Since the first glimpse of the official Louis Vuitton x Timberland Six-Inch Boot graced Pharrell’s @skateboard finsta page back on Jan. 12 (and subsequently the western-themed Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2024 runway seven days later), fans have been eagerly anticipating its retail release. The time has finally come.
To guarantee your pair, you can currently pre-order it through LV’s web store. Pairs will not be hitting LV stores around the world until Aug. 8. The particular version of the Six-Inch that we got a closer look at will be available for $2,850, an astounding $2,652 markup from your run-of-the-mill Buttas.
If those aren’t for you, fear not, Pharrell gave you some options. There is also a black colorway of the $2,850 version, beige and black pairs with a clean nubuck upper and monogrammed ankle collar for $2,450, beige and black Ranger Boots that resemble Timberland’s 40 Below boot for $2,990, and three pull-on, ranch-ready styles for $2,990. For LV’s ultra VIP clients (let’s be honest, we’ll probably only see these on Pharrell himself, or other musicians and athletes), there is also the “exceptional edition” Timbs. Limited to 50 pairs, they feature 18-karat gold hardware, a custom lug sole, Italian calfskin leather uppers, and an $80,000+ price tag.
As you will see below, LV didn’t totally overhaul the Six-Inch boot (if it ain’t broke…). Instead, the storied luxury house opted for a much more subtle interpretation using some of its signature house codes. But is it worth the exorbitant markup or is it just a luxury tax?
Note: The LV Timbs are a men’s 10.5 and the regular Timbs are a men’s 12, hence the slight difference in height.
Upper
The most obvious difference between the Louis Vuitton collab and a classic pair of Timbs is the upper. The LVs are embossed with the French house’s iconic monogram print. While there is a clear difference when positioned right next to a regular pair, the print is very subtle. From afar, you might not even realize there’s any difference. For some people, that’s ideal. Why would you want the pattern so clearly visible? But it’s also understandable why you would want everyone to see the monogram from a mile away if you shelled out $2,850 for some nubuck boots.
Aside from the embossing, there is also a noticeable difference in the quality of the nubuck. The LV pair does up the quality in terms of texture (it’s oh-so-soft), and coloration (we sure hope so at that price). It’s a slightly lighter shade of wheat than the OG Timbs. For what it’s worth, these small inconsistencies with the upper color have always been a thing with Timbs, so much so that you may have even tried to match up left and right boots from different boxes in the store to get them as close to matching as possible. The consistency of the LV pair may be attributed to the fact that they were made in Italy. Timberland boots are typically produced in the United States, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and China.
Most importantly, the durability of a classic pair of Timberlands hasn’t been stripped away. The LV pair features seam-sealed construction, an insulated liner, and is waterproof. This isn’t just a pair of Timbs in appearance. It’s functional. We weren’t going to take these on a hike or to the construction site either way, but it’s nice to know that they didn’t omit any of those signature elements of the work boot for this project.
Tongue and Laces
One of the best features of LV’s variation on the Timberland is the tongue. Timberland’s signature tree logo and a minimal “Louis Vuitton Paris” wordmark are embossed on the outer tongue. Traditionally, Timberlands don’t feature outward branding here, so this is a nice added detail. The best part is the inner tongue, which has also been stamped with the LV monogram and is clearly visible if you wear Timbs properly—loose with the tongue folded over. This monogram is much more pronounced than what we see on the upper, the contrast of which makes it that much better.
You’ll also notice that the round laces on the LV Timbs are a bit thicker than its predecessor’s. Sure, they might be a bit more durable, but ultimately it isn’t a huge tweak.
Collar
Until we saw them next to each other, we didn’t think much about the difference between the leather collars on Timberland boots. There isn’t a huge difference here. The LV pair does have slightly more sheen and is more supple to the touch, but this particular aspect of the boot isn’t as different as some of its other elements at first glance.
Hardware and Sole
Like a typical pair of Timbs, the LV pair features seven metal eyelets. The major difference is that the eyelets on the LV version are etched with “Louis Vuitton.” To fit the lettering, you will also notice that the hexagonal rings are a bit thicker than the ones used on the originals.
It certainly isn’t a monumental change, but it’s those types of subtle details that we expect from a luxury house like LV to make their pair feel more special than the run-of-the-mill pairs.
Where you will see no difference between either pair is the sole (sorry, no photo). Unfortunately, the LV flowers aren’t used as the lugs. Ultimately, the only thing seeing the outsole is the pavement you’re walking on, so it may not be a dealbreaker, but it would have been a nice addition.
Hang Tag
Timberlands always come with a square nubuck hang tag stamped with the brand’s logo and arching “Guaranteed Waterproof” text. It hangs from a beaded chain. Louis Vuitton’s Timbs also feature a hang tag, albeit a much more elevated one. The nubuck hang tag on the LVs resembles a luggage tag, a nice callback to the house’s origins in trunk making. It comes complete with an adjustable gold buckle on the strap, the same dual branding seen on the tongue of the LV pair, and cream contrast stitching bordering the rectangular tag. Honestly, you’ll probably remove this before actually wearing them, but it’s still a nice touch that shows no detail is too miniscule to consider.
Final Verdict
Many people (myself included) may not justify dropping $2,850 on some work boots. While there is certainly a noticeable increase in quality between the pair of Timbs you can buy at the mall for $200 and the pair LV is peddling, the differences aren’t so incredible that you can’t look at the mall version as a formidable alternative.
If you do decide to splurge on a pair, at least get your money’s worth. Wear them how you would any other pair. Don’t be afraid to scuff them up and get them dirty. Of course, we aren’t suggesting you go and cook these things. Keep them nice. But if you’re going to dip into your bank account for these, you might as well put some mileage on them and get off as many fits as possible.
In any case, the LV Timbs are another piece of history from Pharrell’s tenure with Louis Vuitton. Years down the line, these will live amongst the items that represent this era. Wear them. Store them away. Either way, you’ll be happy you have them.