The Thursday Boot Company prides itself on high quality footwear at honest prices. Based out of and “bootstrapped” in New York City, Thursday Boots have made a name for themselves over the past handful of years.
In this comprehensive, long-term Thursday Boots review, I’m going talk a bit about the brand—cover 3 of their popular boot styles—specifically the quality & craftsmanship, comfort & durability, shoe sizing & price, the pros & cons, most importantly how they’ve held up over the past handful years of wear, and finally wrap things up with whether or not I think they’re worth it.
Let’s get started.
THURSDAY BOOT CO. REVIEW
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ABOUT THURSDAY BOOT CO.
Thursday Boots specialize in high-quality boots at affordable prices, direct to consumer. They now also offer all kinds of dress shoes from wingtips and loafers to wholecuts.
Thursday was an idea conceived on a Nicaraguan surf trip three years ago of all places. Today Thursday Boots are worn in all 50 states and nearly 60 countries.
As for the name, “Thursday” is the unofficial start to the weekend and is the one day of the week where you have to be ready for anything—work, drinks, a date—and so their products are designed with that versatility in mind.
STYLE & DESIGNS
One word to describe Thursday boots is ‘clean.’ They offer pretty much every boot style you can think of from chelseas to chukkas and work boots to dress boots. They are similar to that of Taft boots.
The three styles that I own from Thursday are their suede chelseas and cap-toe suede lace up boots which I’ve worn for 6+ years and a pair of plain-toe leather lace ups which I’ve worn for 4+ years.
The specific designs are the Duke in honey suede, the Duke in brown and the Captain in midnight suede. Each pair of Thursday boots are designed and developed in-house.
The Thursday Captain Boot Design
Thursday Boots’ Captain silhouette is my favorite in their collection. I choose the navy colorway which is called midnight suede. Not too often do you see navy boots.
It’s different from the typical brown and black that you’ll find most guys wearing. If I could choose today, I’d opt for the dark olive suede, a beautiful shade that’s similar to dark brown, with a hint of olive.
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The captain has a slim profile and the addition of the cap-toe as well as the suede bumps it down a bit in terms of formality. The suede is WeatherSafe which means it has water repellent properties. I was surprised when my boots were fully submerged in ocean water for a split second and came out unscathed.
I love that the boots give me an extra inch and a quarter in height and look great with casual and smart casual getups. I can wear it with jeans, wool trousers, flannels, sweaters, field and leather jackets — it’s an exceptionally versatile boot style.
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The Thursday Duke Boot Design
Thursday Boots’ Duke is a Chelsea boot. This classic silhouette looks great with dark wash jeans or chinos and a sweater along with outerwear like a field jacket and car coat.
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Many years ago I despised the design aesthetic of the chelsea boot, but it has since grown on me and I love wearing my Dukes with casual looks or slightly more dressy getups, although I wouldn’t wear the suede with a suit or blazer. You can even pull them off with a pair of white jeans and a leather jacket with a bit of confidence.
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Like the Captains, the Dukes in Duke are WeatherSafe and thus water-resistant. I’ve worn them in the rain, but as they suggest, it’s not a good idea to go running around in puddles. Whenever it’s raining, I try avoiding wearing any type of suede at all times, but it’s good to know that the protection is there when you need it.
Compared to some other chelsea boots like the Ace Marks Troy Chelseas, the Dukes are a little clunkier, but overall it’s not too bulky. The loop around the upper ankle and elastic band makes it easy to slip on and off. They’re particularly ideal for traveling through security at the airport.
The Thursday President Boot Design
Thursday Boots’ President design is pretty much the Captain without a cap-toe. This plain-toe boot is as versatile as the Captains. Similar to the Captain it has a sleek silhouette while retaining a work boot aesthetic.
It’s less rugged than say a Wolverine 1000 Mile, and thus makes it more versatile and appropriate for smart casual outfits. For the fall season the number one boot I’ll recommend is a pair of brown plain or cap toe boots.
