I'm not the video dude obviously, but I'll say this much. Mine are still good, only thing being that the sole's are worn out flat. I walk a LOT though and wear them all-year around. To their credit, my MIE docs are 4 years old and still kickin ass, whereas my 2 year old pairs of Solovairs .....two bloody pairs, both had the soles detaching from the boot in the inner middle section. I did a diy fix to them with my soldering iron (the cobbler kept gluing them up....DOES NOT WORK)....so now they're kinda okay, but who knows for how long.
Well I had mine for three years about now, the leather cracked a little but not bad for it bein 3 years the soles are about to be worn out. I switched to solovairs and the soles lasted way longer in a year then the mie docs did, I like the classic look of docs but solovairs has the structure of the docs from the 80’s
I have been wearing docs since 1988 and I know a lot about them. I do agree with you on one thing. Docs do have shitty laces. But you forgot one important thing Eric, on the yellow good year stitch the ones made in England start their stitch on the outside of the sole and the original ( made in China) ones start their stitch on the inside of the sole. Dead giveaway I could spot the difference by looking at them on someone walking down the street.also the price difference between the price on the original and made in England is only about 30 to 40 dollars more. And it's all because of the labor, they have to pay the Englishman more than the chinaman ,quality has nothing to do with it. For the guy that posted that his made in China fell apart in a year? I don't believe that at all. R Griggs co. Is very strict on the quality of their product and will never let a low quality product leave the factory. So I think he probably got fucked and bought imitation docs!!
maligno1000 I have a pair of classics and had to return them in 2 months from purchase as the leather on one boot had split and cracked in the toe area while the other boot was perfect, shop was shocked and replaced them immediately. Mad thing is I’d treated them exactly the same way as any other doc boot I bought in the past
maligno1000 my originals fell apart in a year and I got them at the doc martens store...but I'm sure its only becacause they were my first pair and I didnt know what I was doing ...
A couple of things i noticed upon a much closer look is : 1) the insoles, the mie ones are hard and cant be taken out while the Asian ones you are able to take out. Maybe a concern with some people, but after prolonged wear the hard insole moulds to your foot shape. Almost creating a personalized bed for your foot. 2) I've also noticed the stitching of the Mie docs are not only yellow but the overlap of the stitching is on the outside vs the asian docs overlap on the inside. It may be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I have a pair of vintage docs made about 10 years ago and the overlap
I know it’s three years later but I bought my made in England dr martens and on the inside where the double loop stitch is. At the end of the stitch it sticks up, but my dad said don’t worry about it since they are hand made and since it is the end of a stitch.
Holy shit I've never seen such a heated comment section over a pair of boots before... Anyway- good video and don't stop rocking Docs because of these keyboard warriors ;p
Good video! I was considering getting my 3rd pair of Docs from the vintage line but was kind of bummed because they start at a UK Size 4 and I'm a size 3. I went with the original 1460 instead in black. My other 2 pairs are the cherry red arcadia and the Portland Rose 1460s. It's good to see that the differences aren't that extreme so I don't feel so bad about not being able to buy the vintage boots.
Thanks so much for this. I just bought a pair of supposedly late 90s DMs from eBay. I trust the seller b/c it's a charity auction (ebay verified), but I still wanted to know what I need to watch out for when they arrive in a week or so
I have a pair I bought in early 90's, made in England and the inside leather is black. They are broken in well, and still look almost as good as the day I bought them. Have since bought several made in China pairs, and they do not even come close to this cherished vintage 90's pair in quality or comfort.
Actually, all the pre-2003 MIE Dr Martens boots have very dark outsole, which looks a bit like peanut butter in colour and the pull tag for the boots was exactly the same as the one in today's DM boots made overseas. After 2003, when Dr Martens started to re-produce its shoes and boots in England again, it has used a golden pull tag for its boots and outsoles that come in various colours to make its post-2003 MIE shoes and boots more distinctive from the overseas ones.
Great video. I have a pair of the vintage 1460 oxbloods on their way to me in the mail. This vid helped me out a lot and may I say you have the most excellent beard Sir.
Excellent video that convinced me to go out and get my own MIE pair after being tired of modern original docs turning to shit after less than a year of working in em. So far I love them and glad I shelled out the extra money. Fits my feet perfectly and though the leather is much more raw and thicker and hell to break in, at least I'll look good while doing so.
Eric Munson so I have a little question, you wear size 9 in the UK boots but you ordered 8 and they fit you right, isn't it ? Is because you said the originals runs a little bigger than the UKss, I wear size 7 USA (38) Europe and I want to order a pair of Dr martens vintage, which will fit me better? The 7 USA or the 6 USA ? Thank you very much.
Thanks for this! I want the 1490s Vintage and I found a pair direct from UK that is much cheaper than Amazon, but they are the newer models, yet are called Vintage and carry all the same attributes of the newer model and have an imprinted Dr. Martens "logo" at the top of the boot.
I have a pair of the vintage 1460 Made in England. The eyelets are different than the recent made in England models. There is a claw tooth look to the inside rivet, while the modern original 1460 have the clean ring eyelet like yours. Still trying to figure out why.
Hi! In the 90s my brother passed me a pair of dr.m. i used, lived, and luved it. I ve try a pair in a store and it s very different product. ( made in idon t know where etc..plastic leather...etc). Where i can find a 90s punk original dr.m boots?thank u!
I am from England and used to wear Docs a lot in the 80s. I think they are less popular here now than overseas. I wish I'd kept a few pairs! Nice video btw.
Altama (black) (Made In USA) basic issue Army Combat Boot issued from 1991 -2003 with speed laces, is the best black combat style boot to ever be released when resoled with a Vibraim (hiking boot style sole). Break in time is about 2 to 3 weeks, but once they break in, they fit like none other and look like none other.
Hi mate, just wanted to share with you some observations on my boots. I have 2 pairs of 1460s Originals - (Black and Arcadia Rogue). The Arcadias have the raw leather interior and the black has the coloured interior. Interestingly enough, my Vintage pair in Black has the painted interior, unlike yours which has the raw. The rest of your video is pretty spot on. Cheers.
