WanderWhat would have happened if I weren’t wearing my Timberland boots in a motorbike accident that left me immobilised for two months?
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A personal journey with Timberland Classic Boots: from hiking dreams to unexpected life-saver.
Pros and cons at a glance
Pros:
- Incredibly durable and long-lasting
- Excellent protection in accidents
- Waterproof for all-weather use
- Versatile style for various outfits
Cons:
- Require a break-in period
- Can be uncomfortable initially
- Heavier than some alternatives
- Slippery in snow or ice
Years before I obtained my motorbike licence, I already owned a pair of Timberland Classic Boots – the quintessential boots for nature lovers. At that time, I envisioned a hiking expedition overseas that never happened. And so my boots went into hibernation until COVID-19 hit and everyone started reconnecting with nature. That was when my boots finally saw the light of day again after being worn only twice or thrice and then relegated to the storeroom.
Are Timberlands comfortable?
Truth be told: Timberland boots required some form of breaking in. Or at least for my feet. I suffered from blisters on my little toes on both feet when I first wore them, tried once more, and never wanted to put them back on again. I did not wish to suffer the pain and torture again when there were many more comfortable sports shoes in the market. And I do know quite a few shoe models that were extremely kind to the feet and suited for travel.
So when everyone started embracing the call of nature during the pandemic, I bravely put on my Timberland boots again, after years of hibernation! It had cost me S$299 after all, not an everyday splurge. This time round, the boots did not bring on the painful blisters, but they were nowhere near the comfort level that I would wish to bring overseas or even out for a bout of walking.
No, Timberland boots were not in the least comfortable, that is, until I swapped its original soles for a set of Aerosoft insoles. Aerosoft is a brand specialising in footwear for those with foot issues. The orthotic insoles were incredibly soft, yet spongey and resilient and came with a certain thickness, so I thought I’d give it a try. I decided to give my boots a final chance to shine and confirm for myself if the hype over it is justified. Even after adding the insoles, though I still would not wear it for an entire day of walking around the city, I found the perfect occasion to put them to good use when I obtained my motorbike licence.
Timberland boots’ durability: A pleasant surprise
It was a good seven or eight years since my first wear before I gave my Timberlands a chance again, thanks to my riding requirements. I needed a pair of hardy, waterproof and reliable riding boots that were not malleable and high enough to protect my ankles during my motorcycle escapades. Dusting them from my storeroom, I was surprised the boots still held up.
New shoes tend to fall apart moments after rescuing them from long periods of storage. It has happened to my heels, sports shoes and casual shoes, leather or not. But Timberland boots, now these are extremely durable and long-lasting. I was extremely pleased that they were still in one piece after such a long period of storage and neglect.
I’m beginning to understand their popularity and why friends and colleagues sang praises of Timberland boots and went everywhere with them.
The extremely durable Timberlands saved me
My Timberlands performed well for my needs on my motorbike thanks to their waterproof, sturdy and high-cut features, plus they are stylish to boot.
I had their everlasting trendy look to thank. Two main reasons I brought them for the fateful motorbike road trip to Kota Bharu were because they were waterproof and fitted the biker chic vibe I was gunning for. Try riding for hours with wet soaking feet – not fun. I had numerous occasions in which I was not fully equipped to ride in the rain and was careful to waterproof myself as much as possible for this trip.
Also, the cheery yellow Timberland classic boots proved very versatile and go with almost every type of attire, from denim to hiking and cargo pants. And since changing their insoles, their comfort level increased significantly, allowing me to wear them when I was exploring new towns after alighting from my motorbike. They ticked all the boxes in terms of sturdiness, waterproofing and looks.
Read Why we ride.
The fateful accident: Timberlands put to the ultimate test
Kota Bharu is the capital of Kelantan, situated in the northernmost part of West Malaysia. We broke the ride from Singapore into two days and planned to make a return route via the scenic route from the north towards Western Malaysia. However, as fate would have it, a momentary lapse of judgement on my part caused me to fall off the bike at a speed of around 75 kilometres per hour just an hour after departing from Kota Bharu.
I was cruising along the long roads and experienced the infamous ‘Tank Slapper’ – a dangerous oscillation of the handlebars often causing a rider to lose control. Also known as a speed wobble, this phenomenon occurs when the front wheel begins to shake violently from side to side, potentially causing the handlebars to hit the fuel tank in severe cases.
I’m even ashamed, or more probably, thankful that the accident happened due to my momentary loss of control and did not involve any other cars or bikes or pillion riders on the road. Yes, the accident happened because I lost control of my fully-loaded bike, on a relatively clear road, because I was adjusting my waist-pouch with one hand.