The Goodyear welt gives the boot more of a robust, chunky sole, slightly more rugged than the sleeker Blake stitch. A pair like the President in brown is definitely an essential for guys who are looking to invest in an affordable pair of boots suitable for daily wear.
Check Thursday President Price
Quick note: If you’re enjoying this review of Thursday Boots, then you’ll probably find my other writing on all things men’s style useful. Each week, I share updates, style tips and other things not shared on the blog through my free email newsletter.
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QUALITY & CRAFTSMANSHIP
All of Thursday boots and shoes are handcrafted in factories in the US and Mexico. It is worth noting that the Vanguard boot is the only USA made boot in the Thursday collection. Coincidentally it’s the most expensive boot they offer, but only $50 more than their mostly $200 price point.
Most of Thursday’s leather boots are constructed with Chromexcel (CXL) or chrome leather and their suede boots are made with WeatherSafe suede which makes them water-repellent. While the Vanguard has a horween leather construction on the interior lining.
A few of their designs also have Terracotta leather options as well as natural Horween leather at the same $199 price point. Additionally, each boot is stitched with the gold standard Goodyear welt that makes the boots easily resole-able.
Product Details
- Goodyear Welt Construction
- Full Glove Leather Interior Lining
- Poron® Antimicrobial Shock Absorbing Insole
- Cork-Bed Midsole
- DuraEVATM Comfort Strip
- Studded Rubber Outsoles
- Handcrafted with Integrity
ARE THURSDAY BOOTS COMFORTABLE?
Across the board, Thursday boots are pretty damn comfortable. There’s a bit of a break in period for the President leather boots, but the suede Duke and Captains were pretty comfortable right out of the box.
I opted for the standard width which was a little tight at first, but since then has broken in and fits comfortably snug.
Out of the three, the Duke Chelseas are the most comfortable and easy to slip on, which makes sense given the laceless design.
Since my right foot is slightly bigger than my left, I always have an issue with tightness on my right foot which can get uncomfortable at times, but is no fault of the boots.
The rubber studded soles offer excellent grip when it’s wet out. Since I tread gently and avoid dragging my feet, I can see the soles lasting for seasons to come.
HOW THE BOOTS HELD UP AFTER 2 YEARS
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While I didn’t wear any of the boots on a daily basis (I always rotate my shoes), they do get a good amount of wear in the fall and winter season.
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I took the honey suede Chelseas and midnight suede lace ups on my three month sabbatical to Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. They got plenty of wear and held up surprisingly well.
I went hiking, walked on beaches. I skydived with my Captains. They got wet and the shoelace eyelets have since began to rust, which wouldn’t have happened had I dried them immediately afterwards.
The Captains and Dukes have held up pretty well after almost 2 years of wear. The suede is still soft and and overall the boots look good without much maintenance.
YMMV though as I took relatively good care of my Thursdays and didn’t beat them up like I have some of my beater boots.
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The reason I don’t treat my Thursdays as beaters is because I like the clean, slim aesthetic which make for great smart casual boots.
I feel as if a more rugged pair like the Thorogood USA or Red Wing Iron Ranger are more suited to getting beat up and worn into the ground, but that’s just me.
All good things aside, my Captain and Duke boots have a problem where the rubber sole is beginning to peel off the front toe box area. It’s not a huge issue right now, but is a cause for concern moving forward.
The President boot fits much more comfortably after a year of wear and still look good. My issue is with the creasing. I understand that all shoes and boots crease somewhat, but I have other leather boots that don’t have unsightly creases like the ones below.
My thinking is that it has to do with the chrome leather. There’s too much creasing in my opinion. I don’t believe it’s just my pair as I’ve seen other pairs with the same Thursday chrome leather with similar creasing. There is a good chance the leather has improved since I got this pair.
Quick note: If you’re enjoying this Thursday Boots review, then you’ll probably like this comprehensive Taft Boot review of their popular Rome boot.
6+ YEAR UPDATE (HOW ARE THEY NOW?)
