Thursday Highline Boot Review: Damn Sleek 3-Inch Heels

A white (or cream, or eggshell, or ivory) boot may not be the most practical piece of clothing in your closet, but damn if it ain’t one of the most striking.

As a white boot collector — thus far, I have my Thursday Reigns, my Tecovas Annies, my Thursday Combat Boots, my over-the-knee Franco Sartos, and a pair of ankle-length, pointy-toed, long-ago-discontinued Aldos that just won’t quit — I know that boots like these can make a whole outfit, and if they don’t stay perfectly white (or cream, or eggshell, or ivory) that’s okay. It just means that they are loved.

The latest addition to my collection? Thursday Boots’ $180 Highline in Beige leather. The name is a bit of a misnomer — these babies are cream through and through — but the boots themselves tell no lies.

Thursday Highline Boots Pros and Cons

If you’ve got somewhere to be, here’s a quick rundown of what I liked and didn’t like about these boots.

Pros

• Quality materials & a full grain leather upper
• Great value
• Durable, sleek, and sophisticated silhouette
• Really easy to take on and off

Cons

• Slippery on polished floors
• Slight break in period
• 3-inch heel can be challenging if you’re not used to it
• Less padding than some of Thursday’s other boots

About Thursday Boots

Thursday Boot Company, established in 2014 by two friends, Connor Wilson and Nolan Walsh, operates on the belief that quality boots—the ones that last years, not months—shouldn’t be exorbitantly priced. They focused on developing an array of stylish, comfortable boots mostly priced under $200. Their streamlined business approach allows them to offer affordable boots with remarkably low markups. (Direct to Consumer at its best!) Initially known for their practical, durable men’s Captain boots, they have since expanded their range to include various women’s styles, featuring more trendy options like the Highline.

Highline Boot’s Aesthetic

These boots are available in five colorways: Black full grain leather, Walnut full grain leather, the aforementioned Beige (a.k.a. eggshell) full grain leather, Savanna WeatherSafe™ Suede, and Tobacco Rugged & Resilient Leather. The silhouette is sleek as hell, with a pointy-rounded toe, a sleek all-leather body, and a lightly tapered 3-inch wooden heel.

They have a timeless simplicity but bring an elegant structure to jeans, a classic pair of bell bottoms, or a patterned maxi dress, and are very easy to slip on and off thanks to what they call the Rubi® metal zipper, which runs down the inner ankle and is impressively durable. They are not quite “fashion boots,” but they are sleek with sophisticated silhouettes.

[Learn More: Thursday Boot Co. Women’s Captain Boot Review]

Thursday Highline Boot Sizing & Fit

• Order your usual size

These boots fit pretty true to size: my usual 9 was perfect.

The leather is a bit stiff to start, so they will require a bit of break-in, and I personally struggled a bit with the three inches of heel, which put a good bit of pressure on the balls of my feet—though this is more a symptom of being someone who doesn’t usually wear heels than any inherent issue of the boot.

Just beware that unlike some of chunky, Rubflex-soled Thursday boots’ styles like the Reigns or the Codas, these offer less padding between your foot and the ground and will not absorb as much shock. If this bothers you, try inserting some metatarsal pads to ease the pressure.

[Further Reading: How to Size Thursday Boots]

Highline Leather

The beige (and black, and walnut) versions of these boots are made of buttery-smooth full grain leather, which basically means leather that’s thicker than some of those really thin dress leathers out there (the kind that starts wearing away as soon as somebody inevitably steps on your foot). “Full grain” means the leather has the outermost layer of the animal’s skin, which a lot of brands shave or sand away to make it thinner and smoother at the cost of durability and longevity. 

Thursday Boot’s leather may have been slightly corrected, as you won’t see many of the wrinkles, pores, and grains of hardy full grain leather, but the appearance may instead simply be because of the leather or hide selection. In either case, a ton of leathers people call full grain have actually been sanded or shaved—the technical word is “corrected”—a little bit.

