If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. For more information go to www.wordontheblock.biz/r/2369/86/?s=FOR_THE_PEOPLE
Your videos are getting chitter and chitter, from the bluring to the drawing out the non hype fake controversy instead of focusing on real history, the Pfizer got you brain...
Exactly. You've got to acknowledge the reasonable use aspect with items like this . If your after a tough workboot to wear in factory conditions where steel toe caps and steel shanks are required then no these won't be any good but for general everyday wear and tear as a fashion /style item they're perfectly acceptable. You've only got to look at ballet point shoes to see the stresses that a wooden shank is capable of
@@zakugodofwar1005 Wooden shanks are absolutely fine for everything other than extreme use or misuse. Steel shanks are a sentimental remnant of the past which are kept for marketing purposes these days.
@@heycidskyja4668 It isn't for marketing purpose since it always outlast the wooden couhnterpart providing solid support. I would rather choose boots with steel shanks that won't break any point of time they are almost equally priced anyway.
After a couple Doc Martens failing to withstand the abuse I deal out to boots on the dance floor, I reached out to Solovair about their boots. A representative recommended the Gripfast over the Solovair for my situation. I haven't noticed an issue in the toes with the bunched up fabric. Love the chunky sole's look. Time will tell if the weld holds out, but otherwise it's a great boot for rivetheads. I'd really love to see a tear down of New Rock's Boot Black Rangers, or their "M-NEWMILI084-S59" (yeah, creative name), which are similar styles in the same price range. They make many of their boots to order, but they won't respond to questions about the construction methods they use.
Did you mention weight? I'm in the market for new boots to last me the rest of me life and am currently torn between the Jim Green R8 and Solovair 6-Eye Broges but these are great because I need safety boot 2 months a year, these soles look heavy.
@@primafortune420 My Gripfasts are crazy heavy, but that's what I want. Jim Green doesn't seem to offer a steel toe option, but Solovair does in the 8-eye boots-with a wider foot shape, if that's important to you. If you don't need steel toes, but want a "rest of life" boot, then between the two options you are considering I'd recommend the Jim Green AR8, since it has a Vibram sole and stitchdown construction.
I would think most people wear their boots in a size where their toes aren't significantly standing on the bunched up fabric anyways, especially with a steel toe where your toes will be farther back from the front. I feel like it's not as major of an issue than it seems. That being said, I have never worn a pair and didn't know they existed until now.
I bought a pair of Gripfasts thinking they were Solovairs since they're sold on the same website. Didn't even know there was a difference until this video 🤦♀️ Regardless, I wear them at my warehouse job every day and love them!
I have some solovair in the same greasy leather, the plasticy part wears off over time with abrasion and wear, revealing the true leather finish underneath. I quite like the look as it polishes off 👍
I've been wearing Gripfast since 1998. I had my 3 eye patent leather steel toed shoes re-soled at least twice. These are better than Docs, Getta Grip, TUK, Tredair, Shelly Rangers, Grinders, or any of the like. The only better pair I had were "Gladiators" 3 eye steel toe oxbloods that I got in Camden market about 20 years ago. Thanks for the UK boot love.
i still wear my 20 eye/5 strap gripfasts that i bought in 1998. many miles of walking, and goth dancing they clubs on the weekend. This series is great. Its bringing back all the trends of the 90s in my mind. I remember we used to have a doc/gripfast price estimate back then that was 10dollars an eyelet pair. 8 eyed docs, 80 bucks, 10, 100 etc. its crazy to me to see 8 eyed docs selling for 170. especially because they dont last these days.
Back in the 1980s, these boots (Getta Grips) had a wooden midsole. There was no need for a shank, the sole did not bend at all. I bet the screws are just a vestigial remnant of this construction.
Back in the 90s I had a pair of Getta Grips. I thought its midsole was out of really thick leather. It was not too comfortable, but it gave the boot some special feel that you are undestructable. I am pretty sure that it came from the midsole, while Gripfast can't provide this very feel.
I remember....I have several older versions and you can clearly see a mid sole 3 parts mind you... between the lug and the welt. The screws were functional. And in this video you can see they do break thru the lug. So backing them out or removing would allow water in and swamp the boot. He also talks about adheasion...I believe an or multiple adhesives are probably used in this sole samwich if you will. But this video is the only of its kind and I learn new stuff everyday.
That heat weld bums me out. I love the look of English boots but I’ve had the heat weld fail prematurely on every single pair I’ve owned- docs, solovair, and George Cox.
I was attacked (verbally) on a DM fb page for saying the very same thing. I showed him examples (photos) of other people's experiences besides my own. He said I was liar spreading false info. I then showed him TH-cam videos of people attempting to reseal this splitting....like 3 pages. He said I should remove my comments and stop lying. I believe he may have been a DM corporate mole. They do split.....constantly. I thought "glued & screwed" was what was going on with Gripfast. Old versionscare clearly a 3 piece sole. But I guess not....by this video.
My experience with Gripfast over 3 different pairs (each pair a different model) is that the leather uppers hold up far better than Docs or Solovair, but the outsole on all three of my Gripfasts have split right at the ball of the foot between the treads. Something about the material they use for the outsole (and possibly the screws creating points for stress fractures) caused all of the them to split across the width of the sole in the same spot after roughly 2.5-3 years of wear.
I've been wearing Gripfast for years. Got two sets, 14 hole and 10 hole. Both are still going strong and are one of my favorite sets. I actually got a set of classic 11 hole solovair this weekend.
Last pair of Gripfasts i had were back around 2004-05 and they had certainly taken a dip in quality compared to the 90s production. These newer ones seem to be better made than the ones i had. The ones i had were pretty uncomfortable and failed catastrophically at the last. As for the new gen , For a fashion boot I like them more than docs, but I wouldn't use them as a work boot or for any hard use.
I thankfully had a old 90's pair as a teen in the early 00's.......my mares got the "new one's " and had no end of troubles (specifically the midsole was foam between the "screw on" sole and the bottom of the boot, which expands in the hot humidity that is Australia so it "puffed out" and that was it for them.....the 90's pair was justa slab of rubber attached to the boot)
Looks like US military boots. I only had one pair of boots given to me for 4 years of use! Steel toe too! Still got them and the ones I got in the US Army look like these :)
I have these gripfast boots. Love them. Probably the most comfortable boot I own. I have 2 pairs of these(different color) 1 pair of solovairs. Used them almost everyday. Walking 7-8 miles a day
in Poland like a 90% of boots for rock/punk subcultures in 90s and early 2000s was Shellys Rangers Orginal Boots and HD (Heavy Duty) Boots... They're almost exactly te same as those Gripfasts, but sole was attached in different way (no visible stitch) and they had the screws too.. I had bunch of them back in a day :)
It hurts my soul every time you cut in to the boots/shoes! :D I have to tell myself every time its for the science! But it still hurts... Keep up the awsome work!
