When someone asks about the Timberlands, they are usually talking about the classic Timberland boots, the yellow boots we all are familiar with. But are timberlands good for hiking?

The classic yellow Timberlands have been a big hit in the past but are they any good for hiking? They might look sturdy and pretty reliable, but they are not a good option for going on a long hiking trip. 

They are more casual wear to compliment your outfit. You won’t see a lot of serious trekkers wearing them. They are usually seen on streets and bars. First of all, we will find out the real use of Timberland boots.

Origin

The Original Timberland boots were first introduced as work boots which are good for working in cold weather because of their good insulation. 

They were launched in the ’70s for the first time. They are quite reliable for work purposes and for tasks that require little mobility. 

Later they were made into fashion boots, and nowadays, they are more casual wear than work boots. They have a nostalgic and classic touch to them. 

Let’s get back to the question, “are Timberlands good for hiking?” We will discuss some pros and cons of these shoes and find out.

Why Timberlands are not good for hiking?

are timberlands good for hiking

Timberlands are fashionable shoes

Timberlands are more of fashion shoes and are not meant for hiking. As we all know, fashionable shoes are very prone to wear and tear, and they lack the qualities to be used for any other purpose other than just casual wear. 

They are perfect for traveling around the city in a fashionable way. There is no doubt they look really amazing, but if you don’t want to ruin a good pair of shoes, wearing them for a long hike is not recommended.

Heavyweight

One of the many qualities that a good pair of hiking boots must-have is their lighter weight. Lightweight boots are good for a long hike and don’t make you tired easily. since hikers are already carrying a lot of stuff with them, wearing heavy boots is a bad option. 

Timberland boots are quite heavy as compared to modern hiking boots. Each piece weighs 1lb and some ounces, while modern hiking boots weigh less than those. 

So hiking in those monsters would be a bad idea and it would make you tired very easily. Surely you don’t want to give up at the beginning of your journey. Heavyweight factor can help you decide, are timberlands good for hiking?

Leather is outdated

Timberlands are made of leather which was quite popular in the past, but now it is being replaced by better materials. One of them is Gore-Tex, and it does a better job for everything.

What is Gore-Tex?

In simpler terms, Gore-Tex is a Teflon membrane.  Teflon is a non-reactive and corrosion-resistant material that is used for different coating materials as a protective covering. 

It is used in clothing (jackets) and shoes. It also has a wide range of uses in the medical field.

How is Gore-Tex better than leather?

Leather is a heavy material. Leather absorbs the water and gets extra heavy, so you have to carry the extra weight throughout the journey. It isn’t as breathable and cannot withstand temperature changes. 

It gets damaged easily and is difficult to take care of, not to mention it is quite expensive as well. At the same time, Gore-Tex is quite breathable and lets the moisture out, and isn’t as much heavier as the leather. 

It can withstand a wide range of temperature changes and is suitable for every weather, let it be hot, cold, wet, or dry. It is 100 percent waterproof. No wonder modern hiking shoes are made using this material.

Gore-Tex leather is what makes people think about “are timberlands good for hiking?”

One more important thing to mention is that leather boots need breaking in. You won’t feel comfortable in them for some days after you have purchased a brand new pair, and your feet might get hurt if you just jump on a track right after purchasing an untouched pair.

High risk for blisters

You don’t want to wear a leather pair for wet terrain. Water plus leather is a recipe for disaster. Leather gets soaked in water and produces creases. 

These creases, when coming in contact with your skin, cause blistering due to friction. Surely you don’t want to get injured during a hiking trip. 

Timberlands are claimed to be water-resistant, but they are not as waterproof. Gore-Tex is being used nowadays, which provides better waterproofing as compared to leather and is crease-free as well.

No cushioning

One of the qualities of good hiking boots is their cushioning. Hiking boots are not supposed to be soft, but there must be some kind of padding for the rocky terrain. 

Without proper cushioning, your feet will keep hurting, and your trip will turn into an unpleasant experience. 

Timberlands don’t have any proper cushioning, which renders them unsuitable for hard surfaces. Although they have anti-fatigue pads that can be removed and placed back, they are not of much help for a serious hike.

No cushioning is another point that will help you decide, are timberlands good for hiking?

