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Home / Blog / Shoes / Boots

Thursday Boots Duke Chelsea Boot Review (After 4+ Years)

Published on April 21, 2021 by Brock McGoff · Boots, Product Reviews May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

In this long term Thursday Boots Duke review, we’re going to take a look at a pair of Chelsea boots I’ve owned for over four years now.

Table of Contents

  • Quick Take
  • The Duke Chelsea Boot
    • Construction & Aesthetic
    • Duke Sizing
    • Weatherproof Suede
    • Long-Term Wear & Tear
  • Thursday Boots Duke vs. Cavalier
  • My Recommendation

These have gotten a ton of wear since I got them – possibly more than any other boots I’ve ever owned.

TBC honey suede Chelsea boots
This is how they looked after just a couple months of regular wear.

They were the first pair of Chelsea boots that I really fell in love with and wore regularly, and I want to share with you my thoughts and recommendation after having putting so many miles on them.

Quick Take

These casual suede Chelsea boots have aged nicely and gotten more comfortable with time. They’re one of the most worn pair of boots I’ve ever owned.

Chelsea boots
I’ve gotten so much wear out of these boots over the years and can easily recommend them to you!

The Duke definitely gets my seal of approval, so if you’re thinking about buying a pair for yourself, you have my full support.

If you prefer, you can also buy these boots on Amazon.

The Duke Chelsea Boot

This is Thursday’s first iteration of the Chelsea boot, a boot style that made a huge comeback a few years ago and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, at least not anytime soon.

Thursday Boots Duke Honey Suede
Thursday Boots Duke in Honey Suede after about four years of regular wear (and almost no TLC). You can check the price on Amazon right here.

All Chelsea boots have laceless uppers and elastic side panels. Most of them have pull tabs (a functional but sometimes annoying detail – more on that later).

Related: Hands-On Thursday Boot Co. Captain Review

But not all Chelsea boots are the same. While some are very dressy, the Duke is more casual. Its silhouette is sort of like a work boot (i.e., slightly chunky).

Construction & Aesthetic

This boot features Goodyear welt construction, which is great for long term durability and water resistance, but it’s not as lightweight or sleek as a Blake stitched boot, for example.

Thursday Boots Duke side 2
The Thursday Boots Duke is a decidedly casual Chelsea boot. You won’t be wearing these with your suits!

So if you’re looking for a Chelsea boot to wear with business casual outfits or suits, this is not your best choice. However, it’s perfect for casual and smart casual looks (e.g., with jeans or chinos).

Thursday Boot Co Duke
The Duke is a great Chelsea boot for casual and smart casual outfits.

Note that Thursday Boot Co. now offers another Chelsea Boot style that’s a bit more refined and dressy. One isn’t better than the other, but they are different and probably better for certain people.

Since my everyday style is pretty casual, the Duke is perfect for me.

Duke Sizing

This is a size 7 boot, and in my opinion, it fits true to size. It’s a very comfy boot to wear. It didn’t require much break in, and I haven’t experienced any loss of support over time.

Slip on Chelsea boots
The Duke has a pretty narrow shaft, and it hasn’t stretched out too much over the years (which is a good thing).

I wear it with thin or thick boot socks, depending on the temperature outside, and it feels great either way.

For reference, I wear a 7D in the Allen Edmonds Park Avenue.

Weatherproof Suede

This boot (here it is on Amazon) comes in leather or suede. Like many guys, I sometimes worry about suede being too fragile, especially if you live somewhere that gets rain.

I really don’t like to baby my shoes. I want them to be able to take a beating, and I don’t want to let them sit in the closet for fear of ruining them on a rainy or snowy day.

Walking through leaves
These are four season boots, from leafy autumn mornings to hot summer afternoons and even snowy winter evenings.

So I was really curious to see how Thursday’s Weatherproof Suede held up against the elements, as well as general wear and tear.

I have to say: I’m really impressed. I’ve worn these on wet, rainy days. I’ve walked through the woods with bob boys on, as well as countless urban jungles (with all of their hazards).

I even got caught off guard in a New York City blizzard, and I was stuck here for two days without any other shoes. I walked all over, through fresh snow and gross city slush, and these took the beating happily.

Long-Term Wear & Tear

I’ve worn fresh, inky dark wash jeans with these honey colored boots, and some ink transfer has occurred, but it’s surprisingly not that bad.