I really hope Doc Martens and Solavair watch your channel. They need to know the game is up and they need to try harder. Thanks to you, we’re no longer fooled. 👍
I have a few pairs of Dr Martens including 1 made in England and 1 pair of Solovair. Tempted by the Gripfast now but a bit disappointed by the decorative screws.
I had a few pairs of similar boots in mid to late 90s early 00s, they were made in England with green Getta Grip label. They had extremely stiff soles but they were best boots for rock concerts, where Docs got destroyed very easily from all the broken glass. I loved that boots, still have a pair somewhere, too uncomfortable for my old feet now though :).
I still have my Dads "Royal Mail" issue ones......those were really built for work (or in the middle of a Gothic festival littered in glass and muddy shit😂) Also had a lovely shade of dark blue that even Docs can't reproduce nowadays
I love this series. I completely destroyed my boots at the end of spring and forgot to buy a new pair (sneaker weather started and I've been wearing my off-brand Converse to work). Now that rainy weather started again, I realized I am bootless so I'm looking again into getting a pair of good boots. I was trying on some Martens last Monday, but they were half a size too big, even with my socks on which made me reconsider and look into Solovair again. It might take a bit of time to get them here as no store carries them so I'll have to buy them online, but it seems it'll be worth it (and they have half sizes so I can get shoes that actually fit for a change).
Been looking at these solovair gripfasts for a while now as in europe its pretty difficult to find north pacific style boots. Thank you for this video!!!
@@christopherskelly6492 Im so happy you told me that Kelly, it never occurred to me and probably never would without your assistance :) Just messing around, he talked about the heel counter how it is made like in pacific nw boots thats why I commented that in regards to my desired durability
I’ve had 2 pairs of Dr Martens Iowa, which is a “work” boot of many that we in Amazon warehouses could elect from. They are waterproof and a lot more rugged than the traditional Docs which we can also choose from. Both lasted me well over a year and a half using daily.
Interesting. My railway company supplies us with Doc Martens steel toe cap boots that definitely are NOT waterproof. Will the Iowa DM’s keep my feet dry when I’m outdoors in hours of persistent rain? I’d happily buy my own if they do.
@@manwithnoname6580 They should do the job! I live in the Pacific Northwest and I’ve delivered outdoors in very rainy conditions and even walked in flooded areas that with water going over my ankles. Thanks to the boot being 8 inches there’s almost no chance for moisture to get in. The only downfall it has is that they still are cemented like all their other boots, so after 3 years they began separating and only then did water get in the boots. But for $180 I was very impressed with how well they worked to keep my feet dry. Not to mention the comfort! Way more comfortable than the regular boots, definitely able to walk all day in them, and I have for many months at a time!
Got a pair of doc marten cappers that I've had for about 8 years now from the Indian factory, they've dealt with all sorts of abuse in tropical conditions down to -10°c. I use them as my daily boot and they were my riding boots on my motorbike for 3 years, all year round. Despite that they're still going strong and I reckon I have another 3-4 years left in them. So even tho those cheaper docs may not be as good as all these other fancy boots, they can still take a solid amount of punishment before they quit.
if you take out the screws then there will be loads of holes in the sole, best to fill the holes with something waterproof IMO, also think even with screws in they will let some water in too but that is just my opinion.
Man, back in the day I wanted a pair of Doc's so bad I actually saved up my measly pay and finally got a pair from Journeys, hip store in the mall. I was so stupid excited when I spent the $110 on them. After wearing them a few times, I was pissed. They were NOT comfortable at ALL. Wore them a few dozen times and said, screw these!. Will not buy another pair ever again. Just me experience. Thank you for your content. Love your channel!
I had Grinders MIE which were made by same specs as Gripfast in NPS,and they were just hard, though and resistant even for snow and bad environments. So I bet these are quite the same
Grinders are what Docs used to be.....not the most comfortable but definitely bullet (and shards of glass) proof! I just wished the current generation didn't have a nasty habit of splitting along the welt
I've been hoping for you to do a Gripfast video. I loved mine back in my punk days. always wondered about the screws. I even asked on cobbler Reddit and no one knew.
I’ve had the 14 eye version of this boot for a little less than a year now and it’s never given me any trouble. I haven’t felt the bunched up fabric under the toe, but obviously that might be something that becomes noticeable over time as the fiberboard wears in more. I haven’t had normal solovairs to compare to, but I find them much more comfortable than the made in England docs I’ve tried on in the past. The only problem I’ve run into so far is that I can’t seem to get them as tight as I’d like them to be, but I also have fairly skinny ankles so it might just be a matter of chunky boots and skinny ankles not being a great match. Do I like my boots? Yes Would I recommend them? As a casual boot yes, but if you’re looking for something to use on a job site then your money is best spent elsewhere. *note on a quality issue: there is a known issue with gripfast boots having pretty severe separation between the welt and the outsole. So far I haven’t had an issue with this, but I have seen a lot of people make complaints about their boots falling apart on them a few months into ownership. Luckily it seems NPS has been good about replacing defective boots or helping to repair them if you reach out to their customer service team.
I'm well and truly late to this, but I have a pair of Solovairs and had a similar problem with tightness. I wound up going through several lacing methods, and found that a style most often referred to as paratrooper or ladder (or sometimes paratrooper ladder) lacing works the best. It allows you to pull the lacing through a pair of eyelets tight, and will cinch itself to keep tight while you continue lacing. All in all, it's worked pretty well for me.
I bought a pair of the ten eyelet commando steal toe from a thrift store when I was twenty. They have sever cracks in the leather and need to be re soled. But for a pair I got used. Wore for twenty years and still kicking. Buying a second pair for my 39th birthday. My favorite boots ever.
I have a pair of gripfasts 14 eyes in polish black I've had for years, were mostly only occasional hiking/concert/rain boots until last year (moved to San Francisco), they now have what works out to at least a 1000 miles (3 miles a day for a year) on and countless hours of dancing on them, so far the only real failures that effect wearability are the fabric pull tab on the back of the boot got crispy from sweat and broke one morning which makes them a little annoying to pull on, and more recently they got eggs on them and they started to dry out and crack where the quarters meet the vamp, so I'm hoping to get them repaired before next rainy season. 10/10 seriously solid boots
Great info ! How about ripping up the Dr martens bex tech. Im interested in them, mostly for the looks. Would love to see the guts and a break down of the tech outer layer . Thanks .
I still have a pair of OG 90’s Grip Fast Steel Toe. And they were “decent” boots. Heavy as hell and definitely sturdy. I once had a car roll over my toes and nothing happened. I also used to ride my motorcycle in them. Not the best, the tread would slip a little on ashfalt and they weren’t easy to get under the shifter. Also the leather blew out at the edge of the steel toe, now glued together. I still have them, but they need a serious resole.
I just watched the whole video. The 90’s version are build different! Mine the welt is stitched to a mid sole and the lug tread was glued and screwed down. I know this cuz I tore the lug sole off to see if I could diy resole them myself. I can send you pictures if you’re interested to see the construction. Hit me up.