Well done comparison review, those vintage soles are the same as original except they are given a dark spray job, shows you on their official videos on here. Thanks
Great comparison video, Eric. I recently got back into wearing Docs after not having them in my life for 20+ years. Wish I would've kept my old ones but hey - alot of careful internet scouring and I'm back in business with two pairs now. One pair are black *vintage* made in England and the other are Original's, which I'm currently waiting for in the mail - both pair are pre-loved, great shape and I lucked out with relatively decent prices. Again, great video....you have a cool sense of style and both you and your girlfriend have great taste in shoes🤘🏽✌🏽
Hi! loved your video! i bought some Docs today and i am trying learn about them. the problem is that mine say both 'the original' and ' made in England' what does that mean? the insides are raw and the edges. the bottoms look like the made in england one. but im so confused.
On their website, they mention on the Vintage Capper that the soles have been dyed to match the original shade. I'm guessing yours are the same. (I miss my DMs. Is it my imagination or is the Cherry Red shade brighter than it used to be? I remember mine being darker, I'm sure!)
+Lyndsey Martin Last year marked my British made boots 20th birthday, the heels are showing wear but the soles are still very good so I expect to still be wearing mine in 5 years and wont be surprised if they head towards our 30th anniversary. I do not wear mine every day, I give them a rest of weeks and sometimes a couple of months but during our time together they have been used a great deal, so the good condition is not due to little use.
Thanks a lot! Very informative, I was wondering why my DM's originals were kind of biggish. And I know my size is 6 uk, but these just seemed bigger. I though my feet has shrunk until I saw this... lol. Thank you once again mate.
Hi Eric. I recently acquired a pair of Brand New "Vintage" Boots that are from I'm assuming the 1970's-1980"s. After watching your video they are defiantly VINTAGE. They are Brand New, Never Worn came with the Genuine Dr. Martens brown Paper bag colored tag and the Original "Walk a mile in someone else's Shoes Booklet" The boots are 1460 Style Green with Black laces. I bought them at an Estate Sale for $10.00 I would love to see these boots on EBAY. However I'm not sure what price to price them at. Also trying to figure out which size they are. They appear to be a women's 9. When you look at the boot straight on the number for the size says 6. SO I', assuming that would be a mens 7? Eric, if you could help me point me in the rite direction on these boots I would gladly appreciate it. Thank You Mandi Rubio
I have a pair of the vintage MIE (you can get 10% off if you sign up to their newsletter) so around £150 and the China ones are around £100. But the MIE will last 3 times longer so best to buy vintage IMV and you can get them re-soled, as the Red Wings do, for around £40. Great to see Red Wing making in the USA and Docs in the UK. Helps support local jobs also. Yep, laces are rubbish, I don't know why they don't improve this as then it would be perfect!
I have a pair of 20 eyelet british docs that i have owned for 20 years now. Made in England and still kicking ass in 2017. If you want to know, yes they are still just as shiny as the day I got them. You want to keep them looking good, ask a US marine how to shine your boots.
I have a pair about 20 years old and they are 1460 originals but they also say made in england on the sole they still like new oh and im from England i must have bought these before they were even made in Thailand good video by the way....
I have a bit of a dilemma, I bought a pair of 1460's (original) but when I tried them on they where the most painfull shoes I had ever worn. Beeing used to Panama Jacks I was shocked how rough they are on the inside. I could not have them on for like 5 minutes before I wanted to put them off my feet! I decided to return them, I am too discouraged by the break in period and the horror stories I've heard about breaking them in. I want shoes that I can wear every day without problems. But I really like the look of them and find it hard to find something similair in design and look but with and a comfortable fit and without a the eleborate break in process. Any suggestions? Should I buy a second hand pair that has been pre worn or are there other options? Why do they still make them this way if so many people have so many painfull experiences with them? If they could only be less stiff and have some padded lining in them so that you can walk in comfort like Timberland or Panama Jacks I would be happy.
www.drmartens.com/us/p/10072028 doc martens actually sells broken in boots on their website, though the selection has gone down it looks like. I hope this helps.
The thing is that even though they are seen and even sold as a fashion boot, they are still a work boot. They are meant to protect your feet around heavy machinery and industrial materials. If they weren't so stiff then they wouldn't have lasted the years in proven safety to become the icon they are today.
No doubt which one is the better boot, but I got some of the crappy ones for $20 on clearance and they've actually held up really solidly for about 4-5 years. I dunno if I can get another 15 out of them like I could with the nicer ones, but totally worth $20. Took a bit to break them in, but definitely more pliable now.
Nice video. But as a man said - don't need to spend a fortune to get real Made In England boots - go buy SOLOVAIR instead - the real, real deal ;) I'm wearing my 11 hole cherry red steel toe cap boots right now and boy, these are amazing! Cheers mate!
Aren't they both made in NPS factories (possibly the same one)? The pair of Solovair boots I picked up were pretty poor quality though, stitching coming apart quicky (after a couple months regular wear) and odd creases appearing in the leather, they don't seem well attached to the sole either (can see the white stitching that holds the boot to the sole). I'm sure that pair just fell through the QC cracks (bar the creases, that may be an issue with the 'vintage haircell leather'), not picked up another pair yet. Had a pair of Made in Vietnam Docs last 7 years of near daily wear (hell, still wearable, just the toe crease has turned into a hole!), a pair of Made in China barely lasted a year (leather coming apart). Hopefully (most) Solovair boots should outlast those!
Exactly! I'm pretty sure that Solovair and MIE Docs are almost exactly identical. And the creases are probably from the leather type as you said. The leather in the MIE Docs are a whole different beast.
Eric Munson I'm sure that a lot of the materials used are slightly different. Solovair certainly have their own leathers and MIE DMs all have their "Quilon" leather. Soles on Solovair's are different, much darker and opaque (you can't see the structure of the inner side of the sole). Though I don't know if t's just the dye or anything more significant (vs the MIE DMs), they certainly feel a lot harder than the MIV and MIC DMs that I've had.
I got a pair made in Thailand they didn't last 6 months. I still have a pair from the 90s that are going strong. can I still get the vintage ones thanks
There's also a place called British Boot Company that stocks actual vintage Docs, and lots of them. All made in England. They're in London but they ship anywhere. Got some mid-2000s 8833 steel-toe industrials from them just this week.
