The North Face May Have Just Dropped the Best Aprés Hike Camp Shoe of the Year

While the trails are a place for exertion and exercise, the campsite is where you go to recover for the next leg of your adventure. As such, your camp footwear should give your feet (and the rest of your body) a break.

Yet, they still need to be capable enough to keep you steady on your feet, even over rough terrain.

That unique combination of requirements is precisely what makes The North Face’s Clyffe Slip-Ons perhaps the best aprés hike sneaker of the year (so far).

Of course, if you want something even cozier and easier, there’s also The North Face Universal Design Traction Mules.

The North Face

Campground kicks

The Clyffe is a core hiking footwear offering from The North Face, one that has seen a steady stream of releases over the years. That includes things like a streetwear-focused suede edition and at least one stylish collaboration.

But this edition sees some significant alterations, especially to the upper. While other editions of the Clyffe have had a more traditional lacing system, this one eshews that entirely, in favor of a much easier-going slip-on upper.

The North Face

The shoe still has its refinement, especially in its materials. The upper is crafted from soft nubuck leather, for instance. However, where the laces would normally be, there’s instead a stretchy tongue that makes putting them on and taking them off incredibly convenient and simple.

But the underside is still all business. It gets a treaded Vibram outsole that’s ideal for rocky and uneven terrain. And it’ll keep your feet steady and secure even if things get soggy.

Technically, you could wear these as light hikers, but I like them better for hanging out at the campsite after you get back.

The North Face

But wait, there’s more

Because the Clyffe Slip-Ons are based on an existing hiking shoe, they might still be a bit too restrictive for many. If that includes you, there’s an alternative in the Universal Design Traction Mules.

Designed in collaboration with the brand’s adaptive athletes, this take on one of The North Face’s most iconic shoes is crafted specifically to be as accessible as possible.

The North Face

To that end, they’re made to fit on either of your feet, while remaining just as comfortable and capable as if you put them on the “right” feet. That means you can slip into them in about a second and be on your way, whether that’s to the store, around the campsite or elsewhere.

Yet, they still retain the elements that make these puffer mules such iconic slippers, like the baffled upper and the fold-down heel (another major convenience feature).

That upper, by the way, is recycled ripstop nylon filled with Thermoball polyester filling to keep your toes warm. And the sole is grippy rubber with a tread inspired by the brand’s iconic logo.

The North Face

Availability and pricing

The North Face Clyff Slip-Ons are now available at the brand’s site for $140 per pair. Similarly, The North Face Universal Design Traction Mules are also now available, albeit for a much more affordable $65 per pair.

The North Face

The North Face Clyffe Slip-Ons

• $140 at The North Face

The North Face

The North Face Universal Design Traction Mules

• $65 at The North Face

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