The legendary, German-born brand, Dr. Martens has become a staple footwear choice for the alternative and fashion-led individual. Welcomed to the UK in 1960 with the 1460 Boot, this eight-eyelet leather design still remains in production today. At the height of their popularity in the 90s, Dr. Martens opened a six-story department store in London where they began delivering their boots, shoes and accessories to a wider audience.
Although iconic and stylish, Doc Martens have also consistently incorporated practicality into their designs to ensure that those who choose a pair of Docs have the best quality and most reliable footwear.
Carry on reading to discover our handy guide on Dr. Martens and find the answers to all of the most asked questions on this iconic brand.
How to break in Dr. Martens
Breaking in Docs is notoriously difficult – but believe us, it’s well worth the time and effort. In terms of just how long it will take, this can vary by person and model. However, if you get it right and use our tips below, then it should only take a day or two. Get it wrong and you could be breaking your Docs in for a couple of months, so read on for our top tips on stretching and softening them safely and quickly.
- Wear them around the house or for short walks outdoors. This will help to gently soften them and start moulding them to the shape your feet. More top tips for breaking new shoes in can be found here.
- Doubling up on socks is a great tactic. The extra layers will cushion your feet whilst softly stretching the Docs to provide more give when wearing. The more socks, the easier it will be to stretch the shoe – so, pick up a few extra thick pairs from our great selection.
- Applying balm to the outer section of your Docs is a great way to soften the leather. Do this regularly for the first few weeks to remove that new boot stiffness and create a much comfier fit.
- Massaging your Docs is an easy way to help soften the leather. Work the shoe or boot into your hands to mimic the effect of wearing them to soften and shape the leather.
- Insoles or heel pads are a great investment when stretching and softening your Doc Martens. These accessories will add comfort and protection to your feet, whilst relieving pressure from certain pain points or areas of discomfort.
- Filling the inside of your shoe when you’re not wearing them will keep softly stretching the material whilst your feet are having a break. You can do this by putting newspaper in, but something more solid like a can will also work well.
- Use plasters to protect your feet at discomfort points. The last thing you want is a blister of broken skin, so protecting your feet throughout the breaking in process is key.
Dr. Martens sizing
If you’re wondering what size Docs you should get, or indeed if they are true to size, we’re here to help! Shoe sizing can be hard to get right, so it’s important to check the charts below to make sure you choose the right pair for you.
Take a look at our handy size guides below.
Dr. Martens size guide for men
| UK | EUR | USA | JP | INCHES |
| 3 | 36 | 4 | 22 | 9.35” |
| 4 | 37 | 5 | 23 | 9.68” |
| 5 | 38 | 6 | 23.5 | 10.02” |
| 6 | 39 | 7 | 24.5 | 10.35” |
| 7 | 41 | 8 | 25.5 | 10.68” |
| 8 | 42 | 9 | 26 | 11.02” |
| 9 | 43 | 10 | 27 | 11.34” |
| 10 | 45 | 11 | 28 | 11.69” |
| 11 | 46 | 12 | 29 | 12.03” |
| 12 | 47 | 13 | 29.5 | 12.36” |
| 13 | 48 | 14 | 12.70” | |
| 14 | 49.5 | 15 | 13.03” | |
| 15 | 51 | 16 | 13.36” |
Dr. Martens size guide for women
| UK | EUR | USA | JP | INCHES |
| 3 | 36 | 5 | 22 | 9.21” |
| 4 | 37 | 6 | 23 | 9.54” |
| 5 | 38 | 7 | 23.5 | 9.88” |
| 6 | 39 | 8 | 24.5 | 10.21” |
| 7 | 41 | 9 | 25.5 | 10.55” |
| 8 | 42 | 10 | 26 | 10.88” |
| 9 | 43 | 11 | 27 | 11.22” |
How to style Dr. Martens
As a statement shoe, a pair of Doc Martens are the perfect choice when it comes to styling an outfit. Whether you’re opting for a smart or casual fit, it can be helpful to know how to wear doc martens.
