Are Thursday Boots True to Brannock Size? Women's Fit Guide

If you’re standing in a shoe store, slipping your foot onto that metal foot measuring thing—yeah, that’s the Brannock device. It’s been the standard for shoe sizing forever, and it gives you a pretty spot-on read of your true foot size. But here’s where things get tricky: not every brand follows the Brannock number to a T, and even fewer do that with women’s boots.

Now, Thursday Boots are everywhere right now. Tons of people love them because they look good and you can actually walk a lot in them without feeling like your toes are crying for help. But should you just buy your usual Brannock size, or is there more to it?

• Cracking the Brannock Code
• Thursday Boots’ Sizing Explained
• What Real Wearers Experience
• Tips for Getting the Best Fit
• Common Sizing Questions Answered
• When to Size Up or Down

Cracking the Brannock Code

Let’s get real about the Brannock device—if you’ve been in a shoe store, you’ve probably used one. It’s that metal ruler thing with sliding parts that measures both your foot’s length and width. Charles Brannock invented it in 1927, and honestly, not much has changed since then. The reason? It works. Almost every real shoe size chart links back to this tool, especially when you’re talking boots or anything made for long wear.

The Brannock device isn’t just about the number stamped inside your sneaker. It checks three measurements: the length of your foot from heel to toe, your arch length, and the width (think B, D, EE, and so on). Strangely enough, a lot of folks don’t use all three numbers when finding their boot size—usually it’s just length, but width actually matters a ton, especially for women’s boots.

This kind of detail matters because if your Thursday Boots don’t match your true length and width, you’re headed for problems—think toe pinch, heel slip, or that awkward break-in pain. Pro tip: always measure both feet. It’s pretty normal for one foot to be a bit bigger. Go with the size that matches your bigger foot for less hassle later. And don’t stand on the Brannock with curled toes or your weight shifted weirdly, or you’ll end up wearing the wrong size and blaming the shoes, not the numbers.

One last thing—your "measured" Brannock size sometimes won’t be the number you actually wear, depending on the style. For boots, you might want a little extra space depending on how you’ll wear them (with socks, for example), or less if you like a glove-fit. It’s worth checking how the Brannock reading lines up with the sizing chart of whatever boot brand you’re into, instead of guessing based on sneakers or heels you already own.

Thursday Boots’ Sizing Explained

Here’s what you need to know before you click ‘add to cart’: Thursday Boots’ women’s styles are known to run pretty close to standard US sizing, but not every foot is the same. If you know your true size from the Brannock device, Thursday says you should order that size. This holds up for most women, mostly because Thursday builds their boots on what’s called a "true-to-size" last, which tries to match the shape and measurements you get on the Brannock.

But—and here’s where it can get confusing—the leather and construction matter. Thursday boots start out a little snug, thanks to firm leather uppers and that classic boot structure. The company itself mentions that most boots "break in" after a few wears, stretching out maybe half a size as the leather molds to your foot. If you’re between half sizes, Thursday usually recommends going down for a snugger fit, especially if you’re wearing thin or everyday socks. If you plan to use thick socks or orthotics, going up half a size makes sense.

Another thing: Thursday posts real measurements for each style and even gives you a size chart on their site. Don’t skip this. If you’re eyeing a specific boot, check the measurements for that exact model because some styles, especially their heeled boots or wide-fit options, aren’t identical to their flat boots.

• Check your most recent Brannock measurement if you haven’t in a while. Feet do weird things over the years and after big life changes.
• If you’re new to Thursday and want a safe bet—order your regular sneaker or flat shoe size if that matches your Brannock size.
• If you find yourself between sizes or with especially wide feet, read reviews for tips on that specific style since some run a little more narrow.

The big takeaway: Thursday Boots usually go by the book on sizing, but that initial tightness can throw people off. If you hate breaking in stiff shoes, consider a half size up, but for most people, your Brannock size is the one to try first.

What Real Wearers Experience

The real test for any footwear is how it fits when actual people put it through everyday use. Scroll through forums or look at the Thursday Boots women's size chart, and you'll see a pretty clear trend—most women say Thursday boots run either right at their Brannock size or about a half size big, depending on the style.

The Thursday Boots Captain and Legend boots are likely to fit true to Brannock size for most women with regular-width feet. For folks with narrow feet, some report that the boots feel roomy up front, while women with wider feet sometimes find the standard fit just okay or even snug. One clear win is the break-in period—most owners say it’s short, often under a week, and the leather stretches slightly without bagging out, which really helps with comfort.

