PRODUCT REVIEW: THURSDAY BOOT COMPANY “SCOUT” CHUKKA BOOT  (9.0)

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NLESS YOU’VE BEEN HIDING UNDER A ROCK FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS, YOU’LL KNOW THAT THE BUSINESS OF MEN’S FOOTWEAR IS BOOMING RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE A TON OF HIGH QUALITY OPTIONS OUT THERE IN THE MARKET FOR EVERYONE IN EVERY PRICE RANGE YOU CAN IMAGINE. SOME OF THESE BRANDS CATER SPECIFICALLY TO CERTAIN STYLES OF MEN’S FOOTWEAR. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE’VE WATCHED AS THE BRAND, THURSDAY BOOTS, HAS GONE FROM GRADUAL TO GIGANTIC ALL THANKS TO HAVING A TOP-QUALITY PRODUCT AND GREAT MARKETABILITY. THEIR PRODUCTS LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND FEELS LIKE ANY WELL-WORN PAIR OF BOOTS SHOULD. TYPICALLY WE FAVOR WEARING DRESS SHOES, BUT ON OCCASION, A WELL-MADE CHUKKA BOOT SHOULD BE RELIED ON IN YOUR WARDROBE. THE THURSDAY BOOT, “SCOUT”, CHUKKA BOOT WAS ON OUR LIST DUE TO A NEED IN OUR FOOTWEAR WARDROBE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY FILLED BY THE CLASSIC CLARKS DESERT BOOT. WE MANAGED TO TAKE THIS BOOT THOROUGHLY THROUGH ITS PACES AND THE RESULTS SHOULD PLEASE ANYONE WHO’S LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW.


THURSDAY BOOT COMPANY "SCOUT" CHUKKA BOOT

Quality9.0
Design8.4
Fit8.8
Price9.9
9.0

QUALITY

Taking a closer look at these boots, you’re going to notice a few things right out of the box. 1. The leather quality is pretty spectacular. Out of the box, you’ll notice right away their very high sheen, similar to some high-end dress shoes. One of the reasons we selected the “Scout” was because of its more refined look when compared with other competitors. (NOTE - WE PURCHASED THE BROWN SCOUT, WHICH HAS MORE SHINE AND RED COLOR IN IT THEN THURSDAY’S OTHER BROWN OPTIONS)  2. They don’t look cheap in person. A lot of brands can take great photography of their product, but when it comes to putting the boots through their steps, they fall flat. Things like the thickness of the leather, the condition of the stitching or even the quality of the laces, used is something we consider when reviewing our shoes. You’re truly getting what you see. A beautiful boot that can be worn with jeans or in the right situations, even dress pants. People who see them would think they were a lot more expensive than what you’ve paid. 3. They are comfortable – right out of the box. With leather footwear, there tends to be a break-in period where the leather is so stiff to the wearer’s foot. These are made with soft leather. That’s big.

