We Tested A Bunch Of House Slippers, And Here Are The Coziest

Slip into these and never look back.

After a day spent doing whatever you’ve gotta do to be a functioning member of society, few small pleasures come close to the feeling of sliding into a comfy pair of house slippers. But you’ve probably owned your fair share of ratty horrors — with soles falling apart, heels smashed down, and a faux fleece that’s 0% durable and 100% rank. It doesn’t have to be this way!

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A good pair of slippers will keep your feet perfectly comfortable, dry, and supported. And knock on wood, they won’t fall apart after one season. With this in mind, our faithful team of intrepid footwear testers scoured the internet and gathered more than 20 pairs of the best-reviewed slippers on the market. We then proceeded to kick the stuffing out of them: We wore them inside by the fire and outdoors in minus-20-degree, polar-vortex snow. We got scholarly on the qualities of various materials, from wool to fleece to cotton-polyester blends. We even locked horns over controversial topics like whether slippers should be worn with or without socks (the answer is no socks — don’t @ us!).

At the end of our testing, we ranked each slipper based on construction, materials, breathability, support, versatility, sizing, and, of course, style. We’re excited to present you the best slippers at a variety of price points. Now go on and give those trotters the pampering they deserve.

L.L. Bean Sweater Fleece Scuffs

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Our biggest complaint with cheap slippers? They don’t last! We tested out a slew of budget slips, and the majority of them simply couldn’t keep up in the long-term-durability department. If a pair was pleasant to the touch, its construction was shoddy. And if the construction seemed durable enough, the materials matted, pilled, or attracted unpleasant odors. We’re always on the lookout for a good deal; sadly the budget slippers we tested were anything but.

Except for one diamond in the rough: the Sweater Fleece Scuffs by L.L.Bean. Yes, they’re at the very tippy-top of our budget range, but you get what you pay for: a year-round slipper that’s supportive, warm yet breathable, and easy to get on and off — all constructed with a level of quality that won’t fail ya when the going gets tough and the tough needs a relaxing Sunday at home.

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If you, like us, love online window-shopping, a spin through Amazon’s slipper offerings reveals a surplus of cheap, poorly made footwear from a bunch of unknown brands. While there’s no way of telling whether these cheapjack labels are truly legit, it’s easy to see that generic slippers take turns popping up on the first page of Amazon’s search like a game of retail whack-a-mole.

Why chance it when you’ve got the sterling reputation of Maine’s L.L.Bean? You know ‘em as the Duck Boot people. They also make incredible all-purpose tote bags, not to mention a damn-near-perfect moccasin (that came very close to being our $$$ pick, but more on that later). The 100-year-old-plus outdoor brand knows a thing or two about quality, and the Sweater Fleece Scuffs are no exception.

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The knitted, synthetic fleece lining and uppers lend a sweater-like feel that’s cozy in the winter yet still airy in the spring. Breathability is also aided by the exposed heel, which admittedly can be either a minus for those who live in colder climes and prefer full coverage, or a plus for folks who tend to overheat. Either way, our testers loved the leisurely ease of slipping these puppies on and off.

Another upside of synthetic fleece? You can wash ‘em. Nearly all of the other slippers we tested were constructed from things like leather or wool, the kind of materials easily ruined by an inattentive spin in the washing machine. During the course of our testing, we found that we could toss slippers in with a load of laundry and they’d come back out smelling fresh and clean.

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With a budget-range slipper, you are sacrificing some support, but the Sweater Scuff’s cushy foam midsole provides a sturdier and more comfortable footbed than many of the thinner options we tested. Plus, there’s a molded rubber sole with a chunky thread that cuts down on slippage, which is perfect for impromptu trips outdoors.

One caveat: L.L.Bean makes a dedicated women’s version, but it costs $10 more! Ridiculous, we know. The price jump could be explained by a more comfortable footbed thanks to a cushioned sock liner (in terms of looks, it has a more feminine silhouette), but we can say the “men’s” version is a perfectly fine unisex slipper. As for sizing, women should generally go down one full size, while men who are in between sizes are recommended to size up.

