Doc Martens: Not Just for the Punks and Goths

Quick, what kind of person wears Doc Martens?

Your correspondent would be willing to bet that the above question conjured images of punks, goths, grunge kids or some combination thereof — and not for no good reason, as the iconic boots have been adopted and propagated by these subcultures and others consistently since the brand’s official inception in 1960.

But while these associations aren’t incorrect, I believe they also overshadow a few key elements that make “Docs” an excellent fall footwear choice for your average bloke. To wit:

They are crazy comfortable — Nursing a broken foot post-WWII and finding the hard leather of his military-issue boots wildly uncomfortable, German doctor Klaus Märtens improved the design with softer leather and air-cushioned soles made from old tires. Thus was born the famed “AirWair” outsole now known the world over, which anyone with old bones (see: yours truly) will tell you is a helluva lot easier on the body than a full day in leather-soled dress shoes or boots.

They are an excellent bad-weather shoe — Long story short, that very same AirWair also makes for excellent grip on slippery surfaces, and the brand’s beefy, bulletproof construction techniques yield kicks meant to withstand the harshest elemental treatment.

They ain’t just punk boots — While the original styles still make up the lion’s share of their line (and marketing efforts), Dr. Martens has quietly been turning out an impressive selection of alternative designs that are way more conducive to everyday dress — while still lending a little counterculture cred via that eminently recognizable yellow stitching.