Doc Martens v Solovair

[Tarwater]

(deleted)

 

[Worf]

I don't drink... and don't snort or smoke... the link that was first put up had nothing listed when I went in to look at products... Funny...

Worf

 

[chikackik]

Solovair are still making boots but now they do mostly custom orders and do not mass product anymore...

I have had my share of Dr Marten's in time and I can honestly say that Solovair is really up and above the standard of the "good old days" of Dr Marten's, since 2001 Doc have lost it on quality and the cheap priced ones are made in Asia... Doc still have some styles that they brought back to be produce in the UK, but I would rather pay for Solovair made in England than Dr Martens made in England, since prices "here in Canada" are really similar between both brands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIDNTUIbG0U

 

[Coy Coleman]

I think if you buy the classic styles the quality has not gone down that much. If you buy the newer shoes or slip on Chelsea Boots - they are garbage. I just bought some circa 2011 Brown 1460's new from a Ace Hardware Store for $45 (Oct 2014). They look and feel like the Originals of years past. I have a pair of 5 eyelet Chuka Boots from 1995 $35 Sportsman's Guide, changed the soles 2 years ago and they are still going strong after years of use and abuse at work and play. I bought a pair of slip on Chelsea Boots in Singapore in 2007 for $120 and they fell apart almost instantly. Always buy the cheap bargains when you find them. Never pay full price and you'll get your money out of them. In fact, never pay full price for any brand that is overpriced and buy quality.
Note - I have seen Airwair soles on Payless shoes recently. Sad but true. DM has had a major disconnect with their customers.

 

[nick123]

I have a pair of black 14?0s (I don't wear). I spent the extra money for the MIEs. They're really nice though. Feet bled the few times I wore them but doubling my socks solved that. For the MIEs you'll want to size down for a snug fit.

 

[davyjones007]

I was in Lord & Taylors a while back and they sell Docs as well. How about that for a twist. I got my first pair in 1993 in a Docs store in Singapore. They lasted about a year of almost daily wearing. I really want another pair but how do you know which ones are NOT made in the UK?

 

[Justhandguns]

I was in Lord & Taylors a while back and they sell Docs as well. How about that for a twist. I got my first pair in 1993 in a Docs store in Singapore. They lasted about a year of almost daily wearing. I really want another pair but how do you know which ones are NOT made in the UK?

I got my pair of Solovair from Camden, London last year. 100% made in England. As for Docs, they have a premium 'vintage' range which they state specifically on their webpage where they are made. It looks to me that DocMAr are operating with two lines, one which is made in SE Asia and the other made in England.

 

[Edward]

Yes, DMs did what a lot of companies do - they have the generic lines manufactured where it's cheaper to pay for labour, and the pricier lines put together in England and marketed at those who won't buy non-English-made DMs. TBh if I was buying either now I'd probably just stick with Solovair, but that's more that they seem to do a wider range of what appeals to me than anything else.

 

[l0fielectronic]

I had a two of pairs of DMs back in the early 1990s, both split at the same point after about 6-9 months light wear. I never bought another pair after that.

I have no idea where they were made in that era but they were far from indestructible boots.

I did read in the news a few months ago that they have started producing the specialist 'Made In England' range and that it seems to be going quite well for them, they were expanding the numbers they employ, so I wish them well with that.

 

[Edward]

I had a two of pairs of DMs back in the early 1990s, both split at the same point after about 6-9 months light wear. I never bought another pair after that.

I have no idea where they were made in that era but they were far from indestructible boots.

I did read in the news a few months ago that they have started producing the specialist 'Made In England' range and that it seems to be going quite well for them, they were expanding the numbers they employ, so I wish them well with that.

I had mine back then too. I think it wasn't untl the end of the 90s that production shifted. I had a waxy pair that lasted longer (but eh.... smelt funny if they got wet and weren't carefully aired) than the regular smoother leather. My first pair - the latter - was the standard, eight-hole, shiny black boot. I believe my parents paid around £45 (a price they stayed at for years... of course with the assitance of outsourcing to cheaper labour). I wore them almost exclusively, certainly daily, for eighteen months before one of the split above the toe. After the second pair, which I think lasted two years or more, I moned on to squaddie boots, which were much hardier.

