Thermoball™ Traction V Mule Slippers Women

Verified claims

Warmth rating

Rated 1 on a 3-tier scale; buyers report it's warm enough for apres-ski.

Temperature range

Performs best between 40°F and the high 50s; collapsible heel helps regulate outside that range.

Damp performance

Insulation maintains loft when damp, but the upper is only water-resistant, not waterproof.

Sizing

These slippers run a half to full size small; size up one.

Fit adjustment

Collapsible heel and elastic gore provide two wearing modes for security or ease.

Support

The flat footbed lacks arch support, limiting use to short casual wear.

Intended use

Designed as a camp and lounge slipper for short, low-impact activities.

Traction

Reliable grip on icy pavement and packed snow; not for deep slush.

Multi-surface grip

Grips well on damp pavement, gravel, and campground surfaces.

Fit and stability

Collapsible heel and side elastic keep the foot secure for stable walking.

Water resistance

Not waterproof; slush and heavy snow soak through the upper.

Warmth when damp

ThermoBall insulation retains warmth even if the upper gets wet.

Versatility

Collapsible heel creates two wear modes: slide-in and secure shoe.

Temperature regulation

Buyers report heel-down mode warms toes without overheating.

Insulation

Synthetic insulation stays warm when damp; footbed blocks ground cold 10°C more than Nike ACG; warmth scale is lowest (1/3).

Collapsible heel

Collapsible heel allows clog or shoe wear without bending down.

Materials

Upper and insulation are 100% recycled polyester; outsole up to 20% recycled rubber; non-PFC DWR; meets Vision reduced-impact standard.

Home use

Buyers use these as comfortable house slippers and packable travel slippers.

Outdoor use

Buyers wear these for dry outdoor errands, camping, and après-ski, but they lack support for long walks.

Weather suitability

Best in dry, cool weather between 40°F and 60°F; avoid slush as it can soak the footbed.

Durability

Buyers report 4–5 years of regular use and a well-made build that lasts.

Cultural momentum

Earlier version went viral, driving streetwear appeal; popularity spawned Denali and Nuptse mules.

Thermal performance

ThermoBall insulates when wet; footbed blocks ground cold; warmth scale 1; comfortable 40–57°F.

Product record

Title

Thermoball™ Traction V Mule Slippers Women

Brand

The North Face

Price

95 CAD

Availability

In stock

Rating

4.6 stars, 34 reviews, scale 5

Grip on snow and ice

• The recycled rubber outsole provides reliable grip across damp pavement, bark mulch, and muddy stream edges, making the shoe dependable for camp chores and wet morning errands.
• The outsole delivers real grip on gravel, pavement, campgrounds, and decks — sufficient for walking to the picnic table or grabbing firewood without switching shoes.
• Field testing in Yosemite found the mules comfortable on icy and slick, leaf-covered pavement, demonstrating sufficient grip for winter walkways around camp or resort towns.
• The North Face describes the outsole as 'high traction rubber outsoles are just right for the job' when shuffling through snow to bed, positioning the mule as capable on packed snow paths and cold-weather shuffles without the bulk of a winter boot.

How it stacks up against competitors

• CleverHiker's 2026 camp-shoe guide, which tested 10 shoes across pavement, dirt, rocks, and creeks, named the ThermoBall Traction Mule V its 'Best Camp Slipper' — signaling that editors found it the best balance of insulation, traction, and packable comfort for the slipper category.
• The proprietary IcePick outsole with 6 mm lug depth and cold-weather rubber compound gives the ThermoBall V notably surer footing on frozen pavement and packed snow than the Nike ACG Moc’s generic 5 mm lug rubber, turning it into a true shoulder-season outdoor slipper rather than just a camp shoe.
• Unlike the Nike ACG Moc, whose EVA footbed lets ground cold seep through, the ThermoBall V integrates a ThermoBall footbed insert that blocks that cold path — the key reason it extends its effective comfort range roughly 10°C lower than the Nike, from well below freezing up through mild fall days.
• The North Face internally rates the ThermoBall V as a '1' on its three-tier warmness scale, while the down-filled Nuptse Mule sits higher — a conscious calibration that prevents overheating during moderate-weather camp use and keeps the shoe lighter and less bulky than its warmer sibling.
• ThermoBall Eco’s round fiber clusters insulate by trapping heat in small air pockets that remain functional even when wet, a property that the 550-fill goose down in the Nuptse Mule cannot match — so buyers who frequently encounter dew, snowmelt, or damp cabin floors get more reliable warmth from the ThermoBall.

What the recycled materials mean

• The insulation is 100% recycled polyester, maintaining the same wet-weather warmth performance as virgin ThermoBall while preventing additional plastic from entering the waste stream — for a house slipper, that means you’re not compromising on coziness for eco-conscience.
• This product meets The North Face's internal Vision program, meaning it's been assessed as containing at least 50% reduced-impact materials or coming from a circular production process — acting as a gatekeeper against greenwashing by requiring the brand to validate the supply chain behind the recycled claims.
• The slipper's upper is woven entirely from post-consumer recycled polyester — essentially re-engineered plastic bottles — which not only diverts waste from oceans and landfills but also eliminates the need for virgin petroleum-based polyester, a process The North Face notes gives plastic containers a second life.
• The outsole integrates recycled rubber up to 20% of its content, repurposing material from end-of-life tires or manufacturing scrap into a durable tread that grips on snow and pavement alike, reducing reliance on virgin rubber harvesting.

Living with the collapsible heel

• The collapsible heel makes slipping on the mules quick enough for midnight tent exits or stepping out to grab firewood — one tester kept them by the tent side to slip on in the dark without bending down to adjust.
• The heel collapses to wear as a slipper-like clog for quick errands, then flips up for a secure walking shoe — the side elastic panels hold the foot in place without pinching, so you don't have to choose between ease and stability.
• When fully collapsed, the open back lets you dial in temperature — reviewers deliberately leave the heel down when they want cozy toes without overheating indoors, leaning into the mule versatility the design was built for.

How ThermoBall insulation performs

• Field testing reveals they are most comfortable between about 40°F and the high 50s; in colder temperatures cold seeps through even with wool socks, while warmer conditions can lead to clamminess, placing them as ideal shoulder‑season slippers for camp, après‑ski, and cool‑weather lounging rather than deep‑winter standbys.
• Because ThermoBall Eco’s round synthetic clusters maintain their loft when damp, the slippers continue warming feet even after stepping onto wet ground or morning dew—a crucial advantage over a down‑filled alternative, which would lose insulating ability until fully dry.
• The insulation is 100% post‑consumer recycled polyester, delivering the same moisture‑tolerant warmth as virgin synthetic fill while reducing environmental impact—part of The North Face’s broader move toward recycled materials across its line.