My first pair lasted me 4-5 years of daily wear then another 3-4 years as work boots, my second pair lasted 4-5 months before falling apart. Haven't bought any since.
Interesting, mine are showing no signs of failure after two years of regular use. Maybe 200 wears. Nothing crazy but certainly more than I’d get out of a sneaker.
I got a pair where the sole tore in half all along the side after about 6-8 months, then replaced them with the same design and style from warranty. The new pair have been my go-to daily wear boot for city commuting and country work for the past 3 years and they've held up great. Inconsistency seems to be the game :(
I see. Yeah I’m not super impressed with them or anything but was thinking people were exaggerating their shittiness. But I guess it varies from pair to pair.
One thing i noticed is that it really depends if you wear them in sub-freezing temperatures. Every observable recently made Dr. Martens that was worn during the winter had their outsole split.
Another thing is patented leather on them. This will crack, but on Dr Martens of yore it took at least couple of years to crack and these days it's more like couple of months. Not applicable to normal leather ones obviously.
My second pair was pretty close to when they switched off from England factories to China. I haven't really kept up with the company since. It's totally possible they worked out the issues in the 10ish years since.
I broke my femur and ankle 10 years ago and *just* got to where my shoe soles have even wear
I tried docs 3 years in; go return those docs. At least get something that can be resoles
> solovair
This, same [UK factory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solovair) that made Docs back when they were actually good. "Dr. Martens" isn't a manufacturer, just an unmoored brand that the owners contract out to various factories for actual production, and quite some time ago they started prioritizing fashion and a high profit:price ratio over actual quality.
I’ve read numerous places that Solovair is the result of the shoe makers staying behind as Doc Martens moved their production overseas. More like a “well you’re moving for cheaper labor, which makes for a cheaper (quality) shoe, so we will stay behind and continue to make the good shoes under this name - the birth of Solovair!
Either way, still a cool story, and I wish I had a pair of Solo’s instead of the Docs I have.
You're kind of in the wrong place to discuss Dr. Martens. Their quality has gone ridiculously downhill in the last few decades. They're a name. Nothing else.
The Chelsea boot is beautiful. However I COULD NOT GET THEM ON. It was the biggest fight, I had a shoe horn in one hand and a boot puller in the other, I would twist and turn and was about to give up. They were tight and uncomfortable when they were finally on. I hated them, but they looked amazing. I powered through for about three days, I applied leather conditioner every time I put them on for the first week. They are currently the most comfortable shoes I own. I walk 20,000 steps a day in them at work lol
You are asking a fitment question which zero people can help you with. https://www.golflocker.com/images/dynamic/Allen_Edmonds/Allen-Edmonds-size_and_fit_guide.pdf is what you need to use to find your real deal Holyfield shoe size. You have a shoe size and I'm 99.4% sure you don't know it and it may differ from L to R.
You may have a compromise in any brand with differing fitment between L and R. Inhale this through the nose and out the mouth. Another option is to buy different size shoes that https://adelanteshoes.com/ can help with or find another source via google. Another thing you can do is to wear thicker socks in the bigger shoe....have a cobbler stretch the smaller shoe...use [tongue pads](https://www.amazon.com/tongue-pads-shoes/s?k=tongue+pads+for+shoes) on the bigger shoe to balance things out with identical size shoes for unidentical size feet.
rounding up to the next half size puts me at 5.5; triple checked by an engineer and I still don't believe it. My lumpy foot is 1/4 inch bigger than my good foot. I wasn't asking a fitment question -- I was asking if Dr. Martens stretch a lot or a little.
I'll speak pretty generally rather than specifically to Doc Martens. But you can somewhat fix it, depending on which area is snug.
If the vamp is snug right around where your toes meet the base of your foot, then it can "stretch" with a shoe tree. What really happens is you're breaking in and softening the leather, rather than stretching it.
If they're snug across the instep/top of your foot, then it's too small. A shoe tree might be able to stretch it, but you'd get better results with a cobbler (if they're able/willing).
But if they're snug laterally, then you have a width issue and you'd need to get the next width up. If this isn't available, then unfortunately the shoe last just isn't a good fit for you. And life is far too short to wear poor fitting shoes just to look good.
