Better than “real” Dr Martens - Solovair

[@RoseAnvil]

Get a high quality wallet, belt or MORE in the Rose Anvil shop here - bit.ly/44jXLNu

[@antennastoheaven]

Quick tip if you’re about to buy Docs/Solovair: never buy Hi-Shine ones. These boots have some kind of plastic coating on top that not letting shoe creams penetrate to the leather. Always choose for Grain Leather, Greasy ones or any another that actually has real skin pattern on top.

[@phipschi4255]

your point is right, but the coated leather is the classic look most people want to have when buying a combat boot.

[@awethesound]

Yup, I have a more dress oriented solovair shoe with this high-shine finish, and it has cracked and wrinkled to shit. No slav squats allowed! My oil leather 10 eye shit kickers from them are going strong after half a decade.

[@salskars6637]

Are you referring to patent-leather high gloss or even leather that can be polished to a higher gloss (and open pore that absorbs cream and/or mink oil)?

[@srafnos2073]

I second this, I made the mistake of picking up the hi-shine version and I regret it, since the "flawless" shine becomes obsolete once the leather starts really breaking in and cracking

[@RaccKing21]

@@awethesound Off topic, but proper slav squatting doesn't crease shoes. Source: am a Slav. You should keep your feet flat to the ground, shouldn't lift your heels up. That way you can relax your leg muscles and you are more stable. Apparently westerners have trouble doing it properly? At least, that's what I've heard. Something about calf muscle lengths, don't remember it well.

[@gregsilva8947]

I have a pair of steel toed 10 eyelet Docs that were made in 1987. I stopped wearing them in the late 90s because the steel toe was uncomfortable. I held on to them because they had a double yellow puritan stitch that I’ve never seen on other Docs. After watching your first video on Docs, I dug mine out and cut into the well worn soles. They had wooden shanks that were both broken. I found a place that resoled them with Vibram soles after removing the steel toes. They even preserved the double yellow stitch. I had them put in steel shanks. They’re finally comfortable to wear and the leather is still holding up. The quality is totally different compared to later made cheap Docs. I’d love to see what’s inside of the “Made in England” boots today. Thanks.

[@ericp377]

Where did you find a cobbler to resole them?

[@lateinbloom]

Not sure if this is helpful, but they cut the MiE Docs in half in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3e5eWhreseSiJo

[@oh_rhythm]

I wanna see those yo

[@m.f.3347]

Surprised you didn't mention the main reason I personally bought Solovairs: resoleability. I hate the idea of having to throw away perfectly good uppers because the sole has worn through and can't be replaced

[@stefcho9]

He briefly says it at 9:56 😂

[@utut0506]

Quality of materials aside, I think Solovairs and Docs have similar faux Goodyear welt construction, which means the Solovairs are not easier to be resoled than the the Docs. To remove the outsole of the Docs, you just need to pop the yellow stitching and the outsole will come off with the welt. If you have access to a good cobbler, you can easier require them to reconstruct your Doc using a true Goodyear welt construction. As for Solovairs, I am not really sure how one can resole them unless they have the heat blade with them… it is simply impossible to remove the outsole of a Solovair without damaging the upper because it is internally stitched to the welt. I guess the only way to resole a Solovair is to remove the outsole using a knife, then you heat-welted a new outsole back. But if you are able to do this, you can do the same to a pair of Docs… so I wouldn’t consider Solovairs resoleable unless you have really convenient access to NPS. Would @RoseAnvil please comment on the resoleability issue a bit more? I would love to hear more from a true professional🤔🤔🤔

[@Federix02]

I agree with you but resoling is pretty expensive, It can easily cost like 75% of the shoes cost , so i understand why it’s not a glaring issue. Even though i do agree that keeping the upper is better as it’s a bit more eco friendly and worn leather just looks nice imo

[@billyyank1916]

Honestly, that was the number one dealbreaker for me when it came to Dr. Martens. I actually bought a pair of boots that I purchased when I was 16 1/2 years old. I was originally going to get more when I first came across Rose Anvil’s original review of the brand itself and learning about how it would be difficult to get them resoled. It wasn’t an easy choice for me to make up the time, but that’s when I decided that I wasn’t going to buy doc martens ever again. As much as I like the fact that they were cheaper (not including the fact that they upped the price by $20 during 2022), I thought that I was paying for a higher quality boot that looked exactly like doc martens.

[@nsierra2297]

In the UK Timpsons can resole Dr Martens. However, it can be costly especially if they aren’t the standard sole. I bought some DMs for £90 (down from £120) tried to get them resoled, they quoted £60!

[@Bayou987]

So glad you’re re-reviewing these. Haven’t stopped being intrigued by them since the original review

[@ThisIsMeArnold]

You've sat for 3 years in the "intrigued" state? What an eventful life.

[@Sveinbeard]

@@ThisIsMeArnold 😂

[@Bayou987]

@@ThisIsMeArnold they don’t offer wide sizes, or half sizes my man. They’re not an option for me, just intriguing.

[@ThisIsMeArnold]

@@Bayou987 Their footwear is generally wide, especially if you get the steel toe version.

