Here at WoWasis, we think no one’s harder on shoes than we are. We tear them up while climbing over volcanic pumice. We beat the hell out of them on the terrible so-called sidewalks of Bangkok and Phnom Penh. We totally stress the upper part of the shoe above the heel because we constantly slip them off going into Buddhist temples, and never retie them. We want them to last forever, so need to ensure that they can be re-soled with Vibram-like soles if ever we wish. The one shoe that has stood the test of time and our torture test is the mighty Timberland 30003 Men’s 3-Eye Classic Lug.
In the past, we used Timberland’s 32026 model, which at first glance looks similar to the model 30003, but found that the soles wore out too quickly, squeaked like crazy, and couldn’t be replaced. Nice shoe, but only the upper was durable. We were replacing them all the time. Not so with the 30003, which has a better sole construction all around. We’ve been on one pair of 30003s for two years now, and haven’t had to replace the soles yet. And when we need to, we can do it on a Bangkok street corner for 10 bucks. We consider the shoe a real bargain because it lasts forever.
Here are WoWasis’ qualifications for the shoe we need for tough and versatile world travel. The shoe needs to:
- Be easy to break in: no blisters, please
- Have a serrated, non-slip, long wear sole
- Have a durable, tough-leather outer
- Be easy to slip on and off without retying
- Breathe comfortably in tropical climates
- Shine well, so we can wear them to parties
- Be easily resoleable with Vibram-type soles
The slip-on characteristic is really important if you’re at Buddhist sites. You’ll be taking your shoes off and putting them back on constantly to go into temples and shrines, so you’ve really got to have a durable rear upper, which is going to take a beating. You’ll scuff your shoes a lot climbing over and through ruins, so you’ll need a tough outer, and it’s really nice when you can hire a kid to shine them up when you have to go to a party at night.
The mighty Timberland 30003 takes a beating, looks great, and you can wear it anywhere. Buy them now at the WoWasis estore.
FWIW, I’ve been wearing these Timberland Handsewns since 1981. Now on my fourth pair. They last about ten years with everyday use, unless mistreated. I had to toss one pIr when the uppers were damaged by industrial chemical, and another pair when the soles cracked and chunk of heel broke off when caught in metallic structure. One pair was re-soled, then donated when the leather scuffed too much. My current pair will be re-soled with a different Vibram sole, to be accompanied by new pair of 30003s. I’ve had both the brown and burgundy (different model number, same shoe otherwise) and tried the cheaper Timberland model with squeaky heel – which were crap.
I’ve worn my 30003s in Bangkok, enjoying the easy slip off / slip on to view the Golden Buddha, and surviving the slippery streets of Patpong. My Timberlands climbed through snow in Zermatt and Innsbruck and Stockholm’s ice fest. The Handsewns logged miles in Mexico, Carribean, from Florida to Alaska.
The real deal Timberland Handsewns are as suggested above: excellent value shoes for life’s adventures and world travel.
Here was the real test. I wore them in a boat ride under Iguazu Falls and they got totally drenched. I wrung out my socks and walked back to my hotel barefoot. They completely dried within 24 hours and a week later, they look and feel terrific! These leather shoes recover from a thorough socking within 24 hours… amazing!
Like us, Basil’s had a lot of experience with these terrific shoes. Ours just refuse to wear out, and we’ve absolutely punished them. We typically buy two pair of shoes we like, just to have an extra pair when the first wears out. Our second pair of 30003s just sits in the box, in the back of the closet, and sits, and sits, and sits…
I got me a new pair of Timberland 30003 classic lug shoes with the honey coloured aggressive lug rubber soles the other day. Have been wearing them for two full days without sox and are very comfortable as allways. My previous comments still hold for these great shoes and will get more in future.
Comfortable shoes, nice review.
Thanks for your comments, Basil, we agree about your comments on their versatility; they work just about anywhere, day or night. On the squaeking issue, please note that the comment was about the old Timberland 32026, which we eschewed, and not the 30003, which we reviewed.
Thanks for writing!
I agree with your good article about the shoes. I got my first pair in 1989 for touring in Europe and used them all day and everyday. The only shoes I took with me. You can wear them anywhere as they have a classic style and the aggressive rubber soles work well on all surfaces. Very comfortable and made for wearing without sox. They are also springy when you walk on solid floors when the rubber soles are still new. The shoes also attract a lot of attention and complements from other people as the classic style and the very aggressive rubber soles stand out when you are waiting at the airports or walking in the hotel. When I come home I use them for everyday wear. You mention about the shoes squeaking. The rubber soles may squeak on some shinny solid floors when walking, mainly on hotel floors and airport waiting lounges, but should never be problem and does not bother me at all.
I will always recomend these shoes to anybody who will be touring. On my next tour I will get me a new pair or two before I leave. The burgandy color for day wear and the smooth brown for evening wear.