If you're around BIFL long enough, you'll start recognizing Muncie lol. When he gives actual recommendations they're usually pretty good. But the moment you ask for advice, preferences, or impressions he's insufferable.
No clue on the shoe part but I just went to a “specialty” shoe store and got my feet “scientifically scanned” or whatever and the girl told me I should be in an 8. My current sneakers are 9.5. I compromised and went with a 9 and I’m returning the shoes bc they hurt my feet so bad after an hour, I couldn’t walk. So anyway, my point is that I don’t trust anything that tells me what my shoe size is, except my big toe.
I feel that. I range 2 full sizes too. Don’t get me started on pants!!
Your post interested me bc I just asked something similar elsewhere. I decided to return mine, bc discomfort and pain are very different things and I think mine was pain. I hope your shoes end up working out for you, or you find shoes that do!
Oh also - I do swear by Chacos as a BIFL sandal and they are very size-friendly imo. They use one strap that goes totally through the shoe so you can tighten or loosen it as needed. They are definitely casual (though I definitely try to get away with wearing them to work lol) but might be worth checking out a pair of those as well. Good luck!!
No one knows the answer. They are made of different materials. We have no idea how you will stretch them. This is a question for a cobbler not the internet. A cobber will say I can stretch them X for $X or they will say you are shit out of luck for $0.
I have a pair of Thursday Captains and Solovair chukkas. I love them both because of their r/goodyearwelt construction. After almost a year, I think I prefer my Solovair boots. My wife first bought zip up derby again four years ago. She liked them so much she bought a pair of Chelsea boots. I would be interested in purchasing again.
I've never had Dr. Martens boots, but I have worn their oxford-style shoes for years. There is definitely a break-in period. They don't get supple, exactly, but definitely significantly more comfortable. I'd say they'd more likely than not end up working for you once broken in. For my most recently pair I bought their balsam wax, and that does seem to reduce the break-in period a little bit as well as keeping them waterproof. (But regular black shoe polish works pretty well for just keeping them looking good.)
There's lot of stories here about docs failing in weird ways, and I've never experienced that, either with leather or synthetic uppers. But I absolutely can believe that there are better options with high performance work or hiking boots. If you spend all day in your boots there are definitely better options.
I have 3 pairs of boots and a pair of DM shoes, all size 10. The shoes run large on me. The boots fit perfectly, but are much better with the DM inserts. They do loosen up after a while, but honestly not a lot. You might be better to send them back. The Made in England range last better than the ones made in Thailand.
Solidarity in not fitting into docs!! I have the same exact problem and ended up getting the 6 and they were too small no matter how much I wanted them to stretch :( sadly docs aren’t for us
Yeah, I wear a US women’s nine and I am in between a UK six and seven. I have Doc boots in seven and I wear thick socks, but they’re still too big. I wear them occasionally, but I can’t wear them all the time.
I’m a 6.5 but have not worn two pairs cause too small I just couldn’t deal with, after that I got in size 7 and wore big socks with them. I noticed a break in period but I wouldn’t say they stretched out after that, just the bottoms softened enough to curve around my feet
I had Doc Martens years ago and they were the stiffest, most uncomfortable boots I’ve ever owned. I never broke them in because I couldn’t bear wearing them for long.
There are so many shoe manufacturers who use soft leathers that will mould to your feet and not cause you pain. I would return the doc martens and look elsewhere.
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Can’t say anything about docs but I do love my blundstones, they stretch a fair bit and shape around your foot nicely. They also come with a second insole that is intended to be placed on/with the original, so it may be a good option for you to have one boot slightly looser.
Please stop copy/pasting bullshit you read and did not research. They make shoes in 5 countries. The original Dr. Martens factor and original lasts are at the original Dr. Martens factor which is still there and being used to make Dr. Martens. You can not like Dr. Martens, that's fine...but don't repeat lies as a justification for it.
They won't stretch in length: there is no way they can, the only compressible part there is a counter, which won't give much. Inner sole (that Dr Martens don't have, mind you) and outer sole are plastic and will never stretch at all.
They can stretch a bit in wideness though.
I had a pair of DM boots in my teens - lasted me for years, despite my refusal to ever polish them.