[@Bayou987]

@@ThisIsMeArnold yea thanks but they don’t look like they’d be wide enough to be comfortable for me. And not that buying things defines the quality of my life but to ice my fragile ego after you so brutally roasted me 😂 I did get three pairs of Jim greens, slate iron rangers, three pairs of Thursdays and a couple Danner’s to name a few in the last three years

[@solarsatori]

I'm 10 years into my first (and only) pair of Solovairs' 8 eye derby and they are still in such great condition. This is with me going some years wearing them daily and some years wearing them only a handful of times. Just wearing them for regular daily activities (I never worked on the farm in them since I needed waterproof boots) but I did walk miles and miles around campus trying to break them in the first year lol. If you keep them cleaned and conditioned they will outlast all your other shoes. I'm glad I started "buy it for life" back then because this is one item that has saved me money in the long run.

[@craigpimlott204]

I had my original dr martens for twenty years when they were made out of proper leather and not the crap they use now ..my last pair lasted two months ..the leather split right off around the sole .and the toes cracked through on both where they bend on the toe area ..nothing would stick to them, polish ,dubbin .no wonder they crack so easy .and they were the made in England ones too ,not the foreign made ones ..wouldn’t touch them again ,

[@Ian-if2lf]

@@craigpimlott204 I am having the same problem , cracking right through at the toe and that's with both the new Solovair and DMs, contacted Solovair about it who told me it was because ''I bought the wrong size'', I responded with '' I still have a pair of For Life DMs that are the same size and after 4 years of constant wear there is no problems with the leather, I have been wearing DMs for 40years and have never had this problem before!. Response ''we don't make comparisons''. DMs and Solovair have both cheapened their materials and by doing so have now got a rubbish product.

[@ryan_conover]

I have a pair of the made in England Docs and they’re superior in every way to the current regular Docs. They definitely remind me of the ones I wore in the 90’s- much tougher break in but then pretty comfortable. I’d really like to see a comparison between these Solovairs and the MIE docs. Great video.

[@LeaderOfTheRedNinjas]

there's a comparison video on this channel somewhere. I think the conclusion is that the MIE docs are much better than the china-made crap ones, but the solovairs are still better that the MIE doc's. Not that the solvair's are without their compromises. But it looks like they're some of the best boots *for their low price point*. Sure i could get redwings for like £100 more, but that's like a 50% cost increase

[@irakli.asatiani]

does it actually fit in? if you wear chinese uk 8 size will the same MIE 8 fit or you need larger?

[@legatelaurie]

@@irakli.asatianiI think they're made to the same size

[@glorkbork776]

It's really cool that you're re-visiting old topics with your more refined video format, even at the risk of cannibalizing views. As an Aussie, I'd love to see an updated comparison between the various Australian Chelsea work boot brands; Blundstone, Redback, Mongrel, Rossi etc.

[@TheVargr]

I have two pairs of Solovairs thanks to this channel, and I love them. Great boots and none of the issues that I had with my previous DMs. Only issues I've ever had is with the laces eventually snapping, but its easy to get replacements of their website (and in various other colours). When I've the spare cash i will be buying a third pair of Solovairs

[@stephenlamley541]

Yeah I fancied a pair of dms but since watching this realised how shitty they are. This could be the answer.

[@lymphy12]

@@stephenlamley541 I own both monkey version boots and used docs for work they hold up fine. Solovairs are harder to break

[@ThisIsMeArnold]

The laces are snapping because they use low quality eyelets. The portions of the eyelets that bend around the letter to fasten them break off, leaving exposed, sharp metal that cuts through your laces. Are any of your eyelets damaged?

[@koolchem6653]

I wonder if filing the eyelets down a bit will help with this.

[@ThisIsMeArnold]

@@koolchem6653 There's not really a way to do that, if you saw at where the break occurs. The break also causes the eyelet to lose its structural integrity - the pull of the lace makes it stretch out and lose its circular shape. In any case, it's a significant downside to a fairly expensive boot.

[@jaimesantiagolonga]

Had my Derby cherry red solovairs for about a year with extremely regular use. They are absolutely amazing and still doing fantastic. Highest recommendation for those who want quality combat style boots

[@decade10hl]

Is that a High-shine leather boot?

[@jaimesantiagolonga]

@@decade10hl Mine are a high shine but the same boot also comes in other leather finishes

[@darkNlost]

⁠@@jaimesantiagolongai know your comment is old but how has the finish held up? ive heard people say the high shine looks bad after awhile due to some type of coating on it

[@FozziesRandomReviews]

I visited the factory and bought some boots. Started talking to the guy sitting next to me and it turned out to be Ivor. Most genuine and down to earth business owner I’ve met. Worth visiting if you’re nearby as the factory seconds are great value too 😊

[@markopolo9936]

The rose anvil channel has come full circle! Your initial video is what made me get my solovair boots, a great purchase

[@ukaszfrymark8427]

I have a pair of Greasy Leather Solovair's for almost 15 years. Mostly wearing them for winter now and for metal concerts. Very sturdy.

[@SkepticalRaptor]

I’d like to make a suggestion to you all. To be more scientific, repeat each test (like the drop test or the puncture test) at least 5 or 6 times and get an average. Small differences can be statistically significant if you do it that way. Just measuring once is subject to randomness, so it’s hard to tell if the difference between boots is significant or not.

[@galvanizedgnome]

No. Bad idea

[@jorgeo1492]

@@galvanizedgnome No. You were a bad idea. Thats how real experiments are done. Also a control variable like a shitty walmart boot.

