This hurts more than a new pair of docs

October 3, 2018 4:18 PM

Cherry 8-eye Docs have been my go to shoe for many years, but they don't make them with a removable insole any more which is a dealbreaker. I need new shoes for all the things for my annoying feet. Far too much information below.

I have terrible feet for shoe fitting - they are tall and wide and I have hypermobility and wear custom orthotics. I also love boots, but not black ones. Cherry Docs are perfect, but my current pair has literally walked around the world and are dead, and the lack of removable insole in the new ones just doesn't cut it, and I am full of heartbreak and rage. I'm the sort of person that replaces the worn out thing with exactly the same thing and I love the way docs look. (I've confirmed with Dr Martens that it's not just a one off, but a permanent change. They have recommended that I buy a new pair and take it to a shoe repairer to have the stitched-in insole removed, but that's a $300 experiment I'd rather avoid).

Hivemind: what are your favourite non-docs boots? Ideal criteria - boot, lace up (preferred, not essential), not black, wide (not pointy toed), supportive, not a sports or hiking shoe, not designed for my grandmother (as much as I love her), looks good. Timberland "workboot" style is not my thing. I wear a EU39/US8L/UK6 so I'm too small for many men's shoes, so usually a unisex shoe is needed. If there's something out there that looks like Cherry Docs, but aren't Cherry Docs I'd love to hear about them.

Preferably I'll be able to try them on in Australia, but I am passing through San Fran and New York in a few weeks so visiting Brick and Mortar stores there is possible.

posted by cholly to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Best answer: Fleuvog Derby Swirl is 6-eye, but the colours in stock right now aren't the best.

Red Wing Iron Ranger is more subdued than cherry Docs and spendy but very well-made.
posted by holgate at 4:39 PM on October 3, 2018

Best answer: Blundstone lace ups in Redwood have a removable insole. The look is VERY similar to cherry docs.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 4:45 PM on October 3, 2018 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: fluttering hellfire - those Blundstones are great! Though, I was really confused as to why I haven't seen them in my searching...but then I realised that they don't sell them for the Australian market (which.makes.no.sense).
posted by cholly at 5:04 PM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]

I think Blundstones have a much narrower toebox, and pointier/tapered toe, than Docs. If you're considering ordering them from afar, I'd make sure they seem like they'll actually fit your foot as well as Docs do..
posted by tapir-whorf at 5:13 PM on October 3, 2018

You might try looking around on, or contacting, British Boot Company - it might be that Solovair/Grinders/Tredair make a Doc-alike that still has a removable insole.
posted by sagc at 5:25 PM on October 3, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I have owned both and Blundstones are wider than Docs if you get the wide size, which are the half sizes. Much wider.

However a better option imho thks either Blunnies or Docs are Duckfeet boots. The shape is amazingly foot like, very comfortable and well made.
posted by fshgrl at 7:31 PM on October 3, 2018

Best answer: Oh, yeah, Solovair. DM lasts. Made in Northampton. Legit.
posted by holgate at 8:33 PM on October 3, 2018

Best answer: Solovair is what I switched to when DM discontinued their 20 eyelet boots. I like them better, actually. They look almost exactly the same but are more comfortable and seem to be lasting longer. I don't know if they'd fit you but they do have a few different red 8 eyelet boots.
posted by Polychrome at 6:25 AM on October 4, 2018

Best answer: Add me to the chorus coming here to mention Solovair.
posted by uberchet at 6:29 AM on October 4, 2018

Airseal Boulder Boot Cherry Red looks like it might work for you. It does say that the footbed is not removable, though. :(
posted by jillithd at 7:41 AM on October 4, 2018