If you’ve read any of my previous boot reviews, you know I am very particular when it comes to my footwear. After 25 years of wearing boots day in and day out, often depending on them in the worst situations, I have become very demanding of anything that goes on my feet. Let me tell you about the Timberland PRO Valor AR 670-1 Compliant Boots and how they measured up.
First Impressions of the Timberland Pro Valor
As I opened the box, I was impressed with what I saw. The flesh-out leather uppers provide a clean, professional look without the need to apply polish. The non-leather areas are a durable, long-lasting 1200 Denier material which matches the leather perfectly, per AR670-1 regs. The molded EVA soles resemble an athletic shoe but still present a rugged, terrain-grabbing look. All in all, I felt like I was looking at a pair of boots that were designed to be worn for work and be comfortable while doing so. Only a true field test would determine if this was accurate, but first impressions were positive.
Pro Valor Boots Features
Before we get into how the boots perform in the real world, let’s take a look at what Timberland is offering in these boots and how they claim they will perform. Then we can see if this was true.
- Leather & 1200 Denier uppers – the flesh-out construction allows the wearer to experience the benefits of leather without the need for continued maintenance. Although you will need to occasionally clean these leather surfaces, often with nothing more than a wet cloth or stiff brush, there is no need to apply polish. By combining the leather with 1200D panels, the wearer experiences less weight without sacrificing durability.
- Molded EVA midsole – the midsole is often overlooked when selecting a pair of boots, but when it comes to providing day-long wear comfort, it is vital. The molded EVA midsole provides a perfect fit every time, plus it maintains its shape for the life of the boot.
- Timberland Pro no-slip outsole – the trend in boot soles is athletic; gone are the days of heavy chunky lug soles. Not only does this provide a lighter, more comfortable design, it still allows for traction on a variety of surfaces without marking.
- Exclusive Dynamic Anti-Fatigue shock absorbance system – the majority of foot problems are caused by two factors (1) boot fit or (2) long-term comfort. Many boots are not designed to be worn day after day, and doing so can cause the insole and bed to collapse over time. Timberland’s anti-fatigue system is designed to counter this by preventing collapse and provide the same out of the box comfort whether on day 1 or day 100.
- Mesh lining with antimicrobial treatment – this combination is designed to combat the sweaty, uncomfortable feeling you experience after a long day of wear. Any pair of rugged, heavy boots will cause some sweating, but the mesh lining is designed to reduce this. Add the anti microbial treatment and you should experience less funk when you do sweat.
- Metal detector-friendly hardware – not a concern for most wearers, but those who do work in a secured environment will enjoy not setting off alarms every time they enter or exit.
- Stain-resistant Scotchguard Defender 3M coating – 3M’s stain guard coating will prevent your boots from looking worn out before they have truly reached the end of their life. Plus, it makes cleaning a breeze, usually needing nothing more than a wet cloth or stiff brush.
- US Army 670-1 compliant – if you are wearing these boots on duty, you will enjoy not needing to change for garrison or inspection duty. Not only does this make owning these boots more convenient, it also means you save money. Plus, it provides the peace of mind that these boots meets regulations.
Timberland Pro Valor Review Summar
So how did they fare?
What the company says a pair of boots should do, and how they actually perform in real-world conditions, can often be 180 degrees from each other. I’ve had boots that the manufacturer claimed were top of the line, ready for any environment, fall apart during the break-in period. In other words, I like to know what the maker claims the boots will do but I am never satisfied until I see first-hand what they actually do.
So how did the Timberland PRO Valor hold up under real-world conditions? In a single word – fantastic!
Right out of the box these boots impressed me and they continued to do so day after day during the test period. One of the first things I noticed was how light these boots were. Each boot weighs only about 1 lb., and the first thought I had was “these are going to feel so much better,” and as soon as I put them on, that thought was confirmed. If it were not for the 8” uppers encasing my ankle and lower leg, I would have thought I was wearing athletic shoes rather than work boots.
The next thing I noticed was the perfect match in color between the leather and nylon panels. This does not sound like a big deal, after all, how hard is it to dye everything the same color? In all honesty, it should not be a big deal, but you would be surprised how difficult it can be to get two different materials to take dye to the same shade (why do you think many boots use different colors in their design?). But it is frequently a problem, and if wearing for uniform use, it can be a deal-breaker. Thankfully there are no such problems with the PRO Valors.
I tested these boots while wearing them day in and day out in a variety of conditions. From the office to the wilderness, whether wet or dry, hot or cold, whatever I experienced so did the boots. As I stated earlier, they performed fantastically.
The Fit
The fit was perfect, almost as if they were custom made for me rather than off the shelf. Not only was the fit excellent, there was no break in period. Anyone who has worn heavy duty leather boots knows that the first couple days can be rough – the leather needs to stretch and you do not have a true fit until this happens. In the meantime, they can pinch, loosen and even cause blisters. No such problem with the Timberland PRO Valor. The combination of leather and Denier uppers provided little or no need to stretch the boots, plus the padded panels allowed the interior to form to my foot rather than squeeze my foot until the leather gave way.
The Sole
The only real concern I had was the sole. The Timberland PRO Valor uses a no-slip athletic style outer sole and I was worried about two things (1) how well it would perform on different surfaces and (2) how long it would hold up. Neither ended up being a problem. The no-slip soles worked as well as could be expected, even on wet surfaces. No slipping, no sliding, and no marking either. After weeks of wear on rough surfaces, the soles show almost no signs of wear and appear as if they will last as long as the uppers, maybe even longer.
Wear and Tear
Over time, I expect to see the normal signs of wear and tear – stains, frayed laces, and worn hardware. Even if this happened, I would not be disappointed, unless it was excessive, because it is common with most boots. Even the more expensive models wear out, some faster than others. Again, this was not an issue with these boots. The laces and hardware look as good as the day they were delivered. The stain-blocking coating has worked even better than advertised, leaving the boots looking excellent even after weeks of hard use. These boots look and feel as good as the first time I put them on, and I expect to get many more months of use from these boots.
In case you have not picked up on it yet, I really enjoyed wearing these boots. They are among the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. I am also impressed with how well they withstood almost every form of abuse I could throw at them – although they did take a little longer to dry than I would like (I expected that given the large amount of padding they have).
In the end, I would highly recommend these boots. If you are looking for a pair of quality boots for uniform or recreational wear, these are the boots for you.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of US Patriot Tactical.