[@Collin_J]

They usually show the ball drop is a sample of 5. Not sure about the bar drop

[@stauker.1960]

Or three, five is overkill

[@welshrarebit9238]

Haven’t you got better things to do like ….Donating blood ,helping the needy

[@lordexcellent5610]

If you notice your welt separating on your solovairs/Dr Martens, you can fix it yourself quite easily. You heat up a thin piece of metal (ideally an old butter knife) to red hot over a flame, then you slide it between the separating layers and hold the edges together with pliers. Basically reattaching the outsole the same way they do in the factory. I’ve done this before on my solovairs and it holds up like new. I would recommend doing this when you manage to catch the split early, because I can hardly imagine fixing more than three inch long tear using this method.

[@elenaborie2605]

I’ve been seeing a lot of Reddit posts lately about Solovair’s splitting quickly. This is my only apprehension to getting a pair. How long did yours take to split?

[@lordexcellent5610]

@@elenaborie2605 It must have been a factory defect, because it happened right around the time I broke them in. I have two other pairs that I’ve been wearing for years now and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon.

[@TWC_official]

I've been wearing the same pair of 11 eye steel toe Solovair derby boots 40-60 hrs a week at work and can attest: they have significantly more mileage than I had expected. So far, the only issue I have encountered with them is the counter cover has just about worn out.

[@ScaryMeadow]

Dude I've gotten addicted to your videos because they're so informing and help me make better decisions reg. shoes that have good value and are comfortable to wear. I had a bad fall a few years ago which completely destroyed my right foot. While my ankle was (somehow) completely unharmed, I now live with several screws in my bones and have very limited mobility (can't stand on my toes, for instance) and a very sensitive underside that needs custom soles with plenty of arch support. As you can imagine, knowing what to look for in shoes is incredibly important for my health, and being partially disabled also means I don't have stacks of cash to throw around on shoes that need replacing every season. Thanks for the info you're putting out there.

[@adhunt1]

I got some Solovairs because of your initial review. Great boots! The sole of one did come apart early on, however. To their credit they covered what it cost to have it reglued locally, but that was a bit of a pain

[@Cauldronofbats666]

I had the same thing happen with mine but they only offered 15% off a new pair. I had them re glued and they’ve been amazing ever sense.

[@borjasaz6611]

I had to return many pairs because they come bad welt, and with cracks in the union of upper and low sole, very visible in a lantern light.

[@sergiotlx]

Ludwig Wittgenstein.

[@chadcrigger3101]

Had a pair of Doc Martins back in the 80s that lasted just about 10 years. Put them through hell and they just kept going. Fast forward to 2015 i was feeling nostalgic and bought a pair . They didn't last a year.

[@jerm1027]

I definitely picked up a pair of NPS Gripfast boots with a steel toe and greasy leather, and I primarily use them for concerts, particularly death metal shows with mosh pits, and these have been absolute champs. The very first day I wore them, they got a beer bath from a mosh pit, and they have not had an easy life ever since. But my feet stay relatively comfortable. If I ever destroy my current pair, I'm absolutely buying again.

[@kdogvods964]

I bought the solovair hi shine 8eye derby boot a few months ago I have loved them so far. They have become pretty comfortable I would say like a 7/10 They are very durable, I work on movie sets, so I’m standing and moving stuff all day and haven’t had any fatal flaws. The only con I have noticed is some scuffs and scratches on the sides and toe area in the leather I would say if you are debating buying solovairs, go for it, I have no regrets and have loved the style and performance of mine.

[@tuftywhite9628]

I always used to buy DMs. Since your early videos showing the difference, I now only buy Solovairs. Having had so many DMs in the past, I can clearly see and feel the difference in quality of the Solovairs. Grateful to you pointing it out.

[@jpsother1183]

I've resoled my old, mid-early '90s English Doc's Oxfords, but they were more to this construction(more leather lined though), than the (not much later but iirc China made and pre-'04) Doc's workboots I was going to resole but decided were not worth it (needed more interior work than I was willing to do at the time, not just fiber midsole replacement but counter etc). Though both had the wood shanks, the workboot had a thinner fiberboard and the foam instead of felt in the recess but felt filling of the welt. I work mostly standing on concrete. Keen has been my boot of choice lately.

[@MrChinabear]

Just want you to know that after watching your initial Solovair, doc marten comparison three years ago, I went out and purchased a pair of the Solovair Crazyhorse astronaut boots which I like so much that I then went out and purchased a pair of the greasy Astronauts boots. After that, I discovered that I now seem to have a Solovair addiction. I now own four pairs of Solovair‘s and one pair of Gripfast and my wife gets upset every time she sees me looking at the Solovair website. At this point, she’s threatening me with divorce if I purchase another pair of Solovair’s. All because of your review! lol. Anyway, I want you to know your observations and comparisons were right on the money. They are much better boot, especially when you consider their price, compared to the price of the made in England doc martens.

[@jpikl1284]

Crazyhorse is probably their most durable leather option too - shouldn't show scratches and creases and should absorb conditioner well.

[@reinasherman8009]

I have a feeling that's about to happen to me

[@reinasherman8009]

I started wearing docs because others I wore would wear out so fast and I have feet issues and they have been a lot more comfortable for me being on my feet all day at work but they have not been lasting like my first pair have. Now I know why.