DESIGN


The chukka boot isn’t some revolutionary new design. It’s a common boot that can be found anywhere in the world for good reason; it’s simple, versatile and depending on the details, works with a lot in a man’s wardrobe. You’ve probably owned a pair, probably by Clarks. Clarks has made the same crepe-soled chukka since 1940’s and for some is a bit boring. When comparing the two, the Thursday “Scout” shines far above the antiquated offers of Clarks. It’s the small details that really impress us when it comes to re-inventing a classic. First thing we noticed in Thursday’s updated design is the sheer height of the boot. Clarks have made an iconic boot, no questions, but for guys who have bigger feet, support is needed. Thursday’s leather thickness and lining really hold your ankle firm and when tied, mold to the shape of your ankle. Another fine detail of these boots is the tongue. With your typical Clarks, the tongue tends to slide to the side after long periods of wear and some instances causes uneven boot wear or creases. The Scout’s tongue stays in front and actually holds your ankle tight. Moving to the sole of these boots, they are sturdy, studded rubber bottoms. A quick look at the Thursday “Scout” and you would think these are leather soled. Only meant for ideal fall and early spring days, but the addition of the stealthy grip on these boots allows the wearer to use these for more than just the good weather days. Also, because they are made with such quality, they have the ability to be re-soled after they’ve been well-worn. As with all newer companies, there are going to be some kinks with the products. First one we came into was the sheer weight of these boots. With all the praise for quality, these boot are a bit heavier than your standard unlined Clarks desert boot. For some, weight isn’t an issue but there are people who suffer from foot drop and these boots might cause a problem with the rubber sole grabbing concrete and causing the wearer to trip. Another problem that’s common with chukka boots is indigo rub off from denim jeans. While we didn’t purchase the suede versions, because of the height of the boot, you’re definitely going to get blue stains on the upper edge. If this does not bother you, then more power to you! For those who want a definitive answer, shoot Thursday an email. Another small detail we discovered was for the guy with a narrower foot, who typically likes their boots tied tight, be aware that the waxed laces of the “Scout” boot are tricky. These round waxed laces, though high in quality, were giving us slight problems when tightening the boots on our first few wears. This was probably due to them being both waxed and brand new. We were sure to chat with the reps at Thursday Boot customer service. They assured us that it may just be because they were so new and of course offered to send us a new pair if the problems persisted. First rate customer service from start to finish and really no surprise from a brand that’s making a great name for themselves.

FIT

It was advised to size down half a size in order to get the right fit. We did and found the boot to fit perfect. With boots, it comes down to the style you’re looking for and the circumstances in which you’ll be wearing them. If you want sleek and fitted, make sure you size down because you’ll typically be wearing them with thinner dress socks. For a boot in which you might be wearing in colder months, it’s wiser to allow space for thick sock. Don’t feel pressured to buy if you’re unsure. Contact customer service and ask them. If they don’t fit, Thursday Boots has a free return policy and you can return the boots and find the right size.

PRICE

The Thursday “Scout” is reasonably priced at $149 with free shipping and free returns. If you think about it, shipping something as heavy as a pair of boots can cost a ton. Having that free-shipping/free-return really offsets the cost of spending a little bit more on the quality of boot you’re getting. Keep in mind, Thursday has over 10 different boot styles with about 4 different types of leather for each style. That’s over 40 different boots to choose from. From more formal to casual style, you can typically own any pair of their shoes from between $149-$249.

OVERALL

Overall we’re thrilled with this boot. It’s really nice to know that just because other established footwear companies have made a wardrobe classic, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be reinvented and improved. The leather quality, look and feel of these boots alone, will persuade any style-conscious guy into buying them. Once you’ve purchased them, you’ll be glad to know that your money was well spent. A few small tweaks aside, these boots can be worn with everything in a guy’s wardrobe. They literally go with everything from jeans and a denim shirt to a more polished look with wool trousers. You can even throw some chinos on and a crew neck sweater and your outfit will be complete with these boots! The Thursday “Scout” is a great option for a guy looking to break away from the me-too look of the typical Clark’s chukka and raises the bar for all other footwear companies trying to disrupt a market. Thursday Boots are quickly establishing themselves as a quality, go-to brand for men’s boots and we’ll definitely be reviewing another pair in the coming year and keep you informed on the latest and greatest men’s clothing in the market.


TLDR:
READY TO GO RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, LOOK GREAT AND SUPPORT YOUR ANKLE. MAY BE HEAVY FOR SOME
BECAUSE OF RUBBER SOLE; NO BRAINER FOR $149 USD

This was a 100% honest review. Genuine Men’s Magazine was not gifted or given any monetary compensation for this review. We purchased this product with our own money and hope that you’ll make your own decision based on what we’ve written. Thanks for your viewership!

About The Author: StevenDElliott

Steven is the founder of Genuine Men’s Magazine. He graduated Drexel University with a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. Along with his passion for photography and design, Steven loves helping men find new and emerging menswear brands and offer his opinions when it comes to real-life situations.