Solovair

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I'm considering getting some Solovair boots as the soles on my DMs have split (it never happened when I wore them in the 90s!) and I don't think they are good quality anymore

Does anyone have them? What's the quality like?

Thanks

I have a pair of the 3 hole shoes and they have been good quality. Think I am on winter number 3 coming up. I also have a pair of Toast X Solovair boots and they are also good but quite heavy.

However you need to try them on I think as the lasts they use for the sizes seem to vary by style. The shoes are pretty narrow (but that suits my foot); the boots are much wider and generally larger but that might be something to do with the collaboration with Toast. No sign of soles splitting but I don’t wear them all day everyday (like I used to do with my DMs when I was younger!)

I've just bought a pair of solovair astronaut boots and I love them. I have a dozen pairs of DM's but the ones I bought last winter were absolutely rubbish. I wish I had sent them back.

I've only just received my Solovair and they do remind me of the quality of DM's back in the day. They are soft leather and I imagine minimal breaking in if any. They toe box is smaller than DM 1460's and a little narrower.

I have several pairs.
The sizing is weird, so order more than one size if ordering by post.

I have the 8-hole boots that look like DMs, and I went down a size.
The quality is miles better than DMs.

The shoes - sizing depends on the style. In the 4-hole gibson, I went down a size.

They are comfortable, but heavy.

I love the Astronaut boots but I have DM Emmelines so can't justify them or can I?

I got my solovairs on ebay. They come up quite often.
The boots looked brand new and were on for £25 buy it now, so I did. I love them.

Thanks all that's really helpful! The toe box on my DM 1460s looks a little... clown-like! So this sounds exactly what I'm looking for. Noted the advice about sizing too.

Here are my boots

@MikeUniformMike they are lovely!!

I've also got the same in patent but they are much more worn. They were impulse e-bay buys and dirt cheap. When they turned up they were not the size listed.
I wear them with insoles.

I got my Solovair x Toast last September and I wore them most days last Autumn and winter, I love them. I wore them with cropped trousers, jeans and dresses, on school drop offs and work conferences. The only difference I can tell is that the Toast version have hooks instead of the top three holes and it is a useful little feature for putting on and off more quickly. The only niggle was that the lace snapped and had to be replaced three months in but that’s a small problem.

They look better the more I wear them and don’t find them heavy at all.

They are not heavy as such but they are heavier than DMs. Just checked.

I have some that I will be listing on ebay in a couple of months.

I have the burgundy rub off brogues and they are awesome shoes. Quality is awesome, I might consider astronaut boots if I can spring to them.

Big Solovair fan. I've got their Monkey Boots and some Solovair for Toast Derby shoes (I think they're called that - flat and lace-up). Both were from the factory outlet shop in Northampton - 60% off as I remember. And I've just bought the hiker boots, also from the Toast range, in the sales. They're like Dr Martens used to be back in the day. They take a bit of breaking in but I expect them all to last the rest of my life. And, unlike Dr Martens, all made in the UK too.

I've just bought some from the Toast range and the quality is beautiful but I haven't worn them properly yet. I'm in between sizes so had to size up but will wear with insoles. I love that they are made in the UK but Docs aren't anymore and they are so long lasting that they seem like an eco purchase :)

I'm definitely going to get some this winter! @MikeUniformMike what size will you be putting on eBay please? Asking for a friend

I’m interested. I would never buy a pair of DMs again. I bought a pair 2 years ago and convinced myself they just needed breaking in and they would soften. I was wrong. The tongue was stitched in wrong and put pressure on part of my left foot resulted in a scar that has never healed. The skin didn’t break but it blanched white and scarred. Trying to get my money back from DM was a nightmare, dispute sending them back with multiple pictures of the tongue stitched in wrong.