Timberland Review, Is Timberland Non-Toxic?
Across 15 graded products, Timberland averages Poor (35/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 1 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Does Timberland have PFAS, by category
Worth buying from Timberland Good or better, best-graded first
Timberland
Renewbuck Foaming Cleanser
Water-based foaming cleanser, likely aqueous surfactants
Surfactant skin sensitization
Water-based foaming cleansers contain mild anionic or amphoteric surfactants that can…
1,4-dioxane (impurity in surfactants)
Some ethoxylated surfactants used in foaming cleansers may carry trace 1,4-dioxane as an…
Foaming cleanser carries lower PFAS risk than treated apparel.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Timberland
Waximum Waxed Leather Protector
Wax-based leather protector
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents
Wax-based protectors require liquid carriers (typically mineral spirits or similar…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Liquid leather treatments may include biocidal preservatives to prevent microbial growth…
Skin sensitization from undisclosed additives
Fragrance masking, dyes, or proprietary wax blends can trigger contact dermatitis in…
Wax coating lower concern than synthetic waterproofing, but unconfirmed.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Timberland
Boot Kit
Leather, rubber sole, likely water-repellent coating-treated upper
PFAS
Timberland has not disclosed water-repellent coating chemistry for this boot kit. Most…
Lead
Leather processing frequently uses chromium salts and may accumulate trace lead or…
Azo dyes in leather coloring
Leather dyes may include azo compounds, some of which release banned amines under sweat…
Waterproof boots likely use waterproofing; PFAS risk unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Balm Proofer Water & Stain Repellent
proprietary water and stain repellent coating
Inhalation of spray aerosol / volatile organic compounds
Spray application releases fine particles and vapors; typical repellent formulations…
Skin or eye contact during application
Spray repellents can cause mild irritation or allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive…
Accumulation of coating residue on treated fabric
Repeated applications without fabric cleaning can cause whitish buildup, stiffness, or…
PFAS
If the formulation contains PFAS, washing treated textiles will release those compounds…
Wait for Timberland to disclose coating chemistry or PFAS certification.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Travel Kit
Likely nylon or polyester with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon and polyester travel kits routinely receive formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle…
Azo dyes and colorant residues
The colored nylon or polyester exterior is dyed using azo dyes, a common class that can…
water-repellent coating finish degradation and unknown chemistry
The water-repellent coating will degrade over time and with washing, potentially…
Microfiber shedding from synthetic fabrics
Nylon and polyester shed microfibers during washing and use, particularly in the first…
Material has a water-repellent finish with undisclosed chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Air Raider Shoe & Boot Refresher
Aerosol spray treatment, likely silicone or wax base
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and propellant inhalation
Aerosol sprays release hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon propellants and solvent vapors into…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some aerosol coatings include formaldehyde-releasing preservatives to prevent microbial…
Silicone or wax coating degradation and microplastic shedding
The refresher creates a thin polymeric film on shoe fabric or leather; over time and with…
Aerosol canister pressurization and storage hazards
Pressurized aerosol cans can rupture if exposed to heat above 50C (122F), stored in…
Wait for PFAS status from Timberland or independent testing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Dry Cleaning Kit
cleaning solution/brush kit for treated leather and suede
Solvent inhalation (cleaning solution)
Typical leather cleaners contain volatile organic solvents or surfactants that may cause…
Skin irritation or sensitization
Undisclosed cleaning agents may irritate sensitive skin or eyes on contact; no…
PFAS
Timberland leather goods are commonly treated with water-repellent coatings that…
Chemical residue on treated garments
Improper rinsing or incomplete drying of cleaned leather and suede may leave residual…
No public PFAS disclosure; leather care typically raises waterproofing concerns.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Product Care Travel Kit
Leather cleaner, conditioner, protectant solutions
Organic solvents and volatile compounds
Leather cleaners and conditioners typically contain petroleum distillates, mineral…
Fluorinated water repellents (Teflon-type coating/water-repellent coating alternatives)
Protectant sprays in leather care kits frequently contain Teflon-type coating or newer…
Preservatives and antimicrobial additives
Liquid formulations require preservatives to prevent mold and bacterial growth in the…
Silicones and film-forming residues
Conditioner and protectant products often contain dimethicone or similar silicones to…
