3.5 years and I'm looking at moving to a trade as a pipe fitter. For the last 3 years I've used 511 tactical and Bates tactical boots. In that time I had to use a composite toe which has limited my options. With as much as I've walked which is approximately 1000 to 2000 miles a year give or take the soles of these boots has been my biggest gripe with every pair I've used they wear down really fast and have foam in the mid sole and with as much as I walked the outsole will wear right into the midsole. I'm thinking about buying a pair of solovair steel toe derby boots and I'm hoping that these will serve me better than the Bates or 511 tactical. This review has been very helpful.
Does your solovair tongue slide to one side when you're wearing them?
Yay for Solovair. When you are on a good thing stick to it.
Compared to my 1994 Doc, the outsoles were much robust and deeper. I can believe the new Doc has so thin threads that worn out so easily. Frankly speaking, I would not recommend Doc nor similar because Doc took months to break in. Even after break-in, it is still not as comfortable as many other brands. I rather pamper myself with more comfortable shoes.
I am at this crossroad and highly interested in you conclusion.
Sadly neither of these are waterproof witch is especially disappointing for the solovairs considering I paid $210 for a pair of boots made in a first world country know for its particularly wet weather and there are big holes in the base of the tongue were the gusset begins and yet you can easy get a boot for half that price that will never leak 😩but hey they do look cool and there’s no painful break in and there quite comfy so idk 😐 still pretty worth it I guess
I would strongly advise a day trip to Northampton and visit the factory shops of SM ans Solovair - you cann even do a factory tour at Solovair. DM shop is often cheaper than high street shops, but Solovair is lovely, just like a proper old school shoe shop with very knowledgeable staff. My son got some black 18 hole prototype never went to production boots about 5 years ago, they still look amazing and always gets compliments when hes out and about.
I recentky bought a pair of waxed/greased DM shoes, more for nostalgia really, and they are comfortable, but going back to Solovair for my next urban walking boot, once they have my size back in stock!!
Solovair have a shank; Doc Martens no longer have a shank and will kill your feet. End of discussion.
Have you notice the solovair’s heel cup leather? This is a problem they got. The leather on the heel is not supported at all and “falls” down to the stitches!!! Dr martens are super strong there! I own 2 pairs of solovairs 11 eye boots and they both have the same problem!
Hi my size is 8,5 and my foot are little wide,so i will buy my first pair of drmartens (1460)so shoul i go with size 8 or size 9?? Please answer 🙏🏻
I'd go up the 9. If they're too big you can always add a thin insert or wear a thicker sock.
Nathalie Castro thank you 🙏🏻
I will probably never try either unfortunately, ( size 11 1/2 2E ), no half sizing or wide sizing avaiable that I could find on either site
Will stick to my Red Wing boots or maybe I might try a pair of Thorougood boots here in the future
It seem to be the same story though with alot of boot / shoe manufacturers anymore, prices just seem to keep going up and the quality is just not there anymore