Why Are Timberland Boots so Expensive and Popular? Are They Worth It?

Why Are Timberland Boots so Expensive and Popular? Are They Worth It?

Everyone has their favorite brand whether it is your favorite pair of jeans, jackets, or shoes.

Many brands build their popularity upon their brand durability and performance, or endorsement by celebrities. For the Timberland company, their popularity comes from a combination of these factors.

Timberlands are an extremely popular boot, maybe one of the most popular boots. They started out being designed for the working class in New England until they became popular in hip-hop in the 1990s.

After this, their popularity increased, and since then, they have become so popular that you can see them worn by many, many people no matter what city you are in, be it in America or in other parts of the world.

In our efforts to find, select, and recommend great products to our readers, we have looked at countless products and companies throughout the years.

We write articles comparing brands, deciding which one is better or more appropriate for our readers. Other times we focus on brand popularity or the history of brands.

In this piece, we are going to talk about Timberland. The history of the company, how it became such a classic boot, and if it is really worth the price tag attached to the brand.

So, are Timberlands really worth the hype and the price tag, or does their popularity outweigh the quality?

Contents:

1. Timberland – The Brand

The company’s history begins in 1952 when the founder Nathan Swartz bought 50% in the then Abington Shoe Company. He worked his way up and turned it into a family business and moved it to Newmarket, New Hampshire.

The area is known for its mountains, rivers, dense forests, and access to great east coast cities. This area experiences all kinds of weather, from harsh winter weather to extremely hot summers.

Read also: 8 Boots Brands like Timberland: These Are Our Favorites

a pair of Timberland boots
Image: A pair of Timberland boots

Timberland was designed to be able to stop out in any kind of weather that could be thrown at you in the tricky New England climate.

In 1973, they released their original “yellow” waterproof boots that were called the “Timberland”. These boots were so popular instantly and so popular with outdoor enthusiasts, trade workers, and many others that wanted a stylish pair of boots.

They were so popular and innovative in the 1970s, that the boot completely renamed the company Timberland.

Since the creation and the name change, Timberland’s company mission is to make the brand and company a force for positive change. They do this by focusing on a better product, stronger communities, and a greener world.

Welcome to Timberland | Timberland

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Innovative, Better Products

Timberland believes that when they design a pair of boots or any other product, they have to not only think about how to design the product to look great, but they also find it extremely important to consider the impact it has on nature.

Creating innovative products that help get people outdoors is an extremely important part of the company culture. They find it important to minimize their impact on the environment through the products they make since so much of their product’s use is designed for the outdoors.

Throughout the years, Timberland has been innovating and adding changes to their brand that makes the products more sustainable.

Starting in 1973, the Timberland was introduced as a guaranteed waterproof boot which has become the most important part of their company.

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Throughout the years, they have created new products and made it their mission to become more and more so sustainable.

By 2013, Timberland had recycled 128 million plastic water bottles into their footwear. By 2018, that number increased to over 345 million, and in that same year, they introduced the ReBotl™ material made of recycled plastic.

Since then, they have continued to grow on the importance of sustainability while creating great products in functionality and performance.

Source consulted.

ReBOTL Technology | Timberland

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Helping Communities

Timberland believes in the power of stronger communities for making a global change. Full-time Timberland employees get up to 40 hours of paid time to volunteer in their communities.

Their company goal is to reach a total of 1.5 million hours by 2020. This is important to their mission because a stronger community means a stronger company. In 1989, Timberland paired with City Year, a national youth service group that works to strengthen the community.

They consistently built their commitment through programs like this and in 2019, Timberland signed the Generation T pledge that supports students and graduates in skilled trades.

Sources consulted: source 1, source 2.

Read also: 7 Types of Timberland Boots that You Should Know

Timberland PRO® has signed the Generation T pledge | Timberland

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Committed to Sustainability

Timberland’s commitment to sustainability is one of its strengths. They are committed to making the world greener.

One of their main focuses is planting trees. Trees and urban spaces have the power to improve the quality of the planet and our well-being. They improve air quality, defend against erosion, reduce stress, and way more. They are crucial to our sustained life on this planet.

