Are Timberlands good for hiking? The Timberland classics are not optimized for hiking. They are too heavy, lack proper support, are not very comfortable for serious hiking trip and the grip is not great. That said, Timberland does have some lesser known boots that are actually optimized for hiking. Some of these boots are pretty good options for serious hiking trips.
Are timberlands good for hiking? – The summary
I figure most people who are asking the question: “are Timberlands good for hiking?” are thinking about the Timberland classics:
Therefore, I will first explain why these boots aren’t good hiking boots. Later in this article, I will discuss some better hiking boots from Timberland.
The Timberland classics were first made in 1973. They were primarily considiered workin boots. At this time, these boots were actually pretty much optimized for hiking. That said, a lot has changed since then when it comes to hiking boots. The Timberland classics haven’t changed/adapted since then. Therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise that these shoes are for from optimal for hiking.
Why did the Timberland classics not adapt? Well, these boots are very iconic and people still like them as shoes for everyday use, plus they simply look good. In the end, they would sell even without adaptions.
Now that we know the history behind these shoes, let’s take a look at the characteristics. The Timberland classics are waterproof, but they are not very breathable. Also, these boots are pretty heavy… which is always a negative for a hiking boot. Since the boot barely changed in over 45 years, the grip, comfort and ruggedness is simply not as good as with modern alternatives.
Timberland classics can still be used for walking around a city or for mild/short hiking day hiking trips. However, once you are going on a serious hiking trip, the classics are definitely not recommended for hiking.
All that said, Timberland does have some modern hiking boots as well, some of which are more suited for “serious” hiking!
Let’s dive a bit deeper into the pros and the cons of using timberlands as hiking boots.
Timberlands as hiking boots – the cons
Too heavy – The classic timberlands weigh 3.63lb. For reference, my current hiking boots are the salomon quest element gtx, these weigh 2.22lb. The average weight for a hiking boot is around 2.5lb. The fact that these boots are so much heavier than the average hiking boot is a huge negative factor.
Material usage – The material usage of the timberlands classic is not optimal, the leather isn’t very breathable and can also become waterlogged. Both these factors will result in a high chance of having wet feet, which will in turn drastically increase the chances of getting blisters. Also, the material is rather stiff, which means that the boot is not flexible enough.
Non-optimal traction – The grip of the classic timberlands are definitely not bad. However, just like with many other features, the boot is not optimized for hiking. So, Timberlands have good grip for everyday use, but the grip is simply not optimized for hiking.
Comfort – Even though the classic timberlands might feel comfortable when you first put them on. They will not feel comfortable after hiking 30 miles. Especially when you compare it to the comfort that the modern high quality hiking boot can provide.
All in all, the Timberland classics are a more fashionable and iconic shoe than anything else. Even though that was not the intention of these shoes when they were first made in 1973, they have not improved in terms of hiking features. Therefore, I would definitely not recommend the timberlands classic.
Timberlands as hiking boots – the pros
Balance between design and functionality – Even the boots from Timberland that are optimized for hiking and not for fashion look pretty good. Sure, it’s a bit subjective, but most hikers that I have talked to tend to agree with this statement. If you find yourself in a situation where you can only bring 1 pair of shoes and you want to be able to do shorter hikes, but you also want to use them for everyday use, Timberlands make a really good option.
Somewhat budget friendly – The timberland classics are pretty expensive, but Timberlands does have some cheaper options in their range. Comparing the price of their hiking boots to the average hiking boot, they can actually be considered pretty budget friendly. However, they are still not really “cheap” and usually you will be able to find a better option when you are on a budget.
Is Timberland a good brand for hiking boots?
Let’s forget about the Timberland classics and take a look at Timberland as a brand. More specifically: is Timberland a good brand for hiking boots? My answer would be that Timberland is a decent brand for hiking boots. However, there are brands that I prefer over Timberland.
There are definitely some Timberland boots that are very good for serious hiking, but there are plenty of Timberland boots that have some issues.
If you are only going on occasional day hikes, there are plenty of good options that you can choose from. However, for very serious hikers, the choice within the Timberland assortment is pretty limited.
All in all, I would say that Timberland is a mediocre brand for hiking boots. That does not mean that they don’t have a single great hiking boot, it simply means that the average shoe quality is lower than with some other brands.
My favorite brands for hiking shoes at the moment are probably Salomon, Merrel and for a more budget friendly option, Columbia.
When is a Timberland hiking boot a good option?
As I said before, there are a lot of differences between certain Timberland hiking boots. Therefore, it’s pretty hard to give you a straight answer to the question “When is a Timberland hiking boot a good option?”.