So I just took a closer look at them. They have a plastic welt. And what feels to be no heel counter. You can push on it and it collapses a little. And there is a shank. Probably wood or plastic, because a heavy magnet won’t stick to it. The toe box is lined with wool like felt. I remember they barely kept your toes warm in the winter when that steel toe cap got cold.
Been wanting to buy a pair of these for a while, they have been out of stock in most sizes for equally long. At this point it almost feels like they don't want to sell them to me.
Would love you to do more uk shoes, possibly look at Alt-Berg and the Grenson G: Two (India) and G: One (made in Northampton) shoes. Also Oliver Sweeney Oxenholmes! To be honest as a former Northampton-ite would be good to know your thoughts on Loakes and Crown etc.
I wore a pair of gripfasts out very fast. Took about 2 years for the leather and sole to completely fall apart, made the remaining upper leather parts into a wallet
Have you considered doing more skate shoes? The dunks were cool, but I'd love to see some that actual skaters wear. Lord knows we go through plenty of shoes.
Bought a pair of gripfast in 2004 and still have them today. They definitely were not comfortable but i still wore them every day and walked miles in them lol
Love your channel, sir! I would love to see y'all do motorcycle boots. I question whether some of these boots are actually worthy of protecting your legs and feet in case of a crash.
You should do a series on motorcycle boots. Theirs an entire industry of leather casual motorcycle boots. I've always wondered if they're actually good leather boots or just motorcycle boots made to look like leather boots. Companies like Merlin, Rev'it, Rokker
I had the old school grip fast. I wore them three days on a construction job and the heel came off. They replaced em at the store. Boot lasted about four weeks and the leather just split apart. This was the 90s and my docs did better. I love my solos though. You nailed it with good for the pit. Another fashion boot. I know better these days. I ended up saving up and buying wesco’s for work lol
i honestly think these are a bit unacceptable those screws are the worst offender those are just holes in the bottom of the boot that goes straight into the felt how is that acceptable at all i really wish you had done more in testing that like that felt will absorb and hold water and probably get really moldy if any gets through those holes do the screws keep a water tight seal what if a screw backs out a bit what about after a year or two of heavy wear especially at the flew point does the sole loosen up and let water in
Rewatched your Gripfast episode, got me wondering can the gripfast be rebuilt with a genuine leather goodyear welt and leather midsoles with vibram soles?
Another commentor said it, so I'm going to scream it, "DO A SKATE SHOES SERIES! PRETTY PLEASE!" The one I'd be most interested in seeing cut is the "FP Footwear" I've really enjoyed the 2 pairs I've gotten, but they specialize in insoles so I'm curious if they cheaped out anywhere or if their shoes are as high quality as their insoles! But a lot of skate shoes claim to be more durable than the next, I'm curious to see if Weston is a fan of any particular brand's quality or finds an alternative shoe that might fit the needs of a skater! PS: Love the Thrice shirt during the AD! Fun fact, there's Thrice stickers all over the original set of "It's Always Sunny..." for the first few seasons, turns out one of the set designers was a huge fan of Thrice and put as many up as they could! The creators of the show didn't even know it was a band until later when fans started asking if they were fans, seeing the stickers on the show!
I've owned a pair of Docs for nearly 15 years now. They're steel toe work books. I've put them trough the ringer, and they're still pretty good. I do have to say that they've had minimal use these last few years.
90s era Doc's,, They made Steel Toe and Work Steel Toe boots,, Heavier grain leather, double stitching "yellow" and insurance policy from DM's covering Europe only of course.. Cheers from Huntington Beach CA 🇺🇸.. My Gripfast Boots are here in this room,, from 1994,,
Great video!! I love my Gripfast boots, never have felt anything regarding the bunched up fabric under the toe. And yes, they look so badass. I am currently wearing the burgundy rub 10 eye, beefy and beautiful \m/ There used to be steel toe and capped toe docs with the thicker sole but they seem to be no longer available. I definitely feel like the gripfast are a step or two above, I had several pairs of both over the years. Even the attention to detail on my gripfast seems a higher standard. Just my opinion \m/
I initially watched this channel because I wanted to see reviews on Thursday boots lol but here I am, back watching more content. I've honestly learned so much about boots/shoes because of this guy's content. Not sure if everyone finds it interesting but I sure do.
It's not a cap toe but I'd take Jim Green 8 inch African Ranger over anything by Doc Marten or NPS (parent of Solovair and Gripfast). Plus they're currently priced at $209.
How about a video on PF Flyers? Do they really make fun faster, or jump higher? Been my favorite shoe for a long time, but the last couple I got from Amazon kinda sucked. Not sure if the quality went down, or if I got some Chinese knock off.
Thank you for covering these. My concern would be if someone has a job where a steel toe is needed, they may think this is cool and will work. It doesn’t seem like in the U.S. OSHA guidelines would agree. Mosh pit ok, work site not so much.
I still wear a pair of casual Dr brown slip ons I’ve had for 20+ years. My Son who is now 40, first noticed the the yellow thread. Pops he asked, are those Docs? 😏🤷♂️😎👍🏻😊
In the late 80’s I bought a Doc style shoe called “Marley’s of London” they were great and cost about a third more than Docs and were very comfortable. I don’t know if they even exist anymore.
Wow thanks for fulfilling my request on your previous videos and doing this one. I really love the look of these and hope one day NPS does a hybrid and combines all of the best features from both styles. I really want the Gripfast burgundy American Brogues. They look sick! (Really cool 😂) and the bollocks! Still going to visit the factory soon one weekend 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I've been looking for a doc type of boot which is more unique than the classic ones and I find these series pretty interesting. I've also seen the brand New Rock has some doc marten type of boots but in a more of a punk and goth styles and also the band Rammstein sells their own doc style boots. Would you check out any of these options and see if they are really worth it in comparison with the rest?
I've been hoping he would dive deep on new rock stuff but since they are not sold widely in the states he's probably weighing how much revenue he will make off a video vs what it'll cost to get them. The only new rocks he's reviewed were on halloween, and while educational, was not as in depth as i would like . . . they offer so many styles (many that look like docs) it would be nice to see them added to the list of punk/alt boots.
Could the screws be meant for walking on ice or snow? It would be interesting to see if you can get slightly longer ones and have something similar to an old hobb nail boot.
Screws in soles are there for the same reason some soles have nails in them. In this case, gripfast is lying through their teeth and misleading people.
OK, now that you've done the Gripfast you can maybe answer a question that I've been wanting an answer to for a while now. What the best steel toe boot? Gripfast vs Solovair Steel Toe vs Dr Martens Icon 7B10 I've been using DM Icon 7B10 for my work boot for a while but they don't seem to make them new any more so I want to know what to change to. Would love to see the Solovair Steel Toe & the Icon 7B10 cut in half to see which is best and what my next work boot should be.