 

[nick123]

Just had a conversation with this skinhead dude who lives across the street. He was wearing oxblood Solovairs. Apparently they're about $100 more than MIE Docs. Better looking boots IMO.

 

[PADDY]

Got my first pair in the late 70s..! I used a black high ankle DM in the early 80s as urban patrol boots in Northern Ireland with the Army. Very comfy.

 

[Sloan1874]

Wore the standard issue indy-kid ankle high DMs from '90 through to '95, they used to get a hell of a beating at gigs, and a pair of nubuck three-hole ones for school. The nubucks would go shiny after a couple of terms, but the standard ones, of which I had a couple of pairs, lasted unbelievably well - I suspect they're still under the stairs in my parents' house. I should really check.
A friend of mine had a pair of cherry 14 hole DMs that he wore with plus 4s (or some sort of plus trousers). They took so long to pull on that he only wore them if he knew he was going out for the whole day. In retrospect, he looked a sight, but y'know, that's teenagers for you. [huh]

 

[Edward]

My favourite DM story was about Dennis Pennis, an early mid-nineties comedy character. The guy behind him is English, but Dennis was an obnoxious, American showbiz correspondent who basically used to wind celebs up to comic effect (classic quote, to Demi Moore as a red carpet premier - "Demi, if it was tastefully done and entire organic to the plot, would you consider keeping your clothes on in one of your movies?"). Doing it back in the day before Sacha Baron Cohen. Here he is...

The glasses were fake, and included in the costume in the hope it might make some celebrity security think twice about hitting him. He also wore ten hole, cherry red DMs with his suits. The DMs had steel toecaps, just in case the glasses didn't work.

Funny guy... punctured a lot of celebrity egos.

 

[Sloan1874]

Ha, yes, some of it was brilliant. You forget how much nerve it took to do some of this stuff: [video=youtube;v654Jh5Z9uI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v654Jh5Z9uI[/video]

 

[davyjones007]

I got my pair of Solovair from Camden, London last year. 100% made in England. As for Docs, they have a premium 'vintage' range which they state specifically on their webpage where they are made. It looks to me that DocMAr are operating with two lines, one which is made in SE Asia and the other made in England.

Thanks for the reply. I went and checked out both websites. Solovair has nothing on the US side. The Dms site does tell you which ones are made in the UK. Great avatar BTW.

David

 

[Davy Crockett]

My personal favourite Dennis Pennis moment was the Joan Collins one, still makes me titter thinking about it!

D

 

[Smithy]

Wore Doc boots back in high school and uni in the late 80s to mid 90s. Don't wear them now but if I was going to pick up a pair again I'd go Solovair.

My old ones saw some serious hard work at gigs and on the town. I wonder if the new Docs could put up with the front row at a JAMC or PiL concert. Something tells me probably not

 

[Edward]

Ha, yes, some of it was brilliant. You forget how much nerve it took to do some of this stuff: [video=youtube;v654Jh5Z9uI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v654Jh5Z9uI[/video]

My personal favourite Dennis Pennis moment was the Joan Collins one, still makes me titter thinking about it!

D

Wore Doc boots back in high school and uni in the late 80s to mid 90s. Don't wear them now but if I was going to pick up a pair again I'd go Solovair.

My old ones saw some serious hard work at gigs and on the town. I wonder if the new Docs could put up with the front row at a JAMC or PiL concert. Something tells me probably not

Heh. Last time I saw the Pogues, I resorted to steel-toed engineer boots.... (I see they're not torung this December. Well that's Christmas off, then. No Pogues shows = rubbish birthday for Jesus!)

I had a look at the Solovair website recently - they have quite the range, including a lot of nice looking leather-soled shoes...

 

[Smithy]

Heh. Last time I saw the Pogues, I resorted to steel-toed engineer bootsQUOTE]

Not a silly idea, they're a corker live and whip the old crowd up.

Actually had a look at the Solovair site and you're right, there's some nice (old school for us types) styles on there. Still have a soft spot for cherries over polished with black nugget, those were the days!