Top Slippers and House Shoes of 2024: Comprehensive Testing and Analysis
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Being on your feet all day can take a toll on your body, making it beneficial to invest in high-quality slippers for recovery once you get home. Those who have transitioned to work from home might be searching for superior house shoes, best for absorbing shock from walking on hardwood floors. Hillary Brenner, D.P.M., a New York City podiatrist advises wearing slippers at home regularly. Supportive footwear may help alleviate strain on your joints and, for those dealing with foot issues such as bunions or plantar fasciitis, could potentially ease discomfort and promote recovery.
The quest to find the best slippers and house shoes led us to consult with Dr. Brenner regarding the necessary qualities of good footwear - arch support, comfortable materials, and robust construction. Following extensive testing, we discovered the top options for slippers and house shoes to keep your feet relaxed and warm.
Uggs have made a reputable name for themselves as being one of the top slipper brands for women, demonstrated by their exceptional footwear. The shoes are constructed with soft suede and lined with luxurious sheepskin and repurposed wool. The lightweight platform does not compromise on comfort, and their trademarked cushioning and traction prove their durability. Notably, the Tasman slippers have the same outer sole as their Classic Boot, thus can be worn both indoors and outside. If you need to clean them, Uggs suggest using the delicate, cold water cycle on your washing machine or hand washing them gently with Ugg Cleaner and Conditioner.
L.L. Bean slippers exhibited excellent performance on all surfaces we tested them on, including hardwood, carpet, laminate, and cement. Their ankle height offers a secure fit for any activity. The velvet suede exterior received high praise, and we observed the lining remained fresh and fluffy throughout testing. Although they cost slightly more than the other slippers we tested, their quality justifies the investment. Be sure to size correctly, following L.L. Bean's recommendation.
Nike's athletic slippers, lined with snug fleece and fitted with a soft foam midsole, exemplify walking on a cloud. An added zipper pocket allows you to store small items if you need to take a quick walk and prefer not to carry a purse. We experienced no slipping or sliding due to the anti-slip outer sole and traction pattern. However, getting your feet into them might require some effort, depending on the surface you are standing on.
For Birkenstock enthusiasts, the Zermatt Slipper is just the ticket. Made from wool felt, they come with the classic cork-latex footbed and deep heel cup. They provide similar comfort to the brand's popular Boston Clogs but with extra warmth. Although these slippers run narrow and the sole design deviates from the typical cork seen on Birkenstock shoes, they demonstrated remarkable durability during our three-month testing period.
Vionic, a favorite footwear brand of Oprah, designs shoes in collaboration with podiatrists. Their house shoes feature an orthotic footbed with an added deep heel cup for exceptional arch support, making them a suitable choice for people suffering from foot and joint issues like plantar fasciitis. While washing the shoes is not recommended, they are treated with antibacterial and odor-resistant properties.
Can you imagine discovering incredibly comfortable slippers from a shoe brand that originates from Hawaii? This sandal from OluKai has authentic shearling-wrapped straps to ensure a comfortable fit, coupled with an anatomical platform and a cushioned footbed with foam underlay for a supportive barefoot sensation. It also comes with a non-marking, grippy rubber outsole to provide extra traction. Notably, the outsole showcases a tropical design of island flora for an enjoyable mood boost. Remarkably, even with full shearling coverage, these sandals do not induce sweating of the feet.
The Ultraideas Memory Foam Slippers, priced approximately at $20, adapt to your feet offering comfort and support. Even if you're simply walking from the bed to your couch, this house shoe has a warm fleece lining and a high-density memory foam insole. We found the rubber outsole perfect for slippery floors and suitable for moderate outdoor use like fetching the mail or watering outdoor plants. The added convenience is that these shoes are machine washable, making them one of the best value-for-money choices.
This comfortable house shoe, Amazon's "Overall Pick" for women's slide sandal, is also Dr. Brenner's top choice for the finest slipper. She approves of it because it meets many of her criteria - a 1.75-inch platform base, deep heel cup, molded cushion footbed, sturdy midsole, and rubber non-slip outsole for enhanced grip and stability. Available in 27 color options, their sandal style is convenient for short outdoor walks. Furthermore, their noiseless bottom means you're less likely to bother neighbors if living in an apartment or condominium.
This slip-on features a cozy woolen upper and fleece lining and includes the brand's signature active footbed for all-day comfort. A supportive heel cup ensures your feet remain in position despite them easy to put on and take off. These clogs are trendier than other slippers on the market and transition you smoothly from relaxing at home to catching up with friends over coffee. We particularly appreciate their grippy soles, and that they're wearable straight out of the box with no need for a break-in period.
These fuzzy moccasin slippers come with a suede exterior featuring stylish stitching on top, faux fur lining, thick flexible soles, and a rubber outsole with excellent traction to support you on wet or slippery surfaces. They're ideal for lounging around the house and offer a warm and cozy feel. Their flat structure means you can wear them outdoors too, though it's best to limit their use. During our testing period, we noticed that the fur lining lost its fluffiness over time, and the fitting felt noticeably loose.