I've been looking for a pair of Paratrooper combat boots. I've considered buying Corcoran field boots and some other brands. I tried the Bates side zip paratrooper boots. They look great, but when I had the laces tightened down. I could not get my foot in, even with the zipper all the way open. I do not have wide feet, so this was obviously just a design problem on the boot maker. I sent them back. What's the point of having side zip boots if the zipper is useless? I really like the look of these boots, but without a gusseted boot tongue to keep water and debris out. I just don't think they'd be worth the money for me. I live in Western Washington and it is super rainy a lot of the time. These boots just wouldn't cut it. Any recommendations on waterproof paratrooper boots? Thanks!
these were the boots i was looking at for work with the steel toe, gonna definitely check more of your videos in the coming months, been using timberland pros at work, and they are fine, i guess. but i still have to replace them every year, but i do want to resole the last pair i got, just super comfy but the sole is wearing crooked and no longer waterproof so. always great videos
IME the Gripfast boots last longer than regular MIE DMs. The last is also wider and they are generally a bit more comfortable. By the way there are more rugged boots out of the same Northampton factories. There used to be a boot called "Gladiator" that had safety rated steel toes and a heavier sole than Gripfast. I still have a pair from several years ago. They are not as comfortable as Gripfast though due to the weight. My issue with most of the Solovair boots is that many of the styles come on narrow lasts that don't work for my foot. You may already know this but there is a huge history of shoemaking in Northampton in general. Most people only know about punk fashion boots and the like but there are also men's dress shoes made in Northampton such as Cheaney, Alfred Sargent, Crockett and Jones, and Edward Green, etc.
Just got a pair of what I thought were Solovairs but the actual boots only mention Gripfast. The box is all SOLOVAIR. Gripfast is only on the stuck on label: GF10-1980-BUR-RO-ZIP Gripfast Originals 10 Eye Derby Boot with Inside Zip (STC) Burgundy Rub-Off Hi-Shine So, 1980 pattern? No idea what the STC is about. Mine look a lot less punk. Still have the decorative screws. The steel caps aren't visually obvious, but there is zero give. This video explained a lot
The steel toes are NOT safety shoes, just to be clear. I actually looked this up on their website (because I needed safety shoes and wanted to also like wearing them), and while Gripfast are considering it, they don't make safety shoes.
I had a pair of gripfast in highschool. They were boss. Bergundy red. Last a long time. Gave me bad blisters when I first got them tho. Definitely doesn't look like the leather in the video. Only problem I had was a small tear in the leather. The seam on the heel but with a bit of floss n stitching it never came undone. Eventually gave em to my friends. Also had a pair of vegetarian shoes co uk. later on that were similar. Got a video on those? Really liked the softness of the vinyl material. Wish they had some that were rubber. also what about brothel creepers and TUK brand? 👍✌️🃏 "Oh my boots stay shined, and my bowler is fine ine..ine.." -the adicts.
Bought a pair of these in April this year to be my replacement for a pair of vintage 80s steel toe docs, much more attractive looking and way more durable but the old docs had way more arch support. Pretty uncomfortable, needs insoles if you need arch support! Could just be me though. I still am obsessed with them.
I really like this series. One boot I'd love to see is the Caterpillar boots, they are red with yellow stitching and black soles I think. Had a pair years back because they meant to be good but they lasted only 3 months 😅😅
When I was 18 I bought my first real pair of boots, a pair of Gripfast 14 hole tankers. Those boots saw a whole fuck ton of miles throughout their life. They are still kicking around but are in desperate need of a resole.
If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. For more information go to www.wordontheblock.biz/r/2369/86/?s=FOR_THE_PEOPLE
Love your channel. Would like to see the iconic Double H Harness boots put to the test! Loved by bikers and rockers world wide!
Can you do a boot of New Rock from Spain? The designs are very extreme and they have really good leather boots.
Your videos are getting chitter and chitter, from the bluring to the drawing out the non hype fake controversy instead of focusing on real history, the Pfizer got you brain...
can you compare solovair steel toe boot with the gripfast now?
Rose Anvil grew so large, that they're getting ads from lawyers. W
7:12 I feel like if your foot has to bend like that for the shank to break, you’ve got bigger issues than having a wooden shank.
Well what sucks is that the wood is going to flex a lot on its way to brake that way so it’s definitely not as much support as a stiff metal shank
wooden shanks always break , he cut some boots with wooden shanks before, none of them aren't snapped.
Exactly. You've got to acknowledge the reasonable use aspect with items like this . If your after a tough workboot to wear in factory conditions where steel toe caps and steel shanks are required then no these won't be any good but for general everyday wear and tear as a fashion /style item they're perfectly acceptable. You've only got to look at ballet point shoes to see the stresses that a wooden shank is capable of
@@zakugodofwar1005 Wooden shanks are absolutely fine for everything other than extreme use or misuse. Steel shanks are a sentimental remnant of the past which are kept for marketing purposes these days.
@@heycidskyja4668 It isn't for marketing purpose since it always outlast the wooden couhnterpart providing solid support. I would rather choose boots with steel shanks that won't break any point of time they are almost equally priced anyway.
I love this doc Marten series! Would love to see a series on skate shoes
He's some SB Dunks
There really needs to be comparison videos between the vulc skate vans and the cupsole skate vans and whatever the hell the Zabha is
I wanna see és shoes get cut in half and compared to etnies.
Same, old Off The Wall Van's used to last forever, new ones are trash.
Skate Shoe September
After a couple Doc Martens failing to withstand the abuse I deal out to boots on the dance floor, I reached out to Solovair about their boots. A representative recommended the Gripfast over the Solovair for my situation. I haven't noticed an issue in the toes with the bunched up fabric. Love the chunky sole's look. Time will tell if the weld holds out, but otherwise it's a great boot for rivetheads. I'd really love to see a tear down of New Rock's Boot Black Rangers, or their "M-NEWMILI084-S59" (yeah, creative name), which are similar styles in the same price range. They make many of their boots to order, but they won't respond to questions about the construction methods they use.
Wtf are you doing on the dance floor!
Sounds like he's in the mosh pit. I exclusively wear steel toe on the pit. Fuck that. Had one too many nails fall off from being stomped on
Did you mention weight?
I'm in the market for new boots to last me the rest of me life and am currently torn between the Jim Green R8 and Solovair 6-Eye Broges but these are great because I need safety boot 2 months a year, these soles look heavy.
@@primafortune420 My Gripfasts are crazy heavy, but that's what I want. Jim Green doesn't seem to offer a steel toe option, but Solovair does in the 8-eye boots-with a wider foot shape, if that's important to you. If you don't need steel toes, but want a "rest of life" boot, then between the two options you are considering I'd recommend the Jim Green AR8, since it has a Vibram sole and stitchdown construction.
I would think most people wear their boots in a size where their toes aren't significantly standing on the bunched up fabric anyways, especially with a steel toe where your toes will be farther back from the front. I feel like it's not as major of an issue than it seems. That being said, I have never worn a pair and didn't know they existed until now.
