Doc Martens’s boots are iconic. I’ve had a number of pairs over the years especially when I was younger and now my young niece and goddaughter are wearing the same designs years later. They certainly make a fashion statement but are Doc Martens good for walking all day?
Whilst the Dr Martens brand has certainly stood the test of time when it comes to style are they really a comfy shoe when you think about walking long distances?
Here are some facts you need to know before thinking about wearing them as walking or hiking footwear.
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Are Doc Martens Comfortable For Walking?
Are Dr Martens what you might call a comfortable shoe? Well, I have to say that I found them difficult to get on with even when my feet were in better shape in my teens and twenties.
The shoes are relatively rigid and have little cushioning inside, they aren’t really a shoe designed for people who need a softer insole. Socks made them easier to wear but I have to say they really didn’t work well for my feet and I never found them truly comfortable.
My niece however loves hers and has a pair of Doc Marten boots and shoes that I bought her which she wears all the time. Her boots are used for recreational use and the shoes are her school footwear as you can see from the picture.
Now whilst I say she loves them she did find that her shoes took some time to break in and gave her painful blisters during the process. Once she had them broken in however she won’t take them off her feet.
She can certainly wear them all day at school for walking around in without a problem and her boots have been used for long-distance walks at the weekends.
This suggests that properly breaking in your Doc Martens is key and this takes a little patience. I would however say that if you have problem feet then you might not find that a pair of Doc Martens is going to suit you even for everyday wear.
Breaking In Doc Marten Shoes
If you have a brand new pair of Doc Martens breaking them in properly is essential. I didn’t know this when I was younger which is probably why I had a problem with mine. If you are able to break them in and get them to mold to your feet then you should find them much easier to wear for long periods of time.
Here are some things you need to do if you want to break in your Doc Martens.
Get the Right Size
Make sure you buy the right size of Doc Martens when you are shopping. Doc Martens do not offer half-size options so they recommend sizing down if you are between sizes. I would always suggest you don’t listen to the advice and spent time trying on different pairs and styles to get the bet fit.
Remember to go shopping in the afternoon after your feet have already swollen slightly so that you get a better idea of fit.
Use Leather Conditioner
Leather conditioner is a great product that you can use to help soften your shoes as well as nourish them. Softening the stiff leather will obviously make the leather more flexible and therefore easier to wear on your feet. Saddle soap also works well if you want to soften the leather.
Doc Martens have their own product they recommend called Wonder Balsam which you can use to help.
Wear Socks
I found that wearing thick socks with my Doc Martens helped to increase the comfort of my boots and my niece used the same tactic.
Dr Martens actually have their own line of thick socks that they recommend to use with their boots.
Tight Laces
Doc Martens also suggest that if you want to help the break-in process you should lace your boots and shoes tightly. They think that this helps the shoes to mold to your feet more easily.
If you do use this method make sure you don’t lace them so tightly that you get blisters or shoe bites.
Build Up Wear
Another silly mistake I made when I bought my Docs was assuming I could just put them on and my feet would be fine in them.
The fact is that you should really build up the time you are wearing them for over a period of two to three weeks. Start by wearing them for an hour at a time and then slowly increase this as you get more used to the footwear.
Doing this will save you from the discomfort and foot pain that I experienced.
Shoe Stretcher
If you need to use a shoe or boot stretcher to stretch your shoes if they feel too tight.
Using a shoe stretcher doesn’t just give you a little more room in your shoes it also helps to stop pinch points that are causing problems.
Shoe Stretching Liquid
A shoe-stretching spray can do the same. Spray it on the problem zones inside your shoe and start walking around in them whilst wearing socks. The liquid does a good job of stretching the boots to create a better fit.
Hairdryer
Finally holding a hairdryer over a problem of your Doc Martens can also help. Make sure you don’t keep the hairdryer static but move it around so you aren’t blasting heat at your shoes. This can also help to soften up leather shoes so they are more flexible.
Can You Walk Long Distances in Doc Martens?
Once you have your Dr Martens broken in you should find that they are great boots and shoes for walking in.
My niece and goddaughter wear them for hours and they make great footwear for everyday wear provided you don’t have problem feet that need extra protection and comfort.
My niece has certainly climbed Mount Lofty Adelaide’s highest peak in hers (in good weather) and not reported a problem but just because she has does that mean you should follow her lead?
Well, the fact is no you shouldn’t. Doc Martens might be ok on sidewalks and normal terrain but they aren’t hiking boots. If you feel comfortable in your Docs then you might wear them for walking long distances around the neighborhood but in reality there are plenty of other better shoes for the job.
I would certainly never advise anyone to think that they were long-distance walking shoes and that they aren’t really suitable for hiking or uneven rocky terrain.
Can You Hike In Doc Martens?
Many people buy their shoes and think that they should be able to multi-task in them. Whilst we can use certain pairs of shoes or boots for different activities there are some things that need specialist footwear and one of those is most definitely hiking,
Good hiking boots or shoes have been carefully designed to protect and cushion your feet when walking in rugged terrain. They will be waterproof, cushioned, supportive and breathable so that your feet can hike in comfort.
Ordinary everyday shoes or sneakers may have one or two of the features that can be helpful if you are on a hike but they are unlikely to have the same are hiking boots that have been created to deal with more challenging conditions.
