Dr. Martens, also commonly known as Doc Martens or DM, is a British footwear and clothing brand that is most popular for the boots it makes. Products from this brand are described as iconic, and people love them because of the air-cushioned sole and welted construction fitted in them.
Thursday Boots is another footwear brand that has built its popularity by manufacturing boots. Boots from this brand are described to be durable and sophisticated. These boots were built to be used for work and play.
These are two of the world’s biggest bootmakers, and we want to examine which one of them has the better product.
I currently own a pair of boots from both brands; Dr. Marten 1460 boot and the Thursday Captain boot, and they will both be the subjects of comparison for this article.
The major difference between Dr. Martens and Thursday boots is the yellow stitching present in all Dr. Martens’s shoes.
In an actual sense, this feature separates Dr. Martens from every other boot-making brand, and not just Thursday, because the brand has acquired a position trademark registration that legally makes them the only brand allowed to use the yellow stitching.
This is the major difference I discovered because, in terms of materials used in production and style of design, neither brand has autonomy, so there is a little bit of copying, or better put, similarities in their products.
To ward off copycats and to be completely distinct in the boot market, Dr. Martens uses the special trademark which protects the specific way they use the yellow stitching.
This, invariably, means that no other brand – whether boot making or not – can apply yellow stitching to its product as Dr. Martens does.
While Dr. Martens has a trademark that makes it unique and distinct, the uniqueness of the Thursday brand lies in its hybrid boots.
Thursday is the brand that successfully combines dressy and casual into one boot. Boots from this company are neither dress boots nor heavy work boots. They are just special and different.
A lot of times, I mix up products from both brands because of the similarities in design. However, all I need to do to spot the difference is to look out for the yellow stitches.
Dr. Martens vs Thursday Boots: Which Is Better?
Since there is no widely accepted standard used to ascertain what makes one brand better than the other, it is down to our personal preference to determine which is better. Personally, I think Dr. Martens’s boots edge those of Thursday by a little bit.
Actually, it is not just me, there are many other people who agree that Dr. Martens is a top boot-making brand and the Thursday brand does not come close, yet.
According to an article on Fashionbeans.com that talked about the best men’s boot brands to know in 2022, we see Dr. Martens coming second on the list, whereas, Thursday did not make the list.
Also, thecosmopolitan.com, honestbrandreviews.com, and esquire.com are additional websites that added Dr. Martens is one of the best boot brands while the Thursday brand missed out.
There are many reasons why Dr. Martens would be regarded as better than Thursday, and while you would argue that Dr. Martens seem to be more popular, you can not dispute the fact that the brand actually produces high-quality boots.
As someone who owns and wear boots from both brands, I have a million and one reasons to choose Dr. Martens 1460 boots over Thursday Captain boots, and we will be addressing those reasons below
Basically, there are three main reasons why Dr. Martens 1460 boot is better than the Thursday Captain boot, and they are simply;
- Waterproof
- Durability
- Slip-resistant outsole
Dr. Martens boots are better because they have more waterproofing capabilities
If you use one of the latest Dr. Martens 1460 like I do then you will know that it comes with a new vulcanized natural rubber that is completely waterproof. This means that no matter how bad the rain maybe, I can confidently walk in it without fearing for the health of my shoe.
Thursday boots, however, are water-resistant. There is a limit to which they can be exposed to water hence they get spoilt.
Dr. Martens last longer than Thursday Boots
Durability refers to how well a shoe can withstand rigorous usage and still last long. I have been using Dr. Martens 1460 boot and the Thursday Captain boot for 3 years and during that time I always interchange them daily.
Over the years, I have worn both boots to hiking, row a boat, walk and run, and I have noticed that the Thursday Captain Boots have started wearing out while Dr. Martens remains unchanged.
3 years is a really long time, and that timeframe alone suggests quality. However, in terms of better quality, Dr. Martens edges Thursday boots a little.
Dr Martens’s slip-resistant outsole outperform Thursday boots sole
One of the many essences of wearing footwear is protection. A shoe can be fashionable and comfortable, but it goes a long way when such shoe is as well fitted with protective features like slip resistance.
Dr. Martens 1460 boot (see on Amazon) has the upper hand over the Thursday Captain boot because it sits on airwair sole that provides astounding traction and is slip-resistant, that is, it does not slip or skid on wet or smooth surfaces easily.
This is a feature that is not present in the Thursday Captain boot and thus, makes Dr. Martens 1460 better.
YOU CAN SHOP DR. MARTENS SHOES ONLINE HERE
YOU CAN SHOP DR. MARTENS SHOES ONLINE HERE
Differences between Dr. Martens and Thursday Boots
For every two similar things compared, there will always be features that set them apart. In this case, Dr. Martens 1460 boot and the Thursday Captain boot are worlds apart in the following ways;
- Dr. Martens boots have more height than Thursday Boots
- Yellow stitching present in Dr. Martens boots
- Dr. Martens boots sole make walking more comfortable and bouncy
- Thursday Boots are more versatile than Dr. Martens
- Dr. Marterns’ boots are waterproof while Thursday boots are water-resistant
- The material used in making the lace of Dr. Martens boots are quite different from that of Thursdays
Dr. Martens boots have more height than Thursday Boots
Looking at the physical design and make-up of both boots, you can easily spot some differences in which height is one of them. Dr. Martens 1460 boot actually covers the entire ankle and rises up further a bit while the Thursday boot stops at the ankle.
