EDIT: I’m saying “insoles” when what I should be saying is “inserts” slip O’ DE OL’ TONGUE! All these boots have insoles as it’s structurally important for the boot! Sorry!

@HeritageCast

Жыл бұрын

Huge opportunity for you to fly out to Spokane work with Nicks or JK and design you're own boots..... And even do a battle of a bunch of different PNW boot makers for the Snail Grail Boot.....

@InGrindWeCrust2010

11 ай бұрын

Same difference. An insole can be synonymous with the footbed, even though sometimes the latter is used to distinguish the base insole layer that's attached to the boot's structure.

@GianMelendres-if7ph

11 ай бұрын

I got a meme for this: Solovair: Solovair Dr. Marten’s: when you buy your Solovairs from Wish 😆🫡👍

glad to see solovair getting the recognition they deserve finally.

@katherinelangford981

Жыл бұрын

Omg I thought he was saying "solo bear".

@AndrewKarpyszyn

11 ай бұрын

@@katherinelangford981 I really enjoyed your performance in "13 Reasons Why".

You’re awesome Michael, I always love watching your videos bro!

@heiner71

Жыл бұрын

And he didn't even make fun of you in this video 🙂

@zekeyeager1458

Жыл бұрын

Epic

@dscrappygolani7981

Жыл бұрын

He's quirky ....the proverbial man-child 😄 I mean, c'mon Carl doc martens are for .....🤷🏾‍♂️ Neophytes...babies...

@Artaois13

Жыл бұрын

Just need Rose Anvil to show up and flirt too. 🤣

@MaximSupernov

3 күн бұрын

@@Artaois13 Without a 20K+ down payment, he won't show up.

Re: sizing - I have a pair of 11-eye derby boots in EU 42 (UK 8, US 9). For reference, my normal sneaker size is either EU 42.5 or 43 (UK 8.5/9, US 9.5/10), my Birkenstocks are EU 41 (UK 7, US 8), and my docs were the same size as Solovair. I bought them about two years ago and am extremely happy with the purchase. They're definitely showing signs of wear (in part because they've got a rub-off colour - that's a feature, not a bug) but are holding up just fine and I expect them to last for a number of years. For comparison, my docs (the overseas ones, bought in 2017 so around the time the quality went down) were in such a horrible shape by the ca. 2-year mark that I had to yeet them in the trash.

@TheIronSnail

Жыл бұрын

TY for the insight!! If anyone else sees this please post your sizings here!

@therevan7288

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I myself went down half size from my true size. For example I wear a US 9 D in sneakers but in my Solovair Dealer Boots I wear an US 8.5 D and they're easily the best fitting boots I own in my collection.

@kostyakost1

Жыл бұрын

Sizing - my usual footwear size is USA 8.5 and I have really wide feet. Solovair 11 Eye Derby Boots (Last Shape 409) is true to size for me, USA 8.5 / UK 7.5 fits snug with zero wiggle room. Recently bought Solovair Dealer Boots (Last Shape 493) half a size bigger USA 9 / UK 8 to accommodate arch support insoles - and they where a little lose without insoles and perfect fit with medium volume insoles. Also should mention awesome delivery times from Solovair and DHL! My boots arrived from Birmingham, UK to WA, USA in 3 days with free shipping option.

I bought Solovairs about a year ago and they are the best boots I owned so far. I choose them over Docs because I think they look classier without the yellow stitching. The quality is great and I liked that they came in a little cheaper than Docs.

@9gloss

9 ай бұрын

Hows the sizing? True to size? Half size up or down?

@stefanstrauss-aigner3221

9 ай бұрын

@@9gloss True to size in my case

@justmeeagainn

9 ай бұрын

Without the yellow stitching, nobody will know you're a lesbian.

@Chilam.

7 ай бұрын

​@@justmeeagainnwhat's the point of getting boots in the first place, then?

