After a punishing day of logging heavy miles on the trail, absolutely nothing feels better than peeling off your stiff hiking boots and letting your swollen feet breathe. That is exactly where a dedicated camp shoe becomes a backpacking essential. While some people settle for heavy sandals or flip-flops, the Rab Cirrus Hut Slipper offers the ultimate way to rest your feet in warm, featherlight, and incredibly comfortable footwear.
Designed for use at remote basecamps, high-altitude mountain huts, or chilly evenings recovering in a tent, these slippers are widely regarded as one of the best camp shoes on the market. In this review, we break down exactly why the eco-friendly Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers earned a permanent spot on my multi-day trekking packing list. Whether you are navigating the tea houses of the Himalayas or just want something cosy for the tent after a damp, gruelling hike on the North Shore trails, read on for the technical specs, performance strengths, hidden weaknesses, and our final kit rating.
Field Note: This guide contains affiliate links. If you purchase gear through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend equipment I have personally mountain-tested and trust.
Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers: Introduction
Whether it’s mountaineering boots, hiking shoes, climbing shoes, or ski boots, the Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers provide soft and comfortable relief to tired feet. They’re super lightweight and packable, taking up minimal space in backpacks or luggage. They’ve been designed for use at base camps, mountain huts or chalets to add extra comfort in the evenings when recovering. The Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers are unisex and come in Black, Mulberry, Oak, and Tempest Blue. The Sizes range from XS (UK 3 or 4) to XL (UK Shoe size 10+).
The Rab Cirrus Hut Slipper is a great addition for backpackers, climbers, multi-day hikers and trekkers looking for a lightweight, packable and comfortable second pair of footwear for evenings. The Rab Cirrus is highly rated as one of the best camp shoes due to its stylish, sustainable design and supreme comfort.
Rab Cirrus Hut Slipper
I first used the Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers in Nepal when Teahouse trekking as a way to keep my feet warm at the increasing altitudes. Many of my fellow trekkers were jealous of my Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers when relaxing at the Teahouses. I was thankful for the comfort after wearing my La Sportiva TX4 Shoes all day.
Overall, they are super comfortable, take up so little space in the Osprey Atmos 50 Backpack and look great too. The price is very competitive compared to the Montane’s and North Face, being £20 cheaper. The only issues are the limited grip and structural support around the ankle. The Rab Cirrus Hut Slipper are part of my Trekking Kit Packing List as a second pair of shoes for camp, mountain huts or teahouses.
Key Features
Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers: Strengths
- Featherlight & Highly Packable: When you are counting every gram on a multi-day trek, footwear is usually the first luxury to be cut. However, weighing in at under 200g for the pair, the Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers completely eliminate that dilemma. They effortlessly squash down into the tiny, unused gaps of your backpack, meaning you can carry a dedicated camp shoe without sacrificing precious packing space or adding noticeable weight to your loadout.
- Exceptional Warmth in Damp Conditions: Down insulation loses its heat-trapping ability when wet, which is why Rab smartly utilized PrimaLoft® Silver Luxe synthetic insulation for these slippers. Combined with the Pertex® Quantum windproof outer, they retain their loft and keep your toes incredibly warm—even on misty, humid mornings or when the inside of your tent gets plagued by condensation.
- Well-Built & Abrasion-Resistant: Despite their featherlight feel, these are not delicate indoor slippers. Rab engineered them with a tough 600D nylon lower edge that wraps around the perimeter of the shoe. This reinforced rand easily brushes off abrasions from stray twigs, tent pegs, and abrasive dirt when you are shuffling around a rugged campsite.
- Foot-Hugging Comfort: After punishing your feet in stiff, heavy trekking boots all day, slipping into the Rab Cirrus Hut Slipper feels like an absolute dream. The EVA footbed provides a plush layer of cushioning, while the non-slip PU outsole offers just enough grip to confidently navigate wooden hut floors, packed-dirt trails, and flat rocks around the fire.
- Eco-Friendly Construction: It is always a massive bonus when premium outdoor gear respects the environment it is built for. With 100% post-consumer recycled synthetic insulation, a recycled 20D nylon lining, and a recycled Pertex® outer, these slippers boast serious sustainability credentials without compromising an ounce of technical performance.
Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers: Weaknesses
- Limited Ankle Support & Wet-Weather Grip: Because the upper is completely soft and collapsible, there is absolutely zero lateral support. If your campsite is situated on a steep, uneven incline, your foot will slide sideways inside the slipper. Furthermore, while the outsole handles dry dirt perfectly fine, the grip drops off significantly on wet, slippery mud or slick grass.
- The Sole is Too Soft for Rough Terrain: The EVA sole is optimised for low weight and high comfort, but the trade-off is a lack of puncture protection. If you are walking over sharp, jagged gravel or a campsite littered with large roots, you are going to feel every single rock press into the bottom of your foot. They are strictly designed for well-trodden paths, flat grass, or indoor hut use.
- They Are Not Waterproof: While the fluorocarbon-free DWR treatment is fantastic at causing light morning dew or a brief drizzle to bead up and roll off the fabric, these are not rain boots. If you step into a deep puddle or try to walk through wet, overgrown brush, the fabric will eventually wet out and soak the insulation. They are best kept inside the tent or reserved for dry, clear evenings.
