Glerups Slip-On with Natural Rubber Sole Review

Likes

The Glerups Slip-On with Natural Rubber Sole look absolutely gorgeous, care of the excellent craftsmanship on display.

The seemingly seamless felted wool upper looks striking and we loved the subtle dyeing of the wool fibers.

The wool is also surprisingly breathable, as the construction doesn't rely on a separate leather or suede liner attached to the upper. This allows both air and perspiration to travel easily through. You can almost think of the Glerups Slip-On as your favorite wool sweater, just for your feet.

And getting caught in a light rainstorm while walking the dog isn't something to worry about, as you may with a pair of suede slippers. Water won't necessarily ruin the felt. Just don't throw the slippers into the Kalvebodløbet expecting them to survive.

The survivable upper does allow the Glerups Slip-On to take on light outdoor duties without worrying about damaging the slipper, but ultimately these slippers are best as an all-day indoor shoe, maybe especially if your home features lots of hardwood or stone floors.

Dislikes

One unique issue we've noticed with the Glerups Slip-On is the upper sheds little puffs of wool. The manufacturer says this should decrease after a few weeks, but it is an issue we wanted to point out. Inspecting a much older pair of Glerups we have on hand reveals that wear and tear of the upper is often expressed in the felted wool lint balls coming off abrasions from running into things.

We were also flummoxed on the design of the outsole. The natural gum rubber itself is sensationally sticky, like a climbing shoe, but the outsole itself is bowled, which never allows you to land your feet on a flat surface. This hampered any longer walks we had planned.

The felted wool is a seriously cool material, but absolute warmth retention isn't its major strength. Slippers made with loftier wool proved to be a better insulator in our freezer lab tests.

This material choice also hampered overall comfort for those who were also sensitive to wearing wool sweaters, which seems to track. If you find a rough wool sweater itchy, you may not fully enjoy the Glerups.

Should you Buy the Glerups Slip-On with Natural Rubber Sole?

Buy this if you ultimately want a walkable, indoor shoe that you absolutely love the look of. It's a great slipper for handling cold, hard indoor surfaces, and the occasional brisk walk outside, negating the need to change into something else. The felted wool upper could be polarizing: many love it (count us one of them), but for others, it's a total non-starter. We do wish the rubber sole wasn't so curved, but Glerups offers a leather-soled version that's more malleable than the rubber sole.

What Other Men's Slippers Should You Consider?

The Olukai Moloa is another very fashion-leaning walking slipper, with a completely different vibe to it. The upper is made of leather with a shearling inner lining, with an Aloha attitude, rather than Nordic straightforward honesty. The Sorel Falcon Ridge III has a similar overall design, but with a lofted-up faux shearling inner, and a buttery smooth suede outer. Its cushy midsole and arch/heel support is made to take walks in. The North Face Thermoball Traction Mules V uses quilted insulation like you might find on your favorite puffy jacket to provide warmth, with a rubber sole for quick walks around the office or the climbing gym.