Danny Bollinger dude, just go to dr. martens' site and then go to originals and you will see a vintage boot, it says "made in england" right there. You can order it there
Bought my first pair in '86 at Warbabies on Melrose (Hollywood). 14 eye steel-toe for $70. I used to shine them up to the point that you could see the reflection of the Sun on the ground, surrounding my feet! Yes, I still wear Docs. I always have AT LEAST four pairs. Daily boots, dress-up brogues, gig boots (steel-toe) and regular shoes (3 eye). The quality in the English ones is superior. A few years back I found 14 eye, green, English boots @ a thrift store for $15. That'll never happen again!
Hi. I just got a pair of leather boots from a vintage market over here in West Yorkshire - UK. . Inside they're just like yours, light brown leather, higher than yours. The sole is black and there is a stamp on the flap, ''MADE IN ENGLAND'' and numbers, but I'd like to know what brand it is. Does it ring the bell? Cheers!
I am looking for a pair of boots for walking around Sturgis in the summer. My Harley boots are very hard on the soles. Are these good for hours of walking or do they hurt after awhile?
I would recommend Docs for walking around a lot. If you ride a bike not so much. I tore up a regular pair of MIE Docs on my bike. I got some Solovair Englander boots for riding. They got lug soles,steel cap and extra leather patch over the toes. I just got another pair of MIE 1490's. I use those boots for work and walking around.
Nite Owl p.s. They are air cushioned soles so they are comfortable. I buy a size up and get foot pads so they fit good. I've never bought the Asian Docs so I couldn't tell you the fit. If you smoke cigarettes don't stomp out a butt with these boots you'll burn a hole in the bottom. Good luck!
actually, I finally figured it out. you have to compare the size on the shoe to the shoe size chart for both men and women. A men's UK 7 is a different US size from a women's UK size.
I've owned MIE Docs before but haven't had a pair in a while. This video sold me on buying a new pair. I love how your 1490's have aged. No offense to your bf's pair but they look plasticy in comparison. Thanks for the upload.
Made in England ones just last a lot longer. I wear DMs for work not poncing around in...the originals lasted 10 months before the leather cracked and I had a gaping hole in the left boot...absolute shit. The originals are for fashion chicks to pose in and wear occasionally, the vintage are made to last, Goodyear welts, heavy duty thick leather only a few colour options..simple , classic and like the ones I wore in my childhood. wear them for years and they look cooler with age...cheap shoes and boots are always a false economy its always worth spending extra
Agreed! I’m still mad at myself for getting rid of the 1460’s and 1461’s i had in the 1990’s. But I have a couple MIE Vintage and I’m pretty impressed, even though the soles aren’t what they used to be.
From year 2004 Dr Martens as a brand making FAKE Dr.Martens boots on their factories (MIE not exception) ! This is very simple explanation and it is not a joke ! Quality of their leather and quality of their soles are worse than Primark shoes !Buy real Dr. Martens boots made in England before 2003 from eBay and they will serve you at least 20 years . And you will never see any holes in their leather and you will never see holes in their out-soles ! -PROBLEM SOLVED !
I bought a 2nd hand pair of Originals for £113. I was expecting them to be more like the vintage ones but the Leather is thinner. Feels plasticky and very smooth, the rest of it, the same description as your girlfriend’s pair. Was I over charged? I was worried they weren’t real leather cos of the way they feel, but your description is exactly the same as mine. Thanks.
Hi I was wondering if you could clarify for me which ones run small and by how much. Im wearing womens 9 in the originals and theyre the correct size. However, I would like to purchase some made in england DMs soon. Thanks for the video!
Great review Eric. It would be informative if you could do another comparison at the year mark, so keep your girl friend happy. My personal experience is that the difference in leather between my 90's English made boots and my Chinese pair is considerable in terms of quality and durability. Your review confirmed that the Vintage line is a genuine product vs. a rebadged boot; thus worth the extra $$$.
Their own website has them for sale. Just go to drmartensDOTcom and then search for the vintage collection. They are the best boots I have owned, if you're willing to pay for the price they are absolutely amazing.
There seems to be some confusion in the comments about "original" and "Made in England". All docs made up to 2003 all had "the original" and "Made in England" on their soles. The company almost went bankrupt in 2003 and had to close all their factories, but started production in Asia, so the boots with "Original" on the soles were made in either Taiwan, Thailand or Vietnam. A year later in 2004 they opened 1 factor in England and started producing the "Vintage" line, which aimed to produce boots as close to the vintage versions as possible, so those are the only boots currently made in England. As far as the differences between the current "Original" and "Vintage" lines go, as stated in the video, the leather and finish is different, the yellow thread is slightly different, the reveal of the raw leather on the Vintage vs the painted or covered leather on the Originals is different. One difference not pointed out, but significant IMO, is that the shapes of the actual boots are different, so if you get a pair of 1460s in both Original and Vintage, the shape of the toes will be different. The Vintage toe shape is slimmer, sleeker, less height in the toe box and a little more pointy, where as the Original toes tend to be wider, rounder and have a taller and more spacious toe box. Something else to note is that the more shiny finish of the Originals are actually closer to the what the finish of the boots were like in the 90s, where as the more grainy finish of the "Vintage" boots is different, probably playing up the quality of the leather by showing the grain more. I don't remember my Docs from the 90s having leather as thick as the "Vintage" ones, but were thicker than the "Original" boots, so I've say the 90s boots were somewhere in between in terms of leather thickness. I first got the Originals and was surprised with just how spacious and roomy the toe box was in contrast to the Docs I've had since 1994. Being that I have a pretty skinny, low volume foot, I felt the Originals were too roomy for me, so I ended up getting a pair of the Vintage, which fit me a lot better, and I also down sized, and they're perfect for me. The Vintage definitely feel higher quality in terms of materials, but you pay more of that obviously. Saying that the Originals still feel like good quality, but I feel they would fit people with higher volume feet better... However, I do prefer the general shape of the Vintage better, only because they remind me more of the one's I bought in the 90s, and because they fit my skinny feet better. If the Originals were shaped like the Vintage, I'd be more than happy to just have those.
Question: so I got a pair of doc martens as a hand me down from my sister that she bought in the 90s. The bottom says "The Original", made in England right under the typical cross stamp and has the darker sole. However, it has a black leather interior. So were they made in England? Are they fake? Btw they have all those typical features like stitching and all mentioned in the video
My boots says both "Original" and "Made in England." I've had them for about 15 years now. Almost everyday, all year, in Sweden in heat, rain and snow. The sole is worn down a bit and the leather is scuffed a lot of course. I have not been taking good care of them with any sort of treatments. But the stitching is holding up and nothing is falling apart really.
