Thursday Boot Company Captain Boot

Built in Merrill, Wisconsin on a Goodyear Storm Welt — a welt variant that wraps around the entire perimeter including the heel, making these even more resoleable than a standard welt. The upper uses full-grain American leather on a single-density Poron XRD foam footbed over a fiberglass shank. The MAXWear Wedge outsole is a dense Vibram compound that wears slower than crepe or standard rubber. Thorogood has been making work boots since 1892 and these are consistently recommended by tradespeople on r/workboots and r/BuyItForLife.

Handstitched in Chicago using Horween Natural Chromexcel leather — a chrome-tanned, combination-retanned leather that is the most water-resistant and patina-developing leather available in American production. The chain stitch construction bonds the sole to the upper without adhesive, making it fully rebuildable. The Vibram Roccia sole is a thin City vibram designed for pavement that can be replaced. OSB's repair program replaces soles and refinishes leather on any boot they've made. The trail oxford has been a consistent r/malefashionadvice and r/goodyearwelt recommendation for a decade.

The original Mountain Light (1980) pioneered the combination of Goodyear welt construction with a waterproof Gore-Tex bootie — Danner runs the Gore-Tex liner up through the entire boot shaft, not just the foot box. The upper uses full-grain leather from Horween in Chicago. The stitchdown construction bonds upper to midsole mechanically rather than adhesively, allowing resoling. Made in Portland, Oregon. The Vibram Kletterlift outsole is deep-lugged for off-trail traction.