If you do not notice, you could just count the number of eyelets on the shoe.
Dr. Martens 1460 has eight (8) eyelets while Thursday Captain boot has seven (7). Out of that seven, 5 are opened and two are locked, depending on if the user decides to open them up and use.
Yellow stitching present in Dr. Martens boots
Secondly, the yellow stitching is another distinct feature that easily separates both boots. Like I mentioned earlier, the Dr. Martens brand has trademarked that style of stitching which gives them only the brand the legal right to use it.
Therefore, no matter the level of similarity the Thursday Captain boot wants to share with Dr. Martens 1460 boot, the yellow stitching will be the difference.
Dr. Martens boots sole make walking more comfortable and bouncy
For every kind of boot, the outsole is one of the most important features to look out for because it is what determines if the shoe will be durable or not.
Dr. Martens 1460 boot is fitted with an air-cushioned outsole that is bouncy, comfortable, and oil resistant. The sole that comes with this boot provides great traction and is also slip-resistant. On the other hand, we have the Thursday Captain boot coming with a studded rubber outsole that is very durable and comfortable.
To a certain extent, you can expect to get the same level of comfort and durability from the soles of both boots. However, only the Dr. Martens 1460 will help you stay on your feet with the slip-resistant feature.
Thursday Boots are more versatile than Dr. Martens
This is one difference that I actually consider to be a big deal. As a rational individual and consumer, I would love a product that I can use in a number of ways rather than just one way.
While Dr. Martens 1460 is a great work boot and cultural icon, the Thursday Captain boot is a classic hybrid of work and casual.
The Captain boot was designed to be worn from weekdays to weekends. This means that as you wear it to work, you can also wear it to parties and hangouts and you will still look stunning in them.
Dr. Martens may be a better work boot, but the Thursday Captain boot adds spice and style that lets it fit into any of your plans.
Dr. Martens’ boots are waterproof while Thursday boots are water-resistant
This is a really superior feature that Dr. Martens thought to add to its product, although it is only available in recent and newer versions.
Many, if not all, products of Dr. Martens will henceforth have a new vulcanized rubber used in its production process to make it completely waterproof. On the other hand, the Thursday Captain boot is as well fortified against water but it has a limit. Thursday Boots are only water-resistant and not waterproof.
On the website of the brand, it was constantly reiterated that although their boots are water-resistant, you should not go about standing in puddles or mud because they may actually damage them.
The material used in making the lace of Dr. Martens boots are quite different from that of Thursdays
Lastly, another feature that is different between these two boots is the material used to make the laces.
Dr. Martens 1460 boot has its laces made from high-quality double-faced satin ribbon, while the laces of the Thursday Captain boot were made from premium flat waxed cotton.
The materials of the laces may be different, but both of them come at a reasonable length and are pretty strong.
Are there Similarities between Dr. Martens and Thursday Boots?
Chelsea boots are a type of product that almost every footwear brand has made. There is actually a particular style to it and very few things differentiate the product of one brand from the other.
As we discussed the difference between these two boots, let us go over their similarities;
- Both made with 100% Leather
- Goodyear welt fitted in both
- High Quality
- Cap-Toe Design
Made with 100% Leather
One of the major things used in making boots is leather, so it is no surprise that both brands adopted the best available full-grain leather in the production of their boot.
Goodyear welt fitted in both
As part of the dedication of both brands to making quality and highly durable products, they both adopt the use of a Goodyear welt construction which does not only make the boots durable but also make them water-resistant and more comfortable.
The Goodyear welt construction in both brands gives both brands longevity and makes their products last for ages.
High Quality
Both brands have prided themselves in making boots that have the best quality and they have stuck to it all through.
Dr. Martens 1460 was made with classic leather that gets better with time. The longer you use it, the better it becomes. The same can be said for the Thursday Captain boots. It was made carefully crafted out of genuine leather that gets better with age.
One thing is for sure when you wear either of these boots, you will have the confidence to go the extra mile.
Cap-Toe Design
I did mention earlier in this article that it is normal to mix boots from these two up because of how similar they can be at times.
One similar thing in these boots is the cap-toe design they both sport. Basically, the cap-toe design is only for aesthetics and stylish decoration but it does play a role in creating a visual divide and helping identify how big the toe box is.
Conclusion
For context, Dr. Martens’s brand was established in 1947, while Thursday boots started in 2004. With 57 years between their years of establishment, we have to agree that the Thursday company has done well for itself in the short time it came onto the scene.
Challenging with top companies from the 19th and 20th centuries is a testament to how awesome their products are.
Right now, Dr. Martens may have the upper hand in terms of products, features of products, and a number of sales, but it looks like the Thursday Boot brand will be catching up sooner rather than later.
Related:
- Thursday Boots vs Blundstones
- Timberland vs Doc Martens
- Cheaper Alternatives to Thursday Boots
- Allen Edmonds vs Thursday Boots
- 10 Thursday Boots Competitors
- Thursday Boots vs Blundstones
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