Timberlandmens White Ledge Mid Waterproof Hiking BootLeather Working Group

These boots are absolutely great day-hiking boots. They are *not* backpacking boots or rain boots. If you're looking for great day-hikers, these are hard to beat (especially at this price). If you're hoping these will be appropriate for long backpacking trips with a heavy pack or long days in the pouring rain, you will be sorely disappointed.My experience with them so far:I got these on a Friday morning, just as I was about to go away for a weekend involving some hiking in rough terrain. Although I normally wouldn't wear untested boots on a trip like this, I packed them (along with a known-quantity backup pair). Ended up hiking three five-mile hikes with lots of elevation gain, over mixed mud and scree. These were perfect. They required absolutely no break-in, just hit the trail with them straight out of the box. The very-flexible soles performed flawlessly in mud and scree, and although they're softer than I would want for backpacking, they're perfect for hiking with a day-pack. By the end of the weekend, my hiking companion had blisters and sore spots, but my feet were in great shape.After that, I wore them around town a few days a week for a few weeks. I walk two to four miles a day, on average (got a big dog, she needs a lot of exercise). These are super-comfortable on pavement and packed dirt trails as well. I've worn them in light rain, with no leaking.For Thanksgiving, I did some reasonably long hikes (5 to 7+ miles) up on the Mendocino coast, on narrow dirt trails with lots of rocks and roots. Again, excellent performance.The surprise came when we got stuck in a very heavy downpour for a few hours. I was wearing my ancient Gore-Tex jacket, jeans, and these boots. Dry to the waist, soaked straight through from hips to ankles, and (surprisingly) more-or-less dry from the ankles down. Yes, I got some slight dampness on my right sock, but nothing like I was expecting. My companions were both wearing (non-rainproof) synthetics, and they were squishing with every step.So, basically:1. These are not exactly rainproof, and I would not recommend them for serious rain-hiking. If you want dry feet in all conditions, you'll need to pop the extra bucks for something with a Gore-Tex liner. On the other hand, for light-to-moderate rain, they're as close to rainproof as makes little difference. Even in heavy rain, they stood up pretty well. And, in case it wasn't clear, they are absolutely waterproof on the bottom and sides (as tested by extensively walking through wet grass, mud, and puddles).2. There is, as other reviewers have noted, a stupid and avoidable design flaw. If they had extended the leather on the tongue up another inch or so, these would have been much more rainproof. The part of my right sock that got damp was, indeed, right under the gap where the tongue doesn't attach to the upper as high as it should.3. These boots require absolutely zero break-in. That's good, in that they're comfy straight out of the box. It's also bad, in that serious backpacking boots would be made of much stiffer leather with much thicker soles, and would require a bunch of breaking in. So, y'know, it's a trade-off. The leather is very supple and feels great.4. Whether consciously or not, these boots are designed to *look* exactly like old-school backpacking/trekking/through-hiking boots (e.g., Sundowners or Lowas). They aren't. I'd be very happy to use these on short overnight trips with a relatively light pack, and I definitely plan to exactly that in the spring. For longer trips with heavier packs, you really, really want something with a lot more support. The nice, flexible soles on these would quickly become agonizing on rocky terrain with a heavy pack.In summary, these are great boots for what they're designed for, which is hiking. I'd recommend them without reservation to anyone except people who are going out specifically in heavy-rain conditions or with very heavy packs.Most importantly, maybe, the price is ridiculously low. I'd have expected to pay at least twice as much for the quality of build and comfort of fit. So, if you factor in the cost, these are a total win. Go for it.

bought these years ago I still use them for everything

Pros:- Thick, one piece leather uppers- Solid bonding of sole to upper- Comfortable, No Break-in needed- Color = Dirt- Good traction in snow, rock and gravel- Laces that stay tight- True to size- Nice padded collar- Price, about the same as a resole- Metal, not plastic, lace hooksCons:- No steel foot-bed, too flexible- One tongue not centered- Soft rubber sole collects cactus- Not waterproofSince I received these in late July I've put over 200-miles on them in 4-12 mile day hikes. Most hikes have been on trails, but a few off trail on steep side slopes and talus. Both off trail uses highlight the weakness of these boots. The lack of a steel foot-bed makes the sole too flexible for comfortable off trail hiking on steep terrain.The cactus con was a surprise. For miles around my house small prickly pear are common and with leather uppers and Vibram soles I just ignored the cactus. My first hike with these and the soles were filled with a combination of needles and crushed cactus pedals. Basically the sole rubber is too soft to reject the needles, unlike a hard rubber Vibram sole.The Timberland website claims waterproof, not what I experienced. Took a 4-mile,4-hour hike in 2" of snow where the boot toes were frequently dusted with snow, when I got home my socks were damp. Never experienced that with my Gore-Tex boots.I'm only mildly disappointed with these boots, they have limitations and I'll need to use them where they are best suited.

My previous pair of Timberland boots were discontinued several years ago. They finally bit the dust, so to speak, and I needed a new pair. Following a recommendation from a friend, I tried on these White Ledge boots. The fit was very comfortable and the weight and strength fit my requirements. I ordered a pair in the dark brown color. They arrived very quickly (Thanks, Amazon Prime) and it was killing me to have to wait a couple of weeks to try them out. Yesterday, I made it out for a 5 miles hike and the boots performed better than I expected. I am very happy with this purchase.

While I've only had these boots a few weeks now, I can already tell that they are the right fit for me. Out of the box, the comfort was unbelievable as they fit true and weren't too rigid. The break-in time on these has been very minimal. I've worn them daily since they've arrived and given them a decent walk each day at work and around home. They're still "new" though but I imagine by the time I hit the trails, I won't have any issues but do plan on revisiting this in 5-6 months. They are true to size, as I wear a 9, ordered a 9 and they fit perfectly. Possibly a tad snug, but that is alright for me, just know that if you want to allow for a thicker sock or adding an insole that may be bigger, you might want to go up a size. I was recommended these as a first hiking boot by a co-worker and I couldn't be more pleased. They've kept my feet warm during a brief cold spell and dry during a few days of rain that we've had, which included me having to walk through some holes of water to get in the house. Hopefully that will continue to remain true. I bought them on sale and feel that $70 price is definitely a sweet spot for these boots, so if they fit your budget, I'd recommend the purchase.

Got for my son for Christmas. He loves them. Very well made!!