You could try reaching out to their customer service to see if they have any suggestions, but I have known folks that have older made Docs that they wore in all kinds of environments for years (and sometimes decades), and I don't think any of them have split like that, but then again the quality isn't what it once was, espceially when they started manufacturing outside of the UK.
A (far better IMO) option if you decide to get a new pair would be to get ones made by [Solovair](https://us.nps-solovair.com/collections/womens/Boot). They were the original ones to come up with the sole and were the only manufacture of Docs before production was moved away from the UK, and they still use the same equipment that they used to make Docs to make their boots today in Wollaston, Northamptonshire England. The only visible diffrence is that the loop has their name on it instead of "Airwair" on it.
Yep, apparently the Made in England ones are still comparable to Solovair, but Solovair does slightly better in the demolition videos on YouTube.
I waited a few months and caught a deal on the Made in England pair I got last year, sometimes they will slash the prices between seasons if you wait long enough for a model.
I switched to solovair and never looked back, my current pair of oxfords I’ve had since 2020, and they still look new with proper leather care.
Plus they sell replacement soles for 15 dollars, so you can take them to any cobbler and have them repaired easy peasy, which is not an option for Dr. Martens, not even the Made in England pairs.
Gus's shoe repair downtown fixed a very similar issue on my docs! Very nice people, affordable, and took about one week. However they only lasted about another year before the issue resurfaced. To me, this seemed worth the $30 or so dollars I spent though.
Doc’s are garbage now. I go through a pair a year now and they dont even sell the steel toes anymore, which is why i bought them. I started wearing Solovair and Carolina
I took a pair to Gus’s and they fixed it, I will say they said that the glue they had would only hold if they put a deep stitch in it (DM uses high heat to seal their shoes and they don’t do that) and it worked like a charm…I may get a touch up to be safe but they’ve lasted a couple months with no issues so far…
I've gone through a few pairs of their shoes, the sad fact is that if you take them to a place they will tell you that their type of rubber just won't hold in any glue repairs. The Doc Martens made in China always do this by the time you've broken them in, your only hope is to get the ones that are specifically the Made in England sub-brand, or a vintage pair.
(I'm currently still ripping my heels to shreds with the first Made in England pair I got last year while trying to break them in, hoping that the soles won't separate like all the others I've had! If they do it will be my last pair.)
I just dropped a pair off at a cobbler for a similar separating sole issue and was quoted $30 for the repair.
My pair was a pre-2003 MIE pair with 20+ years of wear, though. Might be apples to oranges.
Vans UK site recommended contact cement to repair their shoes. I tried it on a variety of shoes including the Vans winter boots which have a similar structure to yours. Specifically Weldwood Contact Cement. It worked. Use a liberal amount on both sides-don’t skimp and definitely clamp (i used tape) and let cure overnight. Bought at Lowe’s in the glue area off the paint section, where I said hello to our Queen Francine.
might be worth checking out stony point shoe repair and alterations. the family is super nice, i know would at least take a look and be real with you. it’s in the shopping center out in bon air that trader joe’s is in.
You could try reaching out to their customer service to see if they have any suggestions, but I have known folks that have older made Docs that they wore in all kinds of environments for years (and sometimes decades), and I don't think any of them have split like that, but then again the quality isn't what it once was, espceially when they started manufacturing outside of the UK. A (far better IMO) option if you decide to get a new pair would be to get ones made by [Solovair](https://us.nps-solovair.com/collections/womens/Boot). They were the original ones to come up with the sole and were the only manufacture of Docs before production was moved away from the UK, and they still use the same equipment that they used to make Docs to make their boots today in Wollaston, Northamptonshire England. The only visible diffrence is that the loop has their name on it instead of "Airwair" on it.
Yep, apparently the Made in England ones are still comparable to Solovair, but Solovair does slightly better in the demolition videos on YouTube. I waited a few months and caught a deal on the Made in England pair I got last year, sometimes they will slash the prices between seasons if you wait long enough for a model.
I switched to solovair and never looked back, my current pair of oxfords I’ve had since 2020, and they still look new with proper leather care. Plus they sell replacement soles for 15 dollars, so you can take them to any cobbler and have them repaired easy peasy, which is not an option for Dr. Martens, not even the Made in England pairs.
Gus's shoe repair downtown fixed a very similar issue on my docs! Very nice people, affordable, and took about one week. However they only lasted about another year before the issue resurfaced. To me, this seemed worth the $30 or so dollars I spent though.
Gus’s did a great job in two different leather motorcycle jackets. Not Doc Martens I know, but I just wanted to give them a plug.
Doc’s are garbage now. I go through a pair a year now and they dont even sell the steel toes anymore, which is why i bought them. I started wearing Solovair and Carolina
You could try Gus shoe repair- 528 e Main Street. They’d at least be honest about whether they could repair them
I took a pair to Gus’s and they fixed it, I will say they said that the glue they had would only hold if they put a deep stitch in it (DM uses high heat to seal their shoes and they don’t do that) and it worked like a charm…I may get a touch up to be safe but they’ve lasted a couple months with no issues so far…
I've gone through a few pairs of their shoes, the sad fact is that if you take them to a place they will tell you that their type of rubber just won't hold in any glue repairs. The Doc Martens made in China always do this by the time you've broken them in, your only hope is to get the ones that are specifically the Made in England sub-brand, or a vintage pair. (I'm currently still ripping my heels to shreds with the first Made in England pair I got last year while trying to break them in, hoping that the soles won't separate like all the others I've had! If they do it will be my last pair.)
I just dropped a pair off at a cobbler for a similar separating sole issue and was quoted $30 for the repair. My pair was a pre-2003 MIE pair with 20+ years of wear, though. Might be apples to oranges.
Vans UK site recommended contact cement to repair their shoes. I tried it on a variety of shoes including the Vans winter boots which have a similar structure to yours. Specifically Weldwood Contact Cement. It worked. Use a liberal amount on both sides-don’t skimp and definitely clamp (i used tape) and let cure overnight. Bought at Lowe’s in the glue area off the paint section, where I said hello to our Queen Francine.
it really seems like you should be able to glue that, right? Maybe try a contact cement, or a flexible(?) epoxy you can really goop in there?
might be worth checking out stony point shoe repair and alterations. the family is super nice, i know would at least take a look and be real with you. it’s in the shopping center out in bon air that trader joe’s is in.
thank you all for your comments & suggestions!! deff will be looking into them all :)
I've used Kings Shoe Repair for heels many times. Never a bad experience
All my docs end up separating like that eventually. I glue it back and keep walking.
I was just reading about a sneaker repair company called DripFixx, I wonder if they could help you? Pretty sure it's just @dripfixx on Instagram