@anthonyfrancis2374

4 ай бұрын

So when you'r out cruising the public toilets how do you yourself manage? @@justmeeagainn

One of the usual lemons of solovair is that the sole does not fit completely to the leather and leaves space, through which water can enter very easily

i have two pairs of solovair's greasy black dealer boots (their chelseas) and love them. one regular pair and the other the gripfast brand steel toes. absolutely love them both, i get a lot of compliments at work about them. I typically wear a size 9, but sized down to 8.5 US (7.5 UK) and they fit perfectly. The only uncomortable part of the break in was the top of the foot for about a month, but now they're the most comfortable boots I've ever owned.

I recently discovered your channel and I have to say that you produce content of high quality. I appreciate a lot the touch of humour you put in your videos and the "cinematography". Thank you very much 🕺

My pull tabs on my brogue solovairs burst immediately, laces broke quickly and winter moisture stained them within a week 😢. I had thoroughly bought into their history researching and gutted. Sold the. For buttons afterwards

Thank you for this video, i want to get the same Solovair boots but had a tough time looking for a good in depth review. And I'm glad to say this was a lot more than what I was looking for. I enjoyed the video very much!

Michael is the kind of guy to build up a wooden set so he can explain what a shank is. That's commitment. No way he found that randomly.

Great stuff and thanks for the tips about docs 👍🏻

Have greasy black, toe cap Solovairs and they're awesome. The gray thread and smoke gray sole is definitely preferred for me. Only gripe is that I'm not small by any means and the boots still touch towards the top when tying them up.

Grandma at 11 seconds🤣

I bought a pair of Solovairs because they made them in a bright colour that Dr Martens don't make. Aside from the obvious improvement in quality over Docs (Even made in England Dr Martens are a bit naff, thin tears bleeding leather), they just offer better variety 😊

Thanks for this video and all the research. Solovair simply deserves more recognition. I would tend to say that the only reason someone will choose Doc Martens over Solovair nowadays is the yellow stitching. It's such a fashion statement recognized globally. If you got the yellow stitching, you're "in the tribe" you know. If you're more interessed in quality and durability, choose Solovair. I have pairs of loafers, boots and chelsea from Solovair and I'm very happy with it. The leather, even after months of use, is still astonishing if you treat it well (clean and nourish) and I got no issues with them whatsoever. For the Sizing, I would tend to recommend to size down just from a half size; that's what I did with all my purchases and it fit me very well ; but I guess it depends if you got large feets or not, so beware.

Another interesting boot worth considering if you want Docs is the Thursday Stomper. They even come in a Cherry color that they only offer with one other boot :)

When I first watched a couple of your videos, I thought you might’ve had a half million or more subs with your level of writing and production. I was dumbfounded when I discovered you had less than 50k. I have no doubt you’ll get there👏🏽

I got a pair of Made in England DMs a while ago and within the first 8 months the leather had developed holes. A little while after this on a trip to Camden, I found a boot shop where the man behind the counter was trying to persuade some tourists to give Solovair a go, lamenting the poor quality of DMs. Decided to get a pair and about 5 years later they're still going strong but I did have problems with the eyelets too (one wasn't secured in properly so I had to re-attach it with a pair of pliers).

I actually work for doc Martens, the insoles will probably never rip because of the welting and the leather from the made in England is of much better quality than the made in Thailand, it is selected from England and I think it is known to the public, nevertheless I didn’t know solovair existed and they look pretty cool, glad to learn something new, you have a new subscriber. Greetings from Valencia, Spain

I have the same greasy derby boots from solovair. I got them at an outlet for less than half price, they are very dependable boots, even if the upper is a bit floppy

I was just searching dr Martin vs solovair and your video just popped up 2 minutes after upload

Magic spoon sounds great in theory until you realize it’s 10 dollars a box lmao

@Quanic2000

Жыл бұрын

And it tastes like shit 😂

As an Aussie, I’d love to see you review a pair of RM Williams boots. They’re a staple for every urban cowboy over here .

@TheNunakun

Жыл бұрын

I can't wait to get a pair myself, just matter of time and place.... But I'm surprised it's such an icon with the high price point. Guess people just save up.

