Martens or Solovair? Or an alternative?
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Here's the thing: quality Goodyear welted boots do not come with zippers. Zippers are a sign of cheap, crappy boots.
No zippered boots will be BIFL.
So, what do you do if you don't want to have to deal with laces?
Chelsea boots.
https://thursdayboots.com/products/womens-duchess-black-chelsea-bootI collect and restore shoes, and I can tell you all about construction + types of leather + what truly makes a boot last a lifetime. Feel free to ask me all your questions.
This is false. For example I have a pair of Carmina zippered boots that are definitely GYW.
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Here's the thing: quality Goodyear welted boots do not come with zippers. Zippers are a sign of cheap, crappy boots.
No zippered boots will be BIFL.
So, what do you do if you don't want to have to deal with laces?
Chelsea boots.
https://thursdayboots.com/products/womens-duchess-black-chelsea-bootI collect and restore shoes, and I can tell you all about construction + types of leather + what truly makes a boot last a lifetime. Feel free to ask me all your questions.
Yeah, it's a shame how that specific style seems to be inextricably linked to zippers.
I actually have Thursday's Explorer boots and have been really impressed with the fit and quality after a year, considering the price point. It actually occurs to me that I could get another of those in black and get similar aesthetic to a platform combat boot without the zipper
I know generally that Goodyear Welts can usually be resoled and often have longer lifespans, but I'm less knowledgeable about the craft itself, so your Chelsea boot recommendation from Thursday as an alternative is intriguing. In what situations would you prioritize a good leather upper that doesn't have a resoleable welt, over a boot that has a Goodyear Welt with design flaws in the upper?
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My Torrid combat boots are falling apart, so I'm in the market for a new pair that are specifically platform boots that come in black.
Unfortunately, the pair from Solovair (pictured) that I've had my eye on for a while (their 8-eye derby platforms) is no longer being sold, and it was replaced with a visually worse alternative where the zippers face outward.
I've never owned Martens before, but knowing that Martens aren't what they used to be, how much do I have to lose by picking up a pair of Jadon III's instead? If anyone knows any alternatives in the same style that are also Goodyear Welt, that could also be an option.
I'm 50
I have had multiple pairs of both but I only have Solovair that I can still use, one pair is probably 20 years old with well over a 1000 miles on them. The soles are going out and the leather is cracked but on a dry day they are still the most comfy pair of boots I have
Docs were great until they became a chinese knockoff. If you can find a pair that says Made in England on the sole, they will be quality
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I'm 50
I have had multiple pairs of both but I only have Solovair that I can still use, one pair is probably 20 years old with well over a 1000 miles on them. The soles are going out and the leather is cracked but on a dry day they are still the most comfy pair of boots I have
Docs were great until they became a chinese knockoff. If you can find a pair that says Made in England on the sole, they will be quality
Wow, okay, Martens are officially out of the running. Thank you for sharing your experience!
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My Torrid combat boots are falling apart, so I'm in the market for a new pair that are specifically platform boots that come in black.
Unfortunately, the pair from Solovair (pictured) that I've had my eye on for a while (their 8-eye derby platforms) is no longer being sold, and it was replaced with a visually worse alternative where the zippers face outward.
I've never owned Martens before, but knowing that Martens aren't what they used to be, how much do I have to lose by picking up a pair of Jadon III's instead? If anyone knows any alternatives in the same style that are also Goodyear Welt, that could also be an option.
Resoleing them requires specialized equipment, or at least nontypical knowledge on how to do it. There is a woman out of Portland that does it. Boilerroom shoe repair. Last I checked, solovair didn't have the resole option available on their site. But it's been a while since I've checked.
Ended up switching to Chelsea's just because I'm hoping I dont have to jump through hoops to get them repaired.
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I'm 50
I have had multiple pairs of both but I only have Solovair that I can still use, one pair is probably 20 years old with well over a 1000 miles on them. The soles are going out and the leather is cracked but on a dry day they are still the most comfy pair of boots I have
Docs were great until they became a chinese knockoff. If you can find a pair that says Made in England on the sole, they will be quality
Agree. Docs were the absolute shit till they started making them elsewhere. I haven't bought the Made in England version they have now, but Solovairs are made with the old Doc equipment and are (IMHO) better than ever cost/product.
