Are Vegan Doc Martens Good?

A good pair of black boots is a must-have for any wardrobe, and when thinking of quality black boots my mind jumps straight to Doc Martens, but the question is - are vegan Doc Martens good?

In a time where pretty much everything can be veganised, we all know some things that have blown us away, like the Beyond Burger, and some things that have left a lot to be desired, most cheeses.

But what category do Docs fit into? Are vegan Doc Martens good? Are they worth the cost and the pain?

From a boot lovin’ woman - Yes, they are worth it! Vegan Doc Martens are good, I absolutely love mine! If you think you’re ready to add them to your wardrobe take a look at Vegan Dr. Martens on EMP.

And I know the modern-day vegan comes in all styles, and how incredible is that! But you can’t help to imagine the old-skool vegan needing a pair of Docs in their arsenal, and now it’s completely possible.

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What’s the difference between regular Dr. Martens and vegan Dr. Martens?

Well, just the material - the originals are made from leather whereas the vegan docs are made from synthetic polyurethane plastic.

They don’t quite feel like leather but they definitely don’t feel like plastic either. They feel soft and bendable, pretty similar to the leather ones.

In the past, I’ve bought plastic-looking boots and I’ve given them the benefit of the doubt just because they were vegan. They ended up falling apart in weeks! And this sucks because I’m not a fan of fast fashion. I want things to last and not end up on a pile of rubbish after a few wears!

So, I’m absolutely in agreement that quality material matters but it doesn’t need to be leather, as Doc Martens have proven without a doubt.

What’s my experience? Are vegan Doc Martens good?

I haven’t had mine long enough to know if they will stand the test of time. So, to fill in the blanks I did a bunch of research. And just as Docs should, the vegan ones last, many people even say better than the leather ones! I found reviews from people who’ve had them for 5+ years and they’re still going strong, with just a few signature creases.

Like leather Docs, the vegan ones do need to be broken in. I’ve heard a couple of people saying they were good-to-go right away, but that wasn’t the case for me, nor the majority of us Doc wearers. After some research I’ve realised that this could be down to where the Docs are made, it seems there could be a consistency issue somewhere. Or maybe I just have extra-pointy heels! Either way, to be on the safe side I’d schedule some breaking in time!

So, I went through a little bit of pain but to be honest it didn’t take long until they felt like nice little foot gloves. Ohh yeah, we call them…socks.

How to break in vegan Doc Martens?

There are a bunch of tips and tricks out there, here are just a few to help you break in your vegan Dr. Martens:

• Wrap them in a towel and wack the crap out of them with a mallet hammer
• Use a hair dryer to soften them
• Use a blister plaster - or a sanitary towel
• Rub and work them, then rub and work them some more

For me, I just bought my correct size, wore extra thick socks, a plaster in the very early days and went with the little and often approach. And we were best mates in a few weeks!

Here is a little video on how Dr Martens say you should break in their shoes. Maybe you should do as the Dr. says.

Are vegan Doc Martens waterproof?

Yes, vegan Dr. Martens are waterproof. Actually, it seems the vegan ones are extra waterproof! It’s down to the synthetic material they are made of. The water bounces off, so they are good in the rain but I haven’t tested them in the bath yet. If anyone has, please tell me how they faired. I’d love to know.

Did you know that Doc Martens first launched their vegan footwear collection way back, in 2011? But it seems that vegan Docs have only really been hitting the spotlight recently, maybe it’s because the vegan movement is soaring. Well, I’m just glad they’re available, I’ll be buying their vegan sandals in the summer.

So, if you’re trying to decide whether or not to go for them. Or don’t know if Vegan Doc Martens are good. My advice - go for it, I’m glad I did! And if I’ve convinced you then you can buy them on EMP’s website.

Looking to buy someone a nice vegan and cruelty-free gift? I’ve got a great idea so check out my post - Best Cruelty-Free Gift Set for 2022