Doc Marten Alternatives That Don’t Suck
Dr. Marten’s boots suck. Why?
They’re expensive, poorly made, wear out fast, and you can’t resole them easily. They don’t even make half sizes! (No one wants to wear thick socks because their brand new boots were a bit loose.)
It’s a pity because Dr. Marten’s used to be a well-made British heritage company, despite being founded by a German who served in World War 2. (As a doctor, to be… fair?) In 2003 they moved 99 percent of production off of British shores and today they’re owned by giant conglomerate Griggs Group Limited. Modern Docs are sort of like the McDonald’s of edgy combat boots.
So, Dr. Martens, or Docs, as they are affectionately called, used to make solid, attractive boots. But those days are long gone.
Now what do you do if you want a boot with a chunky sole, comfortable cushioned insole, and glossy black leather in a 6” combat boot style? Read our list of Doc Marten alternatives that don’t suck, of course. Enjoy.
OUR TOP PICKS
Most Similar to Docs: Solovair Hi-Shine Derby
Best Resolable Boot: Thursday Hero
Most Badass: Bruno Marc’s Motorcycle Biker Boots
Extra Tall, Extra Punk: Bates 11-Inch Paratrooper
Highest Quality: Red Wing Blacksmith
Best Budget: Jim Green African Ranger
Best Chelsea Boots: Blundstone 510
Most Similar: Solovair Hi-Shine Derby Boot
Why we love it:
- Looks the most like Docs
- Original manufacturer of Docs
- Made in England
- Tougher leather, midsole, and outsole
Solovair Black Hi-Shine Derby Boots are made in England and provide wearers with a clean yet modern design. The silhouette is classic and the brand offers this boot in a myriad of leathers.
What to consider:
- Not easily resolable
- More expensive than the Asian-made Docs, but cheaper than the made in Britain Docs
Solovair is a charming shoe company based in Northamptonshire, England, which we’ve visited to explore heritage British bootmakers. They’ve been making shoes and boots for over 140 years and most pertinently: they used to make Doc Martens boots.
When they ended their contract, they continued making them as Solovair’s Black Hi-Shine Derby boots. They’re practically identical, just with green stitching instead of yellow.
Other differences? They have a shank for better stability, they’ve got thicker leather, a more durable midsole, and a better heel counter. These are all things the OG Docs cut corners on to make more money, like shrinkflation for your feet.
Solovair did the opposite, they kept making high quality boots. They are the best Doc Martens alternative. In fact, they’re more like original Doc Martens, the ones that made them popular in the first place.
There just isn’t a better alternative unless you want a boot that’s easy to resole or even cheaper, which we’ll get to.
Further Reading
Dr. Martens vs Solovair – The Great British Boot Off
Want see what happens when you pit two great British boots against each other? Read more →
Best Resoleable: Thursday Boot Company Hero
Why we love it:
- Very comfortable
- High quality leather
- Resoleable
A thick lug sole, steel shank, and a combination of Poron and cork underfoot make an equally rugged and comfortable boot that's chunkier than most of Thursday's boots.
What to consider:
- No high-gloss leather option
- Pricier than Docs, at $199
- Slightly lower profile toe than Docs
If you’re willing to forgo the iconic yellow stitching and high gloss leather that made Docs a “fashion essential,” go for Thursday’s Hero boot. It’s a little like a combination of Doc Martens and Timberland: it’s urban, tall, chunky, and makes you think of a grown up combat boot. I wore mine for a year and love them.
I love the Hero because Thursday uses Goodyear welt construction that makes it easy to add a new sole when the old one wears down (even though mine barely wore down after several season of wear). The leather is thicker, higher quality, made in eco friendly tanneries, and ages well. They also add modern materials like EVA foam to the footbed that isn’t quite as soft as the sole on Docs, but it gives more spring than most traditionally made boots.
The biggest drawback is that they don’t have the glossy leather, which is something a lot people like about Docs. If you need that glossy black leather, Thursday’s Stomper is what you want, though it’s a bit slimmer and has a side zipper.
Best Value: Bruno Marc’s Motorcycle Biker Boots
Why we love it:
- Incredibly cheap
- Buckle and zip make for a cool hardware-focused look
- Lots of positive reviews on Amazon
Polyurethane uppers, cool side zip, and stylish hardware, make this Combat/Motorcycle boot perfect for anyone looking to add an edge to their look.
What to consider::
- Lower profile than Docs
- Harder outsole
- The leather is vegan
If you want something evocative of motorcycle boots that’s also significantly cheaper, check out Bruno Marc’s Combat Boots.
They’re under $50 on Amazon, which is more than $100 cheaper than Docs. But Bruno Marc’s boots are priced fairly — more in line with the actual value of Doc Marten’s materials and construction, especially if you compare them to Docs vegan shoes.
Further Reading
The Best Vegan Boots For Men In 2023 | Cactus, Pineapple, PVC, and More
We put together the best vegan boots for men. If you want to find a pair of durable, resoelabe, vegan boots we got you covered. Check out how →
Also, these share a lot of the same problems Doc Martens have: they’re not repairable or resoleable and there isn’t a lot of transparency about how they’re made. That’s not great, but again, at least they’re charging a fair price for that kind of product.
You should note that the upper is synthetic polyurethane, so it’s basically plastic. But, they are cool and cheap. We’ve been told that those two things are important for consumers.
Extra Tall, Extra Punk: Bates 11-Inch Paratrooper
Why we love it:
- Super tall and aggressive boot
- Perfect for a 1970s punk look
- Side zipper makes them easier to wear
This monster 11-inch Paratrooper boots is perfect for guys looking for a edgy, dare we say it, metal look.
What to consider:
- Not resoleable
- Less versatile than Docs
If you want something extra tall, Bates has this monstrous, 11-inch paratrooper boot for $180.
