Timberland Makes a Great Chukka

Apparently, boot guys can be shoe guys too. 

As a point of boastful reference in hip-hop, the Timberland boot rivals even the Cadillac Escalade. Biggie Smalls gave Timberlands all the street-cred they might ever need with the line, “Don’t make sense goin’ to Heaven with the goodie goodies / Dressed in white, I like black Timbs and black hoodies,” and figures like Nas and Common have showed the brand love for decades. Now though, Timberland is trying to tread into softer territory: the street-style/skate-happy shoe market, and while the Timberland Groveton Chukkas might not get immortalized in popular song, they’re worth a look. The color is Timb’s signature wheat nubuck, but the shape is shoe-like, with a vans-esque toe and contrasting laces. Plus, the footbed, laces, and outsole are made from majority-recycled material, so these kicks won’t scuff up the environment too badly. While the OG will always rule, we think there’s room for a young upstart. [$75; timberland.com]

Photos by Timberland