Design not suitable for hiking

Hiking boots have a special sole and arching designed for the sole purpose of hiking. It helps the hikers trek on uneven ground without getting a sprain and provides the necessary support and grip. 

Timberland boots have a considerably flat sole and no proper arching, so those are not recommended for a tedious hike. 

Poor flexibility

Hiking and trekking require a lot of flexibility and mobility. The paths are uneven and unpredictable, and you have to adapt to every kind of situation. 

So you might want to consider some boots with more flexibility and mobility for your safety. Timberlands are not very flexible, and it is difficult to move around in them. The reason for this is their huge weight and stiff leather.

Short life

Long-distance hikes require some stubborn boots that can work well for rough paths. Getting your boots all torn up and wore down on your first long hike is quite a frustrating experience. 

Timberland boots undergo wear and tear easily if you use them for daily hikes. They cannot withstand the blows of rocky mountains and rugged terrains. Their seals will break off easily if you keep using them for long hikes. However, they could be used for short walks.

Durability will also help you to think twice about “are timberlands good for hiking?”.

Sweating problem

Timberland shoes are highly insulated and don’t let the heat out of them. This can cause your feet to sweat profusely and leather to get soaked, and you can face the aforementioned blisters issues. 

The sweat can also infect the wounds if you get injured during the hike since there are thousands of germs in sweat. So timberland boots are not appropriate for hot weather. And if you have sweaty feet, then you should avoid them.

Poor traction

Hiking on dangerous terrains requires boots with good traction. Traction provides grip to the boots, and chances of slipping from a rock become less. 

Timberland boots have good traction, but it is not enough for dangerous rocky tracks. Less traction means a poor grip, which increases the probability of slipping and getting seriously injured. So these are not the safest shoes.

Now I will mention some pros of timberland boots.

Why timberlands might be considered for hiking?

are timberlands good for hiking

Good for short adventures

Timberlands might be a good option if you are to go on a short adventure. They are best for the trips when you have to travel through different areas like country-sides, cities and rough paths. 

You can wear them to a mall or store. You can walk around the city in them. They are good for a hike of 2 or 3 hours but keep in mind they are not recommended for the daily hikes.

Are timberlands good for hiking? Yes, for short adventures they are a good fit.

Fashionable and useful

Timberland boots are a good option for casual wear. They look quite fashionable and are pretty handy to move around for a little work. And it does make sense since they were started as work shoes. 

Timberland boots go with almost every outfit .you can pair them up with leather jackets, denim jackets, or suede jackets. You can’t go wrong with these bad boys.

They also go well with denim jeans and chinos of different colors. You can have an idea of their popularity by seeing a lot of celebrities wearing them. 

There are a lot of images of Jake Gyllenhaal, Kanye West, Drake, Mark Wahlberg, and many other celebrities flaunting timberland boots.

So if you want to buy a fashionable pair, you should definitely go for them. They are economical and highly versatile and will save you a lot of money by eliminating the need to buy different types of shoes for each outfit. 

Long story short, timberland boots are perfect for fashion purposes, and they must not be wasted on a long hike.

Fashionable is another factor that will help you decide “are timberlands good for hiking?”

Accurate and versatile sizes

A good thing about timberland boots is their size. Their shoes fit perfectly, and they have a wide range of sizes. Moreover, you can choose the width of the shoes as well, which is a plus point regarding sizing. You can go for either wide or narrow ones.

Hiking shoes must have a perfect fit. Too tight, and your feet will hurt, too loose, and you could slip and injure yourself.

Less expensive

You should go for timberlands if you are short on budget. There are different categories with different prices. You can find a good pair for a reasonable price. 

They cost less than 200 dollars a pair fresh from the store, but if you want to buy their expensive category shoes, you should go for another brand. If you already have a pair and no money in your pocket, then you could use them as hiking boots.

Are Timberlands good for hiking in the snow?

Timberland boots were initially designed for cold weather. They have very good insulation(400 grams of Primaloft insulation), which keeps you warm on snowy terrains. Primaloft insulation is also water-resistant and has a very good weight to warmth ratio. 

So it keeps your feet warm and dry. Timberland boots are a good choice if you want to keep your feet warm in snowy areas and protect your feet from frostbite. 