I bought a pair of Gripfasts thinking they were Solovairs since they're sold on the same website. Didn't even know there was a difference until this video 🤦♀️ Regardless, I wear them at my warehouse job every day and love them!
I have some solovair in the same greasy leather, the plasticy part wears off over time with abrasion and wear, revealing the true leather finish underneath. I quite like the look as it polishes off 👍
Their great leather looks awesome. I have the solovair 8 eye and these gripfast. Love them
I've been wearing Gripfast since 1998. I had my 3 eye patent leather steel toed shoes re-soled at least twice. These are better than Docs, Getta Grip, TUK, Tredair, Shelly Rangers, Grinders, or any of the like. The only better pair I had were "Gladiators" 3 eye steel toe oxbloods that I got in Camden market about 20 years ago. Thanks for the UK boot love.
Yeah, you don't actually break in a pair of Gripfast boots. Eventually your feet just give up and they break you.
😂
so if the screws dont do anything for support will they make the boot LESS waterproof having all of those holes in the bottom of the boot?
Without any doubt. But you can easily combat that (no pun intended) with some sealer.
I have 2 pairs of gripfast boots. I haven’t had a problem with water and the screws.
@@MarkA500How come you bought such a terrible low quality product twice😂
@@zakugodofwar1005what? It’s a great boot. Quality is top tier
@@zakugodofwar1005What else would you buy?
i still wear my 20 eye/5 strap gripfasts that i bought in 1998. many miles of walking, and goth dancing they clubs on the weekend. This series is great. Its bringing back all the trends of the 90s in my mind. I remember we used to have a doc/gripfast price estimate back then that was 10dollars an eyelet pair. 8 eyed docs, 80 bucks, 10, 100 etc. its crazy to me to see 8 eyed docs selling for 170. especially because they dont last these days.
Back in the 1980s, these boots (Getta Grips) had a wooden midsole. There was no need for a shank, the sole did not bend at all. I bet the screws are just a vestigial remnant of this construction.
Back in the 90s I had a pair of Getta Grips. I thought its midsole was out of really thick leather. It was not too comfortable, but it gave the boot some special feel that you are undestructable. I am pretty sure that it came from the midsole, while Gripfast can't provide this very feel.
I remember....I have several older versions and you can clearly see a mid sole 3 parts mind you... between the lug and the welt. The screws were functional. And in this video you can see they do break thru the lug. So backing them out or removing would allow water in and swamp the boot. He also talks about adheasion...I believe an or multiple adhesives are probably used in this sole samwich if you will. But this video is the only of its kind and I learn new stuff everyday.
That heat weld bums me out. I love the look of English boots but I’ve had the heat weld fail prematurely on every single pair I’ve owned- docs, solovair, and George Cox.
I was attacked (verbally) on a DM fb page for saying the very same thing. I showed him examples (photos) of other people's experiences besides my own. He said I was liar spreading false info. I then showed him TH-cam videos of people attempting to reseal this splitting....like 3 pages. He said I should remove my comments and stop lying. I believe he may have been a DM corporate mole.
They do split.....constantly.
I thought "glued & screwed" was what was going on with Gripfast. Old versionscare clearly a 3 piece sole. But I guess not....by this video.
My experience with Gripfast over 3 different pairs (each pair a different model) is that the leather uppers hold up far better than Docs or Solovair, but the outsole on all three of my Gripfasts have split right at the ball of the foot between the treads.
Something about the material they use for the outsole (and possibly the screws creating points for stress fractures) caused all of the them to split across the width of the sole in the same spot after roughly 2.5-3 years of wear.
I still own (and wear on occasion) 2 pair of Gripfast boots purchased in the late 90’s - love them.
Great work again. I've got some NPS steelies with commando soles and they've taken some stick. Also Astronaut Boots too.
I've been wearing Gripfast for years. Got two sets, 14 hole and 10 hole. Both are still going strong and are one of my favorite sets. I actually got a set of classic 11 hole solovair this weekend.
Last pair of Gripfasts i had were back around 2004-05 and they had certainly taken a dip in quality compared to the 90s production. These newer ones seem to be better made than the ones i had. The ones i had were pretty uncomfortable and failed catastrophically at the last. As for the new gen , For a fashion boot I like them more than docs, but I wouldn't use them as a work boot or for any hard use.
I thankfully had a old 90's pair as a teen in the early 00's.......my mares got the "new one's " and had no end of troubles (specifically the midsole was foam between the "screw on" sole and the bottom of the boot, which expands in the hot humidity that is Australia so it "puffed out" and that was it for them.....the 90's pair was justa slab of rubber attached to the boot)
Looks like US military boots. I only had one pair of boots given to me for 4 years of use! Steel toe too! Still got them and the ones I got in the US Army look like these :)
I have these gripfast boots. Love them. Probably the most comfortable boot I own. I have 2 pairs of these(different color) 1 pair of solovairs. Used them almost everyday. Walking 7-8 miles a day
in Poland like a 90% of boots for rock/punk subcultures in 90s and early 2000s was Shellys Rangers Orginal Boots and HD (Heavy Duty) Boots... They're almost exactly te same as those Gripfasts, but sole was attached in different way (no visible stitch) and they had the screws too.. I had bunch of them back in a day :)
I had a pair of oxblood gripfast 12 eyelets in the late 90s. Oi! it was the last time I ever wore style boots.
You should do an episode on Creepers.
It hurts my soul every time you cut in to the boots/shoes! :D I have to tell myself every time its for the science! But it still hurts... Keep up the awsome work!
I really hope Doc Martens and Solavair watch your channel. They need to know the game is up and they need to try harder. Thanks to you, we’re no longer fooled. 👍
That’s silly.. gripfast and solovair are made by the same company. So what game is up??
@@bulldozer9600 He said DOCS and Solovair which are different companies. Both could definitely do better
@@NorthwestMariner thank you. 😁👍
Yeah this channel really made me reconsider my purchase of these style of boots
Cool. I wondered about the gripfast on the solovair video, and here's the answer. Well done!
I have a few pairs of Dr Martens including 1 made in England and 1 pair of Solovair.
Tempted by the Gripfast now but a bit disappointed by the decorative screws.
I had a few pairs of similar boots in mid to late 90s early 00s, they were made in England with green Getta Grip label. They had extremely stiff soles but they were best boots for rock concerts, where Docs got destroyed very easily from all the broken glass. I loved that boots, still have a pair somewhere, too uncomfortable for my old feet now though :).
Wow, I haven't thought of those in years. They were the real deal. ANSI rated toe caps and everything.
I still have my Dads "Royal Mail" issue ones......those were really built for work (or in the middle of a Gothic festival littered in glass and muddy shit😂)
Also had a lovely shade of dark blue that even Docs can't reproduce nowadays
Still have my 14 hole Getta Grip from the 1990s 🙂
Getta Grip was the best, I had a pair
He (rose anvil) used a picture of a pair of GettaGrip in this video. It's a tipped over shot with the circular seal. I'm a fan of GG.