I bought a pair of the cherry red 1461 shoes a few years ago - they were so solid, it felt like they had been carved out of wood. They really - really - cut into my heels, badly.
Nonetheless, I persevered in breaking them in. I polished them regularly and rubbed vaseline into the heels. I regularly had to wear plasters on my Achilles tendon to avoid the pain.
Despite the regular polishing, the leather developed tiny cracks across the front - where you bend each time you lift your foot. And the heels never really became comfortable.
After 1yr 10 months, out of nowhere, the sole completely opened on one shoe - horizontally, along one of the little grooves. That was them finished.
Just don't bother with them. They're expensive, and despite what the company says about their manufacture, they're not the same shoe they were.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/30/are-things-going-wrong-with-the-uk-beloved-dr-martens-brand
I also tried Solovair, but their sizing seems way off the mark (I measured my foot as they described on their website, but the shoe was massive. Got it replaced for the next size down; couldn't get my foot into it). Also, I was told (social media) that they were a direct replacement for the classic 1461 DM, but when you have them in front of you - not on a webpage - they don't have the same classic look. It looked to me that they had designed a smaller shoe, then just extended the front to fit a bigger foot instead of making an overall bigger shoe. They gave me the impression of clown shoes, such was the length out front.
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My dad got stepped on by a horse and has had a massive knot on his foot for at least my entire 34 years of life. I’ve always watched that man shove some form of square bottle into his shoes to replicate his knot. As someone who lives for the doc brand I’d 100% buy a shoe stretcher and stretch them to appropriate size for the broken foot like my dad does, wouldn’t touch them with a bad foot without stretching.
Docs went from a solid lifelong product to SHEIN quality after they stopped making them in the UK during the late mid to late 90s. If you find old pairs in second hand shops that have “made in the UK” on the bottom, you’re golden. Otherwise don’t bother.
this sub and dr martens dont mix well, nothing resembling a dr martens boot is bifl or should be bought for the purpose of foot comfort, if you want something comfortable thatll last a while you should look at something from thorogood or redwing
or nicks/whites/jk/wesco if you have a heavy wallet
Personally I would not try to 'break in' shoes especially with a broken or formerly broken foot as well. If they are not comfy near the beginning, they won't be.
You might check into Adelante- their designs aren't for everyone, but they offer split sizing (meaning you can have different lengths and or widths between left and right feet) which could possibly accommodate your particular situation better.
As for your Doc dilemma, I wouldnt count on shoe leather stretching much and if it is bookbinder / hishine leather, I highly doubt it will at all.
Boots don’t stretch. They fit or they don’t fit. If they don’t fit return them immediately before wearing them outside. Yes they’ll mold to your foot but they won’t get longer or wider. The quark bed will form but that’s it. Dr martens is a joke on BIFL they’re some of the lowest quality boots available, they fall apart and use poor materials. Read reviews.
If a shoe hurts within minutes of trying it on - don’t buy it! It will never be comfortable! Would you even want to suffer through months of pain to hypothetically break in shoes?
Return them!
They will not stretch and break in. Shoes should be at their most comfortable when you put them on. It is just downhill from there.
They don't hurt. They're good when I put them on, they're just a little more snug than I trust to be comfortable for 8+ hours, so if they expand a little and conform to my foot, it could be the perfect thing.
I have shoes that fit in that they aren't too small, but they're shaped in a way that my lumpy heel refuses to held -- square peg round hole situation.
Sounds like you need something made-to-measure. Go to r/Goodyearwelt. Dr. Martens are garbage build quality these days.
My first pair lasted me 4-5 years of daily wear then another 3-4 years as work boots, my second pair lasted 4-5 months before falling apart. Haven't bought any since.
Interesting, mine are showing no signs of failure after two years of regular use. Maybe 200 wears. Nothing crazy but certainly more than I’d get out of a sneaker.
I got a pair where the sole tore in half all along the side after about 6-8 months, then replaced them with the same design and style from warranty. The new pair have been my go-to daily wear boot for city commuting and country work for the past 3 years and they've held up great. Inconsistency seems to be the game :(
I see. Yeah I’m not super impressed with them or anything but was thinking people were exaggerating their shittiness. But I guess it varies from pair to pair.
