Did Barbour Just Beat Crocs, Blundstone & Birkenstock at Their Own Game?

When two icons of British style decide to collaborate, the results tend to be worth paying attention to.

To that end, Paul Smith and Barbour have joined forces for a second time on a Spring/Summer 2026 capsule collection that blends Barbour’s rugged heritage with Paul Smith’s signature color-forward sensibility.

Paul Smith

The lineup runs the gamut from waxed jackets and sailor knits to fishing-themed tees and accessories, all rendered with bright pops of color that have become a signature of Paul Smith’s work.

But look a little closer, past the obvious showstoppers, and you’ll find one of the collection’s most unexpectedly practical entries: a pair of weatherized rubber clogs that hold their own — and then some — against the Crocs, Birkenstocks, and Blundstones of the world.

A flash in the mud

Paul Smith

Footwear has never been Barbour’s primary calling card, but it does maintain a line of boots and shoes, most of which skew toward modern interpretations of classic British Wellington boots — or “Wellies” — built for the same muddy field and rainy day duty as its outerwear.

Barbour has also ventured into weatherized clogs before, with rubber styles like the Quinn clog offering a practical, no-frills option for outdoor use. But “no-frills” is exactly where the new Paul Smith collaboration parts ways with anything Barbour has done before in this category.

Paul Smith

The Paul Smith x Barbour clogs come in two colorways: Dark Navy and Fern. You’d think the Fern colorway was the more subdued version, but it’s actually the opposite.

Feature-wise, both pairs are identical and built mainly from rubber. The upper is 100% rubber. The lining is a mixture of 70% Neoprene and 30% Polyester. The sole features a dual-density rubber designed for comfort and durability on just about any terrain.

Paul Smith

The soles’ grippy design also means these can handle wet pavement, muddy gardens, or a waterlogged dock without issue.

Paul Smith’s signature striped webbing at the heel adds the designer’s trademark color pop, while a D-ring hardware detail nods to Barbour’s utilitarian roots. The contrast-textured toe panel and dual-branded footbed round out the design.

Paul Smith

Where they differ is in their level of flash: the Fern version leans into a brighter, more statement-making palette with a vivid sole, while the Dark Navy offering gives buyers a slightly more restrained option — the kind of clog you could realistically wear to the farmers market and not feel like you made a choice you need to explain.

Pricing and availability

Paul Smith

Right now, the Paul Smith Loves Barbour clogs are available on Paul Smith’s website as well as a few other boutique fashion retailers in both Dark Navy and Fern colorways, priced at $170 each.

That price sits noticeably above most of the competition in the weatherized clog category. The Birkenstock Super Birki 2.0, one of the more respected options for all-day outdoor wear, runs around $80-$90. Crocs’ On The Clock Work Slip-On, a favorite in the service industry for its slip-resistant sole and enclosed construction, clocks in around $50.

Paul Smith

Even the elevated waterproof mules from The North Face were priced at $110, meaning that even by premium footwear standards, $170 for a rubber clog is a meaningful ask.

But none of those alternatives offers the combination of fashion-world pedigree and genuine outdoor utility that this collab delivers.

For the buyer who wants something that looks as good on a rainy Saturday stroll as it does pulled up to a pub table, that distinction may be worth every bit of the premium.

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