@dan12pax

Жыл бұрын

@@TheNunakun they’ve had a big price increase over the past 5-10 years. I’ve got two pairs, purchased 8-10 years ago. cost me $350(chestnut with rubber sole) & $400 (suede with leather sole) aud respectively. Just had them both re-soled. both look pretty good considering they’ve had a lot of use put on them. Admittedly they’ve turned into more of a dress shoe than a real work boot, but still interested in Michael’s opinion.

bought a pair of solovair cheleas, theyve become my daily shoe. i wear them to work almost every day, and im on my feet all day. ive owned them for nearly a year and outside of expected sole wear and a few leather creases caused by simply having feet, there are literally no signs of damage.

Wooden shanks are used by Crockett and Jones, Trickers, Cheaney, Loake and most British boot makers. If you're standing on ladders all day then get a steel shank but for normal use... All of these boots are are low end budget boots and the UK has high labour costs so there inevitably will be compromises of quality control AND leather quality. Don't expect the same quality and consistency as other budget brands like Loake ( their made in England boots cost £290 though) Be aware that Solovair has a lot of heavily finished leather in their boot ranges. All their glossy offerings are plastic coated leather as are their rub off offering (though the latter use a thinner synthetic pigment than the glossy offerings). Crazy Horse leather is a form of nubuck (buffed surface) . It should also be noted that even "full grain leather" is often heavily finished to cover up cosmetic flaws in the leather. At this price point it is necessary to use as much of the hide as possible and that will include less desirable areas. Having said that, I've owned four pairs of their premium Solovair boots including two Chromexcel leather pairs and two have had surprising good leather quality. The other two ( 1 CXL, 1 calf leather) had some issues.

I need to correct you on the statement on the insoles 2:45 You were talking about the sock liners. The Solovair have a half sock liner, the Dr Martens a full length. Insoles and their materials are one of the most important parts in the construction of footwear. And high quality footwear has in most cases vegetable tanned insoles that are 2-5mm thick. Cheap footwear has somestimes just fabric or in many cases texon insoles, that are not as durable as leather insoles.

In solovair sizing, I'm a full size smaller for the steel toe models (I'm a UK7, I purchased a UK6 and used a memory foam insole) and usually a half-size smaller for standard (UK7, I purchased a UK6.5. They are slightly roomy, but not enough to warrant the use of an insole.

I only wear Solovair shoes after I found them about 5years ago. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for this style of shoe. I own a number of pairs now and enjoy each one every time I wear them. Lots of compliments on them. They wear great and look great with very minimal maintenance.

Finally a Solovair video! :)

I have worn Dr Martens since school days back in the 1970s. I find the newer non British made ones just fine. When the soles get worn down I have them replaced at The Key Cobbler who do a fine job. I do look after them well with polish and Wonder Balsam and I never pay full price for them but wait for sale prices.

How do the solovair’s fit? True to size? Or do you need to buy a half size down?

I have their derby boots in greasy leather (just like the ones in the video). I’ve went a half size down with my first Solovair purchase (same derby boots in green gaucho leather) and the boots were too tight. With the greasy ones I went true to size and they fit much better, my feet are 27,8 and 28 cm long and the toes of my longer foot touch the front of the boot when I’m walking (it’s no big deal and I wouldn’t consider sizing up). I also have their 6 eye derby boots which have slimmer and longer last (similar to one used on their astronaut boots) and those fit perfectly.

Next Video: The Solovair Killers vs. Solovair and its gonna be a Video about Trickers Boots?

thanks for the info. video on docs with steel toe versus others?

Useful video, but also major side note, Daytona on wrist?!?!? * in the Magic Spoon ad

I love how every ad for this cereal doesn't include someone actually opening a sealed box, putting the cereal in their mouth, chewing, and swallowing all in one cut.

Personal Sizing Experience: I usually wear US mens 8.5 in sneakers and 9 in welted shoes. Solovair said they run large for welted boots, so I went with UK 7.5/US 8.5. I got the 8 eye derbies They were a very close fit, almost too small. Once they leather warmed up and broke in, it was more comfortable. The insole compressing probably helped too. I used wooden shoe trees while I wasn't wearing them, which I think helped the leather keep its stretched shape. Now, they fit quite well but I still don't have enough vertical room too add an insert. If I were going to buy any Solovairs on a smaller/narrower last, I would definitely go up to UK8/US9 and add an insert. One other thing, I've seen a lot of people post pictures of the heat seal failing after a few days or weeks of use. Hasn't happened to me, and I've put some miles and rough use on mine. Sounds like they have a QC issue. On top of that, their factory resole service is "temporarily unavailable" and has been for a while. If the seal failed on my outsole, I don't know if my local cobbler would try and re-melt it or just glue it.