All DMs prior to 2003 were made in England, and all those shoes had "Original" on them... but the company came close to bankruptcy, and closed all their UK factories. The then relaunched the brand the following year with the "vintage" line which were/are Made in England, but they also took production overseas, and called those boots "Original"...The basic idea being the "Original" line is now made in Asia, and the "Vintage" line is a tribute to when the company made the boots back in the day in the UK, hence why they're made in England.
I've heard the Made in England ones don't come with yellow laces, do you think that's because the sole stitching won't match the laces they have with the other styles?
I had couple pairs of ORIGINAL made in England ones back in mid 90's. i have some Thai ones on right now. I think the insole material was changed somewhere along the way. do the vintage and Thai insole material differ??!
I'm wondering if you can help me out? I have an old pair of limited edition Doc Martens that were bought in London in 1982 (I still wear them nearly every day and are still strong boots), and I want to know how much they cost back then and if they are worth anything now. I can't find ANY info online! What should I look up? Who should I speak to??
Do you know if there is much of a width difference between the original and the vintage? I've read that the vintage are made slightly narrower than the original. I had a 1460 women's in UK5 in the classics (not sure if women's and men's are any different), which were a bit narrow, and am wondering if the vintage are narrower if I should get a UK6?
I just found some wicked black Dr martens in Salvation Army, and they'd a bit loved and great condition for used pair so I was wondering how do I clean them up and do u know where to get the black laces(that resemble the black laces) ohh I hope u can answer :) or anyone for that matter:)
Hey great review, I spent the day in a Doc Martens store today, trying on a pair of three hole shoes, I could not decide if I should take the advice and go one size larger or one size smaller so finally I went smaller. I have now worn them for half the day and my feet are hurting like crazy, will they stretch in length even a little or is that a really stupid question? Please help as I have only worn them in the house and should have no issue returning them
That's the first time I've heard them referred to as either the 1460 or the 1490. They were 8 Ups or 10 Ups (in reference to the number of eyelets). The vintage 'Vintage' were dyed on the inside (circa '93-'94), but you can tell it's very high quality died leather (now it looks charcoal-think they always did). My 8 Ups got pinched 19 years ago (which is sacrilegious and hopefully ruined the thief's feet as they were well moulded to mine) and my 10 Ups are over 20 years old now (sh#t!). I suggest no one uses them as their gardening boots in the mud, thinking you've out grown them, especially without a clean and polish after and you wouldn't be left with much if you bought the 'Originals'. Guaranteed you'll want to wear them again in a decade and in two-an essential in any shoe collection (even if they were used to garden in the mud). Buy the 'Vintage', they'll pay for themselves over and over and then your kids will want them and they'll be worth a fortune (especially the oxbloods (not to be confused with the cherry reds)).
Exactly 4 years later, how are both holding up? Would love to see an update. 😁
I'm not the video dude obviously, but I'll say this much. Mine are still good, only thing being that the sole's are worn out flat. I walk a LOT though and wear them all-year around. To their credit, my MIE docs are 4 years old and still kickin ass, whereas my 2 year old pairs of Solovairs .....two bloody pairs, both had the soles detaching from the boot in the inner middle section. I did a diy fix to them with my soldering iron (the cobbler kept gluing them up....DOES NOT WORK)....so now they're kinda okay, but who knows for how long.
Van V are they made in england?
@@Crash.7434 Yep
Van V ya I can’t buy made in england 1490 they stop selling them online and that was the only made in england so I get the black smooth
Well I had mine for three years about now, the leather cracked a little but not bad for it bein 3 years the soles are about to be worn out. I switched to solovairs and the soles lasted way longer in a year then the mie docs did, I like the classic look of docs but solovairs has the structure of the docs from the 80’s
I lived in my DMs back in the 80s, brown 8 holes, yellow laces .... I miss them !
I have some 3/4 Doc's (Made in England) which are dyed black inner. I've had them for 15 years now. Love them!
I love those Vintage ones so much, i think in going to cry. Thanks for the Video, bro
I have been wearing docs since 1988 and I know a lot about them. I do agree with you on one thing. Docs do have shitty laces. But you forgot one important thing Eric, on the yellow good year stitch the ones made in England start their stitch on the outside of the sole and the original ( made in China) ones start their stitch on the inside of the sole. Dead giveaway I could spot the difference by looking at them on someone walking down the street.also the price difference between the price on the original and made in England is only about 30 to 40 dollars more. And it's all because of the labor, they have to pay the Englishman more than the chinaman ,quality has nothing to do with it. For the guy that posted that his made in China fell apart in a year? I don't believe that at all. R Griggs co. Is very strict on the quality of their product and will never let a low quality product leave the factory. So I think he probably got fucked and bought imitation docs!!
maligno1000 I have a pair of classics and had to return them in 2 months from purchase as the leather on one boot had split and cracked in the toe area while the other boot was perfect, shop was shocked and replaced them immediately. Mad thing is I’d treated them exactly the same way as any other doc boot I bought in the past
maligno1000 my originals fell apart in a year and I got them at the doc martens store...but I'm sure its only becacause they were my first pair and I didnt know what I was doing ...
I’ve had mine for 3 or so years and they’re still holding up and I’ve used them as work boots so for me they get a A+ (the original)
I'm getting my first pair soon wich one do you think is the best mate
maligno1000 y
In 7 years later, how are the pair of boots?
A couple of things i noticed upon a much closer look is :
1) the insoles, the mie ones are hard and cant be taken out while the Asian ones you are able to take out. Maybe a concern with some people, but after prolonged wear the hard insole moulds to your foot shape. Almost creating a personalized bed for your foot.
2) I've also noticed the stitching of the Mie docs are not only yellow but the overlap of the stitching is on the outside vs the asian docs overlap on the inside. It may be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I have a pair of vintage docs made about 10 years ago and the overlap
I've had a pair of 10 holes for 26 years lol, still not a thing wrong with them.
Which ones?
I know it’s three years later but I bought my made in England dr martens and on the inside where the double loop stitch is. At the end of the stitch it sticks up, but my dad said don’t worry about it since they are hand made and since it is the end of a stitch.
You did really good job at comparison! :) really keep it up. I will be excitedy about next videos. Great job
Holy shit I've never seen such a heated comment section over a pair of boots before... Anyway- good video and don't stop rocking Docs because of these keyboard warriors ;p
I know right?! Nazis are lame. Thank you!
