If you’ve ever laid your eyes on these two brands, you know that they look very similar. So much so, it’s very easy to get them confused, even side by side. Meaning it’s finally time to decide the ultimate winner of the Doc Martens vs Solovair battle. I’ve tested the two boots in a (literal) side-by-side challenge, by walking around New York City for a whole day with one on each foot. After spending time breaking each boot in, I’m ready to give you the full rundown of each iconic boot.
Did you know that Dr. Martens used to work with Solovair to manufacture some of their most iconic boots? The two were unavoidable until Doc Martens faced some financial difficulties and decided to break their partnership.
Solovair took matters into their hands and became competitors. Today, I’m going to compare the Solovair boots, which have a legacy of quality craftsmanship, and the legendary Doc Marten Boots, known for the iconic stitching and air cushion soles. Both shoes are versatile and can be worn with any outfit.
It’s time to lace up and see which one of these boots comes out on top.
Doc Martens vs Solovair: Boot Breakdown
Stitching
The Doc Marten stitching can be seen around the uppers of the boots with the iconic yellow thread. Much like Levi’s red label, Dr. Martens marketing has stood the test time. The Solovair is made using the stitch-down technique, where the leather uppers are turned outward and stitched into the midsole.
Buy Soles
Doc Martens are known for their ‘Air Ware’ cushion soles, and hence call them the “Bouncing Soles.” Considering the brands manufactured together at one point, Solovair has something similar branding; they call it ‘Soles of Air’ (also how the brand is supposed to be pronounced).
Leather Quality
Untrained eyes may think that the Solovair grease is thicker than 1460s Quilon made in England. After testing, the leather from Dr Martens feels more stiff on the body but the leather on the Solovair shoe is thicker and has a ‘greasy’ high shine while Dr Martens is a matte dull-medium unless shined.
It’s worth noting that Doc Martens has outsourced a lot of its production to Asia, and uses water resistant leather from Asia and South America while Solovair still sources leather from European countries. That’s not to say one is better than the other, due to the popularity Dr. Martens needed to expand, however, Solovair has been steadfast to their European roots.
Sizing
For testing purposes I wear US size 9. My biggest gripe is that Dr Martens don’t come in half sizes (I expand on this later) and they tend to run small. Unfortunately, unless you’re in between sizes sizing up may be too big and ordering true to size may be too small.
Price
The price of the classic 1460s in smooth leather is slightly cheaper at $170. Solovair Black Greasy 8 Eye Derby boot (a mouthful!) is $219. Ultimately, a $49 difference is negligible if you’re a true supporter of either brand, but the price difference is typically attributed to manufacturing choices and materials used.
However, if you opt for Dr. Martens ‘Made in England’ collection you’re looking at $260 for the 1460s, which really proves how Dr Martens are able to provide the more affordable option (outsourcing to Asia and South America. Solovair’s products are also considered to be a more premium product with a higher price tag.
Breaking in each Boot and Overall Comfort
First Impressions
It was my first time wearing Solovairs. The leather was firm but still felt comfortable. It was a lot more so than on the first day at the doctor’s. I experienced some discomfort, especially in my heels due to the shanks and stiffness. The stitching on the tongue also poked every time I walked, which wasn’t the end of the world but something that I noticed.
Breaking In Process
My plan to break in my Solovairs boots was pretty simple. I began by applying the Wonder Balsam from Dr. Martens to the boot, and then heated the leather so that the balm penetrated deep into the leather. This softened the leather for a quick and painless break-in. After that I walked around 10,000 steps a daily, which breaks them down faster. Also, I used two pairs of socks to protect my feet and wore the Doc Martens double sole to cover all my bases.
Lastly, I stuffed my boots with newspapers when I wasn’t wearing them, so that the boot can still keep their shape, and expand. This is how I usually break in my Doc Martens. My Solovairs felt very comfortable within a week. They had broken in and were ready to be worn every day.
The Importance Of A Shank
One of the most noticeable differences between the two brands of boots is the shank. Solovair has it.
In boots, the shank is the thin piece of material located between the insoles and outsoles. It is designed to support the foot and provide structure. Is it necessary to make quality boots? Let’s find out.
Doc Martens vs. Solovair – An Unscientific Test
New York is one of those places where I think it’s acceptable to be different, and yes, me wearing two different boots at the same time is a little bit crazy. But unsurprisingly while I was in New York completing my Dr. Martens vs Solovair experiment, I didn’t get a lot of stares. Quite honestly I wasn’t even close to the craziest outfit I saw during my testing period. I’m pretty sure if I did that in other places, I would have gotten a lot of stares.