There is also grinders boots. That make similar as well.

Any recommendations for these aesthetic gothish shoes that are good quality and also wide toe box

Anybody have recommendations for a boot that works for the desert? I live in the American southwest and I want something that is breathable but still looks good for the office… I was leaning toward Jim Green but I’m not certain yet

Wish I saw this video sooner, I am new to boots and someone recommended me to get docs so I did. I am seething rn.

@m.f.3347

10 ай бұрын

don't worry, my first pair of boots were docs and i loved them. I have solovairs now but only because I love the style so much I could justify paying twice as much (i got my original docs on sale). I say just wear your docs through and once they're at the end of life, get solovairs if you still want that style of boot.

@AqueousYT

8 ай бұрын

I bought docs too, literally less than a week ago. I've done loads of research online and talked to a lot of my family + coworkers about them, they've all said they're absolutely brilliant, except they all bought them over 8 years ago, and they're all the better quality made in England versions. I bought a pair of the 1460 smooths and they feel so cheap it's unreal. It's like wearing a boot made of plastic. They're horrible. I doubt they'd last more than a year to be honest.

on the cheap Docs you can condition the leather from the inside with either leather conditioner or baseball glove oil and that will help keep them from drying out and cracking too bad

Did i miss the part where you said you'd let us know which Solovair to buy, that has full grain leather with no plastic coating?

Hey, does anyone know a good alternative to the 1461, besides the Solovair Gibson?

Thanks for the comparison. Are the Solovair boots' soles thermally welded on, like the Dr. Martens?

@marklane6121

Жыл бұрын

Yes they are, with the same risk of the weld splitting.

@borjasaz6611

11 ай бұрын

​@@marklane6121agreed,they sent me some pairs badly welt and I had to send them back, first they said that It was normal,but I have seen pictures of how It can evolve with time,so I insisted to send them back

Very informative... So.... i cannot get boots like the Dr Marthens that i bought in the 90's and lasted me 15 years of very frequent use, even if i try solavair...

Solovair...used to make boots for Dr Marten's, back in the 60's and 70's and 80's. Back when Docs were actually well made.

"and hopefully I will be showing you..." the mammoth???

We need a boot like those but built well.

Docs for style, Solovair for durability.

4:37 I'm crying 🤣🤣🤣

i own a pair of Solovair from 2015/2016 with yellow stitch .

You are so right on the eyelets. They are the Achilles heals of Solovairs. I’ve owned many pairs and on every single one the eyelets have ripped out on the outside where the boot bends. However this is an easy fix and any cobbler will replace them with better riveted eyelets for $10. If you really want a strong boot that has the same attitude I’d recommend NPS’s other line of Gripfast. Those boots are something solid. All the important stitching is done either twice or three times over. Their soles are solid rubber and are Goodyear welted along with being attached to the upper with 22 screws.

Try using Obenauf's leather oil. 👍🏼👍🏼

you can have the metal rings fixed up by a shoemaker

Solovair are more comfortable .Bought three pairs from Solovair factory shop and never thought about buying any other boots.

How can i prevent getting blisters on the back of my heel? Doc martens is known for hurting the back of the heel.

@xtelevisionset

Жыл бұрын

Get the correct size and wear the correct socks. Tie and lace correctly.

what wrist watch is that?

Just think of them as sneakers and rotate them as much as possible with your other pairs 😂

Everything logical within me says "Get the Solovair's!", but the 90's kid in my says "YELLOW STITCHES! GOTTA HAVE 'EM!!" *sigh*

what shades are ya reppin

Interesting to be watching this as the Dr Martens share price collapses another 10% percent today. I used to buy these when I younger, I thought that they were fantastic, although I never understood why I always had sore heals until I started to buy more sophisticated shoes. It was the Docs. Check out the video of Rose Anvil cutting a pair of Docs apart, they are just junk.