Thanks much-needed , much-loved
good camera shots, I enjoy the close ups and they seem planed well.
Fantastic post. Answering everything I didn’t know about the difference between these two.
Good video! I was considering getting my 3rd pair of Docs from the vintage line but was kind of bummed because they start at a UK Size 4 and I'm a size 3. I went with the original 1460 instead in black. My other 2 pairs are the cherry red arcadia and the Portland Rose 1460s. It's good to see that the differences aren't that extreme so I don't feel so bad about not being able to buy the vintage boots.
Thanks so much for this. I just bought a pair of supposedly late 90s DMs from eBay. I trust the seller b/c it's a charity auction (ebay verified), but I still wanted to know what I need to watch out for when they arrive in a week or so
I'm happy to announce I just got my 1490s mie. I used to have vintage mie chukka docs. I cant wait to use these
I have a pair I bought in early 90's, made in England and the inside leather is black. They are broken in well, and still look almost as good as the day I bought them. Have since bought several made in China pairs, and they do not even come close to this cherished vintage 90's pair in quality or comfort.
IfComputersCouldTalk I wish the insides were black still
Actually, all the pre-2003 MIE Dr Martens boots have very dark outsole, which looks a bit like peanut butter in colour and the pull tag for the boots was exactly the same as the one in today's DM boots made overseas. After 2003, when Dr Martens started to re-produce its shoes and boots in England again, it has used a golden pull tag for its boots and outsoles that come in various colours to make its post-2003 MIE shoes and boots more distinctive from the overseas ones.
Great video. I have a pair of the vintage 1460 oxbloods on their way to me in the mail. This vid helped me out a lot and may I say you have the most excellent beard Sir.
Excellent video that convinced me to go out and get my own MIE pair after being tired of modern original docs turning to shit after less than a year of working in em. So far I love them and glad I shelled out the extra money. Fits my feet perfectly and though the leather is much more raw and thicker and hell to break in, at least I'll look good while doing so.
Awesome! Glad I could help. Haha thanks I try my best.
Eric Munson can doc vintage applied mink oil? pls reply me sir. i need some help.
Eric Munson so I have a little question, you wear size 9 in the UK boots but you ordered 8 and they fit you right, isn't it ? Is because you said the originals runs a little bigger than the UKss, I wear size 7 USA (38) Europe and I want to order a pair of Dr martens vintage, which will fit me better? The 7 USA or the 6 USA ? Thank you very much.
Vintage are a little bigger?
As far as super shiny goes, you can polish a boot up surprisingly well from that kind of finish. The shine's pretty much in the owner's hands.
Just got some used, vintage, steel toe 10 eye docs. Made in England. Gonna use them for working hard. What they were made for! Great video.
Awesome, my favorite is Pascal. Greetings from Brazil!
thanks for the video man! great beard! :-)
Thanks for this! I want the 1490s Vintage and I found a pair direct from UK that is much cheaper than Amazon, but they are the newer models, yet are called Vintage and carry all the same attributes of the newer model and have an imprinted Dr. Martens "logo" at the top of the boot.
2cont'd) is on the inside. Maybe that was a way for docs to help people tell which ones are the vintage vs the non vintage
solovair ,from jump the gun uk ,had mine 3 years wear them most days and I work as a landscaper so they get knocked around ,excellent quality
I have a pair of the vintage 1460 Made in England. The eyelets are different than the recent made in England models. There is a claw tooth look to the inside rivet, while the modern original 1460 have the clean ring eyelet like yours. Still trying to figure out why.
Hi! In the 90s my brother passed me a pair of dr.m. i used, lived, and luved it. I ve try a pair in a store and it s very different product. ( made in idon t know where etc..plastic leather...etc). Where i can find a 90s punk original dr.m boots?thank u!
Nice to see a dude rocking the 1490s. I was starting to feel like I have odd taste since it's hard to find men online wearing that pair haha.
This was helpful. Going to the doc martens store in a few days in Toronto, need some industrials. Thanks.
Thank you so much for this video, man.
not a problem
I am from England and used to wear Docs a lot in the 80s. I think they are less popular here now than overseas. I wish I'd kept a few pairs! Nice video btw.
Your beard has majesty my good sir
Great video! I wanted to check out some opinions on the two pairs. Just ordered the vintage 1460 pair thanks to your video!
Altama (black) (Made In USA) basic issue Army Combat Boot issued from 1991 -2003 with speed laces, is the best black combat style boot to ever be released when resoled with a Vibraim (hiking boot style sole). Break in time is about 2 to 3 weeks, but once they break in, they fit like none other and look like none other.
My dad wore docs in the 70’s and 80’s and they have always said “the original” on the bottom and he said the break in period was about 30-40 minutes
Hi mate, just wanted to share with you some observations on my boots. I have 2 pairs of 1460s Originals - (Black and Arcadia Rogue). The Arcadias have the raw leather interior and the black has the coloured interior. Interestingly enough, my Vintage pair in Black has the painted interior, unlike yours which has the raw. The rest of your video is pretty spot on. Cheers.
I love your beard!!! good video thanks!
I just received a pair of Made in England Dr Martens and I love them! You'll find an unboxing video on my channel
Great video Eric !
Diggin' your style dude.
Well done comparison review, those vintage soles are the same as original except they are given a dark spray job, shows you on their official videos on here. Thanks
Great comparison video, Eric.
I recently got back into wearing Docs after not having them in my life for 20+ years. Wish I would've kept my old ones but hey - alot of careful internet scouring and I'm back in business with two pairs now.
One pair are black *vintage* made in England and the other are Original's, which I'm currently waiting for in the mail - both pair are pre-loved, great shape and I lucked out with relatively decent prices.
Again, great video....you have a cool sense of style and both you and your girlfriend have great taste in shoes🤘🏽✌🏽
Where are you able to order the vintage ones from online?
Hi! loved your video! i bought some Docs today and i am trying learn about them. the problem is that mine say both 'the original' and ' made in England' what does that mean? the insides are raw and the edges. the bottoms look like the made in england one. but im so confused.
On their website, they mention on the Vintage Capper that the soles have been dyed to match the original shade. I'm guessing yours are the same. (I miss my DMs. Is it my imagination or is the Cherry Red shade brighter than it used to be? I remember mine being darker, I'm sure!)
