TrulyObscure - article - domicilia - local - Timberland Sandals: Comfortable - Not So Durable

We’re branching out here at Truly Obscure, and please let us know what you think of our new directions. Regular readers might remember our look at the Mion sandals, a logical first step for our budding fashionista reviewers.

We continue the sandal spree with a look at the Timberland Humbolt- an attractive cross between a full shoe and a sandal, similar to the Mion or the Keen. Initially, we were impressed by the light weight and decent arch support of the Humbolt- not as light as the Mion, but not noticeably heavier. Further, they were pretty comfortable and easy to put on.

But with a little wear, the limitations of the Humbolt became clear- the “adjustable closure”, basically a strap that you pull to tighten the shoe’s width, continually became loose. Frustrating, but not fatal- until someone stepped on the heel of our loose shoe accidentally, and the strap broke.

Usually, this is no big deal- simply re-thread the strap, or in the worst case you might need to get a new strap. On the Humbolt sandal, however, the strap is sewed onto the body of the shoe and is impossible to re-attach without some major effort and a sewing machine. Hand sewing won’t last long, as the strap is constantly being tugged on. Our call: the Humbolt sandal is attractive, comfortable, and reasonably priced at $80- but is suitable only for light use, and isn’t as durable as we’d like.