Whether you’re planning your next outdoor adventure and need a pair of hiking boots or you’re preparing for a special event and want to impress the crowds with your footwear, two brands that show up constantly are Merrell and Timberland.
Each brand has its strengths and weaknesses, and after researching both of them thoroughly, I’m confident that I can help you choose which brand to go with for your next pair of boots.
These brands are quite similar to each other in their offerings, so it will be a tough yet interesting competition, let’s begin:
Comparison Table Between Merrel And Timberland:
| Merrell | Timberland |
|---|---|
| Founded in 1981 | Founded in 1952 |
| Hiking, Trail Running, Slip Ons, Sneakers, Boots, Shoes, Sandals | Walking, Hiking, Work, Winter activities |
| Half sizes available | No half sizes |
| Popular Among outdoor enthusiast | Popular among Rappers and the Black community |
| Best for beginners to experienced hikers | Best for casual, formal, and outdoor wear |
| Very Sturdy | Supportive |
| Seam Sealed Construction | Good Year Welt Construction |
| Traditional shoe style | More stylish and trendy |
Overview of Timberland:
The brand Timberland is a world-renowned manufacturer of clothing and footwear that originated as the Abington Shoe Company in the South Boston neighborhood of Massachusetts.
The brand was founded in 1952 by the founder Nathan Swartz, who purchased 50% shares of this shoe-manufacturing company. After coming to the United States, he worked his way up, eventually, he bought out his partner and let his sons join the business.
Moreover, Swartz investigated an appropriate alternative to hand-stitching footwear to reduce costs and speed up the production process without sacrificing quality.
In his quest, he discovered an innovative injection molding, a binding method in the 1960s that chemically molds and attaches shoe soles to uppers. By using this shoe-making technology, Abington Shoe Company influenced the industry.
This revolutionary process accelerated production and led to the creation of the fully waterproof “Timberland boot” in 1973 which took the company to new heights and in 1978 they renamed the entire company on this model. These high-quality, best-selling footwear commonly known as “yellow” boots raised the bar for waterproofing in the shoe industry.
The newly named Timberland Company expanded internationally and now added casual shoes, sandals, sneakers, and other footwear to its product offerings.
Overview of Merrell:
Merrell is a footwear and apparel company founded in 1981 by Clark Matis, John Schweizer, and Randy Merrell. John and Clark have considerable background in outdoor travel gave them a boost in building a successful company, Randy, on the other hand, had the appropriate shoemaking skills.
The main goal of this friendly and cooperative partnership was to design, manufacture, and market high-quality outdoor shoes and boots without sacrificing the wearer’s comfort or productivity.
There’s a lot to like about all of the phenomenal Merrell shoes, and their best-selling Merrell Moab 2 Waterproof Shoes are durable, provide great grip, and feel very comfortable on most types of trails.
Due to their exceptional footwear brand got worldwide appreciation and millions of nature enthusiasts all around the world still consider Merrell a top-tier shoe company.
Despite the brand’s success, Randy Merrell preferred to sell his share of the company a few years later, and in 1997 it became a part of the Wolverine World Wide label.
Presently, Merrell’s footwear is still crafted from superior materials, exactly as it was in the 1980s, however, the brand now designs and sells a variety of other products.
Merrell has always a strong commitment to quality and safety in its manufacturing processes, has believe in the shoes they manufacture, and aims to inspire and encourage its customers by providing them with reliable footwear.
Major Differences between the brands:
Read this comparison until the end and you will be sure which one to buy next according to your requirements.
1) Comfort:
Merrell is commonly considered the manufacturer of the most comfortable hiking shoes. The company’s designers prioritize achieving the optimal fit and delivering high support as their footwear is built to reduce discomfort on any trail.
The primary feature that makes Merrell boots comfortable is their light weight. This is because your feet absorb the majority of the impact from each step, so reducing a few pounds off their weight will also make your outdoor activities more enjoyable.
Furthermore, the “M Select cushioned KinteicFit footbeds” of Merrell shoes are a major part of the company’s commitment to providing comfort and support precisely where needed.
