11 Ways to Tell If Timberlands Are Real or Fake

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Plus foolproof ways to avoid buying counterfeit Timbs

Co-authored by Daniel Gbenle and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: December 10, 2025 Fact Checked

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Spotting Fakes

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Avoiding Counterfeits

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Reporting Counterfeits

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Spotting Other Counterfeits

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Timberlands are durable, functional boots popular with blue-collar workers and hip-hop stars alike. And because of their popularity, there are also a ton of fakes on the market. If you’re thinking of buying a new pair of Timbs but are worried about counterfeits, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explain how to tell if Timberlands are real or fake, where to buy authentic ones, and how to report fakes.

Real vs. Fake Timberlands: At a Glance

An illustration depicting the differences in quality of a real Timberland boot and a fake one

Real Timberlands are made of high-quality leather or suede, have the Timberland logo embossed on the side of the heel, and feature high-quality laces and stitching. Counterfeits will be made of cheap material, have crooked stitching, and may be listed for much cheaper than an authentic pair.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Tell If Timberlands Are Real or Fake

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Verify the packaging. Brand new Timberlands will always come in a shoe box. While the color of this box varies depending on the model, it will be sturdy and have clear and precise graphics. Make sure the logo and lettering match the font used on official Timberland products and that the box label contains the correct product details, such as size, barcode, and style.^{[1]
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- Counterfeiters often sell fake Timberlands in a plastic bag.
- Keep in mind that if you bought the shoes secondhand, they might not have a box but could still be legit shoes.
- Some counterfeit boxes will have all the correct information, but the text will be spaced too far apart or too close together, or it may be blurry.
- Real Timberlands will also come wrapped in paper featuring the Timberland logo. If this paper is missing, the shoes may be fake.
Authentic Timberland boots have the trademark tree logo embossed into the leather on the side of the heel. The logo has clean, thick lines. Fake Timbs may feature a printed logo, lines that are too thick or thin, or branches that don’t match the original logo. They may also be missing the registered trademark symbol (®).

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Feel the boots’ material. Real Timberlands are made of various types of leather, including nubuck, full-grain, and suede. When you run your finger across the material, it should leave a dark trace behind. Fake boots may not have the same effect.^{[2]
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- If the boots are new, smell the material, as well. Genuine leather has a natural smell, while fake leather may have an unpleasant, chemical odor.
Authentic, high-quality Timberlands feature neat, precise stitching. The individual stitches are uniform in size and form a straight line. The stitches on fake Timberlands may vary in size, have gaps, or be crooked, which indicates poor manufacturing practices.^{[3]
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Real Timberlands will have thick, sturdy laces. The eyelets will be made of high-quality materials and appear neatly stamped into the leather. They also have a hexagonal design. The laces on counterfeits may be thin or flimsy, and the distance between the eyelets may be inconsistent, resulting in a messy look.^{[4]
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Authentic Timberland boots have a special rubber sole that prevents slipping and makes them ideal for hiking and winter weather. Fake Timberlands likely won’t have as good a grip, which may make it easier to slip and injure yourself. Try walking around in the shoes to see how they feel.
Inside the shoes should be text that describes the materials. Scammers often copy this text, but the placement and font will be inconsistent and may vary in thickness. Look for differences in individual letters to identify a fake.^{[5]
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If possible, pick the boots up or try them on. True Timberlands are made of premium materials, which makes them heavy. If the boots feel too light, they’re likely made of poor materials and aren’t authentic.^{[6]
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The tag is usually located under the shoe tongue or attached to the interior, depending on the style. Make sure the number listed on the tag matches the one on the shoebox. Fake tags may feature the right number but will likely have discrepancies in the font and style. The tag itself may also look crooked or messy.^{[7]
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Many Timberland boots also have a tag attached to their exterior. These tags are often made from a suede material and are embossed with the Timberland logo or text. They’re also attached by a gold metal chain. Fakes may be made from plastic or have typos.^{[8]
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The exact price depends on the style of the boot or shoe, but because they’re made from durable materials, Timberlands are generally on the pricier side. In most cases, they run anywhere between $100 and $300. Counterfeits typically run between $70 and $120, so compare the price to that listed on Timberland’s website. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Avoid Buying Counterfeit Timberlands

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1
Purchase items directly from Timberland. The easiest way to purchase genuine Timberland products is to buy from Timberland’s website, Timberland specialty retail stores, Timberland factory stores, and authorized retailers. Timberland states that they do not sell products in internet auctions, through individuals, through street vendors, or in flea markets.^{[9]
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- Timberland doesn’t list all of the authorized retailers on their website, but as a rule of thumb, if the retailer is well-known (like a popular shoe store or big box store), their products are likely genuine. Specialist outdoor and workwear retailers often stock Timberlands.
- If you’re not sure if a retailer is authorized to sell Timberlands, email the name of the store to counterfeit@vfc.com, and Timberland will verify the store.
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Watch out for fake websites. Many counterfeit websites try to deceive customers by using a domain that is very similar to the authorized site. They may include the word “timberland” or a variation, like “tims” or “timbs,” or use a subtle change like .net instead of .com. Remember, Timberland’s official website is timberland.com.^{[10]
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- For example, a counterfeit site may be timberland.net or timber1and.com.
- These websites often copy the design and layout of the official store. They may look legit at first, but be on the lookout for misspelled words or grammatical errors.
- These sites may also include questionable links, like links to other brands’ sites, auction sites, blogs, etc.
- They may also use scam email addresses or contact information. Examine these closely, as they often say things like timberlandemail@gmail.com.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Report Fake Timberlands

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Send an email to counterfeit@vfc.com. If you’ve bought a Timberland product you suspect is fake or are considering a purchase but aren’t sure if the shop is genuine, the official Timberland website recommends emailing counterfeit@vfc.com for clarification. Include the name of the website in question, and they will investigate the report and verify if it’s authorized to sell genuine Timberlands.^{[11]
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- Timberland takes counterfeits very seriously, so they recommend contacting them with any suspicions, whether you buy a product or not.
- The Timberland company has an intensive, global Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement Program, which includes training various government and enforcement agencies on how to distinguish genuine Timberland products from counterfeits. They also employ more than 100 law firms and investigation agencies to help protect the brand.