I've been wearing Dr. Martens for years now, since they seem to hold up a lot better than most shoes for a casual work environment. They're also the brand I go to when I need a good non-sports shoe for going out on weekends with jeans.

In the case of these shoes, I like the thicker sole since I tend to wear the thinner souls out to the point where it feels like a sharp rock will go through and stab my foot. The leather is flexible enough so I don't feel like I'm crushing my foot with each step. The only thing that seems to be my major issue is that the leather in the heel is rather stiff so my first day or two with a new pair of Doc's is that it's rough on my heel/back of my foot.

Overall, I love these shoes, and will order another one when these wear themselves down due to frequent use.