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My Torrid combat boots are falling apart, so I'm in the market for a new pair that are specifically platform boots that come in black.
Unfortunately, the pair from Solovair (pictured) that I've had my eye on for a while (their 8-eye derby platforms) is no longer being sold, and it was replaced with a visually worse alternative where the zippers face outward.
I've never owned Martens before, but knowing that Martens aren't what they used to be, how much do I have to lose by picking up a pair of Jadon III's instead? If anyone knows any alternatives in the same style that are also Goodyear Welt, that could also be an option.
I have a very similar pair of docs. I've worn them generally 5x (or more) per week as their my work shoes. I've had them for almost 3 years, and it shows. They're still pretty comfortable, but most of my job is sitting.
Edit: I just searched the Jadon III, that's the exact pair I have.
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My Torrid combat boots are falling apart, so I'm in the market for a new pair that are specifically platform boots that come in black.
Unfortunately, the pair from Solovair (pictured) that I've had my eye on for a while (their 8-eye derby platforms) is no longer being sold, and it was replaced with a visually worse alternative where the zippers face outward.
I've never owned Martens before, but knowing that Martens aren't what they used to be, how much do I have to lose by picking up a pair of Jadon III's instead? If anyone knows any alternatives in the same style that are also Goodyear Welt, that could also be an option.
Is it for work? Red Wing boots are great, durable and comfortable. Get the insoles while you're at it. Insoles are consumable.
If for aesthetics, I don't think Red Wing has quite what you're looking for.
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This is false. For example I have a pair of Carmina zippered boots that are definitely GYW.
Link? I'd honestly like to see that.
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How on god's green earth does a side zipper interfere with Goodyear welting? I've got a pair of boots with side zips that were advertised to be as goodyear welted and they are in the shop for their first sole replacement right now and you've got me worried that I'm going to get a sad call from my cobbler.
It doesn't interfere. High quality boots just don't use them.
What brand are your boots?
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Is it for work? Red Wing boots are great, durable and comfortable. Get the insoles while you're at it. Insoles are consumable.
If for aesthetics, I don't think Red Wing has quite what you're looking for.
They wouldn't be work boots, but I love the Minnesota rep. Red Wing Claras are my favorite boots ever.
So aesthetics, mainly. This would mostly be for wearing to concerts, or otherwise just in my rotation of urban going-around boots.
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It doesn't interfere. High quality boots just don't use them.
What brand are your boots?
Samuel Hubbard. They seem to have stopped making anything high quality since I bought my (admittedly already scraping the bottom of the barrel as gyw things go) boots.
Edit: looked at their site. They at least still make stuff that looks gyw. Could be a fake welt though. Can't say for sure
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Link? I'd honestly like to see that.
It's this same model but in rusticalf
I think they're on Inca too.
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My Torrid combat boots are falling apart, so I'm in the market for a new pair that are specifically platform boots that come in black.
Unfortunately, the pair from Solovair (pictured) that I've had my eye on for a while (their 8-eye derby platforms) is no longer being sold, and it was replaced with a visually worse alternative where the zippers face outward.
I've never owned Martens before, but knowing that Martens aren't what they used to be, how much do I have to lose by picking up a pair of Jadon III's instead? If anyone knows any alternatives in the same style that are also Goodyear Welt, that could also be an option.
Some Chelsea boots from my notes, that I believe are Goodyear welted:
Giant Romeo Work Shoe by Georgia Boots (Blake-stitched)
Giant Wedge Romeo Work Shoe by Georgia Boots (probably Blake-stitched)
Jim Green Stockman by Jim Green
MBF 401 by Manufacture Bontemps
Nicks Heritage Chelsea by Nicks Boots
Paraboot Elevage by Paraboot
Rungis by De Gatine
Spot Hog Boot by Ariat
Thorogood American Heritage Chelsea by Thorogood
