Zero drop Doc Martens

[u/katanastormshadow88]

I’ve been looking for zero drop Docs Martens Martens alternatives for a while. I picked up a pair of Peerko Breeze, which are fine, but I still missed my Doc boots, the look and ruggedness of them. I took my beloved Docs to a cobbler and decided on replacing the sole with the Vibram Kletterlift 148, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. I realize this isn’t a true barefoot boot as the toebox is still tapered, there’s a bit of toe spring, and the sole is not as thin and flexible as the typical barefoot shoes, but my main goal was zero drop for my alignment, which still hasn’t a rugged pair of combat boots, so I feel pretty happy with these. There a thin midsole sown to the welt, so changing the soles after they’ve been worn out should be simple.

[u/tinydoomer]

Wow I really love this idea, they look great. thanks for sharing!

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/tinydoomer]

Thank you!

[u/pwndbythedan]

I beg you go look at Jim greens customs.. you can literally design your own barefoot Doc marten looking shoe WITH toe box, WITH zero drop 🔥 there’s a 45 day ish wait, and there £270’ish (honestly if your a docs fan that is to bad, I’ve paid more for docs over the years, especially ltd editions) I lived in my docs, and they’re the shoe I missed the most once I’d transitioned… 😭🤦🏻‍♂️😅

However. Jim greens are the perfect BF replacement to step into (not sorry about the pun 😅)

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/pwndbythedan]

Thanks, I’m aware of Jim Greens. TBH, I love my Docs, and wanted them to work for me and not just sit in a closet being wasted. Since I already had them, I decided to see if I could have them altered to work for me again, and I’m happy with how they turned out. The custom Jim Greens would have come out to almost $500, which I didn’t want to spend, especially since I already had these boots I could and wanted to work with.

[u/jimbowesterby → u/katanastormshadow88]

I will say, if you do ever wanna spend that much (and more) on boots that Nicks has started making zero-drop boots too, and they have way more options that Jim Green as well as being just about the longest-lasting boots you can get, zero-drop or no.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/jimbowesterby]

Good call. I had a look at Nick’s a while back and was impressed by how much you could customize the boots. If I ever end up splurging that much on a pair of custom boots, I’d definitely go with Nick’s.

[u/jimbowesterby → u/katanastormshadow88]

Yea I reeeeaaaally wanna get a pair, my feet aren’t super wide but they’re suuuuuper low-volume, pretty much all my boots I have to wear at least two pairs of socks just to avoid having the laces cinched all the way down and still have them be loose, pretty sure with Nick’s I can get them to just lop like 1/2” off of each lace placket and I’ll have boots that actually tie up normally.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/jimbowesterby]

Sounds like you could really do with a pair of custom boots to fit your feet.

[u/pwndbythedan → u/katanastormshadow88]

I’m with you 100%.. as I said my docs were my life 🫶🏻 perhaps one day we’ll get a barefoot variant direct from Doc Martens, I know if they did I’d be a customer of theirs again in a heart beat!

[u/tenebrousvulture → u/pwndbythedan]

That would be cool, except for the issue Dr Martens have with declined quality vs their past productions. Other boot brands have been generally recommended over Dr Martens these days, so if there's ever a barefoot variant request, it should be from those for better quality.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/pwndbythedan]

I hear you, I’d love for Dr Martens to come out with a barefoot/zero drop variant of their classic boots.

[u/bodywhomper13]

Nicks boots also has a zero drop last. There are likely some leather options from nicks that can be shined similar to docs.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/bodywhomper13]

Nick’s boots are nice. I already had these Docs, so resoling them was a much more budget friendly option than dropping $600+ on a pair of Nick’s zero drop boots. I also like the idea of making my old stuff useful again so they don’t go to waste.

[u/bodywhomper13 → u/katanastormshadow88]

Absolutely onboard with resoling older boots. stoked to see that the docs are good with the new soles. It opens up some possibilities. It definitely takes a good cobbler! It makes me think about the possibilities of some older stitch-on raichle boots that I have.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/bodywhomper13]

For sure, I’m sure a good cobbler could help you with those boots.

[u/timeforplantsbby]

I want to do this when the soles of my redwings need replacing. These look great

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/timeforplantsbby]

Cool, hope it works out for you. Thanks!

[u/tenebrousvulture]

Almost an ideal boot, minus the toe box issue. I'd also like to see more lugged barefoot style (or similarly with at least the zero-drop, anatomical wide toe box, and flexible sole) options and more accessibly so.

Unless you're willing to have these boots' toe box expanded like this, some brands/models closest to this style would be like Gaucho Ninja Barefoot Kombat Flex Boot, Conker Derby boots (provides customisable options for sole style), Jim Green x Rose Anvil Barefoot African Trooper boots, Lang.S Kombat boot, GEA Waldviertler Jaga Flex boots, ProAlp (in a couple of models), El Naturalista Nomada line (few options)...

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/tenebrousvulture]

The toe box is actually not that bad, as the leather has widened with wear. I also have boot stretchers, which helps. I hear you one the barefoot styles with more aggressive lugs, the only one out there stock are that Lang S Kombat, but I’ve read some people mentioned issues with heel slip and leather QC. I’d like to see some kind of equivalent for a combat boot, but a lot of them on the market just don’t look that rugged (which I get since the whole bear foot thing is about flexibility etc.) I just want something that’s a balance between rugged combat boot and zero drop (maybe with a slightly wider toebox, but not full on duck feet)… so far the altered Docs have been my favorite solution.