Also, the breathable mesh upper and EVA Midsole make it very supportive and increase the ventilation so that you can hike in hotter uneven areas with ease.
Alternatively, Timberland boots’ soles are sturdier and feel heavier than Merrell but still provide greater support and comfort.
The brand incorporates many techniques to make its boots more comfortable, and the most noteworthy is its Anti-Fatigue technology. This innovation employs small hexagonal structures in the insole of the footwear that absorbs impact and returns energy to the foot, thereby providing comfort and strength while reducing foot tiredness, when the boots have to be worn for extended periods.
In addition, due to the SensorFlexTM technology, the enhanced cushioning and flexibility provide a unique underfoot sensation that is rarely found in other boots.
However, at first, these boots may feel a little rough and stiff, so, you need some time to get used to your feet.
Also Check Out Our Article: Merrel VS Oboz
2) Popularity:
Merrell is the world leader in footwear for outdoor activities and was named “Brand of the Year” at the Footwear News Achievement Awards, and many of its products have won many prizes as well. In addition to Forbes, Hypebeast, and Travel + Leisure, this brand has been featured in numerous other publications.
Conversely, Timberland Boots are popular all over the world because “the Black community adopted them and helped make Timberland a fashion staple.” They are famous among musicians, hip-hop performers, and other cultural figures, including The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, and Jay-Z, who used them in their songs and music videos.
Also Check Out: Merrel VS Sorel – Which Is Better?
3) Target Market:
Timberland’s main customers are possibly engineers, carpenters, workers, and outdoor freaks from the upper middle class or city dwellers who like the more stylish pair of shoes.
Conversely, Merrell makes an effort to appeal to anyone interested in outdoor activities; the brand does not necessarily target a specific age group but offers something for everyone in the active community.
Also See Our Comparison Between: Merrell Moab 2 And Moab 3: Which Is Better?
4) Price:
Timberland and Merrell offer their footwear at a reasonable range of prices that are suitable for different budgets. Timberland’s shoes and boots are generally more expensive than Merrell’s, ranging from $79 to $300 whereas Merrell boots will cost you about $50 and can go up to $200.
5) Design:
Merrell has been making hiking boots, trail runners, and everyday shoes for more than six decades. They always make sure their shoes last longer by putting them through tough wear-and-tear tests in the field.
Moreover, the brand incorporates natural and synthetic materials to provide its shoes with the necessary durability to handle any trail and withstand abrasion.
Their Vibram rubber outsoles also deliver proper balance and traction, ensuring that you will have a pleasurable experience while hiking and participating in other activities.
In order to satisfy the needs of every outdoor adventurer, the brand incorporates “The GORE-TEX, M-Select WIND, M-Select WICK, M-Select WARM insulation, M-SelectTM GRIP, M-Select Dry” and other technologies into all of their shoe designs.
On the other hand, Timberland claims that, that designing its boots is an art itself, from cutting the first piece of leather to placing the heel in place, each shoe goes through about 200 steps.
Their shoe design is all about premium leathers, old traditional techniques, and expert craftsmanship that seem both classic and contemporary.
When compared to Merrell, Timberland is a little more on fashion trend, they have different varieties of boots including hiking, work boots, casual and outdoor footwear for every type of person. Their waterproof leather makes them more stylish and iconic; you can even wear them to a formal event.
Moreover, due to the Good Year welt construction, the shoes last longer as if the bottoms wear out, which happens to all shoes over time, they can be fixed up with a new welt, sole, and heel, giving your boots a new life, so you can consider them as an investment in future vintage fashion.
Conclusion: Which Is Better?
In conclusion, Timberland and Merrell are two of the best-known outdoor shoemakers. Both labels have a wide range of styles that will meet the needs of many nature enthusiasts and sneakerheads.
Regardless of the hefty costs, Timberland shoes take the lead in terms of appearance and style, because you can wear these boots in semi-formal or casual settings.
Merrell shoes, on the other hand, are better for camping and backpacking trips because they are lighter and more comfortable to wear in wet and dry climates.
In the end, no matter which brands you choose, you can be sure that you’ll get quality footwear that will last for many years.