Thermoball V Traction Mules / The North Face
The ThermoBall Traction Mule V is an insulated slip-on built around one material decision: ThermoBall Eco, a recycled-polyester synthetic of small round clusters that mimic down but, unlike down, hold their warmth when damp. That suits exactly the conditions the mule is for, the camp, the doorstep, the cold morning walk, where insulated footwear matters most and down would be compromised. A recycled ripstop upper takes a non-PFC water-repellent finish, an Oso fleece collar lines the opening, and the rubber outsole, part recycled, runs right to the toe for grip a flat slipper cannot offer. A collapsible heel and elastic side panels let it go on and off without ceremony. It is light, warm and made for transitions rather than distance.
Design intent
- +Choosing ThermoBall synthetic over down is the decision that defines the mule: it keeps its warmth when wet, which is the state the camp-and-doorstep use case actually involves.
- +Running a grippy, part-recycled rubber outsole to the toe gives traction on icy decks and paths that a flat-soled slipper cannot, making it usable outdoors rather than only indoors.
Trade-offs
- -Synthetic insulation is bulkier than down for the same warmth, so the mule is warm rather than exceptionally so, and is no substitute for a proper boot in deep cold.
- -The collapsible-heel slip-on form gives little foot retention; it is correctly a transitional shoe rather than something to walk any distance in.
Related products
The ThermoBall Traction Mule V is an insulated slip-on built around one material decision: ThermoBall Eco, a recycled-polyester synthetic of small round clusters that mimic down but, unlike down, hold their warmth when damp. That suits exactly the conditions the mule is for, the camp, the doorstep, the cold morning walk, where insulated footwear matters most and down would be compromised. A recycled ripstop upper takes a non-PFC water-repellent finish, an Oso fleece collar lines the opening, and the rubber outsole, part recycled, runs right to the toe for grip a flat slipper cannot offer. A collapsible heel and elastic side panels let it go on and off without ceremony. It is light, warm and made for transitions rather than distance.
Design intent
- +Choosing ThermoBall synthetic over down is the decision that defines the mule: it keeps its warmth when wet, which is the state the camp-and-doorstep use case actually involves.
- +Running a grippy, part-recycled rubber outsole to the toe gives traction on icy decks and paths that a flat-soled slipper cannot, making it usable outdoors rather than only indoors.
Trade-offs
- -Synthetic insulation is bulkier than down for the same warmth, so the mule is warm rather than exceptionally so, and is no substitute for a proper boot in deep cold.
- -The collapsible-heel slip-on form gives little foot retention; it is correctly a transitional shoe rather than something to walk any distance in.
Source
Year