My unscientific experiment has revealed that I can feel the shank of the Solovair boots. After walking literally over 30,000 feet, you can definitely feel the shank. The heel section of the Solovair boots, they’re a little bit thicker or just harder whenever you walk, giving less of a bounce than Dr Martens.
Solovair boots will perform better if you are on your feet a lot and often work on uneven surfaces. As expected, my Doc Martens performed well. I felt that the docs felt a lot softer than my Solovairs. They were perfect for long walks on the pavement.
Since I wore one on each foot, I felt the difference and noticed that each foot had it’s own pain point. The Solovair caused pain in my ball of foot. For Dr. Martens it was along the arch. But I’m willing to accept that a large part of the problem was due to my distance walked.
Final Thoughts
Longevity, Comfort and Well-being
Overall the comfort of my Docs is hard to beat, the sole is forgiving and after the tough break-in period, they really feel like they’re molded to my feet. However, I’ll have to say, I’ve noticed people complain about higher levels of fatigue when wearing boots without a shank.
I can’t speak to that directly in this testing, because I only wore them both for one day but maybe I will notice the fatigue further down the line. But if I had both pairs for, let’s say five, or ten years down the line, I do feel like the Solovairs would be better longer because of the support shank.
But so far with my Doc Martens, I’ve had them for around two years, and they’ve kept up, they’re not too damaged, they feel good, and they’re good to walk around in, even all day long.
Compare Price and Quality
For the overall comparison of these two, let’s start by talking about the pricing. In terms of pricing, the Solovairs ($219) were a bit cheaper as of the publication date than the 1460s Made in England ($260). I feel like the made-in-England are like the flagship of the Doc Martens; they’re like the original, the classic, and the most recognizable docs. Doc Martens also has the 1460s made in Asia which brings the price down to $170. This makes them slightly cheaper than Solovairs.
When it comes to the quality, I’ll have to say the Solovair wins, they just seem a little bit better, tougher and made with better quality. Docs’ leather feels thinner because the leather is firmer. I’m going to vote for Solovair because of its superior quality.
Also, I think it’s worth noting that while Doc Martens do have a big fan base, which also plays a big role when making a purchasing decision, a lot of people have been complaining about their quality in recent years. This feels like another win for Solovair, as even though they have a smaller fan base, most people don’t have anything bad to say about their products.
Style and Branding
When it comes to the style of each brand, I have to give the winning points to Dr. Martens, they’re the bigger brand, they have done more, there are more styles, and more variations of Docs. There’s literally a Doc Martens for everyone, there’s something that kind of fits your style, your vibe, and occasion. As well, Doc Martens, they’ve done a great job marketing themselves.
Dr. Martens works with many brands and artists to keep their merchandise relevant, ever-changing, and out there. They’re always trying to push the limit and try to make new pairs of boots, even good or bad, but it fits the widest audience.
The Solovair is on the opposite side. Yes, they do have their core set of boots, which are high-quality premium products, but it’s hard to compare considering they’ve remained small, still with a loyal following. Solovair does what they do incredibly well with craftsmanship that can be hard to find these days, plus it’s hard to compete with over 130 years of experience.
Sizing: Half Sizes Matter
When it comes to sizing, as you may know, Docs doesn’t do half sizes, but Solovairs does offer half sizes, which is amazing. As far as Docs go, I feel like it’s been long enough and they should start offering half sizes, especially because the shoes run small.
I don’t think Dr. Martens has fully responded to its customer base without the half sizes. They could make more money if they offered more sizes. But until Docs offers those coveted half-sized Solovair is ready to swoop in and steal their customers, at least it’s nice to have a very similar option.
Resoling – The Game Changer
Lastly, the biggest thing that Solovair offers, that Dr. Martens doesn’t, is resoling their boots. I feel like this is a game changer because with Docs, you cannot resole the boots, at least not easily, as you typically have to find a cobbler that specializes in doc repairs, which means when you wear through one pair, it’s time to buy another.
With Solovair you can easily resole these shoes. It can be difficult to find the right size when you buy the soles online, but it is worth the effort. You can have a pair of boots, resole them all the time, and as long as you take care of the leather they’ll last for you for a lifetime.
The Ultimate Showdown – Doc Martens Vs Solovair Video
Final Verdict
What do you think? What is your choice in the Doc Martens or Solovair war?
Dr. Martens has endured decades of fashion changes, but they remain affordable, durable and comfortable for the majority. Solovair’s boots are also worth considering because even after 130 years they’re still focused on premium craftsmanship with high-quality leather and soles that can easily be fixed. Solovairs might be more expensive but, as long you maintain the leather, you can expect them to last you for many years.
The final decision comes down to your personal preferences, budget and intended use. After two years, my docs are still the shoes I reach for but I won’t knock the Solovairs out of the rotation just yet