If there’s one thing I love, it’s an ambitious crossover, and last week’s release of limited-edition SpongeBob SquarePants Timberlands—just in time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the SpongeBob SquarePants animated series—surely qualifies. Available in a range of sizes for children and adults, these boots come in two unique colorways.
The first is Bright Blue Nubuck, a fun, flashy design that celebrates the noble sport of jellyfishing. They are loud and proud, but just a little too much for my own wardrobe.
The second is a subtler Black Nubuck, which I instantly fell in love with. Luckily, Timberland sent over a pair in my size so I could check them out all proper-like.
Unlike the blue, this black design goes for a more traditional color palette, with the exception of a few standout flourishes. Of course, it’s these same little design elements that make the product so fun and eye-catching.
Each pair ships with two pairs of laces; one is a mottled, two-tone yellow that mimics SpongeBob’s own body, while the other is black with the SpongeBob SquarePants logo repeated in yellow. No matter which you choose, they each benefit from contrasting orange top eyelets and a tiny shirt and tie embellishment on the low end of your laces.
Each tongue is topped with a smiling SpongeBob print. It certainly looks a little gaudy at first blush, but if you’re pairing these boots with straight-leg jeans, he remains hidden from sight until and unless you intentionally reveal him.
My favorite part is the subtle branding of the classic Timberland logo. It’s been overlaid with the image of a Krabby Patty, with a printed Plankton pursuing the undersea delicacy.
On the inside, the boots boast a black and yellow SpongeBob motif on their sturdy, 400-gram PrimaLoft® insulated liners. This design is reflected in the product packaging, with a fairly conservative (save the obvious SpongeBob SquarePants branding) box concealing a brilliant packing paper cocoon in the same print as the liner swaddling your new boots.
As far as fit, Timberland has a reputation for running true-to-size, and these are no exception. The anti-fatigue footbeds and buttery-soft nubuck leather of the upper also provide amazing support and comfort.
While these aren’t work boots, per se, they will offer hours of easy wearability—not something you can say about many fashion footwear brands. The $220 price tag (for the men’s product) does come at a bit of a premium, as compared to the $200ish price tag of the regular 6-inch waterproof boots, but you’re paying for all those little extras—not to mention the limited availability of this specific product.
Would I recommend the SpongeBob SquarePants X Timberland 6-Inch Waterproof Boots? Yes, undoubtedly.
In fact, I would recommend the Timberland brand outright, for everything from work and outdoorwear to the subtle hip-hop cool of their traditional styling. Further, as SpongeBob himself is a bankable brand in my household—my teenager and I still speak in personal shorthand of classic SpongeBob SquarePants quotations and memes—it hits a very specific sweet spot for me personally.
From a pineapple under the sea to your own fall wardrobe, SpongeBob SquarePants X Timberland is an unqualified success. Fun, functional, and finely crafted, these boots are made for more than walking—with nary a squeak to be heard.
SpongeBob SquarePants X Timberland 6-Inch Waterproof Boots were provided by The Timberland Company for the purposes of this review. This post contains affiliate links. Are you feeling it now, Mr. Krabs?