I love this series. I completely destroyed my boots at the end of spring and forgot to buy a new pair (sneaker weather started and I've been wearing my off-brand Converse to work). Now that rainy weather started again, I realized I am bootless so I'm looking again into getting a pair of good boots. I was trying on some Martens last Monday, but they were half a size too big, even with my socks on which made me reconsider and look into Solovair again. It might take a bit of time to get them here as no store carries them so I'll have to buy them online, but it seems it'll be worth it (and they have half sizes so I can get shoes that actually fit for a change).
Their shipping takes like 5 days. It's awesome.
@@Bobby_Rib took a little longer than that for me iirc. I got them in oxblood. 😁
Been looking at these solovair gripfasts for a while now as in europe its pretty difficult to find north pacific style boots.
Thank you for this video!!!
They aren’t Pacific Northwest boots. They are English boots.
@@christopherskelly6492 Im so happy you told me that Kelly, it never occurred to me and probably never would without your assistance :)
Just messing around, he talked about the heel counter how it is made like in pacific nw boots thats why I commented that in regards to my desired durability
I totally forgot about Gripfast! I'm loving these series of different types of combat boots! Also, I see you repping Crown The Empire and Thrice!😉😎
I’ve had 2 pairs of Dr Martens Iowa, which is a “work” boot of many that we in Amazon warehouses could elect from. They are waterproof and a lot more rugged than the traditional Docs which we can also choose from. Both lasted me well over a year and a half using daily.
Interesting. My railway company supplies us with Doc Martens steel toe cap boots that definitely are NOT waterproof. Will the Iowa DM’s keep my feet dry when I’m outdoors in hours of persistent rain? I’d happily buy my own if they do.
@@manwithnoname6580 They should do the job! I live in the Pacific Northwest and I’ve delivered outdoors in very rainy conditions and even walked in flooded areas that with water going over my ankles. Thanks to the boot being 8 inches there’s almost no chance for moisture to get in. The only downfall it has is that they still are cemented like all their other boots, so after 3 years they began separating and only then did water get in the boots. But for $180 I was very impressed with how well they worked to keep my feet dry. Not to mention the comfort! Way more comfortable than the regular boots, definitely able to walk all day in them, and I have for many months at a time!
Got a pair of doc marten cappers that I've had for about 8 years now from the Indian factory, they've dealt with all sorts of abuse in tropical conditions down to -10°c. I use them as my daily boot and they were my riding boots on my motorbike for 3 years, all year round. Despite that they're still going strong and I reckon I have another 3-4 years left in them. So even tho those cheaper docs may not be as good as all these other fancy boots, they can still take a solid amount of punishment before they quit.
if you take out the screws then there will be loads of holes in the sole, best to fill the holes with something waterproof IMO, also think even with screws in they will let some water in too but that is just my opinion.
Love the review of Gripfast, try doing a brogue boot or shoe. I've been thinking about switching because of the sole.
Man, back in the day I wanted a pair of Doc's so bad I actually saved up my measly pay and finally got a pair from Journeys, hip store in the mall. I was so stupid excited when I spent the $110 on them. After wearing them a few times, I was pissed. They were NOT comfortable at ALL. Wore them a few dozen times and said, screw these!. Will not buy another pair ever again. Just me experience. Thank you for your content. Love your channel!
I had Grinders MIE which were made by same specs as Gripfast in NPS,and they were just hard, though and resistant even for snow and bad environments. So I bet these are quite the same
Although it should be called Made in Northamptonshire instead of made in England
Grinders are what Docs used to be.....not the most comfortable but definitely bullet (and shards of glass) proof!
I just wished the current generation didn't have a nasty habit of splitting along the welt
I made a review of Grinders boots on my channel. Check it out.
I've been hoping for you to do a Gripfast video. I loved mine back in my punk days. always wondered about the screws. I even asked on cobbler Reddit and no one knew.
The screws have one purpose - they make the sole less water resistant.
Ive worn them in the rain, multiple times. Haven’t had a problem with that lol
Finally a review on my exact boots. Love my stompers, but might swap them for an older pair of grinders sometime
Grinders have almost no break in, so nice to wear after one trip around the block.
Last forever always dry. Awesome boots
I’ve had the 14 eye version of this boot for a little less than a year now and it’s never given me any trouble. I haven’t felt the bunched up fabric under the toe, but obviously that might be something that becomes noticeable over time as the fiberboard wears in more. I haven’t had normal solovairs to compare to, but I find them much more comfortable than the made in England docs I’ve tried on in the past. The only problem I’ve run into so far is that I can’t seem to get them as tight as I’d like them to be, but I also have fairly skinny ankles so it might just be a matter of chunky boots and skinny ankles not being a great match.
Do I like my boots? Yes
Would I recommend them? As a casual boot yes, but if you’re looking for something to use on a job site then your money is best spent elsewhere.
*note on a quality issue: there is a known issue with gripfast boots having pretty severe separation between the welt and the outsole. So far I haven’t had an issue with this, but I have seen a lot of people make complaints about their boots falling apart on them a few months into ownership. Luckily it seems NPS has been good about replacing defective boots or helping to repair them if you reach out to their customer service team.
I'm well and truly late to this, but I have a pair of Solovairs and had a similar problem with tightness. I wound up going through several lacing methods, and found that a style most often referred to as paratrooper or ladder (or sometimes paratrooper ladder) lacing works the best. It allows you to pull the lacing through a pair of eyelets tight, and will cinch itself to keep tight while you continue lacing. All in all, it's worked pretty well for me.
@seamusburke3350 I'm even later to this but there's a reason the skinheads and punks King Laced/ladder laced them......only way go tighten them
If the screws do go all the way through the sole, I'd say removing them *does* damage the boot - I mean, just try walking through a decent puddle :P
Hello, thanks for those excellent videos. What about Solovair Astronaut ? Thanks.
I bought a pair of the ten eyelet commando steal toe from a thrift store when I was twenty. They have sever cracks in the leather and need to be re soled. But for a pair I got used. Wore for twenty years and still kicking. Buying a second pair for my 39th birthday. My favorite boots ever.
I have a pair of gripfasts 14 eyes in polish black I've had for years, were mostly only occasional hiking/concert/rain boots until last year (moved to San Francisco), they now have what works out to at least a 1000 miles (3 miles a day for a year) on and countless hours of dancing on them, so far the only real failures that effect wearability are the fabric pull tab on the back of the boot got crispy from sweat and broke one morning which makes them a little annoying to pull on, and more recently they got eggs on them and they started to dry out and crack where the quarters meet the vamp, so I'm hoping to get them repaired before next rainy season. 10/10 seriously solid boots
Great info ! How about ripping up the Dr martens bex tech. Im interested in them, mostly for the looks. Would love to see the guts and a break down of the tech outer layer . Thanks .
