Dr Martins - are they really that good?

[Indecisivelurcher]

I've coveted DM's for years but never had the money. I like the style and imagine they'll last and ended up moulded to your feet like a waterproof comfortable foot glove. There are absolutely loads for sale on vinted these days which means I could afford / justify a pair. But if they're that amazing, why are people selling them on?!

Apparently only the vegan ones are waterproof. Not sure about the comfort of them though.

I have the Pascal ones. The leather is soft and required no breaking in whatsoever.

I also have safety versions for work. They are a bit more rock solid, but still incredibly comfortable if you wear decent socks.

I must be lucky. I have tiny feet so fit into kids' boots which are cheaper and also have the handy zip on the side. No breaking in required. I wear them for 11 hours a day as an infant school teacher and children step on my feet, I spray them with water when filling up the water tray, they are waterproof and so comfy.

I have the vegan ones which didn’t require breaking in. I also have cherry leather ones which I still haven’t managed to break in properly.

@BrianBettyGrable

I've got the soft leather ones which have been comfortable since the first wear. Only had them a few months, so can't really comment on durability yet.

Are those the Pascal ones? How would you say the sizing is if it's those?

The pair I wore in the 90s as a teenager were so uncomfortable that they put me off for life!
I've got a similar black leather pair from next with velvet laces that are really comfy though.

My dd has had the Pascale soft leather boots for a few years, they don't need any breaking in and are still in great condition. I've got the fur lined lace up boots (maybe Serena) and they didn't need any breaking in, they were really comfy straight on and seem great quality.

My dd also has DM lace up school shoes (1461), which are the hard leather and they took weeks to break in.

I'd go for the softer leather boots.

Love them. I've worn them since I was 13. My current pair are the soft ones, no breaking in required. They are so bloody comfy.

Never been able to wear them, far too narrow for me. I have been wearing Grafter’s monkey boots since about 1976, they have the best non slip soles. Sadly there’s no fancy designs like the DM’s come in now.

Oh and my ten year olds wear the shoes for school, no breaking in required and they last for bloody ages unlike Clarks etc

I’ve never been able to wear them. They make my ankles hurt.

If you're getting them from
Vinted then does that mean they are second hand so hopefully already broken in?
I wore them constantly from the age of 17-22. DH then bought me a pair 10yrs ago and I ended up selling them as I couldn't break them in. Since then though I've bought two pair (8 hole black originals and a pair of shoes) second hand. That means someone else has done the hard work so they're nice and comfy for me . I'd love a new pair of Pascals, but can't justify the money. I bought some DM Voss sandals in summer and they were super comfy from the start.
I suggest you try them on in a shop to check your size, then buy second hand. Or buy Solovairs.

Pascal ones here too. Soft leather no breaking in. Had them 2 years and still look new (when I polish them)

They definitely seem better suited to narrow shallow feet. Mine are both

I have inherited seriously crappy feet (get terrible blisters and excruciating pain in the heels and balls of my feet if I do even a mid-length walk). Honestly, I bought a pair of docs at the beginning of my mat leave because I knew I'd be doing lots of walking and I cannot get over how amazing they've been. Breaking in period was rough but I have been wearing the same boots for the past year and they're still in near perfect condition and my feet haven't hurt even a little bit in MONTHS. Best 110 quid I've spent in years!

I’ve never had to “break in” a pair of docs. I wear them pretty much exclusively every autumn and winter (or until it gets too hot) and always have since I was a teen. I think they probably either suit the shape of your feet or they don’t. The last few years I don’t think the quality is the same, as others have observed. They’ve moved their production overseas. I’m going to try Solovair for my next pair.

The made in England DMs ones are more expensive but better quality than the general DMs.

Solovair are a good alternative, they're made in the old DMs factory. Solovair also do half sizes which DMs don't.

I’ve just bought my dd some DM’s size 6 1/2

I got a pair last winter, damn they look good but god they are vicious! Can't really wear them if I have to walk any real distance, they completely cut up the back of my heels. They're comfortable underneath, it's round the back of the heel and lower ankle where they are vicious. They do look great though so I wear them when I don't have to walk v far! Had no idea it was such a thing, thought it was just me.

I've been wearing them since I was 13, am on my 4th pair, still wear my cherry red dm's from when I was 15 (43 now!!). Only had 1 pair that were hard to break in, number 3 pair, the rest were grand, or maybe my feet have broken in?? .. I won't ever be without a pair. Highly recommend. Just wear good socks.

Mind are the jadon btw, flatforms, v flattering.

I have 11 pairs. The easiest to wear are my
pull on Chelsea boots. I still have my cherry red originals I bought when I was a student. Any with a coating like the patent ones don't stretch as much so are difficult if you have wide feet.

I bought my first pair from eBay and I love them, so comfy! They were already broken in but are also a softer leather. I bought a Chelsea style pair new but after a year I still hadn’t got them comfy so sold them on and bought another Chelsea pair from eBay again. Definitely the way to go

I recently bought a pair and they've not been at all painful. Long walks in them from day one. Chelsea boot style with side zip. They are a size 5 and fit my 5.5 size feet perfectly so downsize rather than upsize if you have to.

IME the breaking in drama is exclusive to those with a taller heel back, the backs of my heels are very short so I never had a problem.