Best Use Cases
To get the most out of these slippers, it is important to understand what they are built for—and what they aren’t. They are not hiking shoes, and they aren’t meant for gathering firewood in a wet forest. Here is where they truly excel:
- High-Altitude Tea Houses & Refugios: Whether you are navigating the wooden floors of a tea house on the Annapurna Circuit or resting in a crowded refugio in the Dolomites, these slippers give your feet a hygienic, warm break from your heavy trekking boots without taking up precious space in your 50L pack.
- Multi-Day Backpacking & Wild Camping: When every gram matters, the 172g weight penalty is easily justified by the sheer morale boost of putting on warm slippers after a 15km day on the trail.
- Bikepacking: Cyclists have extremely limited storage capacity in their panniers. Because these slippers have no rigid structure, they can be squashed flat into the tiny gaps of a frame bag.
- Post-Hike Road Trips: I almost always leave these in the car when doing challenging day hikes on the local North Shore trails. Taking off muddy boots and slipping these on for the drive home is pure luxury.
Where this gear earned its keep
I don’t review gear out of a box. Read the full destination guides where the Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers provided ultimate comfort at the end of a long trekking day.
Alternatives To Consider
While the Rab Cirrus is my go-to choice for sheer packability, the camp shoe market has plenty of options depending on how much walking you actually plan to do around camp, or how extreme the temperatures might drop. Here is how they stack up against the closest competition:
1. Montane Icarus Hut Slippers
- The Verdict: The most comparable design to the Rab Cirrus.
- The Details: If you are looking for a direct competitor, the Montane Icarus is it. They are incredibly lightweight, soft, and similarly insulated (using PRIMALOFT® Black ThermoPlume® technology). They perform almost identically to the Rab slippers, though they do generally come with a slightly higher price tag.
2. The North Face Men’s THERMOBALL™ Traction Mules V
- The Verdict: The heavier, more versatile “do-it-all” camp shoe.
- The Details: These are much heavier than the Rab slippers, but they make up for it with a substantial rubber sole that provides actual outdoor traction. They add a plush fleece lining and an easy slip-on collapsible heel, making them incredibly versatile for both indoor use and mild outdoor wandering. My partner currently uses these as her primary camp shoes (a full review on her pair is coming to the blog very soon!), and honestly, if I ever need to replace my Rab slippers, the ThermoBall Mules will be my next purchase.
3. Rab Down Hut Slippers
- The Verdict: A warmer, more extreme version of the Cirrus.
- The Details: These feature a nearly identical silhouette to the Cirrus but swap the synthetic insulation for a much higher 700FP down loft. They are slightly heavier (weighing in at roughly 198g) but are noticeably cosier. If you are sleeping in freezing alpine huts or drafty Scottish bothies during the winter, the down upgrade is worth the few extra grams.
4. Rab Cirrus Hut Boots
- The Verdict: Maximum coverage for deep winter camps.
- The Details: If you suffer from cold ankles, Rab offers a “boot” version of the Cirrus. The higher cut provides excellent draft protection and traps more heat, but it does add a noticeable amount of weight to your pack (bringing the total to around 244g) and reduces overall packability.
Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers: Kit Rating
Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers: Final Thoughts
The Rab Cirrus Hut Slipper is a true standout choice for hikers, climbers, and trekkers seeking lightweight, warm, and highly packable footwear for basecamp. They strike an absolutely perfect balance between thermal warmth and portability, compressing down to almost nothing in my Osprey backpack. The sustainable use of recycled Pertex® Quantum and PrimaLoft® insulation only adds to their long-term appeal.
However, it is crucial to manage your expectations: they lack structural ankle support, and the soft EVA sole is simply not built for rugged ground, sharp rocks, or torrential rain. They shine purely as a recovery shoe for resting your tired feet at the end of the day. If you are preparing for a massive multi-day trek like the Annapurna Circuit, or you simply want a luxurious reward for your feet after a long day in the mountains, I cannot recommend the Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers enough.
FAQs
Can you wear Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers outside?
Yes, but with limitations. The non-slip PU outsole and tough 600D nylon lower edge are designed for walking around a campsite, stepping out of your tent, or moving between buildings at a high-altitude tea house. However, because the EVA-padded footbed is very soft and lacks a rigid rubber sole, you will feel sharp rocks underfoot. They are strictly recovery shoes and are not built for hiking or rugged terrain.
Are the Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers waterproof?
No, they are not fully waterproof. The Pertex® Quantum ripstop outer features a fluorocarbon-free DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish, which easily sheds light dew, snow, or brief drizzles when making a quick dash outside the tent. However, in heavy rain or deep puddles, water will eventually soak through the fabric and seams.
Are they warm enough for winter camping?
The PrimaLoft® Silver Luxe synthetic insulation does a fantastic job of trapping heat, making it incredibly warm for 3-season camping and chilly autumn nights. For deep winter or sub-zero expeditions, you might want to upgrade to the Rab Down Hut Slippers or the higher-cut Cirrus Hut Boots for maximum thermal protection.
How small do they pack down?
Exceptionally small. Because they lack a rigid rubber sole (unlike traditional camp shoes such as Crocs, Tevas, or The North Face Mules), you can squash both slippers completely flat or stuff them into the tiny gaps of your backpack.
How should I wash my Rab Hut Slippers?
To protect the synthetic insulation and DWR finish, it is best to hand-wash them in lukewarm water using a tech-wash (like Nikwax) or a mild detergent. Avoid fabric softeners entirely. Allow them to air dry naturally away from direct, intense heat sources like a campfire or radiator.