So many people have asked me how my Thursday Boots are holding up and so I figured it was time for an update. Now, let’s dive in with this 6+ year update of my Captain, President and Duke boots.
Hiking The Appalachian Trail With My Thursday Captains
I recently went on a brisk 12 mile hike on the rocky Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania near the Delaware Water Gap which is where the Delaware River splits New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
First off, I do not recommend these boots for a 12 mile hike across rocky terrain, they’re simply not well-suited for long treks. They’re definitely not the lightest boots either; however, if you’re only doing a few miles or if the hike is across relatively flat surface, then I think you’ll be fine.
While I don’t recommend Thursday Boots for long hikes, my navy suede Captains held up tremendously through those 12 miles. At the start of the hike, my friend asked me why I was wearing “fancy boots,” but I wanted to put them to the test. I dirtied ‘em up good, but I’m happy with how they endured.
Although they didn’t quite pass for comfort since my toes started to ache about half way through (maybe I should have heel lock laced them!), they proved to be as durable as ever.
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wouldn’t have made it 12 miles on the appalachian trail without it. 🍂🥃 #dadshatwhiskey
As we finished the hike my friend was surprised that my boots weren’t destroyed during the long hike. You also get the added bonus that you’ll probably be the most stylish hiker on the trail.
Finally, if you watched the review from a few years ago, you’ll remember I mentioned sole splits beginning to form on the Captains. They’re still there, but thankfully haven’t gotten progressively worse, so it looks like I’ll be in the clear moving forward.
Are Thursday Boots Waterproof?
I’m quite amazed that 6+ years later, my suede Thursday Boots, Captain and Duke are still waterproof, well not quite 100%, but certainly water repellant. The WeatherSafe suede certainly lives up to its name as water is effortlessly repelled.
As I mentioned a few years ago, I wouldn’t wear these as rain boots, but it’s good to know that the protection is there if you find yourself in a rainstorm.
Additionally all Thursday Boots are made with a Goodyear welt construction which provides water resistance which is particularly helpful if you’ve hopped into a puddle or two.
I’m not sure why my brown leather Presidents aren’t treated with the same WeatherSafe technology. Maybe it’s just for the suede leather, but this pair could really benefit from it too.
And while I wouldn’t recommend Thursday for snow boots, they’ll hold up just fine in the snow. I’ve worn them through snow storms and shoveling the driveway, no issues. Just make sure you wear thick winter socks to help keep your feet warm.
» You Might Like This: Allen Edmonds Dalton Boot Review.
My Thursday Presidents 6+ Year Update
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The Presidents have a rough leather that’s not nearly as comfortable as the suede of my Captain or Dukes. I sometimes get some discomfort on the top of my right foot when I wear them with thinner socks, although thick hiking socks do help to alleviate any pressure.
The Thursday chrome leather is; however, exceptionally durable holding up almost as well as my rugged Wolverine 1000 Mile work boots.
I guess you sacrifice a bit of comfort for durability here, but all things considered, the Presidents are still going strong through the years. There’s no sign of a sole split and the Goodyear welt is sturdy.
Furthermore, the speed hooks are still securely fastened and the laces are in good shape. And finally, The creasing is still the same as it was from a few years ago which is cool with me. Remember to use shoe trees if you want to help prolong the life of your boots.
My Thursday Dukes 6+ Year Update
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My honey suede Thursday Duke Chelsea boots are easily the most comfortable out of the 3 Thursday Boots that I own which is no surprise since they’re suede chelseas.
I never experience foot pain while wearing these boots. The suede leather does stretch a bit which helps for comfort too. Through 6 years the suede is still supple and soft to the touch which indicates a quality suede here.
There’s still no signs of a sole split and the Goodyear welt construction is clean as ever. The elastic band; however is beginning to lose its shape as you can see around the top of the boots.
No worries though, it’s simply natural wear over time as I put on and take off the boots. Through 5 years, my Duke boots are in excellent shape.
Related: You might like this long-term Thorogood Boot Review.
