Thursday Boot Company has built a strong reputation over the years for doing something many footwear brands claim to do but rarely pull off successfully: offering premium-looking leather boots without luxury-level pricing.
Founded in New York, the brand markets itself around the idea of “honest pricing”, cutting out traditional retail markups, avoiding endless sales tactics, and focusing instead on delivering quality boots at a fair, consistent price year-round.
No fake discounts.
No inflated MSRPs (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price).
No “70% off” marketing tricks.
Just straightforward pricing for well-built boots.
Naturally, that kind of branding creates curiosity, especially online where Thursday Boots are constantly recommended as one of the best entry points into quality leather footwear.
And after seeing countless positive reviews, YouTube videos, Reddit discussions, and customer photos, I eventually decided to see what the hype was about myself.
The pair I ended up buying was the Major boot in Walnut.
For reference, I wear a UK size 8 (US 8.5).
The first thing that struck me when unboxing the boots was how substantial they felt.
Not flashy.
Not overly rugged.
Just solid.
There’s a certain confidence good leather boots have when you first pick them up, the weight, the smell of the leather, the stiffness of the construction, and the Major immediately gave off that impression.
At the same time, they didn’t feel overly bulky the way some heritage-style boots can. The silhouette remains fairly sleek and versatile, which is probably one of the reasons the Major appealed to me more than some of Thursday’s more traditional workwear-inspired models.
I bought mine in Walnut, although the Major is also available in several other colors including black.
Visually, I think this is one of Thursday’s most underrated designs.
What separates the Major from many standard lace-up boots is the side zipper detail. It sounds like a small thing, but in everyday use it genuinely changes the experience of wearing them.
I like boots, but I’ve never loved constantly lacing and unlacing them every time I need to head out. The side zipper makes the Major far more practical for daily wear while still maintaining the look of a classic lace-up boot.
And thankfully, the zipper doesn’t look cheap or out of place.
Combined with the cap toe design and slim profile, the Major sits nicely between smart and casual styling. It has enough structure to work in slightly dressier outfits while still feeling relaxed enough for everyday wear.
Over time, this became one of my favorite things about the boots.
I could wear them with jeans, chinos, wool trousers, oversized outerwear, casual office fits, or even smarter evening outfits.
Very few boots transition this naturally between different styles without looking too formal or too rugged.
Thursday uses a variety of premium leathers across its lineup, including, Horween leather, Rugged & Resilient leather, Chrome leather, and WeatherSafe suede.
The Major uses durable water-resistant leather paired with a full glove leather interior lining, which immediately makes the boots feel more premium than many similarly priced alternatives.
Living in the UK, where rain is basically part of everyday life, this ended up being a major advantage.
The leather handled minor wet conditions surprisingly well, and the studded outsole provided far more grip than I initially expected, especially on slippery pavements during colder months.
Then:
One of the biggest selling points, though, is the Goodyear welted construction.
At this price point, that still feels impressive.
Not only does it improve durability, but it also means the soles can eventually be resoled instead of throwing the entire boots away once the outsole wears down.
That long-term repairability is something many cheaper fashion boots simply don’t offer.
Another thing worth mentioning is the heel height.
At around 6’0”, I’m not exactly searching for extra height, but the Major does add roughly an inch to an inch and a half, which subtly improves posture and presence without feeling exaggerated.
Like most quality leather boots, the Major wasn’t immediately comfortable out of the box.
The leather felt stiff initially, and the boots were fairly snug during the first couple of weeks.
That said, the discomfort never felt excessive, more like the typical break-in process you’d expect from structured leather footwear.
After around two weeks of regular wear, the leather softened noticeably and the boots started adapting much better to my feet.
Once broken in, they became significantly more comfortable for everyday use.
Still, if you’re expecting sneaker-level softness from day one, these probably aren’t the boots for you.
As much as I like the Major, they’re definitely not perfect.
The first issue was the smell.
When I first unboxed them, the leather scent, although nice, was incredibly strong. Some people associate that with quality craftsmanship, and to be fair, it probably is a good sign in terms of material quality, but the smell was almost overwhelming during the first week or two.
Interestingly, I later discovered that many other Thursday owners had similar experiences, so it doesn’t seem uncommon.
Another thing worth mentioning is the weight.
Compared to many modern boots and sneakers, the Major feels noticeably heavy. Personally, I eventually got used to it and even started associating the weight with durability, but if lightweight footwear is important to you, it’s definitely something to consider.
I also noticed a small issue with one of the zipper hooks arriving slightly damaged.
Thankfully, it didn’t affect functionality, but it did make me question quality control slightly.
To be fair, this could easily have been a one-off issue rather than a widespread flaw, but at the same time, details matter when you’re buying leather boots designed to feel premium.
