Timberland’s Trendy Lug-Sole Boat Shoes Are ‘Durable and Timeless’ and Now Under $100
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With the popularity of streetwear brands like Aime Leon Dore, Noah, and Rowing Blazers, and the unlikely resurgence of mall mainstays like Abercrombie & Fitch and J.Crew, it’s clear that preppy style is back in menswear. This time, preppy style is more diverse, influenced by the combination of hip-hop fashion and classic Ivy League style. It’s tougher and maybe a little world-weary, too, trading in the Madras prints and Nantucket reds for more rugby shirts and wide-fit chinos.
Timberland’s hardy lug-sole boat shoe is the perfect silhouette for the prep-meets-streetwear vibe, and right now, it’s on sale for $94—a 37% discount on the original $150 price tag. Though it’s an of-the-moment style, hot off a recent collaboration with Aime Leon Dore, it’s hardly a fad. The high-low combination of the boot-style sole and boat shoe upper has worked for decades, and it’ll continue to look good decades from now.
Timberland Authentics 3 Eye Classic Lug, $94 (was $150) at Zappos 
Timberland’s lug-sole boat shoe was first introduced in 1978, putting it well ahead of the current boot-soled dress shoe trend. The thick tread of the rubber outsole means it can handle tough terrain better than the typical dock shoe. It features hand-sewn construction, a traditional touch that adds to the quality of the shoes. This one features a nubuck upper, which is softer than leather but more durable and water-resistant than suede. It also has traditional boat-shoe lacing and maintains the slip-on convenience that made the former such a staple on college campuses.
The chunkier silhouette of this shoe pairs well with wider-cut or straight-fit pants, like a Levi’s 501 or a rugged yet dressy pair of cords. They can be dressed down even further with a pair of sweatpants, but they’ll look great with chinos, too. If there’s such a thing as winter-ready boat shoes, these would certainly fit the bill.
The tough but convenient construction of the shoes made these popular with shoppers, with one writing, “Sometimes I need a good tough shoe I can slip on to quickly go outside and work. These are the shoes for that.” Another shopper mentioned liking the shoes’ versatility, writing that they’re “very practical for lounging, walking, and boating. Goes well with jeans or shorts.”
Because boat shoes are an enduringly iconic style, shoppers also mentioned that they repeatedly came back to this design, with one writing, “I have been wearing Timberlands since the ’80s. The three-eye lug soles are durable and timeless. I purchase a pair about every 10 years. This is my third pair.”
Timberland’s lug-sole boat shoes are a dependable style that has been around for decades. Whether you’ve been buying them since the ’80s or you’re looking to pick up your first pair, Zappos’ $56 discount is hard to beat, so act fast.