Sure if you are lucky you might get away with wearing your Docs on a long hike but equally you may slip and fall in them. You could get soaking wet feet, twist your ankle in them or end up with a load of blisters.
So are Doc Martens good for walking all day on a hike? I would say the answer is a resounding no. Here are some of the reasons why Doc Martens shouldn’t be used as hiking boots or shoes.
Doc Martens Weight
Doc Martens boots are not exactly what you would call lightweight shoes. Their chunky soles and heavy leather weigh anywhere between 1 Ib 3 0z to 1 Ib 9 oz per boot.
Lightweight hiking boots usually weigh less and that is important when you are planning to walk long distances all day. The heavier your shoes the more energy you are going to use walking and the harder the hike will be.
Breathability
Whilst leather is breathable to some extent Doc Martens boots and shoes haven’t been designed with the best materials for stopping sweaty feet. That means if you are hiking all day in your Docs you are going to probably end up with wet and stinky feet.
When there is a lack of breathability in a shoe it can also cause your foot to move around more inside your shoe and that can cause blisters on the back of your heel.
Good hiking shoes and boots are made from the latest breathable materials to minimize problems with sweat.
Traction
Doc Martens’s air-cushioned soles look as if they are suitable for walking anywhere but that isn’t the case. The thick chunky soles might be good for general use but they are not great for walking miles in rocky terrain.
Hiking shoes and boots tend to have superior traction allowing you to walk over uneven surfaces that are wet and covered in moss and other vegetation. They are designed to keep you upright on hiking trails. Doc Martens just don’t have the same levels of traction leaving you vulnerable to slipping or falling if you use them on a hike.
Waterproofing
Are Doc Martens good for walking all day in the rain? Well, the answer is probably not especially if you are doing hikes in very wet weather and planning to walk through streams or large puddles.
Doc Martens’s boots and shoes are generally water resistant. This means that when you wear them in normal rainy conditions on sidewalks you shouldn’t have too much of a problem. I’m in the UK and it rains a lot here and I never had a problem with wet feet in my Docs.
The boots aren’t however waterproof and that is what you need when you are hiking all day in wet weather. If you don’t have waterproof boots you are going to find that the water seeps into the inside of your shoes making your feet soggy and uncomfortable.
Good waterproof hiking boots are made to resist bad weather and should function well even when the weather is wet and miserable.
Cushioning
One of my biggest problems with my Docs was their lack of cushioning. Yes, I know they have an air-cushioned sole but that wasn’t enough for me.
I found that the insoles of my Docs just weren’t cushioned or comfortable enough for my feet. However, Dr Martens Softwair Insoles have been created since then so you might want to give them a go to see if they make a difference. The reviews are certainly positive with people calling them a game-changer for comfort.
Hiking footwear however will generally have better cushioning and support and believe me your feet will thank you for it if you are going to be on your feet all day.
Shock Absorption and Flexibility
Good hiking boots tend to offer shock absorption and flexibility which is essential when you are walking on hiking trails.
Shock absorption helps to protect your feet and muscles from injury when you are walking on hard uneven surfaces. Whilst a flexible sole gives you the ability to grip more easily.
Doc Martens are not designed for hiking trails so their shoes and boots haven’t got these design features. I would certainly say from my own experience that their thick soles lack flexibility and that can be problematic when you are walking somewhere other than sidewalks and even ground.
Ankle Support
The one thing that Doc Marten Boots definitely do have is ankle support with their lace-up boots which can help when you are walking.
The support isn’t however the same as that of a hiking boot which usually has cushioning as well. Whilst some support is better than none a hiking shoe or boot will usually have something that is better designed for hikes.
Are Doc Martens Comfortable For Work?
What happens if you want to wear your Doc Martens at work all day, especially in a job where you are going to be on your feet a lot?
Well that does depend on your actual work environment, the amount of time you are going to be standing or walking, and the safety factors at play.
Docs can work well if you find them comfortable for standing and walking for a reasonable period of time. However remember that many people such as myself find them too harsh on their feet for true comfort.
I would never recommend them for long hours of walking because that is not really what they are designed for. They might be ok for factory workers to use on a factory floor but not if they are on their feet all day.
Also if the environment you are working in needs extra protection for your toes or to guard against slipping hazards then you need different boots. Steel toe boots for example can help protect your feet from falling objects whilst boots such as Timberland PRO 6IN Direct Attach Work Boots can help with slipping hazards.
Don’t forget that you may need insulated boots as well if you are working in cold conditions or footwear that can cope with electrical hazards at work.
Doc Martens can be fine in some environments but are not generally suitable if you need more specialist safety footwear.
What Are Doc Martens Good For?
So are Doc Martens good for walking all day? Well, I would say no not even if you have broken them in.
Don’t expect one pair of boots or shoes to fulfill every function because they simply won’t. Doc Martens are classic fashionable boots for everyday wear but there are not walking shoes.
By all means, wear them when it is raining and your feet should stay dry unless it is torrential out there.
Doc Martens shoes suit all ages and they are timeless footwear. Use them for general use and you shouldn’t go far wrong. Just don’t expect them to work for snow, hiking, or running. They also won’t work well in certain workplaces with specific safety standards. This is no different from most other shoes. They are a good brand of footwear but they can’t do everything.
More Information About Dr Martens Shoes and Boots
What To Do If Doc Martens Hurt Top Of Foot
Are Dr Martens Good For Winter?
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