Sizing was honestly one of my biggest concerns before ordering.
Thursday recommends going half a size down from your sneaker size, but like many people, I found the advice slightly confusing because I normally wear the same size across most of my footwear.
In the end, I decided to ignore the recommendation and simply go true to size.
Thankfully, that worked perfectly for me.
The fit felt snug initially but never painfully tight, and after the break-in period, they molded nicely to my feet.
If anything, I’d say sizing probably depends heavily on foot shape, sock thickness, and how you personally prefer boots to fit.
Most Thursday Boots models retail for around $199, which is honestly one of the main reasons the brand has become so popular.
For US customers, shipping is free.
International buyers, however, usually have to pay additional VAT or import-related charges upfront. In my case, the total came to around $238.80 including VAT, which worked out to approximately £187 at the time.
Shipping was also noticeably slower internationally.
While US orders typically arrive within three to five business days, mine took close to two weeks to reach the UK. A few friends of mine in Germany reported similar delivery timelines as well.
Thursday’s US return policy is fairly generous provided the boots remain unworn and are returned within the allowed return period in their original packaging.
International buyers, however, don’t quite get the same convenience.
There are restocking fees involved alongside additional local return shipping costs, which can make exchanges frustrating if you order the wrong size.
Thankfully, because I went true to size, I never needed to test the return process myself.
After wearing them regularly, I honestly think the Thursday Major sits in a very interesting category of footwear.
They’re not ultra-premium luxury boots.
They’re not rugged heritage work boots either.
Instead, they occupy a middle ground that I think works extremely well for most people: stylish, versatile, durable, approachable, and reasonably priced for what you’re getting.
The side zipper genuinely improves everyday practicality, the leather and construction feel solid for the price, and the overall silhouette works with far more outfits than I originally expected.
Yes, there are compromises.
The break-in period requires patience.
The boots are fairly heavy.
And quality control could probably be more consistent.
But overall, I understand exactly why Thursday Boots has become so popular.
For the money, the Major delivers an experience that feels far more premium than its price tag suggests.
I might not wear them all the time, but honestly, after two years, they’ve become one of the easiest pairs of boots in my rotation to keep reaching for, which is probably the strongest compliment I can give them.
How they look now:
Not much has changed. Just a few creases here and there.
Founded in New York, the brand markets itself around the idea of “honest pricing”, cutting out traditional retail markups, avoiding endless sales tactics, and focusing instead on delivering quality boots at a fair, consistent price year-round.
No fake discounts.
No inflated MSRPs (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price).
No “70% off” marketing tricks.
Just straightforward pricing for well-built boots.
Naturally, that kind of branding creates curiosity, especially online where Thursday Boots are constantly recommended as one of the best entry points into quality leather footwear.
And after seeing countless positive reviews, YouTube videos, Reddit discussions, and customer photos, I eventually decided to see what the hype was about myself.
The pair I ended up buying was the Major boot in Walnut.
For reference, I wear a UK size 8 (US 8.5).
First impressions
The first thing that struck me when unboxing the boots was how substantial they felt.
Not flashy.
Not overly rugged.
Just solid.
There’s a certain confidence good leather boots have when you first pick them up, the weight, the smell of the leather, the stiffness of the construction, and the Major immediately gave off that impression.
At the same time, they didn’t feel overly bulky the way some heritage-style boots can. The silhouette remains fairly sleek and versatile, which is probably one of the reasons the Major appealed to me more than some of Thursday’s more traditional workwear-inspired models.
Design and aesthetics
I bought mine in Walnut, although the Major is also available in several other colors including black.
Visually, I think this is one of Thursday’s most underrated designs.
What separates the Major from many standard lace-up boots is the side zipper detail. It sounds like a small thing, but in everyday use it genuinely changes the experience of wearing them.
I like boots, but I’ve never loved constantly lacing and unlacing them every time I need to head out. The side zipper makes the Major far more practical for daily wear while still maintaining the look of a classic lace-up boot.
And thankfully, the zipper doesn’t look cheap or out of place.
Combined with the cap toe design and slim profile, the Major sits nicely between smart and casual styling. It has enough structure to work in slightly dressier outfits while still feeling relaxed enough for everyday wear.
Over time, this became one of my favorite things about the boots.
I could wear them with jeans, chinos, wool trousers, oversized outerwear, casual office fits, or even smarter evening outfits.
Very few boots transition this naturally between different styles without looking too formal or too rugged.
Leather and construction
Thursday uses a variety of premium leathers across its lineup, including, Horween leather, Rugged & Resilient leather, Chrome leather, and WeatherSafe suede.