However, I did notice that most Timberland hiking boots are great for shorter hiking trips (day hikes). Generally, Timberland hiking boots also look better than the alternatives. Therefore, I would recommend these shoes for people who are looking for a shoe that they can use for walking around the city as well as on the hiking trails.
The main problem with Timberland hiking shoes is that when they are used very often, they might start falling apart after some time. The durability of Timberlands isn’t terrible, but it’s not great either, and “very serious” hikers like long distance hikers really do need great durability.
I’m thinking about people who are travelling and only want to bring one pair of boots for multiple activities.
If you are into long distance hiking, there aren’t too many Timberland hiking boots that I would recommend.
How much do Timberland hiking boots cost?
I always thought that Timberland was quite an expensive brand, but this was only based on the price of the Timberland classics. The hiking-optimized shoes are actually better value for money (I do think that the classics are overpriced).
In comparison to certain other brands like Salomon and Merrel, Timberland is actually a more budget-friendly option. The cheapest hiking shoes from Timberland will cost around $70. You might get lucky and pay even less if you can buy them when they are on sale.
I would still prefer Columbia over Timberland for those of you who are looking for a cheap hiking shoe.
What are the best Timberland hiking boots?
I have mentioned that Timberland is a decent brand for hiking boots, but it’s not my favorite. However, that does not mean that they do not have a couple of outstanding hiking shoes.
Timberland Chocorua Trail
The Timberland Chocorua Trail hiking shoes would be my number one Timberland recommendation for serious hikers. What do I mean with “Serious hikers”? Hikers who often go on multiday hiking trips, or simply people who go on a lot of day hikes. However, for “very serious” hikers, like long distance hikers, I would probably recommend going with another brand than Timberland.
Let’s start with the positives. These shoes are completely waterproof, very comfortable, stable and they have a good grip that provides a lot of traction. It is not the lightest hiking boot that you can find, but this boot still scores pretty good when it comes to weight.
This hiking boot does not have any big issues, but -as usual- there are some complaints about quality and durability. Some hikers have had issues with the eyelets or the sole of these shoes. Note that Timberland does come with a limited 12 month warranty, so as long as your shoes are not damaged by normal wear, you should be good for at least a year.
All in all, the Timberland Chocorua Trail boots get a great overall score. If I were to select the 10 best hiking shoes that you can buy today, this shoe would definitely make a chance to make the list. That said, the durability is still somewhat of a concern to me.
If you are interested in the latest price, this can be found on amazon (they are available for both men and women).
Men: Timberland Men’s Chocorua Trail
Women: Timberland Women’s Chocorua Trail
Timberland White Ledge
The next option would be the Timberland White Ledge. These hiking boots are great for day hikes and even walking around a city.
I would recommend these shoes for travelers who are looking for a good, solid hiking boot for occasional day hikes that they can also wear in the city. These shoes are not as big and clumsy as most hiking boots, plus they look good!
These hiking boots can be compared with the Timberland Chocorua Trail. I feel like the Chocurua is slightly better overall, but the White Ledge is lighter and more suited for wearing in an urban environment.
Sadly, these shoes are also not super durable. As long as you won’t be using these on too many long hikes, you shouldn’t encounter too many issues. However, if you are planning on hiking a lot in these shoes, I would probably recommend going with another pair.
Men: Timberland Men’s White Ledge
Women: Timberland Women’s White Ledge
Alternatives to Timberland hiking boots?
If Timberlands are not the best choice for “very serious” hikers, then what is? Well, I already mentioned that I’m a big fan of Salomon and Merrel.
For cold weather I would recommend the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boot and for warm weather I would recommend the Merrell Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe.
That said, there are so many factors that should be taken into consideration when buying a hiking shoe. If you care about your budget, for example, I would definitely take a look at: best cheap hiking shoes.
If you plan to go hiking in very cold temperatures, you definitely need adapted hiking shoes. Therefore, I would suggest you check out the best snow hiking boots.
If you really like leather boots, here is an article dedicated to leather hiking boots.
These articles should give you enough information to get started with your search for the optimal hiking shoes for your needs.
Conclusion
So, let’s summarize, are timberlands good for hiking?
While the Timberland classics are definitely not a great choice for hiking boots, Timberland has other boots that are actually good for hiking.
That said, Timberland is not my favorite brand when it comes to hiking shoes. They do offer a couple of very good options for occasional day hikes -or even some multiday hiking trips- but most of their shoes don’t have great durability.
Except for the durability, some Timberlands are almost perfect for hiking and they generally look better than other hiking boots. I’m definitely keeping an eye on their upcoming updates/new hiking shoes – and I will update this article.
Have you tried wearing Timberlands on hiking trips? What were your experiences? Let me know in the comments below!