[Closed] Dr Martens ForLife boots

The leather is tougher than usual DM footwear. They are designed to be more hardwearing. How that translates into comfort, I don't know, as the joy of DM's are that they do change shape to your foot to a greater extent than usual shoes.

Best suggestion is to pop into a DM shop and try them. (Brighton, Covent Garden, ect) You may not like them. Many are not so keen. I've seen people in the shop try them and not be smitten.

To be honest, I have 2 pairs, 1 black, 1 brown of ordinary DM's, and wearing in rotation, I have had over 2 years and they are barely worn on the leather (I do polish them fairly frequently too).

I don't expect to replace them for at least a year or so longer, and for hygiene reasons are happy to get 3 years + out of daily footwear. I just don't see the need to spend twice as much, when my present footwear is costing less than £2 pm. I have bigger issues in my life.

No actual proper experience, but I did email DM about the them recently because I was looking for a pair of casual walking shoes. The reply I got pretty much said they would repair anything for life and that was it.
Which gave me the impression they really were for life.
I've still to make my mind up though, and at the moment have gone for a pair of Clark's which are superb.

Surely the foorbeds can wear out?

Surely the foorbeds can wear out?

Not foot beds or laces.

Erm...that was my point.

Yeah, the foor beds. Are they covered? 😆

Looks like these maybe made in the U.K. as well, considered a pair of DM's a while back but went with Red Wings as the DM's I found in stores didn't feel anywhere close quality wise.

Could be tempted back if they're making some models in the U.K. again and the quality's back, I'd kinda given up on them.

Why would you want the same pair of boots for ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever?
I like to buy quality things but I'm not sure I'd like the same ones for EVER

Certainly not DM's, naff as!

£165 for 8 hole waxy oiled boots with a lifetime warranty.

It almost looks too good to be true

We have very very different ideas of almost too good to be true

IMHO they were always overpriced for what they were

Thanks for those replies. 🙄 But then the is STW so what did I expect.

hatter - Member
Looks like these maybe made in the U.K. as well, considered a pair of DM's a while back but went with Red Wings as the DM's I found in stores didn't feel anywhere close quality wise.

Could be tempted back if they're making some models in the U.K. again and the quality's back, I'd kinda given up on them.

The ForLife boots are made in the Far East like the rest of the DMs. Although there is a range that is "Made in England". They start at around £200. And no life time warranty.

I've done a bit of scouring on t'internet and the reviews are coming up positive. Either fully repaired or in most cases a replacement pair when yours wear out or require a repair.

I would still probably get tired or bored with them after time, but I'm very heavy on shoes so constant replacements for the same price as I'd pay for boots that I would struggle to get 12 months out of. Seems good value. Although others views may differ.

I've got a pair of 'for life' oxblood shoes, very comfortable. I have a pair of normal boots but the for life ones are much sturdier and do feel like a much higher quality product, which you'd expect for £150 I guess.

I don't expect them to last a lifetime though.

Do watch the sizing as they are made about half a size bigger than normal, I'm normly a 9 but got an 8.5 and the fit is spot on.

What as an alternative..?! Serious question; Red Wing, Chippewa..?

At getting on for a couple of hundred notes hand-made boots with an easily replaceable sole seem more and more appealing!

buy British, made to order in Derbyshire...

http://www.williamlennon.co.uk/

Nice one, thetabber! Do like the look of these:

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Like the look of some of those william lennons, nice! Wonder if they do different colours...

Got a pair of Red Wing boots for Christmas...... very very nice. Go for a full size smaller than you usually would though.

Check out Grenson,Diemme and Tricker's.

Check these out. http://www.grenson.co.uk/en_gb/shop/sharp-9462

They might not float yer boat but with a sole that'll wear out gradually without the problems you'll have with Doc soles, it should work out worthwhile and possibly cheaper.

The last pair of DM's I had, the sole wore down and split.Water and air breathing in and out of them was enough to get rid of them. A shame as the uppers were immaculate.

Who wants to look like the new Doctor Who??

Most grensons are made in India not Northampton, trickers are much better quality but not cheap.
There was a DM style boot made in an ex-DM factory but I can't find it on the net, it might be that DM bought the company back when they wanted to manufacture in the u.k.?

Edit they are called solovair/British boot company, might be worth a look.

£200 for a pair of DMs? Blooming heck! I used to work for them back when they were "Made In England" and for that money I could have had enough pairs to last me a lifetime.

I must say I'm still pretty smitten with my Red Wings, got them last winter after getting fed up with skate shoe's lack of traction on icy pavements and they're now my default 'crap weather' footwear.

I get the distinct impression that with the occasional new resoling and good care they'll be here as long as I will, they're also just about smart enough for social occasions, which DM's really aren't.

£200 for a pair of DMs? Blooming heck! I used to work for them back when they were "Made In England" and for that money I could have had enough pairs to last me a lifetime.

So, back when things were cheaper, with staff discount, you could have bought enough boots to last a lifetime for £200.

And now, prices have gone up, and even without staff discount, [b]anyone[/b] can have enough boots to last a lifetime for £160 !

Awesome.

(That was your point I presume 😉 )

they're also just about smart enough for social occasions, which DM's really aren't.

That's what has always put me off DM's

With a pair of decent jeans something like Redwings are smart enough for 99% of my social life.

Swap the Redwings for DM's and I feel like I'm going to work on site.

The thing that floated my boat about the ForLife ones , is that the issues with the sole wearing or splitting is negated by the life time warranty. When they wear out or split DM will repair or replace for a nominal charge.

I do like some of the Redwings and have seen that they can be resolved. Out of interest has anyone had them repaired and what was the rough cost? Also is it specialist repairers? Cobblers???

And yes, guilty as charged with Doctor Who. 😳 But who else went out and bought Converse All Stars after Tennent made them cool again?

I do like some of the Redwings and have seen that they can be resolved. Out of interest has anyone had them repaired and what was the rough cost?

I had mine done (after 8 years) and they cost about £70 including postage for a Vibram Morflex sole, that was from leathersoles.co.uk
Looked brand new when I got them back.

And yes, guilty as charged with Doctor Who. But who else went out and bought Converse All Stars after Tennent made them cool again?

Not sure he actually did.

But no.

😉

Why would anyone want to look like an ageing BNP supporter or old queen? 😆

If you are still looking for a Dr Marten style boot, but didnt want to go the made "elsewhere" then have a look at the Solovair range. Still made in the UK and much cheaper than the made in UK Dr Marten range.