[@MrChinabear]

I have doc Martens which I purchased in the late 1990s which I can still wear unfortunately when I tried to replace them with the more recent docs I was a bit disappointed. The made in China docs were complete crap. As a matter of fact, there was one pair of Fishermans sandals, which I had purchased where within a six month period I had to replace them three times under warranty.

[@mrsthatcher9815]

haha me too - i keep buying them

[@blah596]

Phat shouts out to the editors, the vfx are wicked- the highlights on the air-lattice structures were absolute mint

[@AudreysKitchen]

I bought these due to your old review. I wanted something cool and functional as a bartender, and I love them. I get TONS of compliments on them too. Thanks for the cool videos man!

[@BingoBongoBingerz]

Solovair use white stitching around the boot on purpose. You can dye them yellow yourself, or any colour for that matter. Another point missed is that solovairs last is more narrower than dr martens. They also lace up much more better, allowong you to really lock the boots to your feet. I always find that docs they end up eye to eye when lacing them up, and always feel loose, with less support particularly around the ankle.

[@geministargazer9830]

That’s good info but I liked the roominess of the Docs because I have wide feet

[@TheDexxra]

@@geministargazer9830 Don't worry, they weren't entirely correct. Solovairs have multiple lasts depending on the model, and some of them are even wider than Docs. 5400 is the widest if I remember correctly.

[@MyPeriwinkleSkies]

i got the solovair monkey boots after watching your reviews! so far i really like them. the online shopping experience was amazing-- i'm living in Japan, and they shipped directly from england to my apartment with free international shipping!! not many other companies do that, so i was instantly a huge fan maybe there's no point because there aren't enough differences, but i'm curious to see different styles from the same brand cut in half and compared!! i'm itching to see the monkey boot style cut in half haha

[@ahnafkalam]

My Solovairs have held up for almost 6 years now without even needing a re-sole. Some of my friends and colleagues have gone through 3 or 4 pairs of modern China/Vietnam/Taiwan Doc Martens from the mall. Maybe the best $200 I've spent.

[@fishbiscuit2000]

Be interesting to see some of Solovairs other boots go under the band saw. They do a goodyear welted work boot in gaucho crazy horse with a commando sole that seems to be a little nearer to a PNW boot than their others. As a UK boot enthusiast PNW boots are prohibitively expensive to import, so it would be nice to see you look at more UK boots.

[@ivanheffner2587]

I was asking for this. Glad to see it. Your original Solovair video is why I currently own a pair of Solovair 11-eye derby boots.

[@koolchem6653]

After watching your vids I bought a pair of hi-shine 8 hole Solovairs. They definitely do seem higher quality. They are definitely less comfortable during the break-in period. I ended up with a couple of blisters; never had that issue with Docs. Docs are significantly more comfortable, at least for now. I like the style of the Solovairs and I'm just in the beginning stages of the break-in process. If they end up being more comfortable I will definitely continue purchasing them.

[@DJarry394]

One difference I noticed between DMs and Solovairs is that DM toe boxes keep their shape. I noticed that Solovairs ultimately show the shape of your toes. Some might not mind that, and it may be more comfortable, but I hate when my shape of my toes show in a boot or shoe of any make.

[@CSmithyPx]

Love my solovairs I have a pair of 8 eye greasy leather boots. Worn everyday for a year and a half and they're amazing! Need to be resolved but the most comfortable boots I've owned. Zero break in, not uncomfortable great from the beginning

[@user60521123]

I’ve been wearing docs since the 80s and never heard of Solovair. I will definitely buy the latter, not just because of the better quality, but there is less chance of workers being exploited.

[@livid_spider]

I bought a pair of made in England docs and a pair of crazy horse solovairs because of this channel and I got no complaints I’d say they’re both comfortable and hold up pretty well

[@robertthompson176]

I love that you talk about the history of this as somebody who grew up in Weliingborough Northamptonshire. I am proud to buy and wear shoes still made in our county.

[@Stefana_una_na]

Legit rewatched the older review today because I’m considering buying. Great timing as always haha

[@mermaidatlantica]

Your previous video is the reason I went with solovairs and not docs. Now, my solovairs have destroyed my heels but that's because I wore them for two days straight like an idiot haha! But they are beautiful boots and I am so glad I chose them over docs. Also, re the yellow stitch: I think the yellow is gaudy and Im much happier with a white stich and a shank!

[@gabriel09132]

I wish I had heard of these when I went through my Goth period. I had found a really durable basic GP boot called WoodWorld and had a folded stitched in tongue. the shank broke before anything else. became a bit uncomfortable to wear once the shank went but ultimately were destroyed by a 6mnth old pup. Don’t leave your boots at the back door guys.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

We were issued with solovair shoes in the UK fire brigade 20 or so years ago. Fantastic hard wearing shoes. I've still got an original pair that I use for the gardening to this day. One thing I would point out the metal rings that line the eyelet holes....make sure they're the ones with the ring outside AND inside the shoe. Some of them have a ring on the outside, but RAZOR sharp tangs inside that held the eyelet ring in place. IN one pair of the later shoes I was issued one of the tangs somehow came out of the leather and I BADLY sliced my finger as I was doing up a lace.