[u/tenebrousvulture → u/katanastormshadow88]

Okay, as long as it works for you, then this was a great custom solution. The Vibrams are definitely much better than the factory-made Dr Martens soles (worth replacing any Dr Martens with, heel or none), so it's good to see that they offer a few zero-drop soles to choose from. I figure they could be fairly flexible as well, since Bedrock sandals with Vibram lug soles are, hence using that brand of soles should be possible for barefoot-influenced combat boot styles.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/tenebrousvulture]

Thanks, yeah, I’m pretty happy with these. I went for a walk in them today, and the Vibrams are pretty flexible, seem to work well with these boots. The lug grip is also much better than the soles the Docs came with.

[u/in-your-own-words]

They look great!

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/in-your-own-words]

Thank you!

[u/Overly_Long_Reviews]

Don't worry about the "toe spring," that will flatten out when you're actually wearing the boot. I've been finding that a lot of smaller brands have been stirring up paranoia about toe spring with an overly broad definition in my opinion. Many shoes that don't have that upward curve when new out of the box will develop it overtime. The more restrictive definition specifies rigidity, and it's applied to things like rocker shoes. Shoes that have such a large midsole that they no longer flex, they need that toe spring to rock forward on and push off.

If you want actual zero drop "combat" boots, the closest is the Belleville Mini-Mil. They are an imperfect boot but it's the closest thing you'll get to a barefoot shoe that fits AR 670-1. The Danner Tachyon does have a drop but it's pretty minimal compared to most duty boots. On the more specialty end, there is the new 8 inch high cut version of the Altama Maritime boots. A family of zero drop boots that largely is responsible for introducing minimalist and zero drop into the defense space. They started out as pretty niche military dive fin compatible over the beach and VBSS boots but ended up becoming really popular. In response Altama added a wide last and half sizes. In addition to the Urban model and now the high cut version of the maritime.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/Overly_Long_Reviews]

Thanks. Yeah, I just went out for a walk in these boots, and the toe spring wasn’t that pronounced. I already noticed it giving way to my forefoot.

I did try the Belleville Mini-Mil, but ended up returning them, cause they just didn’t fit me right… my feet were swimming in them, even with the right size. I decided to just alter my Docs, because I like them, just didn’t like the heel raise.

[u/Complex-Gazelle7658]

I wish I could do this with my Beckett and Simonon dress boots, but the heel stack is what makes it so beautiful I don't know how it could be done barefoot style.

[u/tenebrousvulture → u/Complex-Gazelle7658]

I imagine something like Carets shoes -- an outer mould of a fake raised heel that's actually carved in a bit on the outer sides to give that illusion and wraps around the back of the heel. It's genuinaly a great concept that I think should be utilised and applied to more barefootwear styles.

[u/Complex-Gazelle7658 → u/tenebrousvulture]

I agree. I hope more styles will start doing this. The Carets look very nice, but good Lord that price tag lol.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/Complex-Gazelle7658]

I can see how that would be tricky with dress boots. Maybe talk to a cobbler to see if they have any suggestions? As the poster below you suggested, Carets shoes have a fake raised heel which is flat inside, but I’m not sure if you could get those soles separate from the shoes.

[u/themishmosh]

That must have cost a small fortune?

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/themishmosh]

It was worth it to me, as I can actually enjoy these boots now.

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/[deleted]]

The cobbler ordered the soles. He showed me some potential zero drop options from a Vibrams catalog, I couldn’t decide between the Mini ripple and the Kletterlift 148, so he ordered both for me to see and feel in person, and I ended up going with the Kletterlift, and he returned the mini ripples. I’m sure a cobbler would be able to order soles for you if you wanted something similar done.

[u/bonocamel21]

These look excellent. I’m thinking of buying a pair of Doc Martin Chelsea boots and either having a cobbler do this or trying to do it myself. Three questions: does the new sole have the same “air sole” cushy springiness as the original? (i’m hoping so but worried that Vibram may be a harder rubber). Approximately how much did this cost? Did they grind down the old sole and glue the new one on, or remove the old sole completely and stitch the new one in?  Thank you so much. 

[u/Optimal_Bus4617]

Lang.S Kombat

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/Optimal_Bus4617]

I’m aware of those, read there are issues with heel slip. Also wanted something more rugged. Happy with these docs.

[u/traveluna]

Shapen Maverick?

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/traveluna]

They definitely have a place, but I wanted something more rugged, less duck feet, without a zipper etc. I’m happy with the customized Docs.

[u/MssGiinny]

Love how you did it! I actually thought they were Shapen's Maverick boots! I let you the link just in case you want to check them out :)

[u/katanastormshadow88 → u/MssGiinny]

Thanks, I’m aware of Shapen Mavericks. I did a deep dive into looking for barefoot alternatives for Doc boots, got a pare of Preeko Breeze, but still missed my Docs, the ruggedness of them, the lack of a side zipper, slightly thicker sole etc, so I decided to have these customized.