Vans Does Its Best Birkenstock Impression with the Harbor Mule

Published January 14, 2026 at 5:21 PM

Quick Facts

The Vans Harbor Mule is a street-ready slipper with no back and a one-piece suede or canvas upper that is very similar to those produced by Birkenstock
The mule silhouette dropped in Asia in 2025, but this year, the shoe is coming to American Vans retailers, with an initial debut in four colorways: Khaki, Black, Pink, and Chipmunk
The Vans Harbor Mule doesn’t have a firm release date just yet, but it will be released sometime in 2026

After a long day of skateboarding or surfing, jumping and falling, a pair of thin, vulcanized skate shoes is the last thing you want to wear out to the bar or on the couch relaxing. Adding a new pair of after-skate chillers to the US market, the slip-on kings at Vans are taking the back off their iconic model and getting in on the cozy trend with a pair of previously overseas mules that are ready to take the stateside chill wave by storm.

The Vans Harbor Mule is a street-ready slipper with no back and a one-piece suede or canvas upper that is very similar to those produced by Birkenstock. The model features an ultra-cushioned footbed designed to stand apart from Vans’ thin-soled on-board offerings, utilizing VR3 foam. The mule silhouette dropped in Asia in 2025, but this year, the shoe is coming to American Vans retailers, with an initial debut in four colorways: Khaki, Black, Pink, and Chipmunk.

For the first drop, the khaki, black, and pink pairs will be covered in suede, while the chipmunk brown colorway features a canvas upper. All four colorways feature a warm and fuzzy inner lining so you can switch into some comfy slippers as soon as you step off your board.

The Vans Harbor Mule doesn’t have a firm release date just yet, but it will be released sometime in 2026 through Vans and select retailers in-store and online. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is set at $65. For all the latest Vans news, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.