[@RoberttSmithh]

I have so much respect for what you’re doing. Love it. I hope you’ll get a million subs by the end of this year. You deserve it

[@jeremycorvialis4085]

I'm glad you mentioned the MIEs at the end, I couldn't decide whether the comparison was fair or not. I love my Solovairs, but after a lot of work breaking them in and wearing them, I think the lasts they use just don't agree with my feet. Both the shoe and the boot I've had problems with fit. I will say their leather and foam insoles are amazing for their price point. Would overall recommend, just a bit hard to sort out sizing from the US.

[@lukefall5772]

You should convert 6 in boots to bluchers/oxfords on the builds page. Have seen some crazy conversions from Japanese cobblers.

[@IanBuell]

I had docs made in the mid 90s, when I was a teenager. I’ve bought them since and they’ve never seemed to mold to my feet like they used to. Why is that? Will Solovair boots do that now and “bring back that loving feeling” I’ve been missing for so long???? Love your videos and the explanations!

[@deXXXXter2]

Could you do a comparison of modern day leather trekking/hiking boots (with glued, sneaker- like outsole) to some of the lighter stiched hiking boots, preferably from one company, like Meindl? It would be awesome!

[@MaxxSeemov]

Lowa, Scarpa, Meindl, Hanwag. All these would be a good comparison against traditional fashion "hiker" boots. And may make a good series for Rose Anvil.

[@deXXXXter2]

@@MaxxSeemov Exactly.

[@t1nkerium]

Bought them ca two years ago after watching your original review. Thanks! Very pleased with them, still looking and going great! Didn't experience any major need for breaking them in and the outsole pattern has almost no losses.

[@RoseAnvil]

Subscribe to Rose Anvil Builds here, first subs get bragging rights - bit.ly/3MOXlXe

[@jonathanyaloussa]

I'm your 500th subscriber. Say thank you. 😂😂😂

[@gordonbradbury4130]

you make geniue content, I've watched some of your older videos and I like the change in formate

[@78gagta78]

Solovair sells replacement soles, the old school lugg/combat and traditional line tread kind for cheap. I fixed/upgraded some England Docs with them. There are some good England Docs one-offs made with good leather like Horween, CFStead... etc, they also have a sole called Ripple/Ziggy that is thicker and has Solovair like inner structure without void in toe area for foam. Solovair is the better quality company but England Docs have some great one-offs, the quillon patent vintage like are crap, Mine felt cheap, nothing like my 26yo pair, sold then week received. Got Solovair rare camo canvas paie and right side is too tight to wear even though same size as left printed inside. So just saying everyone makes mistakes. The Asian made Docs are all junk but I have a pair of For Life that I wear a lot and where comfy out of box and are still all together with lots of tread. I'd still pick Solovair over Docs but they don't have as many one-offs so I still buy Docs when they put something cool out. Anyway, sorry for long reply but love your channel & just subscribed to new one, keep the vids coming, Thanks.

[@64maxpower]

You bent that stick really well

[@facesart]

try also "Steel" shoes, they are Czech company and they are far adhead of Martenz

[@mikeoxlong666]

I recently brought a pair of Vegan Solovair after watching your videos and being disappointed with DM quality. The finish of my new boots started coming off and the sole started splitting after 4 weeks. Contacted customer services and was told to pay for a sole repair myself. Mentioned the finish coming away and was given a new pair. After two weeks the sole is splitting in the same place on the new boots. Thinking about sending them to you for a review..😂

[@coryernewein]

My dad had so many old cobbling machines, leather belts for a bunch of 'em...can't wait to see the treasures you guys found🤩

[@martinsmith1525]

Great clip, enjoyed that. I have several pairs of Solovair boots and love them, for me personally, far better then docs. Thank you for making that clip and would love to see the comparison with made in England docs. 🙂👍

[@fixedgearjerk]

Appreciate the video which led me to buying a pair. Just received my 11 eyelet steel toes, very quality items.

[@srafnos2073]

I am gonna be honest, I bought the solovair 8 eye derby hi-shine boot as my first "real" boot while they were on sale for 160~ euro, and was honestly kind of dissappointed. Sure the boot feels nicer than the regular 1460 and I love them, but I feel they are waayyy overhyped. They honestly don't feel substantially different than my roommates' docs, and the leather has cracked terribly, even worse so than the docs, and he is regularly wearing these for the last 5 years. Especially in regards to the leather, besides the ugly cracking, I wasn't impressed by the finishing on the edges and the lining and the breaking in was incredibly painful. Some no name brand vintage derby shoes I picked up on a thrift had better leather and sure they were creased but not in that ugly scarred way. There are people saying that the greasy leather version is way better, and I can imagine why, I might pick them up someday since I love the dr martens silhouette. For the price I got them I can't really complain, but I don't think that the full price is worth it, without counting the shipping. But if you can get them for cheap go for it, since dr martens are getting more overpriced every day, and the only cheaper option for a quality goodyear welted boot is buying second hand.

[@Sveinbeard]

I am a 62 year old long time Dr Marten wearer...since I was 18. The quality has obviously suffered, but I have persevered with the brand. Until now.......my first pair of Solovair Gibson/1461 shoes has arrived (thanks to this channel). Gaucho Crazy Horse finish. I took the advice from Solovair by ordering a half size down, sadly they are too small and I am returning them to exchange for my true size. Really looking forward to wearing them.