For an up-scale look, Dr. Martens can make the perfect companion for when you’re needing to smarten up for work or craving a slick look. Simply pair your boots with some tights and a mini dress, or pop some shoes on with some smart pants and a loose shirt. If you favour a laid-back appearance, think denim and match your 1460s with a pair of mom jeans and an oversized coat, or slip on some 1461s along with skinny jeans and a denim jacket.
How to lace Dr. Martens
The way you choose to lace your Dr. Martens isn’t just about keeping your boots on your feet, it’s also a way to inject more of your personality into your outfit. Whether you’ve picked up some rainbow laces, or you’ve kept with classic black, there are many ways to lace up your Docs.
For the safest method, a tight fastening is the best way to go. Dr. Martens are notoriously hefty – so you want to avoid a loose lacing. A classic criss cross lace is best for achieving a snug fit to save your feet from moving and rubbing. Begin by threading each end of the lace into each of the bottom two eyelets from the outside, pulling both through, making sure each lace is of equal length. Then cross the laces over and thread into the eyelets from the outside, following this step and crossing over whilst moving up the eyelets. Finish off by tying a bow at the top.
How to clean Dr. Martens
Cleaning leather Dr. Martens is a simple and painless process, as long as you have the right equipment in your shoe care kit. You’ll need: cloths, water, a shoe brush and leather polish or cream.
Step 1: Your Docs will have probably gathered dirt overtime, so firstly give them a gentle wipe down. Take a damp cloth to remove any excess dirt, if needed rinse the cloth and repeat. If your shoelaces are too difficult to clean whilst on, take them off and clean separately. Once you’ve removed the dirt from your shoes, dry off with a different cloth.
Step 2: Once dried, grab a polish or cream and apply some to the shoe. You can find a selection here.
Step 3: Use your brush to spread and buff in the polish or cream, making sure you move the product around the shoe. Leave to dry once polished. To read a more in-depth guide to polishing, head over to our step-by-step guide.
Step 4: If you chose to remove your laces, you can now re-lace.
Top tip: For how to clean fabric Docs or shoelaces, take a look at our cleaning guide.
Where to buy Dr. Martens
Dr. Martens are available to buy in over 60 countries, and most importantly, here at Wynsors! Browse our excellent selection of Dr. Martens, here.
Frequently asked questions about Dr. Martens:
Dr. Martens are designed in Camden, London, and are commonly manufactured in UK, China, Vietnam, Loas and Thailand.
Although Docs are notoriously durable and can withstand rough weather, they’ve started offering some of their classic models in waterproof versions. Labelled with a metallic ‘waterproof’ badge, it’s easy to identify a waterproof pair of Docs, so keep an eye out if that’s something you’re looking for from your next pair.
The original Dr. Martens are made from leather or vegan leather, meaning they cannot be waterproof unless covered with wax or a waterproofing spray.
Depending on your personal comfort levels, Dr. Martens usually become comfortable overtime. As their design is focused around being a solid and hard-wearing shoe, you may want to pick up a pair of insoles to take you through the day, or double up on socks!
Dr. Martens generally run true to size, however the 1460 is known to run larger, so it is worth sizing down in this style. It is always a great suggestion to visit a store to try on different sizes to find the right fit for you.
Just like all pairs of leather shoes, Dr. Martens do stretch overtime. To begin with, you may find the shoes to be a little more snug, so make sure to follow our top tips on how to break shoes in.
For most boots and shoes, Dr. Martens offers whole sizes; however for some styles like the 1460 boot or the 1461 shoe, half sizes may be available. For those who sit in the half size category, we know understand it can sometimes be a struggle to find their perfect fit, so we recommend sizing up and adding a good insole for a comfortable wear.
Docs usually last a minimum of 5 years but can last up to 20 years thanks to their quality construction and excellent durability. The amount of time your Docs last for is dependent on the level of care and love you show then along with how often you wear them and what you wear them for.
That completes our guide on the iconic Dr. Martens. For more brand guides, style advice and general footwear inspiration, head over to our blog, or for the best selection of stylish shoes at affordable prices, browse our range for men, women and kids at Wynsors.
