The iconic British footwear company Dr. Marten's have over eight varieties of leather that are used in their shoes and boots. This guide can help you decide which is the best choice for you.

SMOOTH LEATHER
Leather source: Corrected grain from Argentina
Pair with shoe care: Wonder Balsam

Smooth leather epitomises Dr. Martens footwear. Durable and famously stiff to start, it can be polished to a dapper shine or artfully scuffed up. Smooth leather moulds to your foot and gets more comfortable with each wear, creating a personalised fit.

Our top Smooth Leather picks:

1460 8-Eye Boots - Black Smooth

1461 Black Smooth

NAPPA & VIRGINIA LEATHER

Leather source: Corrected grain leather from Argentina
Pair with shoe care: Wonder Balsam

One in the same, our Nappa and Virginia leathers are soft, fine-grain leathers that are treated to feel smooth and supple. With lightweight and luxurious handles, these leathers come with many natural characteristics. They stretch well and are comfortable from your very first outing, with virtually no wearing-in time required.

Our top Nappa/Virginia Leather picks:

1460 Nappa

101 Nappa

PATENT LAMPER LEATHER

Leather source: PU coated split from China
Pair with shoe care: Ultra Protector

Patent leather is extra eye-catching, and less stiff than Smooth leather. With a hard, glossy surface finish that reflects the light, it’s virtually waterproof while still containing a very flexible texture. To prevent discolouring and scratches, keep your patent shoes in a soft cloth bag when unworn.

VEGAN “LEATHER”

Leather source: handmade
Pair with shoe care: Shoe Polish (for best results, use a damp cloth to clean)

Our vegan material is soft and supple with a two-tone finish. We use two core materials to create this ‘leather’. Felix is a vegan alternative to our smooth original leather. It is known technically as microfiber and is a polymer-synthetic material. The filament fibres are so fine, when you look at the reverse of the 1460 Felix, the ‘flesh’ side bears a resemblance to real leather. Cambridge Brush has an antique rub-off two-tone finish. This is a polyurethane coagulate/non-woven material which is given its signature glossy finish on a ‘mopping’ machine.

Our top Vegan ‘Leather’ picks:

2976 Vegan Chelsea Boot

Blaire Vegan Sandal

GAUCHO/CRAZY HORSE LEATHER

Leather source: Full grain from Thailand
Pair with shoe care: Wonder Balsam

Gaucho/Crazy Horse leather utilises a different tanning technique which enables impressions to be seen along it’s creases when worn. This creates its famous and uniquely brown distressed look. It has a thick, waxy finish while still being lightweight.

Our top Gaucho/Crazy Horse Leather picks:

Harrema Chelsea Boots - Gaucho/Crazy Horse

1460 8-Eye Boots - Gaucho/Crazy Horse