The best slippers create an air of relaxation and can help ease the pain of spending hours on your feet. Whether putting in a full day of work on your feet or hammering through countless miles on the trail, few things feel better than easing into soft, cushy footwear.
But the perfect pair of slippers is hard to come by. Different needs, situations, and personal preferences mean each set of feet requires a specific pair of slippers. So we took one for the team. In our search for the perfect pair, GearJunkie’s editors did the hard work, kicking back with the softest, most supportive, and most comfortable kicks we could find.
Whether you need a pair of slippers for recovering after a workout, soothing your feet by the campfire, or reading the newspaper (yes, they still make those) with a cuppa Joe on the porch, there’s a pair here for you. Learn what makes up the best pair of slippers in our comprehensive buyer’s guide, and find out what you get with different price ranges in our price & value section. Still can’t decide? Our comparison chart will show you our favorites side by side. Otherwise, read our complete gear guide below.
Editor’s note: For our November 18, 2024 update, we added two new top pick winners, the Sanuk Puffy Chiller Low 2 and the Saddleback Leather Sheepskin Moccasins.
The Best Slippers of 2024
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Soft lining -
Durable -
Can be worn outside -
Excellent underfoot cushioning
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They can get stinky over time
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Great price -
Faux shearling lining dries quickly -
Very durable outsole -
Slider style allows air to flow through
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Sliders aren’t for everyone -
Toes can get cold in the winter
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Soft microfiber lining is comfy against the skin -
Easy to slip on and off -
Reinforced heel counter adds structure and durability
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Can get a bit clammy on warmer days
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Beautiful full grain leather upper -
Comfortable sheepskin lining -
Full grain leather outsole -
Excellent construction
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Expensive -
Leather takes a while to fully break in -
Outsoles are slippery until scuffed
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Very soft interior -
Stink-resistant -
Can come with leather or rubber outsoles -
Absorbs moisture and keeps feet dry
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The fit is a little loose on narrow feet
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Excellent post-workout shoes -
Nubs on the insole provide light massage -
Very breathable -
Cooler than Crocs, at least
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Won’t keep your feet warm -
Might get strange looks from people -
Squeaking might drive you nuts
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Excellent indoor/outdoor slipper -
Shearling interior is extremely soft -
Very durable exterior -
Kick-down heel
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Shearling loses its loft over time
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Full-grain leather feels soft against the skin -
Softens even more over time -
Purchases directly support Indigenous artists
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Can get chilly in cold weather -
Cleaning requires some care
Slippers Comparison Chart
How We Tested Slippers
Our Expert Testers
GearJunkie editors ask a lot of our feet. We put endless miles on them over all kinds of terrain and mash them into pedals for hours on end. So when we’re not putting our feet through the ringer, we like to spoil them every now and then. GearJunkie Affiliate Managing Editor Billy Brown has put thousands of miles on his feet doing everything from running ultramarathons to week-long off-trail trips in the Grand Canyon to find undiscovered slots. Long story short — his feet have earned some pampering.
To recover from his endeavors, Brown has researched and tested recovery gear to find what helps him recover, relax, and prepare for the next adventure, and slippers are an important cog in that machine.
Our Testing Process
We combined our years of experience taking care of our feet with several months of testing slippers to find the best ones for a variety of uses and preferences. If any shoes weren’t comfortable in any way or had an issue that we couldn’t resolve, it didn’t make it onto this list.
As for the ones that did, we based our evaluations on things like fit, feel, cushiness, and warmth. As you can imagine, that required a lot of lounging, relaxing, and, ultimately, resting our feet. Tough gig, we know. The testing doesn’t stop here: For slippers that were designed for use outdoors, we took them on camping and backpacking trips, wore them around town, and generally tested them for durability, traction, and comfort for long periods on our feet.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Slippers
A good pair of sweatpants should be something that you look forward to wearing every day. When you find a great pair, they’ll most likely become part of your everyday fit, whether that’s at home or out and about. With that in mind, it’s important to consider factors that will help you find a pair that you’ll enjoy putting on every chance you get.
In this buyer’s guide, we cover comfort, fit, durability, materials, and value, as well as other factors that are key to finding the perfect sweatpants.
Looking for more cozy gear? Check out our best men’s wool sweaters and best camp shoes buyer’s guides.
Comfort
With slippers, comfort is king. A good pair of slippers should be something that you look forward to putting on after a long day or a tough workout. If they don’t elicit an “aaahhh” when you put them on, they aren’t doing their job.
That said, look for a pair of slippers with a pliable exterior that doesn’t confine your foot. Also, a soft interior will ramp up the coziness. A soft shearling liner like the one in the OluKai Moloā Slipper is ideal, although its loft didn’t hold up as well as the Hari Mari Hacienda’s.
