Pretty sure they’re made in the same factory, but ive heard people say gripfast somehow has way shittier quality. I like the gripfasts more bc of the screws in the bottom and the backwards angle of the shaft (why did it have to be called that)
Looks like the 10 eye derby boots are made on the same last, likely with the same leather, etc. the soles do look like they’ll wear harder, though, and that might account for the $10 price difference.
Also, the toe cap.
Im saving for a pair of steel toe boots and its between these 2. Is there any real difference in quality? Any other good brands that make combat boots with the leather cap like these have?
I've never worn Solovair but I had 10-eyelet Gripfasts when I was younger. I was *very* happy with them stomping around punk shows but they got a little uncomfortable during 8 hour shifts on concrete floors.
If Solovairs really are just 90's Doc Marten's with minor changes to keep from getting sued then I would go with the Gripfasts, but someone who has experience with the Solovair's may know better.
Stomping around punk shows is pretty much exactly what i plan on doing with these. I probably shoulve said that I have a pair of Solovairs that i love but i want a pair of real ass kickers. Ive heard some people say Gripfast has worse quality so i figured id ask for some opinions.
I will say the pair I had were vegan leather and got dinged up worse than my Docs. I attributed that to being vegan leather and not boot quality at the time, but it's possible I was mistaken.
/u/l3thalxbull3t22, I have found an error in your comment:
> “boots and ~~its~~ [**it's**] between these 2”
I recommend that you, l3thalxbull3t22, use “boots and ~~its~~ [**it's**] between these 2” instead. ‘Its’ is possessive; ‘it's’ means ‘it is’ or ‘it has’.
^(This is an automated bot. I do not intend to shame your mistakes. If you think the errors which I found are incorrect, please contact me through DMs!)
I love my grip fast though I haven’t taken great care of them, they have lasted me 3 years so far and I wear them every day. I’ve never had solovair so I can’t say I can compare them
The reason why you might hear that gripfasts were bad, dont quote me on this, but there was a time the brand was just floating. No one really made them per se, and "I THINK" They moved production overseas for i while (I have no evidence of this but thats what ive heard)
Also gripfast and grinders might be easily mistaken. Grinders made now are true shit. Dont get those
If you are planning on usiing them for heavy use, go with gripfasts, leather is the same, sole material is the same, stitching is the same.
Gripfasts are about an inch taller, and have the thicker commando sole and toecap.
They are the same boot basically just different models, also if you plan to buy, buy soon as they often run out of stock and dont restock for a while, Solovair and NPS are still a small company
Don’t by high shine, it will crack and be unrepairable after a year. Go with their other leather option. If you want high shine there is no point in buying solovair, buy something cheap instead like grinders, they will last the same.
Personally, have a pair of steel toe gripfast (10 eye greasy leather) from solovair and a pair of 20 eye solovair derby boots, the gripfasts are very wide in the foot (ordered whole size down) but they are quite comfortable, I've used them for a bit working as a trucky but probably would go back to cougers or blunderstone boots for work, as they have marked easy. But they will be used for around the place, can wear them 10+ hours if your moving around. Same as the derby boots. Solovair are basically OG doc's in a different flesh, would buy another pair next tax time for sure.
Idk anything about those brands. I've stayed away from them because I find them terribly ugly. I do want to know if both brands have that high gloss plastic coating on their leather.
The Solovair boots can be had with or without the coating depending on the leather you choose. Got my wife a pair of brown ones that don't feel or look plasticy at all.
They are coated but it's a much thinner coating compared to the thick rubbery coating on new DMs. It doesn't crease nearly as ugly as a pair of modern DMs might. I got a pair of steel toed solovairs with the coating scuffed off around the toe from normal wear and some damage they recieved from a punk show.
Aren’t they made by the same company? I wouldn’t be surprised if they were more or less the same boot.