Luckily for me, my riding partner was behind me and saw everything that happened and managed to pull me to safety while I was in my concussive state. Truthfully, I’m unable to relate what exactly transpired. According to him, the handlebars started wobbling and the next thing he saw was that I fell face down while my helmet that was securely strapped was detached from my head. Imagine the impact! Reacting quickly, he immediately dragged me to safety away from the road before oncoming traffic make the situation any worse.
Read all about the motorbike accident and what I learnt from it.
Community support and medical attention
The sense of community was strong. Soon, a small group of people started to stop their vehicles to see if any help was required. Someone called the local ambulance, which was just a 10-minute drive away. Due to the size of the motorcycles, we may not be easily visible to other road users, especially if they were going at high speeds. Later, my riding partner told me that a lorry even parked itself right behind our bikes so that other road users were aware to take another lane. Such is the sense of community support. Fortunately, I was already riding on the left lane when the accident occurred, making it easy to haul me to the roadside for safety.
The hospital cleaned my many wounds and diagnosed me with two broken ribs. Thankfully, I was able to wriggle my toes and my very swollen right ankle suffered no fractures. The parts where my shirt, jacket and pants were torn, revealed deep road rash wounds.
And my Timberlands? The right shoelace was shredded but the sole was intact. Based on the newly-acquired marks and scuffs on my boots, I knew my boots took the brunt of the accident and protected my right foot to a large extent. The boots remained otherwise unscathed thanks to its premium leather construction. Unlike my body, there were no open wounds on my feet, just a very swollen ankle and immobility issues.
Timberland boots: A life-saver in disguise
My Timberland boots were a life-saver! I shudder to think what would have happened if I had picked another pair of shoes for this trip. The Timberlands’ hardiness may not make for the best walking shoes for travel, but they certainly compensate in terms of safety, protection and hardiness.
Even today as I’m healing from the accident more than two months on, I’m extremely thankful for how well-made the boots are. And I strongly beseech all bikers to gear up properly with safety as the first priority.
Read all about my motorbike night riding adventure and tips on riding in the rain.
Every injury means downtime away from riding the motorbike. And in my case, I was more or less immobile for at least a month before I could even hobble on my own to seek help at medical organisations to accelerate my recovery.
Are Timberlands good for hiking? Pros and cons
good grip on uneven and
wet grounds.
While Timberland boots are ideal for motorcycle rides, not everyone rides. So, do they perform well on nature hikes? Timberlands are known to be great accompaniment to hiking as well. Here are some of the great and not-so-great aspects of wearing Timberland boots for hiking.
Pros:
- Durable and long-lasting
- Waterproof. Feet stay dry during wet conditions
- Comfortable after break-in
- Adequate grip during hikes
Cons:
- Stiff during the break-in period
- Slightly heavier than other boots
- Slippery in snow and icy conditions
I truly believe my Timberland boots took the brunt of the shock and impact of the fall at high speed and prevented my feet from getting even more seriously injured.
Breaking in Timberland boots: Tips for maximum comfort and durability
- Break-in period: Make sure to break in your Timberlands before wearing them overseas and save yourself from any potential blisters.
- Experiment with different sock thickness: While everyone’s feet are different, you may like to try on socks of different thickness to see which one is the most comfortable for you.
- Get reputable insoles: Head to reputable brands that specialise in podiatry and get yourself that set of good insoles. It makes a world of difference to the duration you feel comfortable in your boots, and how much you can walk in those boots.
- Make adjustments and try them out: Fiddle around with the laces of your new boots and find that sweet spot in terms of fit.
- Soften the leather: Much like how massaging chicken tenderises its meat and makes it tastier, leather shoes crave moisture, much like our skin. Massage, yes massage using the appropriate leather conditioners on the leather and make the shoes’ leather softer and more comfortable because you will likely subject it to great stress when wearing it.
- Tender loving care, after every single wear: After every wear, I make sure to give the shoes a good wipe down with either a piece of cloth or wet wipes before putting them away from the sun, in a breathable environment.
- True to size: I tend to get one size bigger when it comes to buying new sports shoes. For my Timberland boots, it was true to size. However, I found it a tight fit when I was wearing ultra-thick socks during winter in Copenhagen. My advice? Get a shoe size that fits you with the exact type of socks you plan to wear.
Final thoughts: Timberland Classic Boots – A worthy investment
Though I had a rocky initiation to my Timberland classic boots, they proved their worth during my recent motorbike accident. I was amazed at their durability and how well they held up after almost eight years in storage. Looking back at my accident and my injuries, I truly believe my Timberland boots took the brunt of the shock and impact of the fall at high speed and prevented my feet from getting even more seriously injured. The boots were worth every single cent and make for a truly worthy investment for those looking for protective boots!
Share your experience
Do you also have a personal experience with Timberlands or other boots? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Get your Timberland boots at Amazon.sg!
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