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With a fine pair of slippers on his feet, a man can relax around the house in comfort or step outside to grab the paper or some logs for the fire.
We considered insulation, materials, tread design, and more as we chose the best slippers.
The UGG Ascot Slippers are the best because they're warm, supportive, and long-lasting.
I've had the same pair of UGG slippers for six years now, and despite the fact that I wear them around the house almost daily during the winter (I even wore them away from home for a while, before I accepted the fact that slippers really don't belong beyond the property line), they remain in superlative condition.
Before finding the UGG slippers, I had a pair of traditional backless clog-style slippers. I can't recall the brand, but I do remember quite clearly how nice it was to be able to step into them with ease. While you need to use your hands or spend a good twenty seconds of wiggling to get your feet into the UGGs and other similar shoe-like slippers, the clog variety slides right on. They also fall off much more easily, expose more of your foot to cold air, and offer minimal protection against the snow, ice, gravel, flora, and other such things you might encounter if you step outside.
The point, as you surely gather, is that a pair of slippers that might be perfect for one gentleman might be a poor pick for another man. In an era of slippers heated via microwave or USB connection, novelty slippers approximating the look of everything from a dinosaur's foot to Chewbacca's face, it can be hard to cut through the clutter and consider just a few fine options for warm, cozy leisure footwear. But hey, that's why we're here.
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The five slippers in our guide all have at least two things in common: They will keep your feet warm and comfortable. Beyond that, each pair offers its own perks, no gimmicks involved.
Updated on 12/06/2018 by Malarie Gokey: Added the Minnetonka slippers, updated prices, and revamped formatting.
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
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Why you'll love them: Thanks to a thick suede exterior and durable rubbers soles, a pair of UGG Men's Ascot Slippers will last you for years even if you wear them like a pair of normal shoes, and they're lined with soft, warm sheep's wool.
Full disclosure, I've owned a pair of UGG Ascot slippers for six years. I posit that it's not through bias that I name these slippers the top pick in our guide, but rather because I researched the category heavily before getting my slippers those several years back, and because my frequent use of them has confirmed how durable and comfortable they really are.
It's hard to tell whether this is more of a shoe with a few slipper-like attributes or a slipper with some shoe-like qualities. Having worn my own UGG Ascot slippers for years, I can say that they offer every bit as much heel impact absorption, arch support, bridge and toe protection, and even traction as many casual pairs of shoes I own. They also stay on the foot as well as do many lace-up shoes, despite the fact that they slip on.
To be honest, though, "slip on" is something of a misnomer here. Until these slippers are well broken in, you'll have to pull them on using both hands, and even after that, you still have to work your foot around some to get them on.
Thanks to the support and protection mentioned above and due to the durability and water resistance of the thick leather exterior of these slippers, one can be forgiven for wearing them around just like a shoe. The Ascots are at their best, though, when treated as the slipper they indeed are and reserved for wearing around the house and during short excursions out onto the porch or driveway or down the hall at your apartment building or dorm.
They are about as warm and cozy as any footwear you're likely to find and feel great when worn with or without socks. And when they are limited to indoor and moderate outdoor use, I can tell you with firsthand certainty that these slippers will last for years and years.
Even with nearly 2,000 reviews posted on Amazon, the UGG Ascot Slippers still have a tidy 4.4-star average rating. One commenter said her husband "wears [his UGGs] more than regular shoes." Another happy customer related having a pair of Ascots for eight years before they finally needed replacing; with his new pair, he was "looking forward to the next 8 years with these on my feet."
A YouTube video reviewer praised the "soft to the touch" yet "durable water resistant" suede of the slippers, adding that they are the slipper to choose if you want "your feet to love you forever."
Pros: Amazing durability, comfortable and supportive, suitable for wearing like regular shoe
Why you'll love them: The Sorel Manawan Slippers encase your entire feet up to the ankle in a warm, soft lining made of wool and faux fur.
The Sorel Manawan Slippers have an appearance similar to that of a traditional Native American moccasin. Its exterior is made from soft, flexible leather that helps the slipper gently embrace the contours of your foot.
The sole is made from a pliant strip of rubber that offers modest protection should you step outside in these slippers and excellent comfortable padding for use on interior surfaces like hardwood, tile, or laminate. The slippers have a rise that reaches above the ankle, albeit with scoops carved out that mitigate any pressure put on the actual anklebone.
It's what's on the inside that really counts here, though. The Manawan slippers have a thick lining made up of a blend of wool and an artificial fur. This liner creates maximum warmth retention, yet it still allows your feet to breathe, therefore reducing the chance of sweat that can lead to foot odor. A removable EVA insole adds support and comfort and further enhances the insulation.
While the rubber sole can absorb moderate impacts, it offers very little in the way of traction, so these slippers are best worn indoors only, and certainly not in icy conditions should you venture outside in them.
Sorel slippers are a favorite of many people. The Manawans have an excellent 4.6-star rating with well over 1,000 reviews in. One customer who has enjoyed the same pair of Manawan slippers for three years calls them "awesomeness for your feet," while another says that "if you struggle with cold feet... via neuropathy, old age, or whatever... these [slippers] will bring them so much happiness."
