Flip-flops’ cool older sibling, slides are the final word cozy, handy summer season footwear. The most effective slides for ladies take these elements to the following stage—they’re principally clouds on your ft to drift on, they gained’t depart you a sweaty mess, and so they’re cute sufficient to put on together with your complete heat climate wardrobe, from leggings to summer season attire.
However right here’s the factor: Not all slides are created equal. In reality, numerous them lack lots of the key options podiatrists prefer to see in footwear, like arch assist, dependable shock absorption, and a again strap or heel counter. They’ll additionally put you susceptible to damage if in case you have stability points or are vulnerable to tripping, bodily therapist Melania Anderson, PT, DPT, supervisor of the Whole Joint program on the Bone and Joint Institute at Hartford HealthCare, tells SELF. For all these causes, they’re usually not appropriate for all-day put on or fast-paced actions, Adam Ferguson, DO, a foot and ankle specialist and board-certified orthopedic surgeon on the Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute, tells SELF.
Nonetheless, there’s no denying that slides are simply plain cozy—and there’s no hurt in carrying them round the home, out to run errands, or for a day on the seashore. To carry you feet-friendly pairs that transcend the fundamentals, we requested SELF staffers and podiatrists for his or her suggestions. All you could do is decide which pair is your favourite (nonetheless powerful, we all know).
Our high picks
- Finest General: Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap, $80
- Runner-Up: Oofos Ooahh Slide, $60
- Finest for Arch Assist: Birkenstock Arizona Tender Footbed, $150
- Finest Funds Choose: Shade & Shore Neida EVA Two Band Footbed Slide Sandals, $10
- Finest for Strolling: Lululemon Restfeel Slide, $58
- Finest for Plantar Fasciitis: Hoka Ora Restoration Slide 3, $60
- Finest for Restoration: Vionic Rejuvenate, $90
On this article
Store the most effective slides
Want a simple shoe for seashore days, pool journeys, take-out runs, or lounging at residence? Slides are the reply. Try our picks beneath, then learn on for skilled recommendation on how to decide on your excellent pair.
Finest General: Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap
Once we gave the Extremely Wrap slide a Sneaker Award in 2023, our testers had nothing however glowing issues to say: “These sandals are past comfy. I’ve by no means owned a pair that really feel this good.” One individual wore theirs for over 100 hours and seen that they have been nonetheless simply as comfy because the day they tried them on.
This slide is cozy, supportive, breathable, and secure on slippery surfaces. It additionally has adjustable straps to stop it from flying off your foot (and add a cool outdoorsy accent too). If you would like a pair of slides that you would be able to actually put on anyplace—and never simply shuffle round in—the Extremely Wrap is it.
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Mesh, artificial materials, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
Runner-Up: Oofos Ooahh Slide
These extremely cushioned slides are accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Affiliation (APMA), which means a panel of specialists has discovered that their high-quality design promotes wholesome ft. Podiatrists have beforehand advisable them to SELF for individuals coping with foot ache, and we named the flip-flop model a SELF Fave again in 2020. Each footwear have the identical foam footbed, which our tester mentioned cradled her arches and took some stress off her ft.
Sizes: US 6 to fifteen | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial supplies, proprietary foam
Really, we’ve but to see a yr go by the place the Birkenstock Arizona isn’t in vogue, however there’s extra to them than trendy appears to be like. Paulina Piekarska, DPM, a foot and ankle specialist and surgeon at Hartford HealthCare Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute St. Vincent’s Medical Heart, beforehand advisable this basic sandal for its supportive design that molds to your foot the extra you put on it. Each of its leather-based straps are adjustable, so you possibly can guarantee an in depth match throughout your forefoot and midfoot.
Sizes: EU 36 to 42 | Widths: Slim and medium | Supplies: Suede, cork, foam, EVA
Finest Funds Choose: Shade & Shore Neida EVA Two Band Footbed Slide Sandals
One SELF editor says she lived in these Birkenstock look-alikes final summer season. They’re barely contoured to hug your ft and each straps are adjustable to ensure they keep cosy. And excellent news should you’re planning to sit down poolside this summer season: They’re plastic and able to tackle water.
