Also important: I found the Nakiska Slide II stayed on my feet easier than other scuff styles because the material at the bridge comes up higher on the foot and makes the slippers more secure. The gummy rubber soles provided good traction on wood floors, tile and outside on pavement, and the rounded rubber edges helped prevent me from tripping on area rugs. Aesthetically, these are both streamlined and plush, and they’re a stylish complement to cute pajamas. Birdies The Phoebe Slipper: These are an elevated house slipper, with a surprisingly cushioned insole and a soft faux-fur lining that felt luxurious. However, I found that the toe box was narrow and pinched my feet after just a few minutes.

The Apparis Astro Slippers are made from the same silky faux fur that makes up the gorgeous coats the vegan brand is known for. Putting these slippers on is like wrapping your cold, tired feet in a fluffy, ultrasoft blanket. They are seriously warm, although the material was minimally breathable and did cause my feet to sweat when moving around the house tidying up. They’re a bit wider than some other slippers, so they gave my end-of-the-day swollen feet relief from restrictive flats and allowed my toes room to comfortably spread out. The Sorel Nakiska Slide II Slippers nail it on three core features of house slippers: They’re an easy-wear slip-on style, they’re extremely warm and they cradle the foot without being restrictive. The straightforward slide construction means you don’t have to worry about a precise fit—as you would with, say, a moccasin style—and I found these ran true-to-size and were a standard width. While these house slippers’ arch support and cushioning were not as springy as the Kuru Draft Slippers (see below), they do have moderate cushioning at the arch in the molded EVA foam footbed, so feet don’t collapse inward. The footbed is also removable, so you can wipe it down and let it air-dry if it gets smelly or if you’d prefer to use orthotics or your own insoles. The faux-fur lining is toasty warm, and I liked that the lining wraps over the upper at the top of the foot, helping to alleviate any rubbing that can occur during walking with some other slip-ons. For this story, I also spoke with three experts to get their insight into what to look for in a good pair of slippers: Dr. Madhuri Mehta, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon at Gotham Footcare; Dr. Alisha Reed, a self-care expert and pharmacist; and Chyrstyn Fentroy, a principal dancer for the Boston Ballet. Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Slipper: For a bath and shower shoe, this offers an easy slip-on style and good absorbency, but it had no arch support and was difficult to keep on my feet, plus the fabric of the insole collapsed easily.Sizes: 6-11 | Colors: 4 total, including Ivory and Sugar Pink | Materials: 100% polyester faux fur, rubber

If you have a flat foot, the medial arch of the foot wants to collapse, so having medial arch lift is helpful,” says Mehta. “This will help control overpronation and medial arch collapse. Flexible, flat-footed people tend to be more hypermobile, and they want shoes or slippers with more motion control.” On the flipside, people with high arches tend to put more pressure on their heel or forefoot, Mehta says. “For people with higher arches, a slipper that fills in the midfoot with a medial arch and added cushioning at the heel or forefoot would increase comfort.” What Features Make A Slipper Good For Recovery? Climate is a key consideration when choosing slippers—think about whether you live somewhere with chilly mornings most of the year, or if you just want something with some cushion or to buffer feet from cool tiles. Similarly, keep in mind if your feet typically run hot or cold. Certain fabrics, like wool, are extremely warm but also have thermoregulating properties, so feet won’t sweat as much. Cotton terry is efficient for absorbing moisture after showering. And polyester blends can be extremely warm and flexible, but they may not be as breathable. Cushioning, Arch Support And StabilitySizes: 5 to 12 | Colors: 4 total, including Nova Sand and Quarry | Materials: Mesh, knitted, nylon or fleece upper, rubber, synthetic lining I determined if the slipper had good breathability and provided warmth while allowing feet to move without becoming overly sweaty, giving each a score of minimally, moderately or highly breathable. I weighed each shoe to ascertain if it had the potential to be cumbersome or heavy. I wore each shoe on hardwood floors, tile, carpeting and pavement outside to determine grip and slip protection. Lastly, I attempted to spot clean or wash shoes in the washing machine to gauge how they would fare and whether they would retain their shape. Kuru Draft Slipper: During testing, this house slipper was fantastic in terms of arch support, cushioning, flexibility and stability. It was a close second behind the Sorel Nakiska, but ultimately fell short because it was the heaviest shoe I tested, at 12.2 ounces.

I tested seven other products that didn’t work for my exact needs but were strong contenders, if you didn’t find a perfect fit from the list above. Sizes: 5 to 12 | Colors: 5 total, including Light Gray Sherpa and Tawny Sherpa | Materials: Closed-cell foam, polyester The simple act of putting on slippers at the beginning or end of the day is the beginning of a healthy self-care routine,” says self-care expert and pharmacist Dr. Alisha Reed. It’s an investment in both your foot health and mental health, she points out, which is ultimately less expensive over the long term than a spa day or weekly manicure. “In terms of slipper fit, first consider your lifestyle, activity level, foot structure and the surfaces you’ll be wearing it on,” says Dr. Madhuri Mehta, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon at Gotham Footcare. Here’s what else to take into consideration: Warmth And Breathability

Minnetonka Cally Slipper: I like that these slippers were affordable and come in regular and wide widths. But when wearing them, they slightly rubbed across the bridge of my foot and at my ankle, and the fit wasn’t exactly right—they’d slide off my heel when walking, despite being snug in the length. Sizes: S (5/6), M (7/8), L (9/10) | Colors: 2 total, including Heathered Ocean and Heathered Graphite | Materials: Polyester microfiber, rubber