Hey love your glasses man! Are those warby parker?
Makes me glad I live in the UK, bought from Camden in London. Prefer my Vintage, but are well worth it
Real Vintage or FAKE "Vinatge" that DM making nowdays ?
Good review. nice job.
I really like Dr Martin boot It's made in England ,how much a pair ?
240$
thats how much I paid for mine online
Dr. Martens boots are awesome.! Cat tested and Cat approved ('',)
I think their around $598,000, not to steep for a pair of good quality boots in my opinion
180 pounds may be 160 where I get them from
Is it worth the extra money for the made in England boots?
Yes
+bennydman666 yes they're well better and will last longer
+Lyndsey Martin
Last year marked my British made boots 20th birthday, the heels are showing wear but the soles are still very good so I expect to still be wearing mine in 5 years and wont be surprised if they head towards our 30th anniversary. I do not wear mine every day, I give them a rest of weeks and sometimes a couple of months but during our time together they have been used a great deal, so the good condition is not due to little use.
Dee Lays Nice.
Thanks a lot! Very informative, I was wondering why my DM's originals were kind of biggish. And I know my size is 6 uk, but these just seemed bigger. I though my feet has shrunk until I saw this... lol. Thank you once again mate.
Hi Eric. I recently acquired a pair of Brand New "Vintage" Boots that are from I'm assuming the 1970's-1980"s. After watching your video they are defiantly VINTAGE. They are Brand New, Never Worn came with the Genuine Dr. Martens brown Paper bag colored tag and the Original "Walk a mile in someone else's Shoes Booklet" The boots are 1460 Style Green with Black laces. I bought them at an Estate Sale for $10.00 I would love to see these boots on EBAY. However I'm not sure what price to price them at. Also trying to figure out which size they are. They appear to be a women's 9. When you look at the boot straight on the number for the size says 6. SO I', assuming that would be a mens 7? Eric, if you could help me point me in the rite direction on these boots I would gladly appreciate it.
Thank You Mandi Rubio
I have a pair of the vintage MIE (you can get 10% off if you sign up to their newsletter) so around £150 and the China ones are around £100. But the MIE will last 3 times longer so best to buy vintage IMV and you can get them re-soled, as the Red Wings do, for around £40. Great to see Red Wing making in the USA and Docs in the UK. Helps support local jobs also. Yep, laces are rubbish, I don't know why they don't improve this as then it would be perfect!
I have a pair of 20 eyelet british docs that i have owned for 20 years now. Made in England and still kicking ass in 2017. If you want to know, yes they are still just as shiny as the day I got them. You want to keep them looking good, ask a US marine how to shine your boots.
I have a pair about 20 years old and they are 1460 originals but they also say made in england on the sole they still like new oh and im from England i must have bought these before they were even made in Thailand good video by the way....
I have a bit of a dilemma, I bought a pair of 1460's (original) but when I tried them on they where the most painfull shoes I had ever worn. Beeing used to Panama Jacks I was shocked how rough they are on the inside. I could not have them on for like 5 minutes before I wanted to put them off my feet! I decided to return them, I am too discouraged by the break in period and the horror stories I've heard about breaking them in. I want shoes that I can wear every day without problems. But I really like the look of them and find it hard to find something similair in design and look but with and a comfortable fit and without a the eleborate break in process. Any suggestions? Should I buy a second hand pair that has been pre worn or are there other options? Why do they still make them this way if so many people have so many painfull experiences with them? If they could only be less stiff and have some padded lining in them so that you can walk in comfort like Timberland or Panama Jacks I would be happy.
www.drmartens.com/us/p/10072028 doc martens actually sells broken in boots on their website, though the selection has gone down it looks like. I hope this helps.
there are ways to soften the leather thru artificial means, google em
dykodesigns2yt try the pascal virginia. They are made out of soft leather so super comfy!
The thing is that even though they are seen and even sold as a fashion boot, they are still a work boot. They are meant to protect your feet around heavy machinery and industrial materials. If they weren't so stiff then they wouldn't have lasted the years in proven safety to become the icon they are today.
dykodesigns2yt Once, I just wore them loosely tied for a few weeks. They broke in naturally, and it wasn't the usually painfull break-in period.
Try Solovair for the vintage made in England.
No doubt which one is the better boot, but I got some of the crappy ones for $20 on clearance and they've actually held up really solidly for about 4-5 years. I dunno if I can get another 15 out of them like I could with the nicer ones, but totally worth $20. Took a bit to break them in, but definitely more pliable now.
malamute hamscone 20 dollars? where?
valerie a I believe it was at a Macy's. Like I said, they were on clearance and I doubt I could find another pair as cheap.
***** oh okay thank you (:
Nice video. But as a man said - don't need to spend a fortune to get real Made In England boots - go buy SOLOVAIR instead - the real, real deal ;) I'm wearing my 11 hole cherry red steel toe cap boots right now and boy, these are amazing!
Cheers mate!
***** That's the thing. Its hard to get a pair of Solovair boots here in the states that dont have crazy markup.
Aren't they both made in NPS factories (possibly the same one)?
The pair of Solovair boots I picked up were pretty poor quality though, stitching coming apart quicky (after a couple months regular wear) and odd creases appearing in the leather, they don't seem well attached to the sole either (can see the white stitching that holds the boot to the sole). I'm sure that pair just fell through the QC cracks (bar the creases, that may be an issue with the 'vintage haircell leather'), not picked up another pair yet.
Had a pair of Made in Vietnam Docs last 7 years of near daily wear (hell, still wearable, just the toe crease has turned into a hole!), a pair of Made in China barely lasted a year (leather coming apart). Hopefully (most) Solovair boots should outlast those!
Exactly! I'm pretty sure that Solovair and MIE Docs are almost exactly identical. And the creases are probably from the leather type as you said. The leather in the MIE Docs are a whole different beast.
Eric Munson I'm sure that a lot of the materials used are slightly different. Solovair certainly have their own leathers and MIE DMs all have their "Quilon" leather.
Soles on Solovair's are different, much darker and opaque (you can't see the structure of the inner side of the sole). Though I don't know if t's just the dye or anything more significant (vs the MIE DMs), they certainly feel a lot harder than the MIV and MIC DMs that I've had.
William Ramsay do you know if there is a difference in the insoles?
