Doc Martens advice

[mimblewimble]

I've ordered some 1460 soft leather burgundy DMs in two sizes to try. I love the look of them and have been lusting after some nice DMs for years, but now I'm not sure which size to go for.

I'm a half size normally and have quite wide feet/high instep. The larger size has lots of room and isn't tight anywhere even when laced up firmly. However it does move around on my feet.

The smaller size is good length-wise, tight around the seam on top of my feet at the end of the tongue, and slightly tight around my little toes.

I know they normally need wearing in, which is fine - but if I wear in the smaller size will they soften around the toes and that tongue seam?

What I don't want to do is wear in slightly too small DMs and have them never be really comfy in the way that I'm dreaming of, and not be able to return them.

With my experience of Dr Martens, the toe will stretch as that is just leather, but the tongue seam is stitched and the thread doesn't stretch.

I had to size up in DMs (loafers) to get the width. I just put a nice thick insole and those suede heel grips in to reduce the "volume" a bit.

Wish they'd do the half size I need - it would be perfect!

Get these instead. Better quality and half-sizes.
NPS Solovair | Womens Boots, Shoes & Loafers | Made in England – NPS Solovair UK (nps-solovair.com)

Can you remove the insole? I'm also a half size and wide fit, and find a 5 ok in boots with thick socks, but in sandals, I have to get a slightly too tight 4 and hope it stretches a bit. They always have so far... I have a few pairs of boots in a 4 and while they are a better fit length-wise, some of them (different styles) are painful to the point of numbness in the stitched area over the foot, but if I remove the insole and wear thinner socks, it's bearable while I wear them in. There are also loads of ways to stretch them, depending on the material, such as sticking a tennis ball in, using a hairdryer... I'd definitely wear them around the house as much as you can though, so you can find out if they seem more likely to stretch or to cut off circulation to your feet!

Sadly the insole seems to be firmly attached!

Thanks - these are the ones made by the manufacturers that used to make DMs, right? I wish I could afford them - these DMs are £109 and I don't have a spare £70 at the moment. Though I suppose that could end up a false economy.

Have a look at the outlet section. They often have factory seconds or discontinued colours for far less than RRP.
I was a half size in DMs and the smaller size was too small and my feet slopped about in the bigger size even with 2 pairs of thick socks so I got the dealer boots instead. I went down a size in them, so read the size guide carefully.
Mine came from ebay and they were a real bargain and I love them.

I opted for the bigger size (7) and now have to wear thick socks. I wish I'd gone for the (6.5)... I definitely couldn't have gone down a full size to the 6 though.

Nothing in the outlet in my size and a colour I like at the moment @KirstenBlest but good tip thanks!

The other factor here is that I have some Fly London boots to try that are a similar kind of style and fit very nicely and comfortably. But they are not as cool as DMs and in my experience Fly boots are super comfy for my feet but don't last that well.

Pic attached!

My old boots (fly) just literally broke so I need to get more boots asap as I feel stuck without any.

Try ebay or vinted.

The men's versions are a bit wider.

I'm a 7.5 usually. I got the soft leather ones in a 7. They were a little tight around the toes at first but I stretched them quickly. So glad I went down a half size. An 8 would have ended up far too big.

Yes I find that with a lot of shoes. But I'm pretty sure these 1460s are unisex - I've gone through the men's and women's menu on their website and I think it's the same ones coming up.

I'm also a 7.5. That's my feeling with the 8s, they feel too baggy already, like im wearing wellies! And they are about 2 inches longer than my feet.

Were the 7s tight on that seam across the top of your foot?

The seam will always be an issue and it will annoy you.

Just had a browse, can't find anything in my size. But I'm going to order a pair from their website in a 7.5 so I can try them. If they fit I can then look out for some in the outlet or second hand.

@mimblewimble , If you are usually a 7.5 try the 7 too. The sizing on the unisex styles tends to be generous.

I'm normally a 5 but my dealer boots are 4 and fine on me but I don't wear thick socks with them. In the derby boots I'd need a 4.5.
I'd avoid the vegan ones.

What sizes did you order?

I was told by the staff I'm the Dr Martens shop , that they ( the standard 8 hole lace up boots) are based on ladies sizing up to a UK 6, the mens sizing 7 onwards . I find a Doctor martens 7 a lot bigger than a high street, generic ladies 7.

Leather does stretch with wear, so if the lenth is OK, go with the smaller.

Unless you have really wide feet, then they may not be suitable.

7 and 8. I'm a 7.5 with wide feet and quite a high instep.

I can believe that the 7s would stretch and be comfy around the toes but I can't really see how the seam would stretch and think other posters are right about needing to either go for bigger size with insoles and thick socks, or solovairs in a half size.

Yeah they were. I definitely remember them feeling tight around the toes and across the top of my foot. They stretched and it didn't take long. I wouldn't get the size 8. They will stretch too and then they will be too big for you. I even wear mine with thick socks now too and they fit perfectly.

Well now I'm even more confused 😆😭

Ahh sorry! If it makes you feel any better I was dubious when I first bought them. I had a horrible feeling I'd made a mistake. Its a lot of money to part with. But they turned out fab! I wear them all the time.

Do you also have wide feet or are you just a half size?

Yeah I do have wide ish feet