The 14 Best Slippers for Men, According to Style and Travel Pros

Slippers are a worthwhile investment in any man’s wardrobe, and they also make a great gift, especially during the colder months when cozy comfort is a priority. The world of slippers is vast (leather, wool or suede? Loafer- or moccasin-style?), so we asked more than a dozen travel and style pros, including hoteliers and fashion writers, to share the pairs they swear by for themselves and the ones they recommend as gifts. (Reminder: Valentine’s Day approaches!)

Versatile favorite

U.K.-based menswear writer Jordan Bunker is a frequent Birkenstock wearer and “unofficial ambassador” in his social circle for the brand’s shearling-lined Boston clog style, available in two width options. With their contoured cork footbeds that form to the shape of the wearer’s feet, the slip-ons are “ridiculously comfy, easy to wear and durable,” he says—so much so that he wears his most days of the week, both inside and out of the house (with slub socks). They come in midnight blue and stone coin suede, with soles made of EVA, an elastomeric polymer known for its rubber-like softness and flexibility.

Softest slip-ons

UGGs may not be known as the most stylish shoes on the market, but Luis Vargas, CEO and founder of travel-experience brand Modern Adventure, is a proud wearer of the brand’s sheepskin-lined Ascot slippers, which look nothing like the UGGs you’re imagining. “Living in Portland, Oregon, coziness and comfort matter and these deliver,” says Vargas, who owns two pairs: one in natural suede and the other in a “merry and bright” red. We like the broad range of sizes—U.S. men’s 7 through 18, with many available in a wide cut—and plush feel. Of the half dozen men’s slippers we tested, these were our favorite because they felt like our feet were being hugged by clouds.

Swanky mules

“I have more slippers in my closet than Don Draper has skeletons,” quips Dave Bowden, Toronto-based founder of the men’s style blog Irreverent Gent. His primary criteria are warmth, style, and the ease with which he can slip them on and kick them off. “I put my slippers on first thing in the morning, before my coffee, when I can’t be bothered to bend over or use two hands to slide them on,” he says. His pair of choice is Beckett Simonon’s fleece-lined Jones slippers with cushy EVA soles and pebbled leather uppers, which he first stumbled upon when hunting for a Christmas gift for his “well-dressed but notoriously hard-to-shop-for” grandfather. “They remind me of something James Bond would slide his feet into while staying in some glamorous Swiss chalet,” he says, “which is just about the highest praise I can think of for a pair of slippers.”

Packable pair

These suede slippers lined with moisture-wicking sheepskin have soft soles that “squish down flat” making them excellent for travelers, notes Mark Wolters, the Champaign, Ill.-based owner of the travel-advice website and YouTube channel Wolters World. This Minnetonka version is the most similar to handmade ones he and his wife discovered while living in Portugal. The suede uppers, available in gray or golden tan, feature rawhide lacing that gives the shoes structure and can be tightened for a better fit. Best of all, they can easily be crammed into the corner of a suitcase: “The pairs we have now have been to three continents and walked chilly floors in more than 30 countries.”

Hand-knitted slippers

“Wherever I am, or live, I am always home when I wear my Floris van Bommel shoes,” says Raymond Brunyanszki, the Netherlands-born owner of Relais & Chateaux Camden Harbour Inn and Natalie’s Restaurant in Camden, Maine. The ninth-generation Dutch shoemaker’s collaboration with Kingdom of Wow is what Brunyanszki calls “typically Dutch design.” Like the furniture and accessories he sees at Moooi, the suede-soled, wool-and-bamboo yarn slippers never fail to keep his feet warm or put a smile on his face. “Perfect for a night of Netflix,” he says.

Popular pick

Brunyanszki’s other favorite is a nod to his home state. L.L. Bean’s Wicked Good Moccasins are one of the Maine brand’s best sellers; they’ve moved more than 4 million pairs over the past five years. Brunyanszki gets it: “They’re very comfortable, warm in the winter and budget-friendly,” he says. And, they come in a range of earthy colors (kelp green, black spruce and chocolate brown), as well as both medium and wide widths. While we didn’t like the fleecy lining of these mocs as much as that of the super-cushy UGGs, we appreciated the timeless “grown man” style and durable rubber outsoles.