Love the channel and loved this series. Would love to see a test such as this on AUS Chelsea boots, Redback, Blundstone, Rossi etc etc.
Do some searches, he has already looked at Redbacks and Blunnies.
I still have a pair of OG 90’s Grip Fast Steel Toe. And they were “decent” boots. Heavy as hell and definitely sturdy. I once had a car roll over my toes and nothing happened. I also used to ride my motorcycle in them. Not the best, the tread would slip a little on ashfalt and they weren’t easy to get under the shifter. Also the leather blew out at the edge of the steel toe, now glued together. I still have them, but they need a serious resole.
I just watched the whole video. The 90’s version are build different! Mine the welt is stitched to a mid sole and the lug tread was glued and screwed down. I know this cuz I tore the lug sole off to see if I could diy resole them myself. I can send you pictures if you’re interested to see the construction. Hit me up.
So I just took a closer look at them. They have a plastic welt. And what feels to be no heel counter. You can push on it and it collapses a little. And there is a shank. Probably wood or plastic, because a heavy magnet won’t stick to it. The toe box is lined with wool like felt. I remember they barely kept your toes warm in the winter when that steel toe cap got cold.
Been wanting to buy a pair of these for a while, they have been out of stock in most sizes for equally long. At this point it almost feels like they don't want to sell them to me.
Would love you to do more uk shoes, possibly look at Alt-Berg and the Grenson G: Two (India) and G: One (made in Northampton) shoes. Also Oliver Sweeney Oxenholmes! To be honest as a former Northampton-ite would be good to know your thoughts on Loakes and Crown etc.
Got some Altberg motorbike boots made to order in Yorkshire.
You used to say a lack of a counter cover was poor quality because without it, your heel would rub the threads eventually breaking the seam.
I wore a pair of gripfasts out very fast. Took about 2 years for the leather and sole to completely fall apart, made the remaining upper leather parts into a wallet
Have you considered doing more skate shoes? The dunks were cool, but I'd love to see some that actual skaters wear. Lord knows we go through plenty of shoes.
Been wearing Etnies Faders forever. Bombproof.
@@kennethchrzanowski6165 The Joslin is darn durable too.
I wear Marana and really love them
would love to see a videos of all the alternative doc martin boots out there
Bought a pair of gripfast in 2004 and still have them today. They definitely were not comfortable but i still wore them every day and walked miles in them lol
Love your channel, sir! I would love to see y'all do motorcycle boots. I question whether some of these boots are actually worthy of protecting your legs and feet in case of a crash.
You should do a series on motorcycle boots. Theirs an entire industry of leather casual motorcycle boots. I've always wondered if they're actually good leather boots or just motorcycle boots made to look like leather boots. Companies like Merlin, Rev'it, Rokker
Ive had my Gripfasts for 23 years. Still wearing them.
Before I watch this I'm so excited for this as I got a pair of these in oxblood!
I had the old school grip fast. I wore them three days on a construction job and the heel came off. They replaced em at the store. Boot lasted about four weeks and the leather just split apart. This was the 90s and my docs did better. I love my solos though. You nailed it with good for the pit. Another fashion boot. I know better these days. I ended up saving up and buying wesco’s for work lol
i honestly think these are a bit unacceptable those screws are the worst offender those are just holes in the bottom of the boot that goes straight into the felt how is that acceptable at all i really wish you had done more in testing that like that felt will absorb and hold water and probably get really moldy if any gets through those holes do the screws keep a water tight seal what if a screw backs out a bit what about after a year or two of heavy wear especially at the flew point does the sole loosen up and let water in
Agreed, but, dude, use punctuation. Toss a period or comma in there.
No.
Still a better sole than the others though so stop whining.
Have you ever heard of punctuation?
Great video! It would be cool to see some other GYW boots that you haven’t done before, Truman boot company, oak street, viberg etc.
I do enjoy the Doc Martin series! Would love to see a series on dress shoes, like the Coke Haans
Rewatched your Gripfast episode, got me wondering can the gripfast be rebuilt with a genuine leather goodyear welt and leather midsoles with vibram soles?
Another commentor said it, so I'm going to scream it, "DO A SKATE SHOES SERIES! PRETTY PLEASE!"
The one I'd be most interested in seeing cut is the "FP Footwear" I've really enjoyed the 2 pairs I've gotten, but they specialize in insoles so I'm curious if they cheaped out anywhere or if their shoes are as high quality as their insoles!
But a lot of skate shoes claim to be more durable than the next, I'm curious to see if Weston is a fan of any particular brand's quality or finds an alternative shoe that might fit the needs of a skater!
PS: Love the Thrice shirt during the AD! Fun fact, there's Thrice stickers all over the original set of "It's Always Sunny..." for the first few seasons, turns out one of the set designers was a huge fan of Thrice and put as many up as they could! The creators of the show didn't even know it was a band until later when fans started asking if they were fans, seeing the stickers on the show!
I've owned a pair of Docs for nearly 15 years now. They're steel toe work books. I've put them trough the ringer, and they're still pretty good. I do have to say that they've had minimal use these last few years.
90s era Doc's,, They made Steel Toe and Work Steel Toe boots,, Heavier grain leather, double stitching "yellow" and insurance policy from DM's covering Europe only of course..
Cheers from Huntington Beach CA 🇺🇸..
My Gripfast Boots are here in this room,, from 1994,,
Great video!!
I love my Gripfast boots, never have felt anything regarding the bunched up fabric under the toe. And yes, they look so badass. I am currently wearing the burgundy rub 10 eye, beefy and beautiful \m/
There used to be steel toe and capped toe docs with the thicker sole but they seem to be no longer available. I definitely feel like the gripfast are a step or two above, I had several pairs of both over the years. Even the attention to detail on my gripfast seems a higher standard. Just my opinion \m/
I initially watched this channel because I wanted to see reviews on Thursday boots lol but here I am, back watching more content. I've honestly learned so much about boots/shoes because of this guy's content. Not sure if everyone finds it interesting but I sure do.
It's not a cap toe but I'd take Jim Green 8 inch African Ranger over anything by Doc Marten or NPS (parent of Solovair and Gripfast). Plus they're currently priced at $209.
Jim Green AR8 look more like Docs but yeah anything is better than Docs/Solovair construction and material wise
The Gripfast x NPS line is relatively new, so I should hope they identify any issues and sort them.
I wanna see Solovair’s tassel loafers, seems like they’re pretty popular as well. Wonder if it’s the same as their boots.
How about a video on PF Flyers? Do they really make fun faster, or jump higher? Been my favorite shoe for a long time, but the last couple I got from Amazon kinda sucked. Not sure if the quality went down, or if I got some Chinese knock off.
Thank you for covering these. My concern would be if someone has a job where a steel toe is needed, they may think this is cool and will work. It doesn’t seem like in the U.S. OSHA guidelines would agree. Mosh pit ok, work site not so much.
