Vans reads the room with this latest Harbor Mule Slip-On. While we all try to get through the darker months, there’s no better excuse to stay indoors than copping a new pair of slippers. Sure, whipping on the telly and sinking into a dressing gown is top bins, but without the right footwear you might as well be trudging out in a snowy field.

We did predict Vans is going to have a great year, but we didn’t expect the skateboarding brand to kick things off with a banging pair of Mules. First revealed via Vans Philippines, the Harbor Mule Slip-On feels like a perfect segway back into the brands catalogue. If you’ve got these by the door, dashing out the door on bin day is less of a chore.

At its core, the Harbor Mule is a rework of the Classic Slip-On, and ironically easier to slip-on than the original itself. The one-piece suede or canvas upper wraps neatly down over the sidewalls, giving it a smooth, clog-like shape that sits somewhere between house shoe and everyday beater. Inside, a soft recycled textile or fuzzy lining does exactly what you want it to do: keep things warm, cushioned, and easy to live in.

Underfoot is where things get a bit more considered. The Harbor Mule sits on Vans’ VR3Cush platform, a softer, more forgiving midsole than the brand’s traditional vulcanised setup.

Earthy colourways like khaki, black, golden brown and chipmunk brown currently make up the tasteful selection, giving clear nods to the wider mule and clog wave currently dominated by Birkenstock Bostons and UGGs. And while we definitely won’t advise heading out to clock a couple of Tre flips in these, you just know someone on the internet is bound to try.

Positioned as the cosy, comfort-forward option in Vans’ growing mule library, the Harbor Mule Slip-On feels like a smart response to how we’re all moving right now. Easy on, easy off, and exactly the kind of shoe winter calls for.