Since this is so important to their mission, they have planted more than 10 million trees since 2001 and they have set a goal to plant 50 million more trees by 2025.

As part of this mission, they are working on the Great Green Wall which is an African-led movement to grow a line of trees across the entire African continent to fight problems in the continent.

Aside from their tree planting mission, many Timberland boots are made of completely recycled materials. Since the boots are made to be worn in the outdoors, protecting the outdoors is an essential duty of their company.

Source consulted.

2. Why are Timberlands so Expensive?

Timberlands are iconic and stylish, but they do come with a big price tag. Since many of them are made with recycled and/or sustainable materials and the company’s main mission is on sustainability and community building, this is part of the price tag for the iconic boots.

Another reason for the price tag is the popularity of the boots. Since they are so popular and in such high demand, that naturally brings a higher price tag to the company.

Whenever a company has a mission besides the creation and production of their product, there is definitely an added price tag.

You are not only paying for the price of the product but additionally the price of the social activities and missions. You are not only supporting the brand but also the community and the environment.

Read also: Timberland vs Caterpillar Boots: A Comparison

Popularity

Like we said, Timberland boots were popular from the start of their creation in the 1970s, but sales greatly increased in the 1990s. This can be attributed to the increased popularity in the rap and hip-hop communities.

Famous rappers wore the boots in their music videos, increasing their popularity and reputation.

Through the progression of the brand, you can now see that Timberlands are popular in almost every single kind of wardrobe. Especially in New York City, you see them everywhere.

The original Timberland “yellow” boot is their Men’s 6-Inch Premium Waterproof Boot that sells for around $200.

When you think of the Timberland brand, you are thinking of these boots. They are made of waterproof Leather and PrimaLoft® Eco insulation.

6 Inch Premium Waterproof Boot | Timberland

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There was also a similar design, their 6-inch Basic Waterproof Boots with a Padded Collar. These boots were selling for around $160.

Designed to resist wear and tear for years, they are made of leather with seam-sealed waterproof protection, PrimaLoft® Eco insulation, and rubber lug outsoles for rugged terrain.

These boots are really great for both nature and city sidewalks in the cold winter months.

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3. Are Timberlands Worth the Price Tag?

So, after seeing how popular and the reasoning behind the price, is the price tag actually worth it?

Timberland boots cost between $160 and $200 which is expensive, but not entirely unreasonable for a high-quality boot.

It is interesting that a boot designed for work has become so expensive, but many people do believe that Timberlands are worth the price. There are various different kinds of Timberland boots.

The classic 6-inch Premium Waterproof Boot is available in many different colors. Of course, it comes in the classic yellow but even other colors if you want something more unique.

Being customizable is another factor that helps justify the cost: you can really make these boots your own.

And then, there is their most important characteristic: these boots are durable and waterproof, making them suitable for many kinds of weather while lasting for many years.

So, yes, we think Timberland boots are worth the price!

4. Do Timberlands Last Long?

Timberlands are known for being extremely durable and long-lasting. Many people say that their Timberland boots last 4-5 years or more.

With such a high price tag, you should expect your boots to last a long time. If you take reasonably good care of your boots, then you can expect them to last a long time.

timberland yellow boots in snow
Image: A pair of Timberland Yellow boots in snow

5. What Kind of Activities are Timberlands Good for?

Timberland boots are great for different activities. The original design and use for them were for the people who were working outdoors, to keep them warm and protect them.

Many people associate Timberlands with a classic lumberjack kind of look, but these days they are worn for almost any activity.

They are also worn by many people who live in cities across the globe because they have a good grip and are great to keep you warm and dry in snowy and icy conditions.

6. Conclusion

So, as a conclusion, the Timberland boots are expensive, no mistake about it. But, generally, they are not much more expensive than a good pair of sneakers or a different kind of boots, but they last just as long if not longer.

If you are looking to get a good pair of boots, Timberlands are a great choice. They are durable, have a high performance, and are very much in style. These boots definitely deserve their reputation.

In addition to the quality, durability, and popularity of the Timberland boots, the company has also a strong social consciousness, with their main values being the commitment to the community, the environment, and their products.

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Read next: 9 American Workwear Brands: Our Favorites

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