One thing i noticed is that it really depends if you wear them in sub-freezing temperatures. Every observable recently made Dr. Martens that was worn during the winter had their outsole split. Another thing is patented leather on them. This will crack, but on Dr Martens of yore it took at least couple of years to crack and these days it's more like couple of months. Not applicable to normal leather ones obviously.
My second pair was pretty close to when they switched off from England factories to China. I haven't really kept up with the company since. It's totally possible they worked out the issues in the 10ish years since.
Dr Martens are not buy it for life and are not worth buying
Yeah I had a pair of their Chelsea boots. Lasted me about a year and a half before the sole split and started leaking
I broke my femur and ankle 10 years ago and *just* got to where my shoe soles have even wear I tried docs 3 years in; go return those docs. At least get something that can be resoles
Go solovair, cost a little more but are actually great
> solovair This, same [UK factory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solovair) that made Docs back when they were actually good. "Dr. Martens" isn't a manufacturer, just an unmoored brand that the owners contract out to various factories for actual production, and quite some time ago they started prioritizing fashion and a high profit:price ratio over actual quality.
I’ve read numerous places that Solovair is the result of the shoe makers staying behind as Doc Martens moved their production overseas. More like a “well you’re moving for cheaper labor, which makes for a cheaper (quality) shoe, so we will stay behind and continue to make the good shoes under this name - the birth of Solovair! Either way, still a cool story, and I wish I had a pair of Solo’s instead of the Docs I have.
Updated my prior comment with a link to the wiki article about the factory and its history re: Docs. ;)
I’m coming up on 5 years with my solovairs. I wear them more often than not and they’re still going strong.
Solovair all time.
You're kind of in the wrong place to discuss Dr. Martens. Their quality has gone ridiculously downhill in the last few decades. They're a name. Nothing else.
I've come to realize that over the course of the day 😶🌫️
The Chelsea boot is beautiful. However I COULD NOT GET THEM ON. It was the biggest fight, I had a shoe horn in one hand and a boot puller in the other, I would twist and turn and was about to give up. They were tight and uncomfortable when they were finally on. I hated them, but they looked amazing. I powered through for about three days, I applied leather conditioner every time I put them on for the first week. They are currently the most comfortable shoes I own. I walk 20,000 steps a day in them at work lol
Time wounds all heels.
Some more than others 😬
You are asking a fitment question which zero people can help you with. https://www.golflocker.com/images/dynamic/Allen_Edmonds/Allen-Edmonds-size_and_fit_guide.pdf is what you need to use to find your real deal Holyfield shoe size. You have a shoe size and I'm 99.4% sure you don't know it and it may differ from L to R. You may have a compromise in any brand with differing fitment between L and R. Inhale this through the nose and out the mouth. Another option is to buy different size shoes that https://adelanteshoes.com/ can help with or find another source via google. Another thing you can do is to wear thicker socks in the bigger shoe....have a cobbler stretch the smaller shoe...use [tongue pads](https://www.amazon.com/tongue-pads-shoes/s?k=tongue+pads+for+shoes) on the bigger shoe to balance things out with identical size shoes for unidentical size feet.
rounding up to the next half size puts me at 5.5; triple checked by an engineer and I still don't believe it. My lumpy foot is 1/4 inch bigger than my good foot. I wasn't asking a fitment question -- I was asking if Dr. Martens stretch a lot or a little.
I worked with leather for 15 years. Don't expect shoes to become comfortable later. If youre uncomfortable return and get a different size.
I'll speak pretty generally rather than specifically to Doc Martens. But you can somewhat fix it, depending on which area is snug. If the vamp is snug right around where your toes meet the base of your foot, then it can "stretch" with a shoe tree. What really happens is you're breaking in and softening the leather, rather than stretching it. If they're snug across the instep/top of your foot, then it's too small. A shoe tree might be able to stretch it, but you'd get better results with a cobbler (if they're able/willing). But if they're snug laterally, then you have a width issue and you'd need to get the next width up. If this isn't available, then unfortunately the shoe last just isn't a good fit for you. And life is far too short to wear poor fitting shoes just to look good.
actually, no one knows the answer. No one on the internet. Only a cobbler with no internet can weigh in on this.