Denim ink transfer on suede
On light suede, some denim ink transfer is inevitable. You can get this cleaned or cuff your jeans to avoid any transfer.

I’ve never cleaned these boots or used a suede brush. I’ve never treated them before winter. They’ve never been to the cobbler or shoe shine stand.

And while they definitely show some signs of wear, I’d say they still look pretty darn good.

Not to mention, I’ve never felt any moisture get through these boots, likely thanks to that sturdy Goodyear welt construction.

Thursday Boots Duke vs. Cavalier

It’s worth noting that Thursday Boot Co. offers another Chelsea boot style called The Cavalier. Compared to The Duke, it’s a dressier boot.

Thursday Boots Duke vs Cavalier
Thursday Boots Duke vs. Cavalier (right)

Both of these styles are great choices, so you really can’t go wrong with either one. If your style leans smart casual or business casual, go with The Cavalier.

If you mostly wear casual outfits (jeans, t-shirts, henleys, etc.), The Duke is a great choice.

My Recommendation

I really don’t have any complaints about the Thursday Boot Co. Duke. It’s a casual Chelsea boot made with remarkably durable suede, and it’s a Goodyear welted boot for under $200.

Thursday Boots Duke back
The Thursday Boot Co. Duke Chelsea Boot absolutely gets my seal of approval. It’s also available on Amazon.

My only advice for you is this: if you want a dressy boot that you can wear with dress pants or even suits, The Duke wouldn’t be my top pick (go with something like the Beckett Simonon Bolton instead).

But for me? With its casual silhouette, comfy footbed and versatile honey color, the Duke has become a staple in my wardrobe, and I don’t think that’ll change anytime soon.

I hope this long term Thursday Boots Duke review helps you make the best possible purchase for yourself.

If you have any questions, please ask below in the comments section!

Boots, Product Reviews Chelsea boots, suede, Thursday Boots

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About Brock McGoff

The Modest Man founder, Brock is an aspiring minimalist who enjoys working out, spending time with his family, discovering new brands and creating great content.

Background: Brock McGoff has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a professional background in digital marketing. He believes that men's fashion is just one facet of self-improvement, and he started The Modest Man to help regular guys feel more confident by improving their appearance.

An east coast native, Brock currently lives in Arizona with his wife and daughter. When he's not working, he spends time with family, training BJJ, reading/listening to books and podcasts, and unsuccessfully trying to decide which movie to stream.

Expertise: Brock has built a men's lifestyle YouTube channel with over 400k subscribers. He's also worked as the creative marketing manager in a men's apparel startup. Brock has been quoted in, mentioned by or featured in publications like Esquire, Huff Post, Men's Health, WWD and Forbes.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

  1. Matt says

    September 17, 2021 at 3:41 pm

    Hi, I plan on getting a paid of Dukes also and was wondering what size to get. I already own a pair of Thursdays Cavaliers in a size 8. They are not to big and are not to small. Sometimes I get the feeling that when I sit and shake or move my foot the boot moves as if it’s to big. When I walk I don’t feel the movement and when I put my foot up to the top of the shoe there is about a finger width gap between my heel and the back of the shoe. Do you recommend I stay with a size 8 or should I drop down to a size 7.5 so they are snugger or do you think the 7.5 size will be to small?

    Reply
    • AHR says

      November 2, 2022 at 8:57 am

      Just like most leather boots, I’d advice to try different ones, since it might depend on overall shape of the boots. For example, My Dukes are size 8, but when me and my wife went to get ourself leather cowboy boots(nearby store has decent variety of Twisted-x and Corral boots ), I had to go to 8.5, even though boots were looks visually smaller compared to Dukes. And all of that due to the shape difference.

      Reply
  2. Marqus says

    August 20, 2021 at 9:59 am

    Everyone online saying the insole starts losing support after 1 year. You have worn yours for 4 years. How is the support of the insole/ shoe. Is there still support or is it like walking with bricks?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      August 20, 2021 at 10:10 am

      I think those people are a vocal minority. I haven’t had any problems with Thursday’s insoles.

      Reply
  3. Zafar says

    April 27, 2021 at 9:45 am

    Thanks for this review! I have a pair of Scouts in Dark Olive Suede from Thursdays which have been through rain and sludge in the last two years but are holding up well. Another vote for Thursdays!

    Reply
    • Brock says

      April 27, 2021 at 2:34 pm

      I love their dark olive suede color…so versatile!

      Reply

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