So these boots are smooth but still far more durable than thinner, very corrected leather. Best of all, the leather is ethically sourced from Tier 1 USA cattle and made exclusively at tanneries that get high marks on environmental practices from the Leather Working Group.

Notably, they also come in Thursday’s Savanna WeatherSafe™ suede. This leather combines waterproof and hydrophobic elements, effectively repelling water to keep your feet dry in various conditions. Basically, it counters the most common complaint about sued: that it stains easily and can’t handle a little water. 

Want something even sturdier? Try the Tobacco-colored Rugged & Resilient Leather version of this boot, which is made from leather that’s hot stuffed with extra oils to make it extra durable and weatherproof. Just note that because this leather is thicker, it’s typically harder to break in than the regular kind, so it may be uncomfortable for the first week or two of wear. (My editor Nick had that experience with his Tobacco President boots.)

Highline Sole

• 3″ heel with anti-slip base gives you extra grip so you can stand confidently
• Premium leather outsoles provide a durable, sleek, and sophisticated silhouette.
• Comfortable shock-absorbing insoles form to your feet over time for all-day comfort.
• Fully lined with glove leather

The Highline’s “premium leather outsole” contributes to a sleek, flat profile. But leather is smoother than rubber and despite being marketed as an anti-slip base, it tends to be more slippery than the usual rubber-soled boots. I roughen up the bottoms on coarse pavement before heading out and remain cautious on slick surfaces.

Having given due caution, even without deliberate scuffing—the soles will naturally acquire scuffs after the first use—scuffed leather gains a surprising amount of grip, so the initial smoothness of the sole shouldn’t be a major concern.

As mentioned, the lack of Rubflex, a material you’ll find on some of Thursday boots chunkier styles, makes these boots a bit less padded. But the Poron antimicrobial shock absorbing insoles mold to your foot over time for more and more comfort and eases some of the pressure caused by the three-inch heel (and if that’s not enough, just pop in those metatarsal pads). But they are comfortable shock absorbing insoles.

[Read More: What Is EVA Foam and Why Is It Being Put In Boots?]

Highline Construction

Unlike Thursday’s men’s boots, which are made with Goodyear welt construction (GYW), the Highlines are cemented. That means they’re built more like sneakers, with the top glued to the sole rather than the typical men’s boot construction: multiple heavy layers of leather and cork and welts and ribs and so on.

Not being GYW means they can’t be resoled, but it also means they’re lighter and more flexible. Historically, Thursday’s female customers have preferred that and almost all of their women’s boots have become cemented. This also lowers the cost — they’re even cheaper than their men’s boots. 

Price: Are Thursday’s Highling Boots Worth It?

• $180

At $180 a pair, these boots aren’t cheap, but if you’re a connoisseur of women’s footwear you’ll find the price plenty attractive. (And free domestic U.S. ground shipping and free shipping returns are a nice touch).

Being direct-to-consumer means Thursday boots cut out the brick and mortar stores that used to sell all of our wares, and needed to charge extra to keep their lights on. Thursday’s price is solid without sacrificing quality, similar to other brands like Frye. When it comes to ivory-colored boots (if you too take this particular plunge), you want a high quality leather that won’t scuff easily, and the Highline meets that mark: They still look great after quite a few wears, and you’d best believe I’ll be rocking them long after Labor Day.

Are Thursday boots made with full-grain leather?

The vast majority are, with the exception of some suedes and some patent leathers in the women's line.

Where does Thursday source their leather?

Thursday Boots sources most of its leather from the very sustainable Lefarc Tannery in Leon, Mexico. It also uses Horween leather from Chicago, USA. Look for the 'Chromexcel' ones if US leather's important to you.

Are Thursday boots made of patent leather?

The majority are not, but a few of the chromier looking women's shoes have patent leather like the Viva ballet slipper, chunky Dynasty boot, and Penny loafer.

Why are Thursday boots priced reasonably?

Because of a very boring mastery of logistics and tariffs, plus they only sell online so they avoid the markups of retail stores.