If you’re between sizes, users agree: go down half a size for a snug fit, especially if you’ll be wearing thin socks. If you like chunky socks or have wider feet, stick to your measured size or try the wide width option. Here’s what wearers say about the most popular Thursday boots for women:

• Captain: Runs true for most, but some size down if between sizes.
• Legend Chelsea: Tighter instep, so most stick with their Brannock size.
• Heartbreaker: Slightly narrow toe; wide feet do better with the wide width.

Women who walk a lot—think 10,000 steps a day—mention that Thursday boots don’t pinch or rub as much as other leather boots, but if your boots feel tight at first, give them a few outings. They really do mold to your foot. And the whole return/exchange process is pretty painless, which takes some of the size guesswork out of the picture.

Tips for Getting the Best Fit

Nailing your size with Thursday Boots isn’t just about picking a number that matches your sneakers. Here’s what actually works if you want women’s boots that feel made for your feet.

• Use your true Brannock size as a starting point. Thursday Boots for women usually run about half a size big compared to your measured Brannock size. So, if Brannock says you’re an 8, try a 7.5 first.
• Check your foot width. Thursday doesn’t offer tons of width options right now. Their regular fit is more medium-to-slightly-narrow. If you always go for wide sizes, you may feel these boots pinching a bit unless you size up.
• Consider socks. If you’ll be wearing thick socks (think hiking or boot socks), you might want to stick with your true Brannock size rather than sizing down.
• Break-in time matters. Real talk: Thursday boots are comfy but still need a short break-in. Expect a few wears before they fully mold to your foot shape.
• Order two sizes if you’re between numbers. More than half of Thursday’s online shoppers try at least two sizes before returning one—it’s normal. Their return policy makes this easy, so take advantage.

One final thing: If you have a high instep or very flat feet, watch out for tightness across the top. Sometimes a thin insole swap or going up half a size fixes that.

For the best results, try boots on at the end of the day—your feet swell a bit after walking around, so you’ll get a truer fit.

If you care most about not having to return anything, double-check the Thursday Boots size chart on their website and compare with your Brannock measurement. This will help you get the most accurate feel before you order.

Chasing the right women's Thursday Boots fit isn’t rocket science—you just need the right info and a little patience.

Common Sizing Questions Answered

Wondering how Thursday Boots sizing lines up with what the Brannock device tells you? That’s easily one of the top questions. The short answer: for most women, Thursday Boots fit true to their Brannock size, especially in the classic leather styles. Still, there are a few key details to know before you hit checkout.

Here’s the rundown of what real buyers and the company itself say:

• Thursday Boots recommends sticking with your regular Brannock size for their women’s boots, especially if you have medium-width feet.
• If you fall right between two sizes on the Brannock (say, 7.5 and 8), people usually say go with the lower one—Thursday leather softens up after a few wears.
• Wide feet? Customer feedback shows women with wide feet sometimes find Thursday boots a little snug. No official wide sizes yet, so if your foot runs on the wider side, consider sizing up half a size or look for the roomier styles (like the Captain or Duchess boots).
• If you plan to wear thick socks, half-sizing up never hurts.

To make it super clear, check out this quick reference table based on customer data from Thursday’s own fit reviews:

Another thing people ask: do Thursday boots stretch out? The leather does give some—usually about a quarter size after a few weeks of break-in. So, don’t panic if they feel snug at first unless your toes are actually cramped.

Returns and exchanges come up a lot, too. Thursday offers free returns on unworn boots within 30 days in the US, so don’t stress if the first pair isn’t a perfect match.

When to Size Up or Down

Sizing gets confusing, fast. Even with the Brannock device reading in hand, sometimes Thursday Boots just won’t feel quite right in your regular size. So when do you actually go up or down a half size?

Here’s what you need to know: Thursday women’s boots usually run true to your Brannock size, but a lot depends on your foot shape and how you like your boots to fit. If your toes always seem to press at the end of most shoes (even when you’re “measured right”), you might need to size up, especially for boots you’ll wear with thick socks.

If your foot runs narrow, and your heel is always slipping inside boots, consider dropping down a half size or, better yet, try the brand’s narrow options if available. Thursday often offers boots in different widths for exactly this reason.

Also, check the style. For example:

• Thursday Boot’s Captain and Duchess lines are known to run true-to-size, but some people with wider feet end up sizing up for a bit more wiggle room.
• Ankle boots or pointed-toe styles usually feel snugger, so if you’re between sizes, you might feel more comfortable going up a half size.
• If you plan to use cushioned or orthopedic insoles, give yourself an extra half size too.

Here’s a practical tip: try your boots on at the end of the day when your feet are a bit swollen. That’s when you’ll notice if they’re really too tight. And if you can wiggle your toes without the boot slipping on your heel, you’ve likely nailed the fit for Thursday Boots. Still not sure? Start with your Brannock size, but keep your return window open. Thursday Boots has a pretty straightforward exchange policy if you guess wrong the first time.