My Thursday Captains 6+ Year Update
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I love the Thursday Captains style. It has features of a work boot and dress boot all in one. The cap toe and Goodyear welt are clean, rugged details while the sleek silhouette gives it a dressier appearance.
It’s still my favorite Thursday Boot style. And if I were to pick up a pair right now, I’d go with the Safari Waxed WeatherSafe suede pair or The rugged Tobacco pair with the StormKing rubber lug outsoles for extra durability.
As I mentioned before during the hike, the sole splits are still there, but haven’t gotten any worse. The eyelets are still rusted and the laces still have the color purple, I’ve been too lazy to swap them out or clean them up.
Like my Dukes, the suede leather is still super soft and the outsoles are still solid, even after that 12 mile hike across rocky ground. Not much to complain about here except that the boots are too heavy in my opinion. Lighten them up a few ounces and they’re money.
ARE THURSDAY BOOTS SLIP RESISTANT?
Thankfully my 3 pairs of Thursday Boots are equipped with rubber outsoles and not leather and so that aids in providing traction in wet conditions.
So to quickly answer the question, yes—Thursday Boots are slip resistant. And I bet the StormKing lug outsoles provide even more traction and slip resistance.
ARE THURSDAY BOOTS TRUE TO SIZE?
I’m normally a size 7.5 to 8 depending on the brand. The size I got for all 3 of my Thursday Boots are 7.5 and so Thursdays run true to size. They also offer EE/EEE widths for some colorways, which is fantastic news for those with wider feet. So many DTC brands neglect the wide feet population.
They recommend ordering a ½ size smaller than you would normally wear in sneakers. And if you are between sizes they recommend sizing down because of leather’s tendency to stretch to your feet over time.
If you’re unsure of your size, Thursday offers free shipping and returns in the U.S. and so you can get multiples sizes and return what doesn’t fit. Most of Thursday Boots come in at $199 which is highly affordable and a great value.
MY THURSDAY BOOTS STYLE & COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS
As I browsed through Thursday Boot Co.’s website, here’s the styles and colors that caught my eye, that I recommend right now.
- Thursday Captain in Driftwood
- Thursday President in Saddlewood
- Thursday Duke in Dark Brown Suede
THURSDAY BOOTS PROS & CONS
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PROS:
- High quality boots that stand the test of time
- Myriad of boot designs in a multitude of colorways
- Versatile boot styles that can be dressed up or dressed down
- Comfortable boots that you can walk in all day
- Highly affordable price point of mostly $199
CONS:
- Leather (chrome) tends to crease a bit too much
- Watch out for sole splits
- The boots are heavy
ARE THURSDAY BOOTS WORTH IT?
6+ years later, I’ve got to say I’m impressed with how well these boots have held up and are holding up. I didn’t think that after all these years they would still be some of my favorite boots to wear, the Captain and Duke at least. The President’s slight discomfort makes me shy away from it at times, but it’s still a quality and stylish boot that has a spot in my fall/winter boot rotation.
Just as I did a handful of years ago, I still highly recommend Thursday Boots as the perfect entry-level boot for men getting started with their boot collection or even for long-time boot guys.
At under $200 there is tremendous value here in terms of the quality, style and options that you have to choose from. They live up to their mission of offering comfortable, durable and versatile boots with honest prices.
If you’re in the market for a new pair of boots that’s equal parts functional, comfortable and stylish — and don’t have the budget to spring for a $300-$400 pair, then Thursday Boot Co. is worth checking out.
If you enjoyed this review, I think you will like my other boot related content.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THURSDAY BOOTS?
Let’s continue the discussion over in the Gentlemen Within Private Facebook Community.
Looking forward to seeing you in there.
Thursday Boots
$199
Pros
- High quality boots that stand the test of time
- Myriad of boot designs in a multitude of colorways
- Versatile boot styles that can be dressed up or dressed down
- Comfortable boots that you can walk in all day
- Highly affordable price point of mostly $199
Cons
- Leather (chrome) tends to crease a bit too much
- Watch out for sole splits
- The boots are heavy
Those boots wouldn’t be so creases if you conditioned them more regularly. Just sayin.