And...no wide sizes. Moving right along...

Love my Solovairs… also I’ve been told Made in England Docs are only stitched in England

why have I seen 3 solovair ads today with seemly no connection .In the bio it makes no mention of the brand he is promoting

can you do a video on fracap boots?

Oh man I got some solovairs and they sent me the correct size but on the inside they were gigantic. It was weird. Easy to send them back though. Haven’t tried to buy again

My only hesitation with solovair is that there are way way way too many "lemons" stories online. It seems like a bit of a QC lottery.

@borjasaz6611

11 ай бұрын

I had many "lemons" because I have bought many of them.their quality has dropped since they had to make a rebrand because the Dr Martens lawsuit. They changed materials and their producing standards.

If you want a pair of doc like boots that aren’t terrible quality you’re better off just buying second hand army surplus boots. I bought a pair of second hand Austrian army feldschuh leicht by steinkogler for 40 euro and they’re my favorite boots I’ve ever owned

Dear Mr. Kristy kindly do a review on a Viberg boot thank you.

re: the eyelets i personally have a pair of solovair 11 eyelet boots and for the first 6 months of wearing them, i would accidentally slice my hand open on one of the sharp back of an eyelet while lacing them up about 12 times. Now I've had them for a year the sharp backs of the stamped eyelets have sort of been blunted with time and i love them, but that's my experience with quality control.

It is incredible that the marketing teams were able to sell y'all on "air" as a benefit. They're selling air which is free instead of filling that space with quality materials. A+ Marketing department. Ya fooled em

they don't ship to canada?

Once you go solovair you never go back to Drs

Idk, kinda still more sold on Thursday

I love docs bc of the yellow stitch

Steel shank hurt!!

I wish solovair made nonslip work boots

7:42 idk why but you sounded like dr nick from the Simpsons

Good video but thats not how,you lace DMs or Solos

I know the solovairs are better, but i love how beaten up the doc marts look. I just got a pair of Jadens from Doc Marts and I hope i'll wear them in and it'll look like yours one day!

Talk about chelsea boots for men!

Antony, is that a Daytona? How much is adult cereal company paying you?

@TheIronSnail

Жыл бұрын

LOL! It’s a friend of a friends - he let me wear it in the video to see if anyone noticed

@peanutarbuckle2879

Жыл бұрын

​@@TheIronSnail friend of a friend? Is that what we're calling Christian now? P.S. I like your Zenith better.

I've got some solovairs theyre pretty good boots, i wouldn't work in them and i have so i know what I'm talking about. personally i think the comfort is a bit of an exaggeration. i feel like the comfiest boots ive ever worn are my Thorogoods but thats ok I've got differnt boots for different things. thorogoods for work, red wings for literally anything and when im feeling like a punk i grab my solovairs. they aren't really water proof/resistant but ive worn them to the range when it as pretty much a mud field and they do the job, theyll definitely fend of the rain better than any shoe will

Why don't you straight lace your boots?

That useless bouncing sole is the reason I am looking new shoes... Wonder how many people die from trying to use Martens in winter climates every year?

I gotta say I'm a big fan of boot content wherever I can get it, but only if it presents new information. In my opinion, while this was a well edited video that was fun and informative to watch, the channel @RoseAnvil covered everything in this video in a more original way, and watching the original videos from the clips you used gives an even better explanation and comparison of these brands. No hate, towards these brands or this channel, and still excited to see what's next.

I have had many of those "lemons" on solovair,specially on high demand times of the year. They have a good customer service because they have a lot of flaws on the shoes they make.

I am curious about your opinion on the Polish company Steel, which offers leather footwear strongly "inspired" by classic Martens

up selling no insole. Cool

Wait so are you a zoomer or millenial? Either way, your adhd memes are on point.

As a Brit I’m deeply ashamed of both Dr Martens and Solovair…….each were very good up to about 40 years ago. Production values today are terrible. America, please do not waste your money…..🇬🇧

@aayotechnology

Жыл бұрын

So what do you suggest instead?

