I've worn Docs for twenty years now. Coming of age in the 90s (when Seattle was fashionable) and enamored by British youth culture from the 60s, DMs have always been in my mind a symbol of practicality and pride... plus, they're comfortable and easy to maintain. While I am sympathetic to the idea that nobody makes anything like they used to, my own experience with Doc Martens suggests otherwise.

I bought these shoes to replace a pair of DM wingtips that are starting to look a little rough after two years of almost constant wear. They fit perfectly out of the box and seem to be of the same quality as my five year old boots (which still look brand new). My only complaint is that they did my heels in something awful the first few days; the wingtips were cut lower in the back, and it's my own fault for not wearing heavier socks.

Bottom line: if you want the best pair of Docs you can get, order from the For Life range... but don't pass up a good deal on ANY Docs if you see one.