Ok, but please hear me out.
I (M34) am looking for a new pair of shoes / boots that look like Dr. Martens but aren't by them. I've been browsing the web and found the brand Solovair, which I like esthetically. So here's my issue: it seems they're only sold online and not in a store but, I would love to try them on before paying something over €200. Does anyone have a tip where they're sold in a store? Thanks in advance!

by FlowerPowerPirate

15 comments

  1. Have been looking for a year and didn’t find them 🙁 also debating on just biting the bullet and trying the hassle with possible return. Do check their sizes, they have a cm indication. Turned out their size isn’t my typical one.

  2. Solovair actually made the first Docs. When Dr. Martens went cheap, Solovair stayed true to the craft. I don’t think you can find Solovair in store, online online unfortunately

  3. The Solovair site says they’re stocked in:

    PriveJoke
    Rue du Marché au Charbon Kolenmarkt 76-78
    Brussels, 1000
    Belgium
    Solovair

    They’re made in the factory that used to make dr. Martins before they started making them in Asia. So they’re pretty much the OG dr martins

  4. The big reason they are difficult to find, is that they still produce them in the old handmade semi industrial way. They used to produce for doc martin, but when they separated they didn’t want to trade quality for quantity.

    They only make so many a year. But if you have had Doc Martins, they are the same but with only premium materials and techniques.

  5. It doesn’t really help you; but the shop Garageland in Helsinki will ship for free to Belgium if you buy them there. They have such a huge stock that he can buy at such low prices that shipping doesn’t matter anymore. Also great if you are looking for dickies pants, never seen a shop with more stock.

  6. If you know your doc martens size, you know your solovair size. And if they don’t fit you can send them back and get the right size.

  7. Try in Barcelona! Dr Martens is very present and the prices… Is possible to take a new pair of shoes, pay the plane and enjoy the city with the same money that you spend in BXL for shoes!

  8. I ordered mine directly from their site. The size chart was accurate for me. I have the classic greasy black. I wear them every winter and still going strong after 5 years.

  9. Check rose anvil on youtube, he compares Dr martens vs solovair by wearing them and cutting them in half.

  10. Just bought a pair of these in Belgium 3 weeks ago from their website, used their sizing guide which was correct for the sole but I needed a size larger for the height. The retour was very quick and effortless, and got my fitting pair I’m very happy with in a few business days.

  11. >In order to provide a smooth shopping and delivery experience to our customers, any tariff or duty fees imposed by customs will be paid by NPS Solovair and are included in the sales price of the footwear advertised on our website, so there will be no hidden costs or significant delivery delays to your orders.

    You can just order from them directly, order your usual boot size, return them if you need to size up or down. Otherwise you can find them on the About You store that also offers free returns. Otherwise PriveJoke in Brussels should(?) stock them.

  13. Not Belgium, but I popped across the border to Roermond for my Solovairs. “Our Favourite Shop” in Roermond stocks them.

  14. I ordered mine straight from the Solovair site, haven’t regretted it a bit!

  15. I own the 12/14 eyed ones.

    Don’t get the shiny leather ones as they’re absolute dog water (the plastic outer layer cuts through the leather beneath).

    Quality wise they’re a bit better than dr martens, but not a whole lot. Def not worth 200+

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