I got a pair made in Thailand they didn't last 6 months. I still have a pair from the 90s that are going strong. can I still get the vintage ones thanks
Yes, any DM shop, or you can get them online. They're considered part of DM's 'originals' so they're a permanent fixture.
+Zachary Shannon thanks bud I will not make that mistake again
There's also a place called British Boot Company that stocks actual vintage Docs, and lots of them. All made in England. They're in London but they ship anywhere. Got some mid-2000s 8833 steel-toe industrials from them just this week.
Danny Bollinger dude, just go to dr. martens' site and then go to originals and you will see a vintage boot, it says "made in england" right there. You can order it there
Calvin Klein yup mine are going on 2 years and they still have lots of life left if I put wax on them they look brand new
I would like to see a video on your favorite music.
That would be a tough one! but i could probably do it!
Does anyone know the year the 8A88 boots were first released? I’ve had some come into my custody, and I can’t figure out when they were made.
Bought my first pair in '86 at Warbabies on Melrose (Hollywood). 14 eye steel-toe for $70. I used to shine them up to the point that you could see the reflection of the Sun on the ground, surrounding my feet!
Yes, I still wear Docs. I always have AT LEAST four pairs. Daily boots, dress-up brogues, gig boots (steel-toe) and regular shoes (3 eye).
The quality in the English ones is superior.
A few years back I found 14 eye, green, English boots @ a thrift store for $15. That'll never happen again!
Hi. I just got a pair of leather boots from a vintage market over here in West Yorkshire - UK. . Inside they're just like yours, light brown leather, higher than yours. The sole is black and there is a stamp on the flap, ''MADE IN ENGLAND'' and numbers, but I'd like to know what brand it is. Does it ring the bell? Cheers!
I am looking for a pair of boots for walking around Sturgis in the summer. My Harley boots are very hard on the soles. Are these good for hours of walking or do they hurt after awhile?
I would recommend Docs for walking around a lot. If you ride a bike not so much. I tore up a regular pair of MIE Docs on my bike. I got some Solovair Englander boots for riding. They got lug soles,steel cap and extra leather patch over the toes. I just got another pair of MIE 1490's. I use those boots for work and walking around.
Nite Owl p.s. They are air cushioned soles so they are comfortable. I buy a size up and get foot pads so they fit good. I've never bought the Asian Docs so I couldn't tell you the fit. If you smoke cigarettes don't stomp out a butt with these boots you'll burn a hole in the bottom. Good luck!
Are they still making the made in England old school steel caps? I've yet to see them on the website
I got a pair of 1490 MIE tday in usa size 11 and they run tight on the toes i' gonna return them and get a 12 hope they fit fine this time
Cool video. How do you tell if a pair of dr. martens is a pair of men's or women's?
actually, I finally figured it out. you have to compare the size on the shoe to the shoe size chart for both men and women. A men's UK 7 is a different US size from a women's UK size.
I've owned MIE Docs before but haven't had a pair in a while. This video sold me on buying a new pair. I love how your 1490's have aged. No offense to your bf's pair but they look plasticy in comparison. Thanks for the upload.
Awesome glad I could help!
Any plans to do a update video of how your docs have turned out? That would be awesome.
I honestly haven't worn them that much to do any justice for a long term wear & durability video. I have too many boots haha
What is the best boot u think so far?
Made in England ones just last a lot longer. I wear DMs for work not poncing around in...the originals lasted 10 months before the leather cracked and I had a gaping hole in the left boot...absolute shit. The originals are for fashion chicks to pose in and wear occasionally, the vintage are made to last, Goodyear welts, heavy duty thick leather only a few colour options..simple , classic and like the ones I wore in my childhood. wear them for years and they look cooler with age...cheap shoes and boots are always a false economy its always worth spending extra
you nailed it :)
Back in 90s, I used to wear out the soles in a year. They're rubber soles. Your memories may be faulty.
the original ones are only $30-40 less tho, they’re in no way cheap
Agreed! I’m still mad at myself for getting rid of the 1460’s and 1461’s i had in the 1990’s. But I have a couple MIE Vintage and I’m pretty impressed, even though the soles aren’t what they used to be.
From year 2004 Dr Martens as a brand making FAKE Dr.Martens boots on their factories (MIE not exception) ! This is very simple explanation and it is not a joke ! Quality of their leather and quality of their soles are worse than Primark shoes !Buy real Dr. Martens boots made in England before 2003 from eBay and they will serve you at least 20 years . And you will never see any holes in their leather and you will never see holes in their out-soles ! -PROBLEM SOLVED !
Fabulous beard!
I bought a 2nd hand pair of Originals for £113. I was expecting them to be more like the vintage ones but the Leather is thinner. Feels plasticky and very smooth, the rest of it, the same description as your girlfriend’s pair. Was I over charged? I was worried they weren’t real leather cos of the way they feel, but your description is exactly the same as mine. Thanks.
Hi I was wondering if you could clarify for me which ones run small and by how much. Im wearing womens 9 in the originals and theyre the correct size. However, I would like to purchase some made in england DMs soon. Thanks for the video!
I like your style!
Great review Eric. It would be informative if you could do another comparison at the year mark, so keep your girl friend happy. My personal experience is that the difference in leather between my 90's English made boots and my Chinese pair is considerable in terms of quality and durability. Your review confirmed that the Vintage line is a genuine product vs. a rebadged boot; thus worth the extra $$$.
Thank you! glad you enjoyed the video :)
Just ordered myself 1460 Vintages, so excited!
How do they fit? I bought a size 10 I wear a 10 1/2 and they seem tight in the toe
Their own website has them for sale. Just go to drmartensDOTcom and then search for the vintage collection. They are the best boots I have owned, if you're willing to pay for the price they are absolutely amazing.
+Emerald Green doc martins dot com
+Emerald Green oh I saved money by looking online for a promo code
+mrniceguyk9 I returned my size 10 and got a 11. Relief! Alittle more loose in the heel but a better feel. I wouldn't trade them for no other boot.
There seems to be some confusion in the comments about "original" and "Made in England". All docs made up to 2003 all had "the original" and "Made in England" on their soles. The company almost went bankrupt in 2003 and had to close all their factories, but started production in Asia, so the boots with "Original" on the soles were made in either Taiwan, Thailand or Vietnam. A year later in 2004 they opened 1 factor in England and started producing the "Vintage" line, which aimed to produce boots as close to the vintage versions as possible, so those are the only boots currently made in England.
