Thorogood vs Timberland PRO

Two different approaches

Thorogood, made by the Weinbrenner Shoe Company in Wisconsin, is known for American Heritage moc toes, 1957 Series and Logger Series boots. Its listings stress full-grain leather, Goodyear storm welts, fiberglass or steel shanks and Poron or polyurethane footbeds. See our Thorogood guide.

Timberland PRO is the work line from Timberland. Its listings stress named comfort systems such as Anti-Fatigue Technology, waterproof membranes, TPU outsoles and lightweight composite or alloy safety toes. Lines in our guides include the Boondock, Hyperion, Endurance, Morphix and Direct Attach boots.

Goodyear welt vs cemented and direct attach

A Goodyear welt stitches a strip of leather (the welt) to the upper and then stitches the sole to the welt. Because the sole is stitched, a cobbler can remove it and fit a new one. That is why welted boots are often called resoleable or serviceable. The Thorogood listings in this comparison describe Goodyear storm welt construction.

Cemented construction glues the sole to the upper. Direct attach molds the sole onto the upper. Both are usually lighter and more flexible out of the box, but they are harder or not practical to resole. The Timberland PRO Direct Attach boot below states direct attached construction. The Boondock listing does not state its construction method, so we do not label it.

Our explainer on whether work boots can be resoled covers which builds are worth rebuilding.

Four boots compared from their listings

The pairing here is a composite toe from each brand and a metal toe from each brand. Not stated means the listing does not mention it.

See our composite toe picks →

Comfort, weight and break-in

Thorogood boots use thick full-grain leather and welted soles, so expect a break-in period before they feel their best. The American Heritage footbeds are described as dual-density, and the wedge outsole spreads load on flat concrete. Our guide on how to break in work boots helps.

Timberland PRO listings describe shock-absorbing footbeds that return energy, and composite or alloy toes described as lightweight. Boots like these are usually more comfortable from day one, which is why the brand shows up often in our most comfortable work boots guide.

The Timberland PRO Direct Attach listing also states 200 grams of Thermolite insulation, so it suits cold sites. Our insulated boot guide covers gram weights.

Cost over time

At the time of writing, the Timberland PRO boots in this comparison were listed lower than the Thorogoods. A lower price up front is a real advantage if you wear out boots quickly or your employer gives a fixed boot allowance.

A welted boot can be resoled, which can extend its life if the upper is still sound. Whether that pays off depends on how fast you wear soles and whether a local cobbler handles work boots. See how long work boots last and are Thorogood boots worth it.

Note.Prices on listings change often. Check the current price before buying.

Which one to buy

Choose Thorogood if you like traditional leather boots, want a moc toe wedge for concrete, and plan to resole. Choose Timberland PRO if you want lighter boots that feel good right away, waterproof membranes as standard, and a lower listed price.

• Resoleable welted boot: Thorogood American Heritage
• Heel outsole for ladders and loose ground in a Thorogood: 1957 Series
• Light composite toe out of the box: Timberland PRO Boondock
• Insulated, budget steel toe: Timberland PRO Direct Attach

Frequently asked questions

Is Thorogood better than Timberland PRO? They suit different buyers. Thorogood's listings point to welted, traditional builds. Timberland PRO's listings point to lighter comfort technology and lower prices.

Can Timberland PRO boots be resoled? It depends on the model. The Direct Attach boot uses a molded-on sole, which is not usually resoled. The Boondock listing does not state its construction, so check with the seller or a cobbler.

Are both EH rated? All four boots compared here state EH protection in their listings.

Which is lighter? The Timberland PRO listings describe lightweight composite and alloy toes and comfort foams. Listings for both brands do not give boot weights, so we cannot compare exact figures.