The Major uses durable water-resistant leather paired with a full glove leather interior lining, which immediately makes the boots feel more premium than many similarly priced alternatives.
Living in the UK, where rain is basically part of everyday life, this ended up being a major advantage.
The leather handled minor wet conditions surprisingly well, and the studded outsole provided far more grip than I initially expected, especially on slippery pavements during colder months.
Then:
Now:
One of the biggest selling points, though, is the Goodyear welted construction.
At this price point, that still feels impressive.
Not only does it improve durability, but it also means the soles can eventually be resoled instead of throwing the entire boots away once the outsole wears down.
That long-term repairability is something many cheaper fashion boots simply don’t offer.
Another thing worth mentioning is the heel height.
At around 6’0”, I’m not exactly searching for extra height, but the Major does add roughly an inch to an inch and a half, which subtly improves posture and presence without feeling exaggerated.
The break-in period
Like most quality leather boots, the Major wasn’t immediately comfortable out of the box.
The leather felt stiff initially, and the boots were fairly snug during the first couple of weeks.
That said, the discomfort never felt excessive, more like the typical break-in process you’d expect from structured leather footwear.
After around two weeks of regular wear, the leather softened noticeably and the boots started adapting much better to my feet.
Once broken in, they became significantly more comfortable for everyday use.
Still, if you’re expecting sneaker-level softness from day one, these probably aren’t the boots for you.
The drawbacks
As much as I like the Major, they’re definitely not perfect.
The leather smell
The first issue was the smell.
When I first unboxed them, the leather scent, although nice, was incredibly strong. Some people associate that with quality craftsmanship, and to be fair, it probably is a good sign in terms of material quality, but the smell was almost overwhelming during the first week or two.
Interestingly, I later discovered that many other Thursday owners had similar experiences, so it doesn’t seem uncommon.
Weight
Another thing worth mentioning is the weight.
Compared to many modern boots and sneakers, the Major feels noticeably heavy. Personally, I eventually got used to it and even started associating the weight with durability, but if lightweight footwear is important to you, it’s definitely something to consider.
Minor quality control issue
I also noticed a small issue with one of the zipper hooks arriving slightly damaged.
Thankfully, it didn’t affect functionality, but it did make me question quality control slightly.
To be fair, this could easily have been a one-off issue rather than a widespread flaw, but at the same time, details matter when you’re buying leather boots designed to feel premium.
Sizing and fit
Sizing was honestly one of my biggest concerns before ordering.
Thursday recommends going half a size down from your sneaker size, but like many people, I found the advice slightly confusing because I normally wear the same size across most of my footwear.
In the end, I decided to ignore the recommendation and simply go true to size.
Thankfully, that worked perfectly for me.
The fit felt snug initially but never painfully tight, and after the break-in period, they molded nicely to my feet.
If anything, I’d say sizing probably depends heavily on foot shape, sock thickness, and how you personally prefer boots to fit.
Pricing, shipping and delivery
Most Thursday Boots models retail for around $199, which is honestly one of the main reasons the brand has become so popular.
For US customers, shipping is free.
International buyers, however, usually have to pay additional VAT or import-related charges upfront. In my case, the total came to around $238.80 including VAT, which worked out to approximately £187 at the time.
Shipping was also noticeably slower internationally.
While US orders typically arrive within three to five business days, mine took close to two weeks to reach the UK. A few friends of mine in Germany reported similar delivery timelines as well.
Returns and exchanges
Thursday’s US return policy is fairly generous provided the boots remain unworn and are returned within the allowed return period in their original packaging.
International buyers, however, don’t quite get the same convenience.
There are restocking fees involved alongside additional local return shipping costs, which can make exchanges frustrating if you order the wrong size.
Thankfully, because I went true to size, I never needed to test the return process myself.
Final Verdict: are Thursday Boots Major worth it?
After wearing them regularly, I honestly think the Thursday Major sits in a very interesting category of footwear.
They’re not ultra-premium luxury boots.
They’re not rugged heritage work boots either.
Instead, they occupy a middle ground that I think works extremely well for most people: stylish, versatile, durable, approachable, and reasonably priced for what you’re getting.
The side zipper genuinely improves everyday practicality, the leather and construction feel solid for the price, and the overall silhouette works with far more outfits than I originally expected.
Yes, there are compromises.
The break-in period requires patience.
The boots are fairly heavy.
And quality control could probably be more consistent.
But overall, I understand exactly why Thursday Boots has become so popular.
For the money, the Major delivers an experience that feels far more premium than its price tag suggests.
I might not wear them all the time, but honestly, after two years, they’ve become one of the easiest pairs of boots in my rotation to keep reaching for, which is probably the strongest compliment I can give them.
How they look now:
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