I disagree. No amount of conditioning would fix the creases. Sure it may give it the appearance of less creasing, but the issue would still remain. I have other boots that I haven’t conditioned much (Wolverine 1000 Mile) and there’s no such creasing.
Good Article on Thursday Boots for 2 years later. Maybe some shoe trees would help with the creasing. I also disagree on conditioning part, as it is essential to nourish leather every 10 wears or so. Suede leather you can get away with not nourishing as much, but leather uppers needs to be taken care of or cracking and creasing is more likely in areas outside of the vamp or toe cap. I’ve got both the Captain and Wingtips on top of many of their shoe options from TBC and compared to my Allen Edmond shoes and boots, Thursday makes a heck of good quality product boots and shoes compared to AE. Very little creasing on my Captain in black and wingtip in Brandy, and I also rotate with close to 40 pairs of shoes and gym shoes. I use shoe trees when the boots are not being worn so that helps to continue to stretch the leather. I also like the sleek look TBC uses to the boots they make compared to Wolverine 1000 Mile which is more rugged looking and thicker leather which also will crease around the vamp of the shoe and shoe eyelet.
Good article and look forward to reading more of your posts.
Chad,
Thanks for the detailed and honest comment. I’ve used shoe trees with the presidents, but probably not as much as I should have. When it comes to conditioning, I’m just lazy and so it tends to fall by the wayside. Conditioning probably would have helped to keep the leather nourished to help prevent the current creasing. As I mentioned in a comment above, my other more expensive boots (AE Daltons and Wolverine 1000 miles) haven’t really been conditioned either and don’t have the type of creasing of the presidents. It’s much more of an aesthetically pleasing creasing that adds to the character imo. All in all, it’s not a huge deal as the creasing is not noticeable from afar, only if you are looking for it.
Perhaps the batch of leather on your captains is a higher grade than the ones on my presidents. I agree with you, I like the sleek look of TBC, particularly the captains, but I think the 1000 mile boots are a different category and aesthetic, definitely fit to a more rugged tune.
Again, I appreciate the comment and look forward to discussing more in the future.
Cheers,
-K
Great Read. I’m in the market right now for some boots and I’m torn between the Captains and the Dowler boot from Beckett Simonon. I think it would be interesting to compare boots from Thursdays to similar brands in the same price range like Beckett Simonon and/or Mermin.
Bryan, thanks for chiming in. The B-S Dowler boot looks pretty nice. It was recently on sale for BF, something like $150 which made it a steal. Only thing with them is that the 3 month wait is so long that you forget you even ordered them in the first place!
And great idea to compare boots. I’ll have to consider this for future content. Cheers! -K
The website say to order 1/2 size smaller than you wear in sneaker. This I did, but the Captain boot was a full size (or more) bigger than my sneaker size. The Thursday boot return policy is too strict for an internet shoe company. Any creases – no return. The Captian boots creased at the instep just on the try-on stage, maybe three steps. Had I ordered from Amazon, I could return them, but I can’t return them to the company directly. So now I have to either risk another $200 to see if the next pair fits, or spend $320–450 at Redwing or similar to get a boot that fits. So my real cost of boots that fit is $520-650. The boots do seem to be made well.
Benjamin, that’s odd because I ordered my exact size (7.5) and it was spot on. Not sure why such a huge discrepancy with your Captains.
How much creasing occurred that they will not allow for a refund? I would reach out to them and see if they can at least do an exchange for you so that you have a proper size. I don’t see why they wouldn’t if you didn’t actually wear them out and only tried them on inside. Again, from my experience, I haven’t heard of their boots creasing so much on a first try-on where they will not accept a refund, unless it has visible signs of wear. I hope they can help you out.