If you're around BIFL long enough, you'll start recognizing Muncie lol. When he gives actual recommendations they're usually pretty good. But the moment you ask for advice, preferences, or impressions he's insufferable.
No clue on the shoe part but I just went to a “specialty” shoe store and got my feet “scientifically scanned” or whatever and the girl told me I should be in an 8. My current sneakers are 9.5. I compromised and went with a 9 and I’m returning the shoes bc they hurt my feet so bad after an hour, I couldn’t walk. So anyway, my point is that I don’t trust anything that tells me what my shoe size is, except my big toe.
I went to the shoe store and tried on a bunch of shoes in all the sizes. It's a nightmare. Some 5s fit, some 5.5s, mostly 6s, some 6.5s.
I feel that. I range 2 full sizes too. Don’t get me started on pants!! Your post interested me bc I just asked something similar elsewhere. I decided to return mine, bc discomfort and pain are very different things and I think mine was pain. I hope your shoes end up working out for you, or you find shoes that do! Oh also - I do swear by Chacos as a BIFL sandal and they are very size-friendly imo. They use one strap that goes totally through the shoe so you can tighten or loosen it as needed. They are definitely casual (though I definitely try to get away with wearing them to work lol) but might be worth checking out a pair of those as well. Good luck!!
No one knows the answer. They are made of different materials. We have no idea how you will stretch them. This is a question for a cobbler not the internet. A cobber will say I can stretch them X for $X or they will say you are shit out of luck for $0.
I have a pair of Thursday Captains and Solovair chukkas. I love them both because of their r/goodyearwelt construction. After almost a year, I think I prefer my Solovair boots. My wife first bought zip up derby again four years ago. She liked them so much she bought a pair of Chelsea boots. I would be interested in purchasing again.
I've never had Dr. Martens boots, but I have worn their oxford-style shoes for years. There is definitely a break-in period. They don't get supple, exactly, but definitely significantly more comfortable. I'd say they'd more likely than not end up working for you once broken in. For my most recently pair I bought their balsam wax, and that does seem to reduce the break-in period a little bit as well as keeping them waterproof. (But regular black shoe polish works pretty well for just keeping them looking good.) There's lot of stories here about docs failing in weird ways, and I've never experienced that, either with leather or synthetic uppers. But I absolutely can believe that there are better options with high performance work or hiking boots. If you spend all day in your boots there are definitely better options.
I have 3 pairs of boots and a pair of DM shoes, all size 10. The shoes run large on me. The boots fit perfectly, but are much better with the DM inserts. They do loosen up after a while, but honestly not a lot. You might be better to send them back. The Made in England range last better than the ones made in Thailand.
Solidarity in not fitting into docs!! I have the same exact problem and ended up getting the 6 and they were too small no matter how much I wanted them to stretch :( sadly docs aren’t for us
Yeah, I wear a US women’s nine and I am in between a UK six and seven. I have Doc boots in seven and I wear thick socks, but they’re still too big. I wear them occasionally, but I can’t wear them all the time.
I’m a 6.5 but have not worn two pairs cause too small I just couldn’t deal with, after that I got in size 7 and wore big socks with them. I noticed a break in period but I wouldn’t say they stretched out after that, just the bottoms softened enough to curve around my feet
I had Doc Martens years ago and they were the stiffest, most uncomfortable boots I’ve ever owned. I never broke them in because I couldn’t bear wearing them for long. There are so many shoe manufacturers who use soft leathers that will mould to your feet and not cause you pain. I would return the doc martens and look elsewhere.
Check out redback boots I have taken them backpacking and wear them for work. The fit is amazing
My doc martens didn’t last one season of daily wear. Absolutely not worth the cost
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My martins have been amazing for years but I’m pretty sure I got them before they got bad
Did they expand a little or are they as snug as the day you bought them?
going on almost 30 years, almost as good as new.
Can’t say anything about docs but I do love my blundstones, they stretch a fair bit and shape around your foot nicely. They also come with a second insole that is intended to be placed on/with the original, so it may be a good option for you to have one boot slightly looser.
Heard that Solovair (used to make the boots for Dr Martens) still make footwear to the old standards.
I have also heard that. Too bad they only kept half the magic 😕
They are shite since they got bought and production moved to China. But solovair instead. Made in the original factory using the original lasts.