Wait for brand to disclose PFAS treatment status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Men's Killington Trekker Sneaker Boots
Leather, nubuck, rubber sole with waterproof treatment
Teflon-type coating and fluorocarbon microparticle shedding
Waterproof nubuck leather almost certainly contains fluorocarbon-based water-repellent…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nubuck leather may be treated with formaldehyde-releasing resins as fixatives during the…
Azo dye residues in nubuck finish
The soft, velvety surface of nubuck typically requires synthetic dyes to achieve color…
Adhesive and glue volatiles at seams
The boot upper is glued and stitched to the sole using industrial adhesives that may…
Waterproofed leather boot with unclear PFAS risk due to no brand transparency.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Women's White Ledge Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
leather upper with waterproof treatment, rubber sole
PFAS
Timberland's waterproof treatment is not disclosed as PFAS-free. Typical boot…
Azo dyes in leather or synthetic overlays
The white leather/synthetic uppers may be colored with azo dyes, which can release…
Rubber sole degradation and particle shedding
Rubber outsoles naturally degrade over time, especially with exposure to ozone, UV, and…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
If synthetic overlays or mesh linings are present, they may be treated with…
Waterproof hiking boot lacking PFAS confirmation from the brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Men's Killington Trekker Mid Sneaker
Leather/textile upper with water-repellent coating-treated finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Leather and synthetic textiles routinely undergo formaldehyde-based cross-linking during…
Azo dyes and dye breakdown products
Textile and leather dyeing may involve azo dyes that can degrade into aromatic amines…
water-repellent coating finish degradation and re-application chemical exposure
PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings on outdoor footwear are well-documented to…
Antimony in polyester components
If this shoe includes polyester textile inserts or linings, antimony trioxide (used as a…
water-repellent coating-treated upper with no brand PFAS disclosure or testing on record.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Men Timberland Weatherline Wp Shell Jacket
nylon shell with water-repellent coating waterproof treatment
PFAS
Timberland has not disclosed whether the Weatherline water-repellent coating uses…
Coating degradation and wear
water-repellent coating coatings degrade with age, washing, and UV exposure. As the…
Waterproof jacket with unknown water-repellent coating chemistry; PFAS risk present but unconfirmed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Men's Ravine Waterproof Shell Jacket
Nylon shell with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
water-repellent coating microleaching and microfiber shedding
Nylon shells shed microfibers during wear and washing; degraded water-repellent coating…
Waterproof apparel; PFAS status unknown, typical water-repellent coating risk applies.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Man Timberland Benton Shell Jacket
Nylon shell with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
PFAS
Nylon shell jackets routinely use PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes. Exposure…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon fabrics may use formaldehyde-based resins during dyeing and finishing to improve…
Microfiber shedding during laundering
Synthetic nylon jackets shed microfibers during washing, particularly when agitated.…
Azo dyes in nylon coloring
Nylon textiles may be dyed with azo dyes, some of which can cleave into aromatic amines…
Moderate PFAS concern. Waterproof shell jackets typically use water-repellent coating treatments, often PFAS-based.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Men's Weatherline Archive-Inspired Parka
Polyester/nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
PFAS
Timberland's water-repellent coating formula is not disclosed. Legacy long-chain PFAS…
Coating degradation and microfiber release
Polyester jackets shed microfibers during washing and wear, especially as water-repellent…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester and nylon can be treated with formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance…
Timberland makes no PFAS disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland and PFAS, common questions
- Does Timberland have PFAS?
- We graded 15 Timberland products, averaging Poor (35/100). 1 grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Timberland non-toxic?
- Timberland Renewbuck Foaming Cleanser is the highest-graded Timberland product we have scored, at 85/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Timberland products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Timberland products we have scored are Timberland Renewbuck Foaming Cleanser. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
- Which Timberland products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Timberland products we have scored are Timberland Men's Weatherline Archive-Inspired Parka, Man Timberland Benton Shell Jacket, Timberland Men's Ravine Waterproof Shell Jacket. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →