Good news for the lazy man, clogs are unquestionably in vogue right now. The slip-on silhouette has long been a favourite here on Proper, and now, finally, it seems like the masses are awakening to the lazy luxury of the humble clog.
They’re good for wearing around the house, they’re good for wearing to take the bins out, and they’re good for wearing when you simply can’t be bothered to bend down and tie your laces. The benefits of a clog are plentiful – and where once upon a time a clog meant a weird orthopaedic looking lump of leather, there are now some genuinely beautiful clogs on the market – not least the latest YMC x Merrell Moab Slide 2.
YMC and Merrell first convened last year for a version of the Moab Slide 2 rendered in lovely hairy suede and finished in a rich petrol blue. The collaboration flew off the shelves in a matter of days, and since then we’ve been waiting patiently for the re-up. Now, finally, it’s here.
This time around, Merrell and YMC have turned their attention earthier – two new colourways of the Moab Slide 2 are up for grabs – a rich brown, and a dark black – both still appearing on the beautiful hairy suede that made the brand’s first rendezvous so successful.
Turning our attention to the technical details, the Moab 2 Slide is pretty much everything you want from a lazy shoe. There’s the easy slip-on construction – meaning the most strenuous part of putting them on is remembering where you left them. But beneath that slacker-friendly exterior is a surprising amount of proper footwear tech.
A protective rubber toe cap keeps things rugged, while a leather footbed cover brings a touch of luxury underfoot. Merrell’s Air Cushion in the heel adds shock absorption and stability, and the Vibram Ecostep Recycle outsole uses 30% recycled rubber, giving the shoe enough grip to handle everything from the kitchen floor to a muddy Sunday walk.
The campaign follows that same spirit of playful practicality, taking inspiration from kite flying. There’s an abundance of YMC charm in the visuals, almost enough to make us want to pick up a kite for the first time in twenty years.
Although, if we’re being honest, we’ll probably just be wearing these from the sofa to the fridge and back again.
The YMC x Merrell Moab Slide 2 is available to purchase from merrell.com