The left boot had so much creasing at initial try on that in my judgement Thursday Boot would refuse the return even though there was absolutely no sign of wear on the soles. Part of the problem i thin is that i ordered the natural finish (which isn’t available on Amazon). I think it shows the creases more than a darker color would. Another problem is that the leather on the front uppers is so thin – like a Born shoe leather. Thus it creases easier. Yesterday I put a thick insole in them (from Mephisto comfort shoe, size 8.5, which easily fit the Thursday Boot “8”) and wore them to the office, lunch and back home. They look like ****. I’ve decided to donate them to the local homeless shelter so someone can get some use out of them.
I’d recommend to check in with the Thursday team. I’m sure they would have assisted you if you explained your situation. Sorry to hear about your experience though. My Thursdays are still going strong. I’m curious to see what the boots look like.
hi, thursday recommends taking their shoes half a size smaller than your regular shoes, but ordinary shoes are different in length as well despite the same sizes. could you say how long your foot is in centimeters and do presidents have comfort for people with high arches?
Hey Sergey, from big toe to back of the heel is approximately 25.5 cm. I’m normally a 7.5-8 depending on brand and I opted for the 7.5 Thursdays which are a good fit. Hard for me to say since I don’t have high arches, but you could always use orthotics if necessary. Hope that helps! -K
Thanks so much for the quick reply. tell me, presidents, how did they prove to be in use? There are a lot of reviews on Amazon with complaints about the quality of the sole and is the front part badly deformed?
The Presidents are holding up well. There are no sole splits and leather is not badly deformed. It’s only creased as much as I have already shown. I’ve been using shoe trees and haven’t polished the leather. All my Thursdays are ready for yet another Fall/Winter season.
Khoi,
Thanks for a great article. I have been wearing a pair of brown Captain capped toe boots for a little over a year now and the shoelace has already broken on me. Have you had this experience?
Hey Eric, glad you liked the article. What do you mean the shoelace has broken? As in the plastic tips have torn? If so, I’d recommend getting in touch w/Thursday and I’m sure they’ll gladly replace them. Cheers – K
I actually like the creases; they give the boots character.
Fair enough!
How comfortable are the boots, in particular the Presidents, and how heavy are they?
Hey Rich, they’re not my most comfortable boots, but all in all they feel good after you break them in. Not the lightest boot because the sole is kinda heavy, but if you’re used to rugged boots, these aren’t any heavier than those, eg. Wolverine, Redwing, Timberland…
Thanks for the great article and the followup!
I live in an area that frequently gets rain, so a durable tread is important when walking in downtown areas. How would you say the tread of the boots have held up after a fair bit of use?
Hey Porter, thanks for chiming in. I’d say the Thursdays are a good bet, even the suede since they hold up pretty well in wet conditions too. The treads are durable and long lasting in my experience, similar to my boots and shoes with vibram soles. It’s also worth noting that I don’t drag my feet, so my soles usually don’t wear down to much in general.
My boots are less than a year and a half old. The soul is already separating on me. I called customer service and they told me that they wouldn’t do anything about it. They also informed me that if I was someone else and walked differently this wouldn’t be happening.
Find some boots somewhere else these are not good quality.
Allen, that’s contrary to the customer service experience I’ve heard from others. But I’m sorry to hear about your experience with Thursday.
Looks like loose grain, friend. Conditioning doesn’t solve leather quality.
Good to know!
I got a pair of Thursday Majors in Amaretto. I was looking for boots that were good looking and practical too. My other goodyear welted shoes and boots have smooth linings and rounded heel counters that cup my heel nicely and breaking them in was quick and painless. These Thursdays have a protruding vertical seam inside along the back of the heel. This is making breaking in painful and prolonged. I always use shoe trees in them; I’m hoping they will press the seam out some.
When I mentioned all this in an email to customer service, I given the basics of breaking in goodyear welted boots, as though I have never had any before. With that attitude they lost me as a customer forever. I’m wondering if they will ever be suitable for long walks, or if they’re just New York fashion boots made for short trips away from the subway. I’ll give them six months. If they don’t get better, I’ll probably donate them and get something from Herring when I go to England again.
Hi Rob, Appreciate you sharing your experience with Thursday. All the best, –K.