Every brand has its flagship product, the "one that started it all." For Thursday Boot Company, that boot is the Thursday Captain, a timeless lace-up, capped-toe boot variant meant to prioritize form over function. Here are my thoughts on Thursday's most popular product.
SNAPSHOT REVIEW
You won't find many (if any) boots that offer the same quality for the money as the Thursday Captain. This ever-timeless offering comes with all the high-end bells and whistles you would expect from any company looking to become one of the "greats."
PROS:
- Quality leather from one of America's top heritage leather brands.
- Goodyear-Welt construction offers better waterproofing and the option to re-sole.
- Kevlar laces.
- Cork mid-sole that forms to your foot the longer you wear them.
- Steel shank for extra stability.
- Consistently sold for under $200.
- Numerous colorways, including suede and lug-sole variants.
CONS:
- Not rugged or durable enough to be used as a traditional work boot.
- The false toe cap is for aesthetics only and provides no additional protection.
- The leather midsole is glued to the dense rubber outsole (which could be a turn-off for some boot enthusiasts).
ABOUT THURSDAY BOOT COMPANY
It all starts with what Thursday believes: to offer quality products tested and manufactured to last.
What I love most about Thursday is that I know I am getting a product that will stand the test of time despite a price that may suggest that corners were cut in the manufacturing process; it just so happens that this couldn't be further from the truth.
WHAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR
QUALITY HORWEEN LEATHER
Designed in New York City and made in small batches in Mexico, Thursday offers a variety of options for their leather types:
- Thursday Chrome: An in-house proprietary combination of veg-chrome, double-tanned and hot-stuffed with natural waxes and oils that improve with age.
- Weather-Safe Suede: A suede leather option incorporating waterproof and hydrophobic compounds to keep feet dry and warm.
- Rugged and Resilient: Matte leather, sourced from Tier 1 U.S. cattle hides, improves the boot's aesthetic with age and wear.
The Captain is offered in all these leather types across various color options, so there is something for everyone.
To make all of this possible, Thursday partnered with the Horween Leather Company, which has been a heavy-hitter for quality U.S.-manufactured leathers since 1905.
GOODYEAR-WELT CONSTRUCTION
Anyone who knows anything about boots will immediately point out (and appreciate) Thursday Boot Company's construction method: the Goodyear Welt. This method, first utilized in 1869 by Charles Goodyear Jr., consisted of a strip of leather, rubber, or plastic running along the outermost perimeter of a shoe outsole.
In the case of Thursday, the outermost sole of the boot and the insole are not physically attached and contain a cork midsole to fill in the small space resulting from the welt.
This method improves the boot's waterproofing and enables more efficient re-soling if necessary. Boot connoisseurs often acknowledge these small details, but believe me when I tell you that they matter, not just for functional purposes but also for prolonging the boot's lifespan. This construction method is one of the best ways to build quality footwear and, therefore, requires more skill than that of more disposable footwear.
HANDS-ON THE PRODUCT
I've had my pair of Thursday Captains for nearly three years, and they have proven to be my "go-to" pair of conventional boots. Whether hiking in the mountains at Big Bear Lake, horseback riding through the vineyards of Temecula, trudging through the rain, out on the town, or line dancing for date night with my wife, these boots are as reliable as they are functional.
My adventures most often include my Thursday Captains.
The Captain model comes in various materials and colorways, but I opted for their Rugged and Resilient boot in tobacco. This matte leather is sturdy but also surprisingly supple. The laces are made of kevlar (the same material used in bulletproof vests and for lines that moor warships to piers). With its rather slim profile up through the toe box, this is a more modern-looking service boot, lacking that hefty feel often commensurate with other lace-up heritage boot types.
The Stormking lug soles are much sturdier than the conventional rubber outsole of the flagship version of this boot. I wanted a pair of lace-up boots that I could take anywhere. After having worn my pair of Captains for these past few years, I can't help but believe they are in the conversation for some of the best service boots you can buy (especially at the consistent $199 asking price).
The Thursday Captain is durable enough for all casual activities, but make no mistake—this is NOT the best choice for a work boot. Anyone looking for a durable option to support their blue-collar work should steer clear of this boot. To put it plainly, this form-before-function boot offers enough durability for most of the activities I mentioned but isn't meant to have its limits tested.
The leather is exceptionally soft and supple and has been conditioned with many oils and waxes, which hides scratches very quickly and can prolong the use of the boot. Aside from the occasional "water scrub" I have employed to give them a quick clean, I haven't really conditioned these boots. You'll be happy with these pairs if you want a reasonably low-maintenance casual boot in your rotation.
The 360-degree Goodyear-Welt construction is a nice feature, but it is also important to note that this stitching exists on the leather midsole and is glued to the lug outsole. Given the consistent price point of $199, I think that this is more than acceptable, especially considering that this is meant to be a more casual boot and not a genuine work boot; it is still something to consider if you care a lot about boot construction and are on the fence about purchasing a pair of Captains.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The Thursday Captain boot is an instant classic, perfect for various casual lifestyles, and looks great on the feet. The sleeker and relatively slim profile up through the toe box might be a turn-off for some, but the build quality and premium materials are second to none for the fantastic price of $199.
Don't expect this boot to last you if you are in the market for a durable pair of work boots to stomp around in at a blue-collar job, but if you want something that can meet your everyday casual needs, then I cannot recommend these enough.
The Captains aren't the most perfect boots ever made, but they are now certainly among the most classic boots money can buy.
