Are DMs worth the money?

[Eminybob]

I have fallen in love with these boots but the are more expensive than I would normally spend. Are they worth it or should I be looking elsewhere for something similar?

www.drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/2976-alyson-w-zips-brown/p/24017201

I’m just needing to replace my DMs as the sole has cracked, but that’s been 6 years of near-daily wear.

If you don’t buy the super-stiff ones and you have Doc Marten shaped feet, there is no breaking in. If they don’t fit comfortably at the start, don’t buy them.

Lots of people are changing to uk.nps-solovair.com/?countrycode=GB because they are made here in the UK. DMs are made overseas and their quality has deteriorated recently. I have a pair of DMs which took years to break in, but I'll buy Solovair next time.

I love my DM leonore. Worth every penny of the £169!!

It’s taken me 2 years to bed my dm’s in!

Yes. Even now they are not the product they once were, they are still good value for money. My current pair have endured daily use (I wear them to work) for four years. Still going strong.

I agree that since they started making them overseas, the quality has deteriorated. Not worth the hype.

I have been eyeing up the Solovair burgundy steel toecap 14 holers for my next pair (which I don’t need yet). They are stunning.

I was just looking out of interest at the kids DM styles (not that I would ever spend that amount of money on shoes what would be grown out of so quickly) but have seen that they only go up to a size 3. DS1 is 8 and in a size 3.5/4 - I would have to buy him adult ones which is outrageous! He's 8!

+1 for Solovair, the boots branded DMs are rubbish now. Solovair are made by NPS who were one of several other cobblers in the Northampton area who traditionally made "DMs", the (Griggs-owned) patent applied to the sole alone and many boot/shoe variations were made by different companies. It is rumoured that the vastly more-expensive "Made in England" DMs are in fact made by NPS, as Griggs burnt their boats in Northampton, and due to the fact that the FEPOS they produce as standard DMs are so inferior, they had to go cap in hand to their remaining competitor.

Dr Martens: are things going wrong with the UK's beloved brand? | Consumer affairs | The Guardian

They aren't worth the cost to me anymore. 30 years ago I could wear them daily for work and they would last about 10 years. The last 2 paid I've had (below knee boots and shoes) have lasted about 2 years of seasonal wear before the soles split- and they aren't repairable.
I feel like it's the production overseas which has reduced the quality

I'm sure DMs are made in China now. I like Solvair boots, made in UK and I hear very good quality.

Another shout for Solovair! I love mine.

I too love my Solovairs :) Though the footbed is very uncomfortable, they are durable and look great after multiple festivals, mud etc. Always cleaned and conditioned after though (using the stuff Solovair sells)

A cobbler in my town replaces the soles for £50 and they're official DM soles 😊

Are you me @Eggsy? DM quality is poor compared to Solvairs. I love my Solovair dealer boots and also have a few other pairs.

Well I hope that becomes more wide spread, my Indy cobbler did his best but only lasted a few months. Expensive shoes should be repairable, not disposable

Another vote for fur lined Leonora. Have them in 3 colours and wear them all winter in all
weathers. I do cream them very regularly to keep the leather soft and weatherproof and use shoe trees to minimise creasing . They are all in excellent condition showing very little wear so I would say for me they are well worth the investment. (The fur does flatten and discolour slightly where it rubs against dark indigo jeans)

I had a look on line and am surprised there are no half sizes., not on the Canadian site anyway.

Do you wear insoles fo make them comfortable?

No, too heavy, I bought a pair after much debating. They are just too heavy for my feet and uncomfortable

I have a couple of pairs of DMs.
One pair (cherry red knee highs) I've had for maybe 11 years. They are a bit scuffed now and have needed 2 zip replacements but they are still fully functional and still waterproof.

For info, DM have paid for both zip replacements, they don't do them themselves, I took them to store the first time and they said to get the zip replaced and bring in the receipts and they'll reimburse. Which they did, no problem.
They offered to replace the boot for free, but I wasn't willing to spend 3 months wearing new ones in.

I've never bought another brand of boot that compares, no idea how they can get it so right and everywhere else can't.

@KirstenBlest If you are as much of a boot nerd as I am (and I think you probably are), we are likely distant cousins at least!

Should mention Grinders and Gripfast as well, though not to everyone's taste.

Stopping now, as I could talk about this all day and night...