Primaloft insulation is claimed to be manufactured from 50 percent PET (made from recycled plastic bottles). Still, deep snow can enter your boots and make them wet, and there is a risk of blisters. So you might want to look out for that.

Anti-fatigue pads

They have anti-fatigue pads which are removable. They have shock-absorbing properties. Moreover, they provide some extra comfort. This padding is not on par with modern hiking boots, but still, it justifies the price.

All these merits and demerits show that classic timberland boots are not good for hiking. But if you are really hung up on buying a pair, here are some alternatives from the timberland hiking category.

Are Timberlands good for hiking?

Chocorua trail 2.0

These boots are a little on the hiking side. They have some features which might be helpful during hiking:

  • They have a Gore-Tex membrane which makes these boots waterproof.
  • Gore-tex membrane makes these boots breathable.
  • They have anti-fatigue pads which can be removed and placed back.
  • Furthermore, they are made out of rustproof material.
  • They have ortholite insoles, which provide them with good insulation.
  • They have EVA midsoles which provide stability to the shoes.

Chocorua trail boots are perfect for multiple-day hikes.

Timberland field trekker

These boots are a bit on the cheaper side. They resemble in features with Chocorua trail.

  • These have waterproof leather
  • They also have ortholite insoles.
  • They have 200g of Primaloft insulation. The classic yellow ones have 400 grams of this insulation.
  • They don’t have a Gore-Tex membrane .instead, they contain a Timberdry membrane, which provides waterproof properties.
  • Moreover, they are rustproof as well.
  • They provide excellent shock absorption and suspension. This is an exceptional feature that other models don’t have. Sensorflex comfort system provides this pair with these extra properties.

Chocorua trail shell toe

They are better than the yellow classic boots.

  • They have 400 grams of Primaloft insulation, which the original ones also have.
  • Moreover, they have removable anti-fatigue pads.
  • They have EVA midsoles and rubber toes.
  • In addition to these, White Ledge and MT. Maddsen is also a viable option but not as good as the other ones.

Are Timberlands good for hiking on different Trails?

are timberlands good for hiking

Those who are experienced hikers know very well that different terrains require different types of shoes. Timberlands might work for some terrains and not for others.

Timberland boots are good for street and city use. You can walk around in them on city lanes. They are a perfect combination of looks and performance for the city’s use. You can wear them on a trip to plain fields.

They work well for short trekking also. You could hike for one or two hours in them without any discomfort. They will remain in good shape. They are good for less bumpy paths.

Timberlands are perfect for snowy terrains. A few inches of deep snow will not very much affect their condition. 

So, what do you think, are timberlands good for hiking?

They provide perfect insulation and warmth on snowy paths. They were specifically designed for cold weather. Four hundred grams of Primaloft insulation will keep your feet warm and dry and protect you from frostbite.

Timberland boots are not good for wet terrains. They are made of leather. Leather absorbs water, and bumpy creases which are formed as a result causes blisters on your feet. So you should avoid wearing them on wet terrains.

From the above-mentioned cons, we can conclude that these boots are not for rocky terrains. They lack the required grip, cushioning, and arched design. So they are not safe for the rocky terrains.

How to break in the leather boots?

Timberland classic boots are made of leather, and leather needs breaking in before we can wear them comfortably outside. 

If you get a brand new pair fresh from the store, don’t just wear it immediately on a trip, for it will be a very uncomfortable experience. Right after you have purchased your boots wear them and walk around the house in them for some days. 

This will loosen up the leather make them wearable outside the house. With other materials, you don’t need breaking in. They will work just fine on the first go.

Closing Remarks: Are Timberlands Good for Hiking?

I believe I have dissected the topic quite thoroughly and touched every little detail about the timberland boots. I hope it will help answer the question, “are timberlands good for hiking?’’

To summarize the topic, timberland boots are not on par with modern hiking shoes. They could work well for short hikes, traveling around the city, and casual wear. You can wear them to work. 

Some other timberland boots are useful for hiking and provide extra features. They are a bit expensive, but if you are really hung up on buying from this brand, you could try some models from their hiking categories. 

If you don’t really care about the brand and prefer performance over trend, then you should buy some modern hiking shoes from other stores. They might not be that fashionable, but they get the job done.