Puffer-style pair

“A good slipper is easy to throw on, super comfortable and a little fun since you are mostly just moving around the house in them,” says Timothy Grindle, a longtime fashion buyer and the Boulder, Colo.-based co-owner of Canoe Club. The insulated puffer-coat-like uppers on these Subus don’t just look cool, they’re fashioned from Teflon-coated nylon, making them a versatile option for both indoor and outdoor use. “The mule silhouette allows me to slide them on right as I get home,” says Grindle. “They’re my go to for hanging out, running the dog outside or taking the trash out.” Even better, they come in a cornucopia of colors and patterns; Grindle suggests browsing Beams Japan for the coolest limited-edition collaborations.

Versatile loafers

“Cozy lining and good looks make this option great for around the house,” says Patrick Kenger, a personal stylist and men’s image consultant, of the Allen Edmonds Sebastian Slipper. The mule style is simple to slip on and off, the neutral colors (tan, bone suede and navy suede) pair seamlessly with a host of looks and the flatter, lightweight design packs well in a suitcase. The relaxed fit is a bit roomier, too, which is good news for souls with wider soles.

Sock-like footwear

For Parker Hurley, the entrepreneur behind sustainable clothing store Keepr, slippers are usually an afterthought. “If I’m waking up and putting it on, that means something,” he says. Hurley was given a pair of Bombas as a gift and says he “flippin’ loves them.” The sock-slipper hybrid is double-layered (“so great for cold weather”) and anti-slip thanks to little grooves on the bottoms. “Because they’re essentially a pair of thick socks, they don’t take up much room either,” notes Hurley, who is a full-time digital nomad currently in Bali. They’re warm yet breathable and also cushioned enough to “take the pressure off my feet,” no matter how hard the floor surfaces are wherever he is staying.

Easy-breezy slip-ons

“I’m notorious for being that L.A. guy who never wears shoes, even on sets at photo shoots,” says travel, architecture and lifestyle photographer Tanveer Badal. Slippers, however, are a different story. His current favorite—the wool outdoor slippers from Greys—are a cinch to slip on and off and the toasty wool-blend with rubber outsoles protects his feet from his home’s chilly tile floors. “When I find something I like, I wear them over and over,” says Badal. “I’m already wearing out this pair and will probably get another soon.”

No-slip slides

Designer Nick Sugihara, the founder of the clothing brand IJJI and Sugihara Fine Furniture, keeps multiple slippers and mules in rotation at home. His favorite by a mile, however, are the Recovery Slides from Hoka. “I was dealing with a lot of foot and ankle issues but have kept them as my go-to indoor footwear even as those subsided,” he says. Sugihara hates slippers that feel like they’re falling off his feet or sliding out from under him; these stay put. “I even wear them in my woodshop because standing on concrete all day kills my back,” he notes.

Structured slipper

Jennifer Lund-Mahoney, the Chicago-based founder of A Sharp Dressed Man, has been styling guys for 12 years, offering closet edits and personal shopping services. Her top pick for men’s slippers are the premium leather Moloā by Olukai because they’re “amazingly comfortable, which is the whole purpose of a slipper.” In addition to the eye-catching contrast stitching, they offer real support (“not typical for a slipper”) and have a heavy-duty sole that can be worn indoors and out. Lund-Mahoney also likes that they have a back and won’t fall off your feet when you’re shuffling out to get the paper.

Streamlined fuzzy slides

Bicoastal stylist Bryant Simmons looks for two things when shopping for slippers: a soft footbed that “molds over time” and a “sturdy rubber sole.” Ugg’s Scuff suede slippers fit that bill to a T: Slipping them on and off is effortless and they have an “incredibly soft and cozy” shearling footbed. Adding socks enhances the cushiness, says Simmons, who often forgets he’s wearing shoes when rocking them. Scuffs are available in a host of muted colors (Dusted Cocoa, Chestnut, Deep Ocean, etc.), making them infinitely giftable as well.

Hipper slippers

Victoria Hitchcock, a fashion “lifestylist” and personal brander based in San Francisco, swears by Mahabis Curve, which she describes as “old school-ish and traditional yet hip and comfy.” They remind her of Keds if Keds were recycled and wooly, and she likes that the low-profile lets wearers fold down the backs to convert them into slides. “Just looking at their flannel coziness, you feel the comfort,” says Hitchcock, who gets a skip in her step everytime she borrows her son’s pair. On the practical side, they’re machine-washable, packable, and the rubber sole grips well on polished concrete. “I love how they accent with fun colors, too,” she adds. They’re available up to a men’s size 14 but beware if you share a close shoe size with your significant other, says Hitchock, as “they’re likely to be stolen by an in-house thief.”