As far as the differences between the current "Original" and "Vintage" lines go, as stated in the video, the leather and finish is different, the yellow thread is slightly different, the reveal of the raw leather on the Vintage vs the painted or covered leather on the Originals is different. One difference not pointed out, but significant IMO, is that the shapes of the actual boots are different, so if you get a pair of 1460s in both Original and Vintage, the shape of the toes will be different. The Vintage toe shape is slimmer, sleeker, less height in the toe box and a little more pointy, where as the Original toes tend to be wider, rounder and have a taller and more spacious toe box.
Something else to note is that the more shiny finish of the Originals are actually closer to the what the finish of the boots were like in the 90s, where as the more grainy finish of the "Vintage" boots is different, probably playing up the quality of the leather by showing the grain more.
I don't remember my Docs from the 90s having leather as thick as the "Vintage" ones, but were thicker than the "Original" boots, so I've say the 90s boots were somewhere in between in terms of leather thickness.
I first got the Originals and was surprised with just how spacious and roomy the toe box was in contrast to the Docs I've had since 1994. Being that I have a pretty skinny, low volume foot, I felt the Originals were too roomy for me, so I ended up getting a pair of the Vintage, which fit me a lot better, and I also down sized, and they're perfect for me. The Vintage definitely feel higher quality in terms of materials, but you pay more of that obviously. Saying that the Originals still feel like good quality, but I feel they would fit people with higher volume feet better... However, I do prefer the general shape of the Vintage better, only because they remind me more of the one's I bought in the 90s, and because they fit my skinny feet better. If the Originals were shaped like the Vintage, I'd be more than happy to just have those.
Question: so I got a pair of doc martens as a hand me down from my sister that she bought in the 90s. The bottom says "The Original", made in England right under the typical cross stamp and has the darker sole. However, it has a black leather interior. So were they made in England? Are they fake? Btw they have all those typical features like stitching and all mentioned in the video
They were probably made in England if they are that old.
My boots says both "Original" and "Made in England." I've had them for about 15 years now. Almost everyday, all year, in Sweden in heat, rain and snow. The sole is worn down a bit and the leather is scuffed a lot of course. I have not been taking good care of them with any sort of treatments. But the stitching is holding up and nothing is falling apart really.
All DMs prior to 2003 were made in England, and all those shoes had "Original" on them... but the company came close to bankruptcy, and closed all their UK factories. The then relaunched the brand the following year with the "vintage" line which were/are Made in England, but they also took production overseas, and called those boots "Original"...The basic idea being the "Original" line is now made in Asia, and the "Vintage" line is a tribute to when the company made the boots back in the day in the UK, hence why they're made in England.
I've heard the Made in England ones don't come with yellow laces, do you think that's because the sole stitching won't match the laces they have with the other styles?
this is what i've been looking for ! Do you know any forum which discuss about this shoes ?
cool video
Oh! And how much did you buy yours for? Right now they are $210 (not counting taxes/shipping costs) on the Doc Martens website.
I got mine for 20% off on the Dr. Martens website for $163.81 USD with taxes and free shipping.
Really?! That's a good buy. Did you order them during a year-end sale?
Yeah I sure did!
*Sigh*
Man, I wish I saw it sooner, haha...
I had couple pairs of ORIGINAL made in England ones back in mid 90's. i have some Thai ones on right now. I think the insole material was changed somewhere along the way. do the vintage and Thai insole material differ??!
I'm wondering if you can help me out? I have an old pair of limited edition Doc Martens that were bought in London in 1982 (I still wear them nearly every day and are still strong boots), and I want to know how much they cost back then and if they are worth anything now. I can't find ANY info online! What should I look up? Who should I speak to??
probably ebay. see how much they are selling for not what people are asking for. big difference.
How well have those vintage ones held up? After one winter my (Asian) Doc 1490s have heavy creases and holes on them.
i bought the vintage ones and they were tight and i bought from dr martin store same size and those was perfect ,
Hi thanks for the comparison. Do u know the difference between those once and 1919? Please share if yes. Many thanks
The 1919 has a steel toe
Do you know if there is much of a width difference between the original and the vintage? I've read that the vintage are made slightly narrower than the original. I had a 1460 women's in UK5 in the classics (not sure if women's and men's are any different), which were a bit narrow, and am wondering if the vintage are narrower if I should get a UK6?
From what it looks like the vintage does seem a bit narrower in the toe area. Im not sure if sizing up would widen them up any more.
I just found some wicked black Dr martens in Salvation Army, and they'd a bit loved and great condition for used pair so I was wondering how do I clean them up and do u know where to get the black laces(that resemble the black laces) ohh I hope u can answer :) or anyone for that matter:)
What is a first generation pair of shoes worth?
Hey great review, I spent the day in a Doc Martens store today, trying on a pair of three hole shoes, I could not decide if I should take the advice and go one size larger or one size smaller so finally I went smaller. I have now worn them for half the day and my feet are hurting like crazy, will they stretch in length even a little or is that a really stupid question? Please help as I have only worn them in the house and should have no issue returning them
Do you know if "Smooth" is a kind of the Original ones?
That's the first time I've heard them referred to as either the 1460 or the 1490. They were 8 Ups or 10 Ups (in reference to the number of eyelets). The vintage 'Vintage' were dyed on the inside (circa '93-'94), but you can tell it's very high quality died leather (now it looks charcoal-think they always did). My 8 Ups got pinched 19 years ago (which is sacrilegious and hopefully ruined the thief's feet as they were well moulded to mine) and my 10 Ups are over 20 years old now (sh#t!). I suggest no one uses them as their gardening boots in the mud, thinking you've out grown them, especially without a clean and polish after and you wouldn't be left with much if you bought the 'Originals'. Guaranteed you'll want to wear them again in a decade and in two-an essential in any shoe collection (even if they were used to garden in the mud). Buy the 'Vintage', they'll pay for themselves over and over and then your kids will want them and they'll be worth a fortune (especially the oxbloods (not to be confused with the cherry reds)).
so it's normal on the original line for the yellow to be a darker orangy yellow then the yellow on the tag? I thought mine were fake
GREAT VIDEO. I'VE ONLY HAVE ORIGINAL ONES
Where did you get yours with the exposed leather