REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Great waterproofing
Quality material
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Clunky
Uncomfortable
Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof Review
This is a classic hiking boot that uses traditional materials and is an inexpensive option for someone who wants a beefy boot
Credit: Timberland
RELATED: Best Hiking Boots for Men
Our Verdict
The Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof is what we consider a classic hiking boot style. With a full-grain leather upper, it takes a considerable amount of time to break in. It is solidly constructed and offers good support for those who want above-ankle protection and a very stable midsole. It is inexpensive yet made of quality materials, so this could be a consideration for a heavy-duty hiking boot or even a work boot. That said, there are other top-rated hiking boots to consider that offer more comfort.
Editor's Note: This hiking boot was slotted into our fall update on October 25, 2022.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $115 List $89.95 at REI | $230 List $230.00 at REI | $199.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $115.46 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $93.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Inexpensive, great waterproofing, quality material | Top-level hiking boot performance, excels in all metrics | Lightweight, comfortable, excellent traction | Incredibly lightweight, comfortable | Very comfortable, supportive |
| Cons | Heavy, clunky, uncomfortable | Expensive, not as great for hot and dry climates | Narrow fit, slightly small sizing | Less durable than heavier models, thin sole | Average waterproofing, fair traction |
| Bottom Line | This is a classic hiking boot that uses traditional materials and is an inexpensive option for someone who wants a beefy boot | The gold standard of what a great hiking boot should be, and we heartily recommend it for those seeking the best possible performance on and off the trail | This high-performing hiking boot tears up technical terrain with maximum precision and is at home far from the trail | This mid-top hiking boot is ridiculously lightweight, though it offers excellent stability and traction for fast and light objectives | This super comfortable hiking shoe is one of our favorite budget-friendly models |
| Rating Categories | Timberland Mt. Madd... | Salomon Quest 4 Gor... | La Sportiva Ultra R... | Salomon X Ultra Mid... | Merrell Moab 3 Mid... |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Support (25%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Timberland Mt. Madd... | Salomon Quest 4 Gor... | La Sportiva Ultra R... | Salomon X Ultra Mid... | Merrell Moab 3 Mid... |
| Weight (per pair) | 2.31 lbs (size 11) | 2.90 lbs (size 11) | 2.08 lbs (size 45 EU) | 1.85 lbs (size 11) | 2.36 lbs (size 11) |
| Boot Type | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot | Lightweight hiker/day hiker | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot |
| Width Options | Regular, Wide | Regular | Regular, Wide | Regular | Regular, Wide |
| Waterproof Lining | TimberDry | Gore-Tex | GORE-TEX extended comfort | Gore-Tex | Waterproof membrane |
| Upper | Full-grain leather | Leather and nylon | AirMesh, microfiber, TPU | PU coated leather | Pigskin leather, mesh |
| Last Board/Shank | TPU shank | 4D Chassis | Nylon molded flex TPU | Molded shank | Molded nylon |
| Midsole | EVA | EnergyCell | Injection-molded MEMlex | SensiFit | Super Rebound Compound |
| Sole | Rubber | Contagrip | FriXion XF 2.0 | Contagrip | Vibram TC5+ |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
We tested the Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof on a variety of day hikes with and without weight and found them to be a classic take on a hiking boot design, with many of the common benefits and detriments that come with this type of boot.
Performance Comparison
Tall and supportive, but with a clunky feel.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Comfort
The Mt. Maddsen boots are made of full-grain leather uppers, which are fairly stiff and unyielding. We found these boots to be slightly less than average comfort, based on the initial break-in period required, the feel of the stiff structure around the ankle collar, and the fit.
These boots fit quite wide, and it took us two pairs of heavy-weight hiking socks to make them fit well. The midsole is firm and does not give the foot much reprieve from the jarring impacts of the trail like more cushioned models. In short, this is the old-school hiking boot that we used to have to wear, while now there are much more comfortable boots readily available.
Despite an EVA molded midsole, we didn't feel much cushioning wearing the Mt. Maddsen.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Support
The Mt. Maddsen is very stable if it fits your foot. It has very tall ankle support, and the material is stiff and adds structure to the upper, making this a very rigid boot. The TPU shank adds significant stiffness to the sole, giving these a lot of ability in off-camber terrain. You gain these benefits if you can fill this boot out (as in, have wide enough feet or thick enough socks). If you have a narrower foot, the fit will likely be sloppy, and the stiff material keeps you from effectively tightening the boot to the point where it feels stable.
If they fit you properly, the Mt, Maddsen does well in rough terrain. If they fit you poorly, then they feel much more awkward to wear.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Traction
Thanks to the TPU shank, a hearty midsole, and a rubber lug outsole (unbranded, we assume proprietary), the Mt. Maddsen Mid offers solid traction in most every terrain type we tested them in. They edge really well thanks to the stiffness of the sole, and while they don't smear all that well, we found them to work fine in both wet and dry environments.
The lug pattern is quite shallow for this type of boot - we would have liked to see them deeper and sharper for better traction.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Water Resistance
Timberland uses its own waterproof membrane made of recycled plastic to create the waterproof barrier in the Mt. Maddsen, and it works effectively. Also useful is the treated full-grain leather upper, which beads water off much better than many synthetic materials.
No issues with the Mt. Maddsen waterproofing, it is one of the things they do well.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Weight
We took the Mt. Maddsen to the scales and verified their weight at 2.31 pounds for a pair of men's size US 11. This is an average weight in this category, though we would happily take some extra weight for more comfort.
For full-grain leather boots they are actually not that heavy.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Durability
One of the benefits of the Mt. Maddsen using a leather upper with double-stitched seams is that it is much more resistant to wear and tear than lighter boots made exclusively from lightweight synthetic materials. These boots should last you quite a long time, especially if you continue to treat them with a leather conditioner.
The full leather upper of the Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid should do well over time resisting wear and tear.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Should You Buy the Timberland Mt. Maddsen Midf?
These boots are made from quality materials, and everything points to them being well-made. They are also inexpensive, so if you are looking for heavy-duty hiking boots, these might be of good value to you if you have wider feet.
What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?
At a similar weight, the Merrell Moab Mid 3 is way more comfortable and is also a budget-oriented boot. For the best of the best regarding support, stability, and comfort, the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex is our Editor's Choice in this category and is tough to beat.
—
Ryan Huetter
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