Ah, the slip-on shoe—a trend I once embraced in my youth, believing that efficiency was the key to fashion. I even splurged on a pair of slick grey suede slip-ons, thinking I was at the peak of style. Alas, this fashion phase was as short-lived as my commitment to it, and I soon found myself saying “I do” and leaving slip-ons behind. Around that time, Crocs entered the scene, the subject of many jokes and snide remarks. Only a select few dared to admit they knew a Croc owner, and even fewer sung their praises.
Years passed. Crocs jokes dwindled into obscurity, leaving behind a brand that is still screaming success. In 2020, the company’s revenues reached a record high of $1.4 billion, a 12.6% spike from the year before. With imitators from Yeezy to Hobby Lobby, it’s a slip-on world, and I’m just living in it.
If Crocs were designed on a boat, it’s only fitting that Vans would carry the torch to the beach. Vans has long been a major player in beach and water sports, making waves in the surfing scene for decades. However, they recently decided to change their focus when it comes to surfing competitions. In 2022, they pulled their title sponsorship of the World Surfing League Finals. As we speak, the World Surf League’s (WSL) Championship Tour is set to determine the top ten men and women at Lower Trestles. Just off the 5 freeway here in Southern California.
It’s bound to be a lively showdown, making me wonder why Vans chose to switch focus.
Vans Surf Presents: VANS PIPE MASTERS 2022 | Surf | VANS
The Vans Pipe Masters is why. For 25 years, Vans has owned this event without ever entitling it—until now. It’s not just a name change; the reimagined Pipe Masters aims to inject creativity and progress into surfing while fostering inclusivity. Vans collaborated with the local Hawaiian community and pro surfers, cooking up a whole new approach that celebrates competition, creativity and diversity. Oh, and they added women to the mix—impressive! So, if they could Vansify the most iconic surf event featuring the world’s most famous wave, maybe they can Vansify my son’s beloved Croslite polymer clogs the Crocs. For a deeper dive into the revamped event, check out this detailed article from Forbes.
Now, let’s size up the two slip-on contenders before I take these TRK Mules for a spin. For context I’m wearing the Vans Slip-On Mule TRK. Vans has two versions, the Slip-On TRK and the Mule version. The Mule is without the heal support (sans sports mode) which is appropriate for this dad-bod tester.
Looks: The Slip-On Mule TRK is different than the base model Slip-On TRK. The Mule is fashioned like a closed-toe slide without a “sport mode” option. This is very similar to Crocs, with the semi open heel allowing feet to go in and out easily. However, Vans clearly have the upper hand in the looks department with this shoe that so perfectly captures the Vans DNA. It’s sleek low profile design screams “Vans Classic Slip-On!”, and the square ventilation holes mimic the classic Vans checkerboard pattern perfectly. While fashion forward, they are also not overly done like maybe the Adidas Foam RNNR (“Yeezy Crocs”) or Crocs Pollex.
Feel: When it comes to ultimate comfort, Crocs take the crown. It’s no wonder; they were designed with comfort in mind, not looks. The Trek is still comfortable but a bit more rigid. They also are a little narrower when it comes to fit and might be a little tighter for people with wide feet.
Function: Now, let’s talk about my day in my Trek Mule Vans. I brought these slides style shoes home and immediately saw their potential for everyday use. I opted for black because it’s versatile and matches everything. I had also previously bought grey slip-ons (Vans have a pewter color) with disastrous results. These new shoes seemed perfect for “house shoes.” In my household, “house shoes” aren’t worn indoors (that’s strictly verboten), but rather are the only shoes allowed by the front door for quick, hyper-local errands. They excelled in this role, and I was pleased. They are easy to clean and have the potential to “Vansify” an okay idea and make it cool for an aging slip-on neophyte.
I chose a holiday weekend to test these Mule Treks on the beach, and they handled it predictably well. It was a scorching late summer day, and the sand was blistering hot. I appreciated the structure and depth of the sole, which cradled my feet and made it easy to traverse the parking lot to the beach. These Mule Treks were easy to kick off and slide on as we played, talked, and argued on the beautiful Southern California coast.
In conclusion, are Crocs killed? Most definitely not. However, have Crocs been Vansified, absolutely. I love these shoes and will take them everywhere I love to adventure. From mountain lakes to sandy beaches and perhaps even a boat deck or two, they are versatile and easy water shoes. As far as slip-ons go, it’s not just a name change. It’s the reimagined Pipe Masters in shoe form, creative, progressive and inclusive.
