After seeing these photos, I feel like I may have actually missed my calling as footwear model. Thanks again to Britt for manning the camera on this one.
Normally when I think of Doc Martens, I think of stiff patent leather and earning a blister or two breaking them in. Certainly I never thought of the brand as producing something that I would willingly choose to wear in the great outdoors. These gems were gifted to me by a DM rep somewhere between 7 and 10 years ago when I was doing a lot of work in the world of men’s fashion. The leather is super soft and did not need to be broken in. From day 1, they felt more like a sneaker than a utility boot. Over the years I have worn them on several backpacking trips (I don’t own a proper pare of hiking boots anymore), and on basically every camping trip that I have done. The heels have both come unseated on different occasions, but it wasn’t something that a little shoe goo could not remedy. I love these things and I didn’t think twice about bringing them with me on this COVID induced hiatus from normal life.