[@joshpearson2529]

I purchased 3 pairs of Solovair 11 Eye Astronaut boots earlier in the year and they are truly flawless boot, stunning to look at and very comfortable in my opinion. Thanks for the great videos!

[@Molach101]

I bought my Dad (now in his 60s) a pair of their full grain chukka boots for Christmas and I don't think he has taken them off. Very easy to maintain too. I use Solovair's own brand of dubbin. The full grain leather on those chukkas is a kind of oiled leather it seems, but different to the greasy & crazy horse leathers

[@user-qk5ft8eo8t]

finally an updated Solovair vid!

[@michaellk2254]

Broke a pair of docs within a month. The leather and sole both ripped. Loved the style and have been wanting solovairs since you first made a comparison video. I'm here since the 10k mark lol

[@craigpimlott204]

Me too .mine split around the heels and both went across the toes ,in two months of use .couldn’t get dubbin or polish to stick to them like my old 80’s ones did .they lasted me into the early 2000’s so around twenty years ,they hadn’t split .the sole were still ok ,a bit shiney in the middle 😂😂 but still solid .then I give em a mate who was hard up ,,I thought I’d get some new ones a few months back after years of ex army boots .they were utter crap ,supposedly made in England .won’t touch Dr martens again as they weren’t cheap either ..

[@lephishe6271]

I would like to say that DMs did have their own good quality boots produced in-house. It wasn't just Solovair making the good ones, in fact, I've talked to some that thought that the Vintage Steel toe DMs were better than the ones produced by solovair at the same time.

[@chrisbolton5461]

Quite a few firms made Docs for Griggs, until production shifted off shore. Griggs only ever made some of them at maybe two factories. NPS/Solovair are top quality.

[@lephishe6271]

@@chrisbolton5461 I know there was a company called Tredair making Doc Martens as well. I don't know if they used Doc Marten branding directly, but they used the same type of soles and were licensed to make those boots and shoes

[@chrisbolton5461]

@@lephishe6271 Good point. Again with the air in the name. Made by White & Co in England in Earls Barton until 2006 and then used other UK factories after that. Bet NPS/Solovair made some.

[@saramiller9529]

I have just sold a few doc martens that I can’t fit into, and my worn out used ones sell for $30 or more. However, I got a pair of Solovairs last year to replace a pair of Docs, it took a couple of months, but I love them. The leather even after just a couple of months is still impeccable where Docs already show slight issues. They get more comfortable with wearing. One other issue with Solovair is, because they are not mass produced, is you may have to wait for the next batch in your size.

[@b.e.e.l.i]

i love their dealer boots, have two pairs of the greasy black ones: one solovair, the other the steel toe "gripfast". Sized down half a size and they fit perfectly

[@Simon-uu1hi]

Your channel totally changed my perspective on footware. I would really enjoy an episode on boat/deck shoes.

[@HannyaBoi]

I've had my red Solovairs since 2019 after owning 3 pairs of Docs that fell apart after 6 months. Wouldn't trade them for anything.

[@shanehosto4999]

I had watched that video a couple years ago when I was looking into docs. And I'm glad I did. Very happy with the quality of my solovair boots

[@holdthatblaow]

I have owned Solovair, Made in England Docs and standard docs. At the end of the day I stick to the standard ones. All of them have the same problem - sole splitting and leather peeling. On top of that, Solovairs are weirdly known to their leather uppers pulling away from the sole. No boot like this is perfect, so it makes more sense to stick to the one that is the easiest to replace.

[@robrechtart]

Have you ever thought of doing motorcycle boots? Generally expensive, would be great to see how they compare. Most seem to have glued sole construction, but some like Gaerne have stitchdown. Otherwise, the internals are a mystery.

[@Treegona]

I'd kind of like to see a comparison between the various leathers that solovairs are made in. One issue with going for the less well-known brand is that I (as a relative noob, re: leather) can't predict how a leather will age. So I can see/expect that the patent-style leather that's traditional for Docs (and solovairs) will crack sooner than later, I don't know what to expect with the greasy, or grain leathers - not to mention the gaucho leathers.

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

Natural finish leathers will develop a lovely patina over time, even suede will wear smooth in places, so long as you take care of them, ie clean and condition them regularly and make sure they never dry out and crack. Natural finish will always age better than patent as these days patent is not finished with layers of lacquer, its just a layer of plastic on top. Easy to ruin with scratches and scuffing whereas those can buff out of natural finished leathers. I personally love the look of my old boots. And imo brown leather ages better than black ^_^

[@lachimaclean1878]

You should do a doc killer series. There's so many boots that look similar to docs. Make a list of better or worse thab docs. I want you to cut apart a pair of grenson dudley's

[@haleyvaughn6719]

im so glad youre reviewing solovairs again! i bought a pair of chelseas after seeing your previous video, and they are probably one of the most comfortable shoes ive ever owned! for years i was a dm fanatic, but i cant see myself ever buying another pair again after having my solovairs. i can wear them all day at work and barely have sore feet, whereas im ready to rip my docs off after a couple hours. thank you wes! hope to see more of these!

[@diego_madalena]

I like gripfast boots! An Sugestion for next review! 😎

[@dukegirl2121]

I bought my pair of Solovair boots after watching Rose Anvil’s original review after not being satisfied with my Docs. The Solovairs are definitely better, but the most important thing for me is they’re wider. Solovair uses different lasts which I don’t think Doc Martens does, but either way, the Solovairs are wider and so much more comfortable for me.

