Birkenstock’s Beloved Slip-On Gets a Heritage-Quality Camping-Ready Redux

This two-pronged revision of the iconic Boston mule combines a fine upper with a more rugged outsole.

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By Sean Tirman

Published August 11, 2025

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Updated November 10, 2025

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Second only to perhaps the Arizona, the Birkenstock Boston is among the brand’s most popular and most essential shoes. In contrast with its open-toed siblings, this one features a more clog-like closed-toe design with a single strap to adjust the fit.

While this slip-on mule has seen numerous iterations — including a recent one with a canvas upper — the Birkenstock Boston Crosstown might be its most interesting and exciting yet.

This take on the Boston combines an oiled leather upper with a more rugged polyurethane outsole.

Birkenstock

Crosstown funk

While the Boston’s overall silhouette remains intact here in the Crosstown, its construction and style have undergone a couple of significant alterations, beginning with its upper.

Instead of the fuzzy suede typical to Birkenstock, this one sees the material swapped for a more heritage-quality alternative: Nubuck leather. This oiled leather immediately refines the shoe’s appearance, but that’s not its only benefit.

Birkenstock Boston Crosstown 3/4 angle — The colorways include Black, Iron and Tobacco Brown.

As you wear these shoes, they’ll start to change, acquiring a patina unique to your experience. That makes them special, and it means none will have the same character as yours.

Of course, they also still have the signature buckled strap across the top with genuine metal hardware for the buckle, so you can adjust the fit as needed. And they still boast the signature cork-latex footbed.

Birkenstock Boston Crosstown tops — The slip-on’s iconic cork-latex footbed remains intact.

Shipping up to Boston

If the upper is all refinement, then the new outsole is all capability. Made from polyurethane, this element of the shoe makes it outdoor-friendly.

With greater thickness and deeper treads, this slip-on clog is practically hiking-friendly (if it weren’t for its lack of a back strap). While it’s probably best relegated to short, casual jaunts and campground usage, that’s still a major boon to potential buyers.

Birkenstock Boston Crosstown top and sole — The polyurethane outsole makes these ideal for campsite wear and casual walks on uneven terrain.

It also helps give this mule a ton of versatility. And, while the upper is clearly fine, it’s also durable and tough. Together with the outsole, the construction makes these perhaps the most outdoor-friendly Bostons in the brand’s catalog.

It’s also worth noting that this edition is available in three smart colors: Tobacco Brown, Iron (a gray) and Black. That means there’s a style here for most folks, especially those who already have an interest in Birks.