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All told, even with a couple of duds, our budget range was a highly competitive group, with our top contenders separated by only a point or two. For those who prefer a more plush slipper, you can do far worse than Minnetonka. Our testers had a lot of great things to say about the Franklin (men’s) and the Chesney (women’s), respectively. If you’re looking for a classic moc-style slipper, the Tamarac Camper Moccasin by Slipper International surprised our testers with its better-than-expected quality and overall solid construction.

We still think L.L.Bean’s Sweater Fleece Scuffs are a solid budget investment, especially when backed by the brand’s ironclad customer satisfaction guarantee. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced (and vegan-friendly!) pair of slippers that could last you a couple of seasons, if not more — we don’t think you’ll find a better pick in this price range than L.L.Bean.

Get it from L.L. Bean for $39.95.

The North Face Thermoball Traction Mules V

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When you hear the word “slipper,” you’re probably thinking of something with full- or half-foot coverage, probably lined with wool and finished with another type of wool. You might also be thinking of fluffy monster-feet slippers, to which we reply, “You do you.” Point is, for the longest time, we’ve had to choose between only a handful of styles — until The North Face came along and reinvented the game with a pair of sleeping bags for your feet.

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That’s right. Sleeping bags! For your feet. That’s essentially our midrange winner in a nutshell, the North Face Eco Traction Mules V. Available in both men’s and women’s versions, the Traction Mules have developed something of a cult following among outdoor enthusiasts. They’re perfect for tottering around basecamp after you’ve topped out a Colorado Fourteener (yes, that is the first and last time we’ll use mountaineering parlance in this review), and no one would bat an eye if you wore them to the bar for an après-ski cocktail (in fact, you may get a few compliments).

But they also do the trick in nearly any other scenario you can imagine. If they’re good enough for nature’s rugged extremes, they’ll definitely fit the bill for summiting the staircases in your home.

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Throughout our testing, we found that synthetic slippers almost always leave a lot to be desired when going head-to-head with all-natural materials. But that was before we met the Traction Mules. North Face is not messing around! Made from water-resistant ripstop nylon and weighing in at just 8.1 ounces, these things are basically ultra-light tanks. Plus, the heel collapses and converts the shoe into a slipper in seconds, making it a perfectly versatile house slipper to match any leisurely pursuit.

Like the rest of the ThermoBall line, the Traction Mules feature TNF’s patented PrimaLoft insulation, a synthetic down-alternative introduced in 2014 that offers excellent warmth and breathability while encasing your feet in pillowy goodness. Unlike other synthetic slippers we tried, our feet stayed toasty but dry (which means minimal stink). And in contrast to some of the natural leather options we evaluated, these won’t be ruined by a bit of wintery slush if you have to, say, walk the pup.

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“The thought behind the Mule was to take the same warm and visual aesthetics of our sleeping bags and apply those details into post-activity winter camp slippers,” says Amberlynn Labbe, a product manager at The North Face. “After a day of trekking through snow and ice and returning to camp, you don’t want to bring your boots into your tent. So the thought was to have a slipper that keeps your feet nice and cozy.”

At home, they’ll do the same. Want to keep your feet warm while you binge Netflix? Bingo. Headed to the basement to investigate a blown circuit breaker? Check. Need to pop outside and shovel some snow, but too lazy to change shoes? You’re covered.

Sure, they look like the standard-issue space gear you’d expect to find on the USS Enterprise, but we think that’s part of the charm. They’re certainly not your parent’s moccasins. In terms of looks, this is our only pick that offers unique prints and one-of-a-kind colorways; and seasonal collabs with brands like Publish, Dover Street Market, and Urban Outfitters results in a variety of materials of the upper — from wool suede to textured prints.

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Speaking of the Traction Mules’ space-cadet vibes, they narrowly edged out our $$ runner-up, Acorn’s Original Slipper Socks, which have adorned the feet of NASA astronauts in space (really) since 1982. More sock than slipper, these are made from raglan wool, and the footbed is memory foam protected by well-stitched suede. If, however, you’re looking for a more standard house shoe, our testers loved the offerings from Kyrgies, which are adorned in wool felt and handcrafted by artisans in Kyrgyzstan.