This platform sandal-slipper combo offers style and comfort. It features arch support, a deep heel cup (helpful when on your feet all day), an adjustable strap, and a soft furry material. These slippers, suitable for indoor and outdoor us, are machine-washable, making their maintenance easy. Just because they're economical doesn't mean they're inferior quality. They're great for people with foot issues like arthritis, bunions, and plantar fasciitis, thanks to their orthopedic-focused design. In particular, they offer the arch support that Dr. Brenner insists is crucial for people with plantar fasciitis, with the adjustable strap being especially beneficial for those with bunions.
Offered in wide widths, these shearling slippers epitomize coziness. The 100% genuine sheepskin lining instantly impressed us. We found it optimally regulated the temperature, providing warmth without causing overheating. The synthetic moisture-wicking materials surpassed our expectations, allowing for walks on dewy grass without damaging the shoes. The shearling lining maintained its fluffiness throughout the testing period. The only point of note was feeling a noticeable width difference between the two slippers, which could be attributed to slight size differences of the test subject's feet.
These clogs feature the brand's signature cork-latex footbed, soft suede upper, and a shearling footbed and lined strap to keep your feet toasty. Just like other Birkenstock classics, the great thing about these house shoes is that they help you stay comfortable for hours on end thanks to a deep heel cup, arch support, and toe grip (raised indentations at the front of the footbed near the toes) so toes can spread out in their natural position. They’re stylish enough and durable enough to wear out of the house — and TBH, you’ll probably find yourself reaching for them on the daily.
While it might closely resemble the winter footwear in your closet, Sorel's bootie acts as both a boot and a slipper, which makes it worth the price tag. You'll stay toasty, comfortable, and supported all day thanks to the leather exterior, plush faux fur lining, incredibly soft footbed, and anti-slip rubber platform outsole, which makes these the best slippers for transitioning from the couch to the sidewalk — particularly when it’s extra chilly outside.
Combining The North Face's Thermoball Eco insulation (a synthetic alternative to down) with a durable rubber sole with reliable traction, this sleeping-bag-looking slipper is ideal for everything from après ski to your morning coffee run — even when temperatures plummet below freezing. It features a fleece collar lining that won't irritate your skin, a collapsible heel with elastic to keep it securely in place, and a water-repellent ripstop upper to protect your feet from the elements.
Wear these incredibly comfortable slippers around the house, campsite, or while bopping around town during your next ski trip. They have a cushioned footbed and lightweight midsole, plus a grippy rubber outsole that provides traction even on snowy or icy terrain. A ripstop upper keeps you protected while adventuring, and a special coating repels water if you get caught in an unexpected light rain. The slippers have an antimicrobial treatment to help reduce foot odor, so you don't have to worry about side-eye from fellow campers around the fire after a long day of hiking. Just know that the collar of these house shoes is slightly loose, so you might want to wear athletic socks so your feet don’t slip.
This slipper sandal is designed specifically for workout recovery, making it ideal to slip on after a long run or intense sweat session. It has a special foam technology that absorbs 37 percent more impact than traditional footwear and an insanely comfortable footbed that supports your arches while reducing stress on your joints, making it one of the best house shoes for those on their feet all day long. We love the way the orthopedic footbed cradles and supports our arches so much that we’ve named these slides our favorite recovery shoes in the Shape Fitness Awards two years in a row. Bonus: They’re machine-washable.
If you're a fan of wearing cozy wool socks at home, but hate the slip factor, then you'll adore this sock-slipper hybrid. Made of a breathable blend of cotton and wool, these slipper socks have a brushed lining on the inside for warmth and special grippy dots on the bottom to keep you from sliding. Unlike other options on this list, this pair is both machine washable and folds flat for easy packing, so it’s one of the best slippers for travel in particular. Just keep in mind the soles are thinner than regular slippers, so they don’t offer serious foot support. And if you wear them often, the grippers will wear down so you might have to replace them frequently
Susan Brickell is the associate editorial director of commerce for travel on Travel + Leisure. Prior to this, she was a senior editor at Shape and Health, heading commerce coverage for both brands for nearly two years. With an M.F.A. degree in nonfiction writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a B.A. degree in creative writing from Florida State University, she has more than 10 years of experience in the editorial world as a market editor and writer. When she's not putting a pair of comfy shoes, workout leggings, or new eye cream to the test, you can find her hiking U.S. national parks, planning her next surf trip, or spending time with her dog, Ollie.
Kristen Geil is a senior commerce editor at Shape. She recently led Shape’s Sneaker Awards and Best in Fitness Awards, and she’s constantly testing new shoes. She’s been wearing the same pair of Birkenstocks since high school.
Jennifer Heimlich is a health and fitness writer and the former senior fitness editor of Well+Good. She regularly interviews podiatrists and tests out new shoes, and still swears by her years-old L.L. Bean slippers to keep her feet cozy in her chilly New England house.