[@SPARTANTROOPER]

Bought a pair of these because I wanted a sturdy boot that was still made in the UK, they're super comfortable and durable.

[@Pinnfeathers]

Just got my first pair of Solovair boots today (w/gorgeous wingtip detail) and I can’t get over how superior in quality they are over Doc Martens.

[@ek-nz]

I have Solovairs from Vegetarian Shoes in Brighton. Worn them for years on end. No trade work, but lots of walking. I wore through the counter cover, the lining and the midsole (you can see light through the bottom of the boot through the translucent soles) but can still wear the boots just fine. The uppers are nearly perfect still, the soles are slick but not worn through to the cavities. I replace the insoles as I wear holes in them, and the boots are probably the best I’ve ever had. They’re not leather, but they breathe well and are extremely durable.

[@ClickClack_Bam]

You should consider making the data behind how a boot performed available for download. Like when you showed that graph on how they compared, you should make that data available so people can download the info about the boot when thinking about purchasing them! You could have your KZbin Channel's logo in the document & maybe even have some sponsor info.

[@BroonParker]

That would be great.

[@DaleDenton]

I just bought a pair of Solovairs while vacationing in London at the British Boot Company in Camden Town. As soon as I tried on my pair they felt sturdier than my Doc Martens I got a few years ago here in the US. Can't wait to get them broken in, I went with a Gaucho leather boot as much as I wanted some black greasy leather ones.

[@Ohkeh640]

Are they true to size? As I go one size down in doc boots

[@DaleDenton]

@@Ohkeh640 i usually wear a 13 US, which is a 12 UK size. They fit perfect for me, I can wiggle my toes a little and they don’t feel tight, just snug.

[@jquill6]

I have a pair of 6 hole solovairs and they’re great boots , I actually prefer the silvery threading on them , more grown up imo.

[@zombis89fisto]

Yeah I agree the yellow stitch looks more wild and childish.

[@jquill6]

@@zombis89fisto yes not something a grown adult could easily get away with. You could easily wear the solovairs equivalent to the docs and not look like you’re in a midlife crisis

[@mytoiletsfull]

The video where both boots were cut in half is what helped me choose the Solvair. My brother got some docs and he beat them up pretty quick. Where as my Solvairs still feel like I havnt broken into them. Even after a putting countless hours of work in them. I can’t wait to see how they look once’s I start weathering the leather more.

[@jungi001]

I originally wanted to get myself some Dr Martens but because of your prior videos I decided to get some Solovairs about 2 years ago. They have been quite painful to break in for about a week but later on they got really comfortable. I have used them a loooot the last 2 years since it pretty much is the only boot/shoe that I use in spring and fall and even the last winter and they hold up very well. Yes they already look pretty used and covering of the leather now starts to have some cracks and also the soles already are pretty run down but overall I think that's a pretty good result until now. I guess I can use them another year for sure but maybe after that I would need a replacement.

[@atzellan]

I think the market is fine the way it currently is: if Solovair gets more popular, maybe as famous as Docs, they might also sacrifice the quality, the same way that Docs did. Ps: please look into the Dior AW07 “Navigate” combat boots to cut them in half. The boots are famous for being the “granddaddy” of all modern fashion combat boots, so I’d love to see what’s all the fame about, to see if there’s more to the boots other than the look.

[@shuem_]

True. Corporate way of business often times ruin the quality of the product and destroying their brand from the inside.

[@borjasaz6611]

I think they already did, I have 10 year old solovair and the materials are much better than current ones

[@Patrick-nc6kk]

@@borjasaz6611 maybe they also need to keep up with inflation/rise of the price of everything while at the same time stay competitive to DM a bit cheaper while still better quality, otherwise they would have to raise the prices.

[@borjasaz6611]

@@Patrick-nc6kk In my experience, this drop in quality and construction has been directly related to the hype and popularity that it has had for a few years thanks to internet fame.greater fame, greater drop in quality.

[@borjasaz6611]

@@Patrick-nc6kk Before the change, the leather was rectified leather but it was not covered with that layer of plastic, it looked matt and much more natural. they changed it for this copy of the leather that Martens uses covered with polyurethane, which they call "hi shine" and for me it is crap compared to the previous one

[@Ramikin]

I would love to see a further comparison of the NPS gripfasts. The soles are entirely different and on mine at least there is no internal counter cover - instead there is another layer of leather on the outside heel of the boot, and the steel toe is treated the same. It would really round off the doc martens like series!

[@osmanhassan3059]

Actually u got the wrong doc martens for comparison. Every special doc martens are made kinda different for some reason. The old one u cut apart and the yellow one are actually models that are specific to the season and not the long going models like the og black one. The og black ones(not even the mie one) features the same sock liner type as the solovair cause I've had multiple pairs myself and I'm kinda a doc marten nerd😂 Great review as always but I would love to see u cut apart the normal black doc martens and see the difference between it and the solovairs like real apples to apples. Or maybe it's a locational thing that my docs are different. Just wanna know more

[@lambdalandis]

I think the bar/ball drop test is the weakest for me in terms of taking any useful information from it. It's not actually clear that higher or lower is good. As an example, doing the ball drop test on an anvil would cause extremely high rebound, but IDK that I actually want my boot sole to be hardened steel. Maybe the bar drop test is better in this regard, but I was thinking an even better test might be to put 100-200 lbs of static pressure on the sole, then suddenly release and see how far the rebound was. This would probably come up low for anything ultra hard or ultra soft, but perform well for things that actually provide rebound for a human weight. Not sure how you would rig that up, but if you can make it work, I think it would provide higher quality information than the drop tests currently do.

