Better than “real” Dr Martens - Solovair

the yellow stitch it is! XD

patent layer of plastic... they gonna look like shit after some time ig

currently looking into solovair for just a new shoe since i need one and this video definitely helped!!! also being russian, having lived in cold places i have winter boots with natural rubber soles so thankfully no cold weather cracking should happen hehehheh

what had the best puncture test?

Yucky whose nails were they showing the reddish/brown boots? The black peeled nail varnish. Surely it would be better having decent clean nails & hands showing a product, looks terrible!

Yellow stitching is so passé

I just got a pair of Solovairs and I love em so much, it hurt seeing the ones you got get cut in half 🥲 love the video

After one night of kicking tires out at the Coors Brewery in Colorado where I am I truck driver. The souls started to peel apart from the toes of my new Solovair steel-toed boots. Absolutely astounded by the crap quality. There were less than a week old. I've emailed them just see what they'll do about it.

It looked like you really struggled to cut through these boots vs the Dr Martin's that cut like butter.

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.

Solovairs are way too expensive for us low income people. Nothing under 220 bucks. And the sales arent cheap either. I look around for the biggest reductions and get lucky after a while. I haven’t seen any Solovairs under $100, so…

I love the yellow stitches tho 😭

Hey, could you review Kavat Nyhammar EP? Those seems really good.

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.

Were these the British made vintage docs?

I’m a firefighter and I just ordered solovair derby’s with the zipper guard as my station boots. Was this a mistake?

What a great a video. I love listening to anyone really knowledgeable in something and you presented it perfectly. I left with no questions. Subscribed

Awesome content!

The silver stitching is way cooler than the yellow

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.

My Vintage Made in England DM's are 4 years old and in almost perfect condition, but the counter liners are cracked, broken and falling apart. How hard is that to fix? Could I just skive some leather and glue it in? Ripping the stitches out and sewing the liner in is daunting.
How much do you think a cobbler would charge (if I could find one)?

I don’t disagree with your opinion as a docs wearer. Something I run into where I live (Canada, not prairies) is that it’s hard to get boots in these style that last at least as long as docs, and at this price point here. Wish there were more options

Can you do a leather review of the Solovair greasy leather boots?

Not worth the money. Both seems to be compromise...

I have NPS shoes Ranger steel toe Boots.
At just 150€ they cost less than the 1460(no toe cap) and are much more robust

do the solovair Steel Toe Derby Boot next

Can anybody help me pick out a boot? I’m looking for a bit of a bulkier boot to go with my selvedge jeans and I would like to enjoy being able to polish and wax them

the shop wheree I bought my Martens in the 90s collored the stich black.

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!

or just get real, actual boots for 200 bucks

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.

what I learned from this vid....
only puzziez wear this boot as they cant/dont break a wooden shank..
advice to non soy humans
don't lower yourself by using this product.

What if you compare it to made in England collection?

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

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!

What type of wood is the Solovair shank made of? If it is ash, oak or another hardwood it will be extremely durable.

Made in England Docs and Solovair is the way to go.

Did they have a plasticky coating on the 70s? I seem to recall polishing mine with shoe polish for leather

Trust me ditch the boot shank you won't need insoles your back will be better I stand 12 hour days I know

someone gave me some black low top Docs.. made in England im pretty sure.. i love em.. they mold to my feet.., but I always wanted the traditional high top 1460s... so i just bought the cherry red on sale (hopefully they're not too bright) ...but i always wanted the green.. and wish i went with the green.. i think next, ill get the Solovair.. this way ill have an English made Doc, a China made 1460, and a 'true' Doc Solovair... i really do wish they could do the yellow stich though.. it kinda makes it for me.. but i guess that's pretty superficial.. im curious what the numbers mean.. 1460, 1461.. guessing it deals with the dimensions in some way

My experience with Gibson shoes: the Solovair is much more durable than Dr. Martens. After about a year, the inside of the latter began to erode, resulting in an inside hole just behind the fifth toe. After a while, I simply could not wear the shoes anymore, because it would cut my feet. I did not have any issues with the Solovair.

do the shiny ones crack just like Docs ?

Hi I do like your videos now this is a bit sad I'm going to book a tour around the solovair not told my wife as yet lol.
Do you look at other brands in the UK we have a shop called blacks it sells camping hiking hill walking in fact most outdoor stuff

First solovair experience today, excellent customer experience and amazingly comfortable shoes that seem very well made.

DMs all the way !! Either build in England or China !! Best boot ever … you don’t use a pair of Docs because they are durable or not… they’re just iconic and is a culture to use them ! Period !!

If only they were fully gussetted.

I bought my first day of solovairs and wore them for 2 weeks now.
The crazy thing, after 6 or 7 pairs of Dr.Martens and painfull break-in processes, i haven't got any problems, no blisters or ither uncomfortable things. I dont know why, but it feels great to change the brand. Specially bc of the hilarious increase of pricing over the past 10 years. My first pair around 2015 for 70euros is now at total 200euros. Of course just because of the hype, because the quality remained shitty as it was.

I still have 2 pairs of pre 1995 Dr Martens (Cherry red & Black) both sole and leather are good. Cracking a little at the big toe first joint but haven't split through the leather just the coating. Having said that IF i were to buy a similar shoe it'd be solovairs - though tbh its red wing & thursdays these days. [my budget doesn't go to whites :) )