TBH, the North Face Traction Mules are truly in a class of their own. With their rugged appearance and utility, you’ll get a practical pair that you won’t feel so precious about. Seriously, these babies will handle anything you throw at ‘em. Even taking into account the slippers’ striking space-age silhouette (who are we kidding; it actually made us love them more), their performance was the real deal-sealer. They’re soft, warm but breathable, easy to wipe clean, and as the name suggestions, their traction is donkey-like. Whether you’re camping in the wild or just camping out at home, the North Face Traction Mules got ya covered.

Get it from Amazon for $55.

Glerups Wool Slippers

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There’s a still a case to be made for the old ways being the best ways, especially when designed by Scandinavians. The slippers from our $$$ winner Glerups might be costly, but in exchange you get the total package: warmth, comfort, breathability, durability, and a dash of style.

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In the early ’90s, Nanny and Ove Glerup, a retiring Danish couple, were looking for a hobby. On their small farm they raised Gotland sheep, a breed native to an island of the same name in Sweden, known for their velvety, cashmere-like fibers. Nanny got the idea to begin making felted wool (a tedious process that involves applying moisture and friction to tangle raw wool into a workable material). She crafted a pair of house shoes for Ove, who promptly wore them into the ground: all year round, inside and outside.

Over the years, she improved her process, first experimenting with a leather sole and then a rubber one. Today, her traditional Scandinavian house shoe is available in three models: ankle boot (great for winter), low shoe, and open heel (ideal for year-round use), and available with either a calfskin leather or rubber role.

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The Glerups family practices a level of fairness and transparency unheard of in the world of commercial wool. Usually wool producers accept a meager price for their resource, and that’s the last they see of their crop. The Glerups, however, look each farmer in the eye, shake their hands, and show them the final product. “Every batch of wool is traceable to the farm and time of year it was sheared,” says Kiera Ryan, Glerups’ US tøffelhelt, which she jokes roughly translates to “slipper bitch.” She adds: “We’re known throughout the wool market as the company that pays too much for wool, but that means everyone gets a fair slice of cake.”

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A brand with great business practices is one thing, but what about the actual product? We’re happy to report that Glerups slippers’ construction, materials, and technical performance is 100% unparalleled. All models feature a blend of the uber-soft Gotland wool, which is then combined with a New Zealand crossbred white wool for structure. Gotland wool, in addition to being softer than an angel’s wing, is antimicrobial and keeps dirt, sweat, and odors at bay. Its natural insulating properties mean that feet stay toasty in cold weather and well-ventilated in warm temps. Even when wet, wool still works its magic.

As for construction, you’re looking at a slipper cut from one single piece of wool felt with an inner sole comprised of a double-layer felted wool, meaning there are fewer ways for this slipper to fall apart on you. It’s simple, smart, and highly effective. A waffle-print tread made of natural gum rubber tops it all off, allowing you to make a quick coffee run if need be. (Each style is also offered with a calfskin sole, which at $95 offers a cheaper entrypoint if you plan to use them exclusively indoors.) They do shed for the first couple of weeks, but Ryan describes this as the phase when your Glerups are “getting to know you”: Over time, the wool compresses, and the footbed molds itself to your arches.

The result is a shoe that feels like you’re walking on clouds.

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That’s not to say there wasn’t some strong competition in our testing. L.L.Bean’s deerskin-and-shearling line of Wicked Good slippers, boots, and moccasins gave Glerups a run for their money. For the price, Glerups had to deliver if they were going to beat a well-known contender like L.L.Bean’s Wicked Good. It came down to the quality of the materials: Gotland wool mimics the buttery softness of shearling (while offering better breathability). Its antimicrobial properties and natural lanolin keeps them clean and odor-free. The rubber sole offers an easy, no-slide transition from indoors to out. And what little stitching there is feels well-sewn, promising to last for years to come. It’s simplicity at its best.

Get it from Glerups and L.L. Bean for $95+.