[@garypothoven9687]

This test has also been hard for me to wrap my head around. It seems that the more the bar/ball bounces, the less cushion the boot or shoe should provide. (For example, a basketball will bounce higher on a relatively hard surface vs. a soft surface.) So less bounce should mean a more comfortable shoe. However carbon-plated running shoes are supposed to provide more energy return while still being comfortable, so would the bar/ball bounce higher on those? Would love for Rose Anvil to test this out and maybe clarify the results of the bar/ball drop test at the same time!

[@stateofdisasterkrew]

Yellow sharpie

[@actontreadway1168]

yeah I have a pair of solovairs in gaucho leather and they're great. I think I'd rather have a purple pair or something more interesting now, but they're well built and have been great for almost two years. Not really hard or constant wear, but there aren't any issues with them falling apart and they do feel like real boots... but softer in the sole.

[@sauhamm3821]

cobbler repairs shoes... cordwainer makes them from scratch.

[@stephenlamley541]

Genuinely interesting

[@red_eye_diy]

I’ve been wearing my second pair of Solovairs for about a year and a half as work boots every day at my factory job. I put a foam (3mm thick footprint) insole in when I got them for the perfect fit and they’ve been good to me. Actually just noticed yesterday that the leather collar at the top of the shaft is split, but that’s the only failure, if you can even call it that, I’ve had. I haven’t been easy on these boots and it’s about time for a resole, but they have plenty of life left

[@Pnner1]

What happened to the first pair? If they failed, what was the weakest link?

[@red_eye_diy]

@@Pnner1 good question! I should have clarified. The first pair was thrown away by my ex, they were an unfortunate casualty of our break up.

[@tomtricity]

I have a couple pairs of Docs from the 90s that I still wear. I think I had the blue suede ones resoled once. Bought a new pair of Docs about 10 years ago and already tossed them out.

[@timothyvoorhees4176]

Definitely interested in seeing how they compare to the Made in England Docs! I would also love to see a English boot company shoot, similar to what you have done with Pacific Northwest boots. Boots like Trickers and others.

[@That0neProductions]

I’d love to see a comparison between the solovair and the Thursday Hero boot. Seems like a potential upgrade on the doc marten killer at a similar price!

[@bootedcameraman6393]

Awesome video!! I have a pair of docs myself and they're not bad at all! After watching this video, I would love to own a pair of Solovairs!!

[@theTurtleChiropractor]

bro i remember just a year ago you were doing just videos and now you got colabs with names like nicks and cobblin your own boots. respect!

[@WS102]

I'm wearing Solovair Oxblood Red Chukka boots right now and they're fantastic. Just one pair of many shoes that I have from Solovair and they're fantastic. I couldn't believe how quickly they shipped when I ordered them. I got them within a week to California.

[@TV0R11]

gotta say, to some level you can work in them. i work in a bowling alley/arcade fun center. crawling in and out of machines and i have a pair of steel toe greasy black strap derby boots from Solovair and i love them. going on 1.5 years maybe 2 now, they've been great. only addon i did was some shock absorbing insoles from FP Insoles. they're marketed at skateboarders for absorbing impact from high jumps but they're great for walking on carpet covered concrete all day every day too.

[@michaellyle6857]

I bought Dr. Martens in around 2010 and the sole split apart after a few months of mild wear. I gave up, but the Solovairs might finally be the ticket to getting a pair of Docs that I always wanted!

[@lm971120]

Coming back to say I think Solovair's quality has gone severely downhill since a while ago. I am based in the UK and all my Solovairs come from them directly, yet the latest pair I have got didn't even last a dozen of times before the insole ripped itself, searching online unveiled loads of quality issues people are having lately, including welds failing. My old Solovair in the main time took years of battering and no problems at all. At the stage the quality and durability feels just as bad as Docs is not worse, and the Solovair customer service is also very irresponsive (still waiting). I am not sure what is going on, but I do feel with the whole inflationary pressure and energy costs crisis here, companies are cutting back and they must have been cutting corners somewhere. If you want to buy it for life, I don't think Solovair is a brand you can count on right now - it might be issue free but certainly having issue is not a remote possibility.

[@michellecluff9631]

I got 7 years of nearly daily wear out of my first docs, bought in 1995. I wore until the sole was damn near worn through. Since then three pairs, made in Asia, made in England, the soles always split or crack. The last ones split apart before I’d even worn tread off of the sole. These days, wearing docs for the yellow stitches is like taping a “kick me” sign to one’s own back.

[@xn6341]

My 7 year old Docs are dying and am looking for a better, resoleable replacement. Solovairs they will be, heading over to buy some now.

[@BroonParker]

Best summary that I've seen and a history of the company that's not just read straight off wikipedia. Rose Anvil shows them how it's done, once again.

[@HeritageCast]

@RoseAnvil and @TheIronSnail doing some vids and travel to the various PNW Boot Makers.... This would be a ton of fun....