Sometimes, doesn’t require lining at all, however. If you want a soft feel without extra material, the full-grain leather of the Manotobah Men’s Cottager or the wool upper of the Glerups Shoe will do as well. Sweatpants are meant to be a comfy alternative to jeans and slacks, so how good they feel should be the top priority.
Fit
Slippers that don’t fit won’t feel good in the long run, but what that means can vary from person to person. Do you want to find something that wraps snugly around your foot? Consider the Hari Mari Men’s Hacienda, whose shearling lining provides a snug, almost compression-like feel.
The Saddleback Leather Sheepskin Moccasins also have a pretty snug fit out of the box. But don’t fret — the full grain leather upper material takes a while to break in, and the sheepskin lining tends to pack out after extended use. We tested these slippers in our standard street shoe size. Although they felt almost too snug initially, after a few weeks of regular use, they conformed to our feet, and now feel amazing! These slippers are only available in full sizes. Saddleback Leather recommends your normal street show size, unless you are a half size or have really wide feet — then size up a number.
Want a slipper that fits a little looser? The Glerups Shoe provides a looser fit, as does the Reef One Slide Chill.
Durability
Slippers should get more comfortable as time wears on, but that won’t happen if they fall apart after a few weeks. You’ll need a pair that’s built to last long enough to break in. The leather slippers on this list have all held up well to months of daily use, so those may be a solid option.
And if you want to use them outside, be sure to find a pair with a rubber outsole, like most of the ones on this list have. So far, the most durable ones we’ve tested have been the Kane Revive Recovery Shoe. Thanks to the firm exterior and outsole, they still look like new after months of testing.
The Saddleback Leather Sheepskin Moccasins and Slippers both have a full grain leather outsole, similar to what you might see on a high-end pair of dress shoes. This thick, durable leather feels very slick and slippery at first. Once you scuff the outsoles a bit — either on purpose or through regular use — they start providing better traction.
Material
There are plenty of options when it comes to material, but for durability, comfort, and softness, our favorite combination is a mix of leather or suede with a soft wool or shearling lining and a durable rubber outsole.
The Glerups Shoe is one exception, as the upper is made entirely of wool, which is not just soft, but temperature-regulating and odor repellant as well.
Price & Value
The slippers in this list range in price from $40 to $150. Yeah, you can spend $20 on a pair of slippers, but you may be sacrificing the comfort and durability that you’ll get with a higher-end pair. And with how comfortable these are, you’ll probably be wearing them every day.
Bargain
You can easily find slippers for $40 and under, but if you’re not careful, you may be sacrificing some durability and comfort. Often, these slippers will have cheaper foam insoles that break down easily or thin uppers that can wear down over time. If you’re shopping in this price range, look for slippers like the Reef One Slide Chill ($40), which not only has a robust footbed and outsole, but a delightfully comfortable terrycloth material covering the slipper.
Mid-Range
In the $50 to $100 price range, you’ll often find tougher materials, a wider range of styling, and more premium materials in the footbed and lining of the slipper. The Sanuk Puffy Chiller Low 2 ($75) is right in the middle of this range and offers one of the most comfortable insoles of the bunch, as well as a durable rubber outsole and warm puffy coat-style upper.
Premium
If you’re willing to shell out more than $100, you’ll start seeing premium leather uppers, shearling interiors, and durable stitching that’s made to last years. Our favorite slipper, the Hari Mari Men’s Hacienda ($140), is a great example. We love the shearling liner here, which has retained its loft after years of wear, and the only sign of wear that its suede upper is showing is that it has molded to the shape of our tester’s feet over time. Same with the Saddleback Leather Sheepskin Moccasins ($150). These slippers use premium materials throughout, feel great once broken in, and showed no signs of wear during our testing period.
The goal is to find a pair that you can wear for years instead of having to buy a new pair every year or so. If you hope to find a pair of slippers that you’ll want to wear every day, prepare to make a bit of an investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are lots of brands that make excellent slippers, but our favorites are made by either brands with a footwear-specific background. Brands that work exclusively on slippers are a plus as well.
Since comfort is subjective, the answer will vary depending on personal preference. We’re fans of slippers with leather because they provide a supple, unrestricted feel. A soft lining like shearling or wool is also a plus. The Hari Mari Men’s Hacienda combines these two factors in a durable, stylish package, which is why it’s our current favorite.
They can be pricey, but OluKai puts premium materials, thoughtful design, and excellent style into its footwear. The result is slippers that look good, feel good, and are built to last, like the OluKai Moloā Slipper on this list.