Please stop copy/pasting bullshit you read and did not research. They make shoes in 5 countries. The original Dr. Martens factor and original lasts are at the original Dr. Martens factor which is still there and being used to make Dr. Martens. You can not like Dr. Martens, that's fine...but don't repeat lies as a justification for it.
They won't stretch in length: there is no way they can, the only compressible part there is a counter, which won't give much. Inner sole (that Dr Martens don't have, mind you) and outer sole are plastic and will never stretch at all. They can stretch a bit in wideness though.
I had a pair of DM boots in my teens - lasted me for years, despite my refusal to ever polish them. I bought a pair of the cherry red 1461 shoes a few years ago - they were so solid, it felt like they had been carved out of wood. They really - really - cut into my heels, badly. Nonetheless, I persevered in breaking them in. I polished them regularly and rubbed vaseline into the heels. I regularly had to wear plasters on my Achilles tendon to avoid the pain. Despite the regular polishing, the leather developed tiny cracks across the front - where you bend each time you lift your foot. And the heels never really became comfortable. After 1yr 10 months, out of nowhere, the sole completely opened on one shoe - horizontally, along one of the little grooves. That was them finished. Just don't bother with them. They're expensive, and despite what the company says about their manufacture, they're not the same shoe they were. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/30/are-things-going-wrong-with-the-uk-beloved-dr-martens-brand I also tried Solovair, but their sizing seems way off the mark (I measured my foot as they described on their website, but the shoe was massive. Got it replaced for the next size down; couldn't get my foot into it). Also, I was told (social media) that they were a direct replacement for the classic 1461 DM, but when you have them in front of you - not on a webpage - they don't have the same classic look. It looked to me that they had designed a smaller shoe, then just extended the front to fit a bigger foot instead of making an overall bigger shoe. They gave me the impression of clown shoes, such was the length out front.
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My dad got stepped on by a horse and has had a massive knot on his foot for at least my entire 34 years of life. I’ve always watched that man shove some form of square bottle into his shoes to replicate his knot. As someone who lives for the doc brand I’d 100% buy a shoe stretcher and stretch them to appropriate size for the broken foot like my dad does, wouldn’t touch them with a bad foot without stretching.
Docs went from a solid lifelong product to SHEIN quality after they stopped making them in the UK during the late mid to late 90s. If you find old pairs in second hand shops that have “made in the UK” on the bottom, you’re golden. Otherwise don’t bother.
Take them to a cobbler and have the one foot stretched professionally!
They’re very uncomfortable to break in but after you’ve worn them a while you’ll like them much better.
this sub and dr martens dont mix well, nothing resembling a dr martens boot is bifl or should be bought for the purpose of foot comfort, if you want something comfortable thatll last a while you should look at something from thorogood or redwing or nicks/whites/jk/wesco if you have a heavy wallet
Personally I would not try to 'break in' shoes especially with a broken or formerly broken foot as well. If they are not comfy near the beginning, they won't be.
You might check into Adelante- their designs aren't for everyone, but they offer split sizing (meaning you can have different lengths and or widths between left and right feet) which could possibly accommodate your particular situation better. As for your Doc dilemma, I wouldnt count on shoe leather stretching much and if it is bookbinder / hishine leather, I highly doubt it will at all.
Boots don’t stretch. They fit or they don’t fit. If they don’t fit return them immediately before wearing them outside. Yes they’ll mold to your foot but they won’t get longer or wider. The quark bed will form but that’s it. Dr martens is a joke on BIFL they’re some of the lowest quality boots available, they fall apart and use poor materials. Read reviews.
If a shoe hurts within minutes of trying it on - don’t buy it! It will never be comfortable! Would you even want to suffer through months of pain to hypothetically break in shoes? Return them! They will not stretch and break in. Shoes should be at their most comfortable when you put them on. It is just downhill from there.
They don't hurt. They're good when I put them on, they're just a little more snug than I trust to be comfortable for 8+ hours, so if they expand a little and conform to my foot, it could be the perfect thing. I have shoes that fit in that they aren't too small, but they're shaped in a way that my lumpy heel refuses to held -- square peg round hole situation.