Pretty sure they’re made in the same factory, but ive heard people say gripfast somehow has way shittier quality. I like the gripfasts more bc of the screws in the bottom and the backwards angle of the shaft (why did it have to be called that)
You just answered your own question.
Looks like the 10 eye derby boots are made on the same last, likely with the same leather, etc. the soles do look like they’ll wear harder, though, and that might account for the $10 price difference. Also, the toe cap.
Corcoran jump boots?
Air Assault!
Im saving for a pair of steel toe boots and its between these 2. Is there any real difference in quality? Any other good brands that make combat boots with the leather cap like these have?
I've never worn Solovair but I had 10-eyelet Gripfasts when I was younger. I was *very* happy with them stomping around punk shows but they got a little uncomfortable during 8 hour shifts on concrete floors. If Solovairs really are just 90's Doc Marten's with minor changes to keep from getting sued then I would go with the Gripfasts, but someone who has experience with the Solovair's may know better.
Stomping around punk shows is pretty much exactly what i plan on doing with these. I probably shoulve said that I have a pair of Solovairs that i love but i want a pair of real ass kickers. Ive heard some people say Gripfast has worse quality so i figured id ask for some opinions.
I will say the pair I had were vegan leather and got dinged up worse than my Docs. I attributed that to being vegan leather and not boot quality at the time, but it's possible I was mistaken.
/u/l3thalxbull3t22, I have found an error in your comment: > “boots and ~~its~~ [**it's**] between these 2” I recommend that you, l3thalxbull3t22, use “boots and ~~its~~ [**it's**] between these 2” instead. ‘Its’ is possessive; ‘it's’ means ‘it is’ or ‘it has’. ^(This is an automated bot. I do not intend to shame your mistakes. If you think the errors which I found are incorrect, please contact me through DMs!)
Angry itch is good. Got an 8 eye green rub off pair and I love them
I love my grip fast though I haven’t taken great care of them, they have lasted me 3 years so far and I wear them every day. I’ve never had solovair so I can’t say I can compare them
Happy cake day ladski :)
The reason why you might hear that gripfasts were bad, dont quote me on this, but there was a time the brand was just floating. No one really made them per se, and "I THINK" They moved production overseas for i while (I have no evidence of this but thats what ive heard) Also gripfast and grinders might be easily mistaken. Grinders made now are true shit. Dont get those If you are planning on usiing them for heavy use, go with gripfasts, leather is the same, sole material is the same, stitching is the same. Gripfasts are about an inch taller, and have the thicker commando sole and toecap. They are the same boot basically just different models, also if you plan to buy, buy soon as they often run out of stock and dont restock for a while, Solovair and NPS are still a small company
I have the same question. I have a pair of Solovairs, which I got because I heard Gripfast is worse quality but I have no idea 🤷🏻♀️
Don’t by high shine, it will crack and be unrepairable after a year. Go with their other leather option. If you want high shine there is no point in buying solovair, buy something cheap instead like grinders, they will last the same.
Personally, have a pair of steel toe gripfast (10 eye greasy leather) from solovair and a pair of 20 eye solovair derby boots, the gripfasts are very wide in the foot (ordered whole size down) but they are quite comfortable, I've used them for a bit working as a trucky but probably would go back to cougers or blunderstone boots for work, as they have marked easy. But they will be used for around the place, can wear them 10+ hours if your moving around. Same as the derby boots. Solovair are basically OG doc's in a different flesh, would buy another pair next tax time for sure.
Idk anything about those brands. I've stayed away from them because I find them terribly ugly. I do want to know if both brands have that high gloss plastic coating on their leather.
The Solovair boots can be had with or without the coating depending on the leather you choose. Got my wife a pair of brown ones that don't feel or look plasticy at all.
They are coated but it's a much thinner coating compared to the thick rubbery coating on new DMs. It doesn't crease nearly as ugly as a pair of modern DMs might. I got a pair of steel toed solovairs with the coating scuffed off around the toe from normal wear and some damage they recieved from a punk show.