The TRUTH about Doc Martens

Doc Martens have always stood as a symbol for the punk and anti-establishment movements, but were honestly also known for being just really solid boots. However, there's been a recent downfall in quality that even the most loyal of wearers have admitted to. This is the story of the rise and fall of Dr Martens.

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Script: Estelle Walton
Editor: Kim Su
Lead Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand

[axelaminoff]

I had docs back in the 1980s and they were amazing. A decade later they already were on the decline quality wise.

[CraigSimmonds]

So pleased that you mentioned Solovair! I own a pair of them and they're SO much better and more durable than previous DM's I've owned (although be warned, Solovair's take AGES to break in).

[vitriolicAmaranth]

My dad wears the same pair of Docs he got in the late 80s and they're still in great condition. He wears a workboot doing construction now but for about a decade he even wore them to work. I got a pair in 2009 that lasted until 2021. I got a new pair, and they wore out in six months working as a store manager, not exactly tough on shoes. I only learned of the "generations" of Docs since then, but it makes perfect sense now that I know about it. The mission of the brand was once to make an affordable, durable, comfortable boot; In stages, the mission became to cheaply make a drastically overpriced boot that superficially looks like that previous boot, because people will buy that boot at a high price for the sake of fashion.

[CoughitsKath]

i have been told by cobblers that the newest docs make it harder (impossible) to resole, discouraging repair and encouraging customers to just buy anther pair instead. as someone who frequently gets shoes fixed rather than just toss them, that felt like an extreme slap in the fact. my non doc boots have been going strong for over 15 years of almost daily wear though, so I'll stick to resoling instead of buying a new pair every 2 years

[adelitaserena]

Old punk rocker here, I had a few pairs back in the 80, s early 90’s they were literally all I wore for years, and that worn very broke in look actually made the boots better, I recently acquired a used pair, practically new at a consignment shop and I still love them. Very nostalgic. Great video, sad about their current direction 😢

[mind-of-neo]

It is so beyond disgusting to me that Doc martens went out of their way to remove all listings of doc marten boots from independent sellers to gain "total price control" and force people to pay those insane prices. Also, the alternative brand is extremely expensive too. $250 a pair...

[ether]

I highly recommend buying them secondhand if you love them! I've had 3 pairs and every one was found in a charity shop...my current pair cost $20.00 AUD after I explained to the lovely old lady that these boots are worth a lot of money and refused to pay only $5.00 for a near-brand new pair which must have been made in the 80s because they are so solid. The real 'punk' movement wasn't about spending hundreds of dollars on a pair of shoes - it was about the working class/poor which is why I'm glad that every dollar spent on my Docs went to local charities.

[tiffanypatton]

I was a teen in the late 90s and very very early 00s. Docs were THE shoe to have! From the boots (worn with skirts, dresses, and under our flare jeans) to the fisherman style sandals to the thick soled Mary Jane’s!

[sonyakinsey]

I love my Solovairs. They actually broke in really quickly, although I was prepared for it to take longer. After a year they are still so good. I wore them as a grade school teacher and they really gave good support.

[MalinaCC]

When I was in high school, I found a pair of vintage Doc Martens at the thrift store for around $20. Wore them for about 10 years until my feet out grew them and I couldn’t fit them anymore (I’m 27). Recently bought a new pair to replace the old ones and I’m pretty disappointed in how they fit and feel and the quality issues you mentioned. I’ve had them for over a year and they are mad uncomfortable still so I think I’ll be selling them 😢

[gentensworld]

As a millennial punk living in Salt Lake City (which was put on the punk-map somewhat thanks to the SLC punk films). and also as someone who's into leather / footwear care, I'm really glad you highlighted a lot of the lesser known history about Docs; as well as featured Rose Anvil's clips (who's also local to SLC for bonus points). I don't personally love where Docs have gone in terms of production, and I can agree they're "falling off" in a lot of ways. On the flip side, they were a cornerstone of my youth, and I'm glad Solovair is getting the flowers they deserve as the "torchbearer" of better-made Docs.

[mind-of-neo]

I don't know if it's because i grew up poor or because i grew up under a rock, but i didn't even know about this brand until a couple years ago when a friend mentioned buying some (and the absurd price for them)

[akirebara]

Perfect timing! I literally just bought a pair of Docs from a mom on Facebook Marketplace. She sold 1460s (kids' size 4, women's size 5) to me for $45. Her kid had outgrown it (she's 12, I'm 35). All my Docs are 2nd hand. They're still the only boots I wear during the winter season tbh. And because I don't care about brand new, works for me. My oldest one is 4 years old, Crazy Horse made in England and you can definitely tell the difference versus the one I have that's made in Thailand.

[eggythumpnonce]

Doc Martin work boots are honestly the comfortable work boots I’ve ever used, could walk around for 9 hours plus and still feel nothing

[aprescoups]

I can say Red Wings are in this category. My old Red Wings lasted 11 years with five resoles. The new ones are just not the same, they feel cheaper and i’m on my third resole in the past three years. It really sucks when they just cheap out but the boots are $260 USD

[willardSpirit]

Our generation's Doc's (early 2000's) would probably be Timberlands with the rise of hip hop and r&b. Baby blue suedes and white soles is where it's at!

[bigozy]

Doc Marten boots didn't find their way into fashion with the Punk movement.... they actually started there way into fashion with the Skinheads (I know, as I was one) and later followed on to the Punks

[skerdude]

I bought the 1460 FOR LIFE for $192 back in 2015 when they still offered them and have been through 4 pairs in 8 years. I wear them around 85% percent of the time. Only had to pay $30 for replacements. I love them but I would NEVER pay full price for replacement pairs considering how expensive they have gotten recently.

[aapur]

I actually bought a set of Docs just a month ago. Of course, I settled for the classic black 1460s. The brand may have fallen from its heights, but I like the boots I got. After breaking them in have they gotten super comfortable.
I was never influenced by influencers or collabs to buy these. I just liked the punk vibe they had

[Firevine]

I bought my first pair of Doc's in like 1998 and those things were absolute tanks. I worked in warehouses, construction, as a mover, and restaurants in those boots. They lasted like six years in those environments.

Second pair developed a crack across the width of the sole within months. Ok, maybe they weren't up to snuff since I got them at Ross.

Third pair, the upper tore away from the sole at the heel on both boots within months.

Damn shame.