@TheNunakun

Жыл бұрын

Trickers, Crockett and Jones, even Loake's But they're all priced a higher tier.

@mikewingert5521

Жыл бұрын

@@aayotechnology if you have between $500 and $1500 to spare then…..Cheaney….Crockett and Jones….Trickers….Edward Green (if you’re feeling very rich)……I have Cheaney ….the Coniston….I would guess $650 in Dollars. Mine are 22 years old…re soled and heeled at the factory once. An incredible boot.

@mikewingert5521

Жыл бұрын

@@TheNunakun …correct…plus I’d add Cheaney too

@baje6215

Жыл бұрын

@@mikewingert5521 can't get wrong with pair of Solovair boots from factory shop. I have always bought seconds for third of price.

How are solovairs cheaper

Jet fuel melts steel shanks. I’ve never seen a wood shank melt.

How about the obvious? Solovair made dr martens. Almost the same company. And solovair and docs can both be resoled because they are good year welt.

Gohil's said British leather is excellent

None of the leather on either Doc Martens or Solovair is “full grain”. They’d be a lot more expensive if it was full grain because most of the leather hides would be rejected. To get around this they use corrected grain where the surface is lightly sanded to get the smooth surface. In the case of Solovair a lot of their boots are produced using “high shine” leather, which like the standard leathers on Doc Martens has a plastic coating. These coatings make the leather largely impervious to conditioning and will eventually crack. The greasy leather’s don’t suffer from the same problem. All welted shoes have an insole. In making such shoes an insole is temporarily attached to a last and then the upper is stretched over the last and attached to the insole. The idea is that when it comes to repair, the cobbler should be able to remove the outsole, any midsoles and indeed the welt without disturbing the shape and form of the upper. Good quality shoes and boots tend to have an insole made of vegetable-tanned leather, whereas cheaper ones like Doc Martens, have fibreboard insoles. Leather is more durable and will better conform to the shape of your foot. What you are seeing in that image of the interior of the Solovair boot is a sock liner, which is typically glued to the heel end of the insole. In good quality boots if you peel back the sock liner you are likely to see the nails used to fix the heel to the shoe.

@TheIronSnail

Жыл бұрын

Hey Kris! Both Solovair and Doc on their sites say when they use full grain leather and both brands do use full grain leather in some models (greasy leather is one of those leathers) Good catch on the insole section! I ofc mean inserts but like many people sometimes use insoles for both terms. My bad on that, lazy wording!

@krisjonesuk

Жыл бұрын

@@TheIronSnail It does appear Solovair now offer a “premium collection” that they say contain full grain leather. The boots you reviewed are not in that range. Elsewhere I can see a reference to “grain” leather, which is a bit like Scotch grain leather used by some other shoemakers. That too, is corrected grain that is then embossed with a grain pattern. It does appear that Dr Martens has started doing some full grain styles. However, just because the leather is greasy doesn’t mean it’s full grain. If it has a smooth finish it’s corrected grain.

@TheIronSnail

Жыл бұрын

@@krisjonesuk The description of greasy leather on Solovair’s site says it’s full grain w/ wax applied

@krisjonesuk

Жыл бұрын

@@TheIronSnail I’ve used your Carrot link and I can see no reference to full grain leather for those particular boots. All it says is “Black Greasy Leather Upper”.

@martinsmith1525

Жыл бұрын

Ok. Just to clear up some wrong info with some comments above. Solovair greasy, gaucho and some other leathers on the derby boots are full grain. The high shine leather is corrected grain and pu covered. Modern mie docs, wear out a LOT quicker then solovair, i have walked a lot in both pairs, miles and the modern mie docs are in the recycle bin where as the solovair are still going strong. Just my experience on the whole matter. 👍

they are not at all comfortable for me, I came specially to London to the store where they sell them and it was a disaster, not a convenient form, of any model, for me. I tried on everything that was my size and nothing, a nightmare, it all depends on the leg. i bought two new vintage martins😂

@hollyirvin5030

Жыл бұрын

Got to go to British boot company in Camden… that guy knows everything about boots and has a ton of both brands

Another doc marten vid, they ain’t gonna like you anymore 😂