We tried this startup’s boots, and they’re just as good as pairs twice their price

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Any time you are looking to make a purchase, there is a balancing act between the quality of the product and what you are willing to pay.

In some cases, there are less expensive products that perform better than their more expensive counterparts, but that's not always the case.

One place this divide is fairly clear is in the world of footwear. There are certain shoes you know won't break the bank, but if you want to invest in a quality pair, chances are you’re going to have to reach into your wallet.

Nolan Walsh, cofounder of Thursday Boot Company, told Business Insider this divide is part of that inspired him and his partner Connor Wilson to start their company. “It was the classic Goldilocks scenario; we just couldn't find the right boots for us in the market! Boots that were in our price range were liable to fall apart after one season, and we weren't comfortable paying $400-plus for something well-made.”

Walsh and Wilson launched a Kickstarter campaign in October of 2014 with the goal of bringing stylish, well-constructed boots to customers at reasonable prices. After setting an initial goal of $30,000, the campaign made over $275,000, and Thursday Boot Company was born.

Like many companies disrupting their respective industries, Thursday Boot Co. is able to deliver a quality product at a better price point by cutting out middlemen, marketing directly to customers, and running a smart, lean operation. While style and price are key components to the company’s mission, Walsh also emphasized that no corners are cut when it comes to comfort.

“Comfort is everything. Where other brands cut corners we invest in premium features, such as soft and supple glove leather lining, corkbed midsoles that conform to your feet, and EVA comfort strips similar to premium athletic shoes.”

Since the company's successful crowdfunding campaign, the brand’s mission to bring quality boots to the people has only grown. With an initial goal of selling 1,000 boots and seeing how things went, Thursday Boot Co. is now moving more than 1,000 pairs a week.

The Insider Picks team recently got a chance to try out the brand for ourselves. You can find the pairs we chose and our thoughts on them below. If you’re interested, maybe pick up a pair for yourself.

Breton Fischetti, senior director, commerce

I've been really interested in Thursday Boot Company for a couple of months. I see their ads a lot on Facebook, plus I noticed a guy on a flight I took recently had one of their hats, and I wanted to figure out if they were the real deal or not.

I got their Duke Black Chelsea boot, which costs $199. Thursday Boot Co. is another great example why it's a great time in men's clothing. So many companies are starting to try and balance quality and price without being exclusive.

The boots broke in almost immediately, I've been wearing them almost five days a week. The leather and construction are comparable to boots I've tested that cost almost twice as much. I give credit to Thursday Boot Co. — they probably could have charged between $50-$100 more for these boots, and it would have been fine. But I appreciate that they decided to make them at a price point that's more attainable for everyone, seemingly without sacrificing the looks or the quality.

The Duke retails for $199 and is available in three great colors, brown (pictured), black, and honey.

Ellen Hoffman, commerce editor

There are a number of factors you should take into consideration when buying new boots — comfort, durability, quality, and price being some of the most obvious ones. Color, style, and brand might also influence your decision.

If you want boots that check off all of these boxes, I can’t recommend Thursday Boot Company’s Downtown Boots enough.

They’re some of the most comfortable ones I’ve worn right out of the box with virtually no break-in period. I’ve been wearing my black suede pair everywhere the past few weeks, with skirts, jeans, and everything in between. At $149, they’re also an excellent price; I’ve paid double that for pairs I liked half as much.

The Downtown retails for $149 and is available in five great colors, black (pictured), daisy, honey, midnight, and smoke.

Tyler Lauletta, commerce reporter

While I’ve enjoyed handsome pairs of chukkas and leather dress boots in the past, I was immediately drawn to the look of The Diplomat from Thursday Boot Co.

It’s a bit bolder than my usual footwear, and before putting them on I was actually a bit nervous; but now they are easily some of my favorite shoes in my closet. They’re extremely comfortable, provide more support than I had imagined they would, and it only took maybe half a day to break them in.

You can tell they’re well designed and well constructed; a good amount of thought were put into these boots.

The Diplomat retails for $199 and is available in three great colors, cognac (pictured), brown, and natural.