Who are Bates?
They’re owned by Wolverine, the Michigan based company that also makes the classic 1000 Mile heritage boot.
Bates doesn’t offer a ton of information about how it’s made. It’s safe to say they can’t be resoled, but there’s a cushioned insole that ramps up the shock absorption, plus the toe is polishable for that glossy Doc look.
The style is the main selling point here. How do you style these insanely tall beasts? In 1980s British-punk style: distressed jeans, white t-shirt (or that Ramones shirt everyone seems to own), and a shaved head, if you want to really commit.
Highest Quality: Red Wing Blacksmith
Why we love it:
- Very thick, tough leather
- Made in America
- Resoleable
- Famously durable boots
Goodyear welted and crafted from leather tanned by Red Wing themselves, the Blacksmith is a must-have for those looking for a clean, all-season boot.
What to consider:
- Less glossy than Docs
- More expensive (because you’re paying for the good stuff)
If you want a vastly superior boot that’s resoleable and made in America, Red Wing’s Blacksmith is worth every cent of its $330 price tag.
Red Wing makes these boots using Goodyear welt construction, the gold standard for longlasting footwear. In addition to being made in Minnesota, the company even owns their own tannery down the street, which allows them excellent quality control and the ability to price their boots pretty well when you compare them to other US-made boots.
If anything breaks, any cobbler can fix them. These are the antithesis of fast fashion.
They are not shiny or super luggy. They are 100 bucks more than the Made-in-England Docs. But they are the highest quality boots on this list. You’ll easily go through a few pairs of Doc Martens before your Blacksmiths need repairs.
Further Reading
Red Wing Blacksmith Boot Review – Rugged or Comfortable?
This is a seriously underrated boot, it strikes a great balance between something a bit dressier without being too fancy. Check out how →
Best Budget: Jim Green African Ranger
Why we love it:
- Jim Green donates boots to help park rangers stop poachers
- They’re functional, resoleable, and cool-looking boots
- We love the steel shank, stitchdown construction, and backstory
Designed for the men protecting Africa's wildlife sanctuaries, these boots are water resistant, resoleable, well made, and extremely inexpensive.
What to consider:
- Not “fashion boots,” these are functional hikers
- No high gloss leather; these have a pretty different aesthetic to Docs
A budget friendly, functional boot for people who like supportive hikers and hate poachers. What a pitch.
Jim Green’s African Rangers are resoleable and repairable, they’re functional, and you can actually walk in the bush with these. For every 10 pairs sold, Jim Green donates a pair to The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) to make sure rangers have good boots. People use these good boots to do good.
Further Reading
9 Best Waterproof Boots for Men | Work Boots, Hiking Boots, Chelsea, Casual, Dressy
Most waterproof boots look like something an astronaut might wear. Wanna buy a pair of good looking waterproof boots? Check out how →
Best Waterproof: Timberland Premier
Why we love it:
- Very comfortable, classic work boot style
- Waterproof and insulated, great for winter
What to consider:
- No one is going to confuse these with Docs
Everyone knows Timberland, the iconic 90s work boot turned streetwear staple. Most people think of them in the Wheat Nubuck colorway but these boots are so popular they come in a ton of other leathers, including Black Nubuck. If you squint hard enough, it looks like a Doc.
They’ve got chunky soles like Doc Martens, the same shaft height, and are black.
But they have advantages over Docs: they’re waterproof, they’re insulated, and the leather’s more durable. I know this from experience, having worn both extensively. They also come in half sizes and they have famously comfortable “anti-fatigue” insoles and 400 grams of PrimaLoft® insulation. The same stuff is used in ski gloves and warm coats.
Further Reading
How to Clean, Condition, and Waterproof Your Blundstone Boots
Got a pair of Blundstones and want to learn how to clean them. Check out how →
Best Dr Martens Chelsea Boot Alternative: Blundstone 510
Why we love it:
- Classic Australian heritage brand
- Water resistant and functional, but also cool looking
- Resoleable, Goodyear welted construction
This is outdoorsy boot is made with 2.5mm-thick waterproof leather. Designed to be worn in all settings, this is the boot to buy if you are looking for an all-purpose shoe.
What to consider:
- The sole isn’t as chunky as Docs and the leather isn’t as glossy.
- Also made in Asia, but better quality materials
- Slightly more expensive
Looking for a boot to compete with Dr Martens’ Chelsea? Blundstone has them, and about 26 other styles of black Chelsea.
Blundstone is a classic Australian brand, but down under they give everything a cute nickname by adding an -o or -ie to the end of the shortened word: Blundstones become Blunnies, because Aussies are awesome.
Why get these over the Docs? They’re better-made: the leather’s tougher, the shank gives them more stability, and the shock absorption is fantastic — and that’s an area where Doc Martens alternatives often fall short.
Downsides? They’re pricier and they’re also made in Asia, but the materials are higher quality and they last longer. Plus, they’re more fairly priced given the durability.
Who the heck are we to tell you about boots?
We’re boot obsessives. Our reviewers specialize in work boots, heritage boots, and women’s boots. Together we’ve written hundreds of articles and videos about boots, visited tanneries, interviewed experts, and traveled the world in search of the best boots for men.
Wrapping Up Best Doc Martens Alternatives
There you have it. One boot that’s basically the original Doc Martens before they went to pot and seven boots that are close enough but with their own particular advantages.
Not all these boots are perfect, and we’re being a bit hard on Doc Martens for doing what just about every successful apparel company does: sell out and cut costs by moving manufacturing overseas and using cheaper substitutes for materials.
But these Dr Martens alternatives are more fairly priced, and we’re confident that even if you go with a model that isn’t cheaper, it’ll last much longer than Docs. Because isn’t durability the name of the boot game?
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