You can get Thursday Captains that are still $200. But really best value is in old stock new boots. The problem is you need to know what to buy and every place is different. For example you can still get very high quality boots that are army surplus. I have paid $40 for boots that are as well made as a $300 boot but just as easily as there is good stuff there there is also garbage. And each country will have different options.

I personally either just go to surplus stores and look. But now that I know my sizing and what I am looking for I can order online on poshmark or grailed as things turn up there. Here is an example.

https://poshmark.ca/listing/Biltrite-Steel-Toe-Black-Leather-Boots-Size-6D-63d61cff0164d0208e760a50

This type of boot they stopped making in 2020 but I found brand new ones in my size at the end of last year to buy. This boot here is easily as well made as a Thursday and likely even better then that. This boot has a solid leather foot bed more like an iron ranger and those cost $350. Again there are lots of examples like this. The problem is knowing sizing if you are buying online.

So while I have more expensive boots the ones above are my go to and have been for almost 30 years. And I can buy almost 10 pairs of them for the price of a red wing iron ranger. And over the years I have.

https://imgur.com/a/2rpYN3l