Your experience with Docs and Blundstone?

For anybody who’s purchased a pair of Blundstone Chelsea boots or Dr. Martens shoes in recent history, how did they break in and how have they held up?

I ordered a pair of Doc buckle Mary Janes and Blundstone brogue Chelsea boots and am uncertain as to how they’ll fit in the future.

Docs: http://www.drmartens.com/us/p/.....JFEALw_wcB

Blundstone: https://m.zappos.com/p/blundst.....?ref=pd_vh

The Blundstone in 10 are very roomy, less so with an orthotic, but still loose. The 9 would probably be too small, though. The company cautions that the boots will feel loose in the right size at first, but will mold to the foot. Is this case, and does the ankle portion of the boot soften? Can these be worn comfortably in hot and humid weather?

For the Docs, my initial impressions are consistent with the reviews. They’re a fun shoe, but the leather is predictably very stiff—so much so that I thought I was going to cut myself in the back of the heel trying them on. I don’t recall having this issue from my old pair (circa 2007), and am wondering whether filing the edges and using a leather softener would make a significant difference. According to the reviews, Docs require a slow break-in wearing socks, but there are also cases where the shoes never cease to cause blisters. I’d ideally like to be able to wear these without socks or stockings, but this may be wishful thinking.

6 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I've had both. I like my shoes flexible, not stiff. A lot of sneakers are too stiff for me, both the soles and the uppers. My last Docs were classic 1460s in a UK6. I bought them secondhand so they were already fairly broken-in, but the sole was always a bit heavier and more rigid than I prefer, even when the tread was all gone. After those, I had a pair of DM oxfords for a while, but had to get rid of them because the edges cut into my ankle bones (they were patent, and never softened).

I bought my Blundstones about 18 months ago and found them comfortable from day one and they are still going strong. They're an AU6.5. I don't use an orthotic, but I have a thick alpaca liner in them since they're my primary cold-weather footwear. With thin socks, they are roomy, but with boot socks, they are perfect.

I don't imagine I'll ever buy a pair of brand new classic DMs, but I wouldn't rule out another secondhand pair or maybe the new "lite" ones: http://www.drmartens.com/us/c/dms-lite

Amazon

Blundstone Blundstone Women's 1448 Chelsea Boot

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Top Pick

Suz

(website)

I've had both, too.

Unfortunately, the sizing in both is a bit off for me (at least in full sizes, which was all I was able to get in the styles I preferred, at least in Canada.)

FWIW: I've had several Docs, but my best loved ones were a pair of monk strap shoes in the 90s, similar to the Mary Janes in weight/ heft. They were a bit heavy and stiff for my preferences, but they did break in eventually and were a useful shoe. I never would have (or could have) worn them without socks, though.

If you want those Mary Janes, could you wear with a Smartwool sockette? I wear my sneakers with those now -- I can't go without socks in a shoe that is not a sandal.

Blundstones -- I've worn these pretty consistently for two decades. I've experimented with two sizes, one of which is a bit big for me and one a bit snug. My most recent pair was also the brogue style but a different version than what you are looking at. Contrary to what the website might say, the snugger size turned out better for me; the leather did stretch and break in. I never wore without socks. I wouldn't wear in hot or humid weather -- I can't imagine wearing boots of any kind in hot weather unless I were on a ranch or mucking out stables. I do see people occasionally wear them in the summer around here...but not very often. Then again, most people around here are eager to get their feet out of boots for a change!

My issue is that they exacerbate my plantar fasciitis even with an insert -- I'm not entirely sure why, but I think it best for me to avoid them for now.

Nordstrom

SmartWool No-Show Socks (2-Pack)

$25.95

Zappos

Smartwool Hide and Seek II 3-Pair Pack

$38.85

Blundstone BL1301

$184.95

Cee

I remember roaming gangs of punk cowlnecks in the late '70s and '80s favouring the steelcap Docs.

Charley

Active Member

I have had a couple different pairs of Blundstones - I find that the different leather finishes break in differently. I had a pair of the narrower “ladies” style in a burgundy leather that I couldn’t break in - I eventually sold them. I loved the way they look but no matter what I did, I couldn’t get them to soften. I’ve talkes to a few other people about the burgundy ones and apparently it’s the finish that is hardest to break in.

I’ve had the classic style in the stout brown and the rustic brown - they both broke in very quickly. I did find that they molded to my feet and that they got a lot softer in the ankle.

I found that if you have the time, it’s a good idea to slather the boots in whatever leather protector / softener you prefer, put on a pair of super thick socks, put the boots on and then blast them with a warm hair drier for a while. This definitely helped the boots form a bit more quickly.

I wear the dark brown pair as my work boots (I’ve got the leather-lined steel toed version) and I wear them 8-12 hours per day, 5 days per week in all weather - about a 50/50 mix of being on my feet and sitting. They are decent in hot weather (we had weeks of high 20’s / low 30’s last summer), as long as you wear proper socks (wool or wool blends). Lots of people in the area wear them year round (I live in a VERY outdoorsy area - are they are the “official” footwear in town).

Helena

I haven't had a pair in many years, but my sister and I both used to wear Docs and they lasted forever and were super-comfy once they were broken in a little ... I'm assuming they've kept the quality intact over the years, but of course that is often not the same ... good luck with your research and purchasing!

annagybe

If you get Docs, make sure you get the UK made ones. The Chinese made ones are inferior from all accounts I’ve heard

Angie

Fashion Stylist

You can break in Docs with their leather kit, and then they become VERY comfy.

MUST get the ones made in the UK.

Diana

My docs have never fully broken in, even after a couple of years. I think my problem is that they’re too big for me (no half sizes, and they’re just generally too wide/high volume) so they don’t really ever get stretched/molded because my feet don’t take up enough room in them. That said, I used their wonder balsam when I first got them, and it softened the leather enough that I never got blisters.

I also find them rather heavy, such that by the end of the day my legs get tired from the weight.

Greyscale

I've had many pairs of Docs. My first pair, in the 90s, was a heavy steel-toed boot that had greasy rather than stiff leather. So they broke in easily. They were essentially my only shoes all through college. My second pair were classic knee-high 20 hole boots that never broke in at all and I eventually sold them. Alas. But I also have a red pair, old Made in England before they moved operations overseas, that broke in easily despite the stiff leather. I'm a 6.5 / 37 and I'm always between sizes for Docs so I usually size up (UK 5) for the boots and wear wool socks, and size down (UK 4) for sandals and oxfords.

These days they make Docs in a zillion variations. The new DM Lites are incredibly light and soft (but a little narrow on me). Not all of them will last as long as the originals, but the comfort is definitely an advantage.

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