I’ve had the horween dr martens and I’m currently using the gripfasts and the dr martens didn’t last nearly as long as my gripfasts.
我一直关注horween版本的DOC 1460，horween皮革和普通版本有什么区别，horween有什么特点？
My 23 year old docs look exactly like the boots you are cutting in half in this video.
I was hoping you’d make this video! Very informative!
I'd be really curios to see a review of Harlow & Lloyd boots. They're Doc style boots
I still wear a pair of casual Dr brown slip ons I’ve had for 20+ years. My Son who is now 40, first noticed the the yellow thread. Pops he asked, are those Docs? 😏🤷♂️😎👍🏻😊
Love that wallet design!! I hope I remember to order one after Xmas. That's gorgeous.
In the late 80’s I bought a Doc style shoe called “Marley’s of London” they were great and cost about a third more than Docs and were very comfortable. I don’t know if they even exist anymore.
Wow thanks for fulfilling my request on your previous videos and doing this one. I really love the look of these and hope one day NPS does a hybrid and combines all of the best features from both styles.
I really want the Gripfast burgundy American Brogues. They look sick! (Really cool 😂) and the bollocks!
Still going to visit the factory soon one weekend 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I've been looking for a doc type of boot which is more unique than the classic ones and I find these series pretty interesting. I've also seen the brand New Rock has some doc marten type of boots but in a more of a punk and goth styles and also the band Rammstein sells their own doc style boots. Would you check out any of these options and see if they are really worth it in comparison with the rest?
I've been hoping he would dive deep on new rock stuff but since they are not sold widely in the states he's probably weighing how much revenue he will make off a video vs what it'll cost to get them. The only new rocks he's reviewed were on halloween, and while educational, was not as in depth as i would like . . . they offer so many styles (many that look like docs) it would be nice to see them added to the list of punk/alt boots.
I'd love to see a bit on the Vegetarian Shoes Airseal steel-toe boots.
Ayyyyyyy I see your Thrice shirt! This tour has been amazing, I’m going to see them in LA tomorrow with my husband!
Could the screws be meant for walking on ice or snow? It would be interesting to see if you can get slightly longer ones and have something similar to an old hobb nail boot.
Screws in soles are there for the same reason some soles have nails in them. In this case, gripfast is lying through their teeth and misleading people.
I'm wearing my pair of these right now, it's nice to have my expensive purchase justified a year after buying them
I’m heavily considering these for work boots, I’m in a need of new pair. My docs are done
It seems that approximately 2-3x the lifespan before possible rewelting is well worth an additional $40.
OK, now that you've done the Gripfast you can maybe answer a question that I've been wanting an answer to for a while now. What the best steel toe boot?
Gripfast vs Solovair Steel Toe vs Dr Martens Icon 7B10
I've been using DM Icon 7B10 for my work boot for a while but they don't seem to make them new any more so I want to know what to change to. Would love to see the Solovair Steel Toe & the Icon 7B10 cut in half to see which is best and what my next work boot should be.
I've been looking for a pair of Paratrooper combat boots. I've considered buying Corcoran field boots and some other brands. I tried the Bates side zip paratrooper boots. They look great, but when I had the laces tightened down. I could not get my foot in, even with the zipper all the way open. I do not have wide feet, so this was obviously just a design problem on the boot maker. I sent them back. What's the point of having side zip boots if the zipper is useless?
I really like the look of these boots, but without a gusseted boot tongue to keep water and debris out. I just don't think they'd be worth the money for me. I live in Western Washington and it is super rainy a lot of the time. These boots just wouldn't cut it.
Any recommendations on waterproof paratrooper boots? Thanks!
these were the boots i was looking at for work with the steel toe, gonna definitely check more of your videos in the coming months, been using timberland pros at work, and they are fine, i guess. but i still have to replace them every year, but i do want to resole the last pair i got, just super comfy but the sole is wearing crooked and no longer waterproof so. always great videos
IME the Gripfast boots last longer than regular MIE DMs. The last is also wider and they are generally a bit more comfortable. By the way there are more rugged boots out of the same Northampton factories. There used to be a boot called "Gladiator" that had safety rated steel toes and a heavier sole than Gripfast. I still have a pair from several years ago. They are not as comfortable as Gripfast though due to the weight.
My issue with most of the Solovair boots is that many of the styles come on narrow lasts that don't work for my foot. You may already know this but there is a huge history of shoemaking in Northampton in general. Most people only know about punk fashion boots and the like but there are also men's dress shoes made in Northampton such as Cheaney, Alfred Sargent, Crockett and Jones, and Edward Green, etc.
Just got a pair of what I thought were Solovairs but the actual boots only mention Gripfast. The box is all SOLOVAIR. Gripfast is only on the stuck on label:
GF10-1980-BUR-RO-ZIP
Gripfast Originals
10 Eye Derby Boot with Inside Zip (STC)
Burgundy Rub-Off
Hi-Shine
So, 1980 pattern? No idea what the STC is about.
Mine look a lot less punk. Still have the decorative screws.
The steel caps aren't visually obvious, but there is zero give.
This video explained a lot
Mentioned it in last video of the series too. Please do Grinder's boot. They were my go to after Doc went to shit.
Still are great boots.
Grinders that is not docs
The steel toes are NOT safety shoes, just to be clear. I actually looked this up on their website (because I needed safety shoes and wanted to also like wearing them), and while Gripfast are considering it, they don't make safety shoes.
You should check out STEEL boots. I've got a pair and they're a pretty neat boot. I'd love to see what's inside of them.
I had a pair of gripfast in highschool. They were boss. Bergundy red. Last a long time. Gave me bad blisters when I first got them tho. Definitely doesn't look like the leather in the video.
Only problem I had was a small tear in the leather. The seam on the heel but with a bit of floss n stitching it never came undone. Eventually gave em to my friends.
Also had a pair of vegetarian shoes co uk. later on that were similar. Got a video on those? Really liked the softness of the vinyl material. Wish they had some that were rubber.
also what about brothel creepers and TUK brand? 👍✌️🃏
"Oh my boots stay shined, and my bowler is fine ine..ine.."
-the adicts.
I switched to the Doc style boys made by Vegetarian Shoes in England. I'd love to see a teardown!
Bought a pair of these in April this year to be my replacement for a pair of vintage 80s steel toe docs, much more attractive looking and way more durable but the old docs had way more arch support. Pretty uncomfortable, needs insoles if you need arch support! Could just be me though. I still am obsessed with them.
I really like this series. One boot I'd love to see is the Caterpillar boots, they are red with yellow stitching and black soles I think. Had a pair years back because they meant to be good but they lasted only 3 months 😅😅
I remember I found Gripfast becuase they had my size (US 14). Appreciate that they carry bigger sizes.
What do you think is a better work boot these or the Jim green razor backs?
When I was 18 I bought my first real pair of boots, a pair of Gripfast 14 hole tankers. Those boots saw a whole fuck ton of miles throughout their life. They are still kicking around but are in desperate need of a resole.