Best Choice Reviews notes how these slippers "come up higher than most slipper styles to offer warmth all the way up to the ankle." A ToolsofMen.com article featured the Manawan slippers, noting their "fine materials" that create "comfort and warmth around [the] entire foot."
Pros: Extra warm thanks to quality lining, removable insole adds comfort
Why you'll love them: The Slippers International Tamarac Cody Sheepskin Slippers slip on and off with ease and are perfect for all-day wear during lazy days spent inside, but their thick rubber sole provides plenty of traction and protection for trips to the mailbox.
When you slip on the Slippers International Tamarac Cody Sheepskin Slippers, you'll notice a few things right away. First, you'll find that your feet feel great thanks to the memory foam cushioning of the footbed. Second, you'll notice that your feet are nice and warm thanks to the shearling lining within the slipper. And third, you'll find that you have sufficient traction and impact absorption for stable, comfortable walking over all sorts of surfaces, both indoors and outside.
The Tamarac Cody slippers are easy to pull on using the loop connected to the back of the collar, and they stay securely in place thanks to elastic goring wedges set where the tongue meets the upper. The soles don't have an aggressive tread pattern such as you might find on trail runners or hiking boots, but the varied texture of the rubber grips onto tile, concrete, hardwood, and other flat terrain you will commonly encounter within and nearby a residence.
If you dislike cold feet and hate the idea of changing out of your slippers into shoes every time you need to head outside for a few minutes, then these slippers might just be a fine solution.
Even with an astonishing 3,700-plus reviews, the Slippers International Tamarac Cody Sheepskin Slippers have a 4.4 out of five-star rating. A customer named Mike says: "I love them ... I beat my slippers to death and these hold up." Another buyer calls them "warm, comfortable, well-made, good-looking" and appreciates their "non-slip sole."
Fur Slipper Reviews called these slippers "well-designed" and highlighted their "tread for indoor and outdoor use," adding that they "provide ample warmth"
Pros: Sole suitable for outdoor use, comfortable memory foam footbed, snug and secure fit
Why you'll love them: There are a lot of things to love about the YQXCC Memory Foam House Slippers, including the memory foam cushioning, anti-skid sole, and low price tag.
The YQXCC Men's Memory Foam House Slippers are not the warmest slippers ever made, but their synthetic lining will certainly prevent your feet from being cold even if the floors in your home are tile or stone. They're not the most supportive slippers ever, but their rubber soles and high-density memory foam interior padding do provide plenty of comfort.
While they might not look almost like a regular shoe, like the UGG ascots, or like a vintage slip-on slipper like the Dockers Clogs, their understated style certainly won't draw any derision.
So why does our list feature a pair of slippers that we're essentially calling a runner-up in all these categories? Because when it comes to price, you will be hard-pressed to find a slipper half this well-made at a price anywhere near this one's low cost.
The YQXCC Men's Memory Foam House Slippers pull on with ease thanks to elastic patches on the tongue and cradle your feet with their foam and faux-fur lining. The soles have a modest tread pattern suitable for short treks outside, such as to drop garbage at the corner or grab groceries from the car. Inside, these lightweight slippers won't weigh you down when it's time to put your feet up.
And when it's time to wash your slippers, just toss them in the washing machine. Or you could wash them by hand but ... why?
With dozens of reviews in, these slippers have a glowing 4.8 out of five-star rating. An owner named Samuel loved the "great price" and found them "very comfortable and very warm." A customer called Neal says they "mold to the contours of your feet."
Many reviews focused on these and other YQXCC slippers mentioned the same few attributes, with low price and machine washing always near the top.
Pros: Minute price tag, machine washable, easy on and off
Why you'll love it: Minnetonka's Sheepskin Moose Slippers are toasty warm, thanks to genuine sheepskin inside and real moose leather on the outside.
Minnetonka started as a roadside gift shop in 1946, and became a worldwide fashion must-have during the 1980s Urban Cowboy trend thanks to its $45 Thunderbird Moc. Since then, the company has become famous for its slippers and moccasins. The Sheepskin Moose Slippers were a big hit with Insider Picks guides reporter Owen Burke.
"I've casually eyed Minnetonka's slippers over the years, but having lived in tropical and sub-tropical climates for the last decade or so, have had little need for slippers. Coming to New York changed that in a flash. As the season's changing and mornings suddenly have a little bite to them, slippers are a must for easing into the day, particularly if you're like me — which is to say, not lavishly lush in the pockets — and you don't have heated floors.
Wearing the Sheepskin Moose Slipper is a delight. The (genuine) sheepskin lining seems to hold up better than other slippers I've had, and I'm a big fan of the cross-stitching and black dye. The rubber sole does enable you to wander outside into modest terrain, but I might recommend against it.
These slippers, on the whole, are indoor shoes, and it'd be a shame to tarnish them on one measly trip through mucky brown snow and grit just to retrieve the morning paper or walk Spot (your dog)," he writes in our group review.