“They’re shockingly comfy, for being so reasonably priced,” one SELF editor says. “I’ve main foot points and am capable of put on them continually with none ache.” As a pleasant bonus, she doesn’t have to fret about them getting soiled: “I rub just a little dish cleaning soap on them to get them good as new.”
Sizes: 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: EVA
Finest for Strolling: Lululemon Restfeel Slide
The Restfeel’s sole is on the thinner aspect, however based on SELF’s director of health and meals, it has lots to supply by way of cushion—a lot in order that it ousted her different cozy footwear. “I initially thought I’d put on them solely post-workout, however after I slipped them on as soon as for an errand, they shortly turned my go-to summer season shoe,” she says. In the event you can’t get your 10k steps in with out blisters, think about swapping your sandals for these infants.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Foam, rubber
Finest for Plantar Fasciitis: Hoka Ora Restoration Slide 3
Podiatrists (and SELF staffers) love Hokas for relieving plantar fasciitis ache (which often seems like an aching or stabbing sensation in your heel)—and that’s not restricted to the model’s sneakers. Erik Sims, DPM, managing accomplice of Sims & Associates Podiatry in New York, beforehand instructed SELF that the Ora 3 is a good choice for individuals who cope with plantar fasciitis, because it has a thick, closely cushioned sole that ought to assist scale back among the affect out of your footsteps.
Sizes: US 5 to 16 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: EVA
Finest for Restoration: Vionic Rejuvenate
These slides are what goals are product of for one SELF staffer who slips them on after lifting weights or going for lengthy walks. They’re her go-to home footwear too: “These slides have changed my fuzzy slippers for the nice and cozy climate—and actually, it’s for the most effective as a result of they’re far more supportive.” She additionally shouts out their grooved footbed, which has a frivolously massaging impact that feels nice on sore or swollen ft.
Sizes: US 5 to 14 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial materials and supplies, EVA
Extra nice choices
Nonetheless haven’t discovered a pair you possibly can’t wait to slide on? The choices beneath come extremely advisable by staffers and on-line reviewers.
Nike Victori One
Nike’s best-selling Victori One has a cool, minimalist design that appears nice by itself or, dare we are saying, together with your favourite colourful socks. We additionally like that the only real will get thicker on the heel for just a little extra consolation. Take our phrase for it—you need these in your gymnasium bag to let your ft breathe after a tough exercise.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial supplies, foam
Adidas Adilette Consolation Slides
They could look a complete lot just like the Adidas pool slides of your youth, however the Adilette Consolation Slides have a plusher footbed and are available trendier colours. This author has had her pair for about seven years, and so they’re simply as cozy as ever. You’ll be able to actually put on them exterior (the only real is sturdy sufficient for pavement, filth, or sand), however in addition they make the right breezy home shoe if clogs and slippers are likely to really feel too scorching for you.
Sizes: US 5 to 14 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial supplies and materials, EVA
Cushionaire Feather Slides
With greater than 26,000 five-star Amazon critiques backing them, these slides are sure to make your ft really feel pleased. They’ve a light-weight construct and squishy footbed to place just a little spring in your step.
“From the second I slipped them on, I felt like I used to be strolling on clouds,” one shopper wrote in a evaluation. “What actually stands out is how light-weight they’re whereas nonetheless offering wonderful arch assist. The restoration design is ideal for drained ft, and I’ve seen much less foot fatigue since I began carrying them.”
Sizes: 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: EVA
FitFlop Lulu Thong Sandal
These $1 flip flops that fold below your toes as you stroll and make you journey throughout the pavement? Swap them for these supportive platform sandals with a gradual heel drop that gives some good cushioning below the again of your foot. They arrive in a number of impartial colours, all of which have matching leather-based straps for a sleeker look.
Sizes: 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Leather-based, EVA, microfiber
What to think about whereas looking for slides
The elements beneath set cozy slides aside from just-okay ones.
Slides aren’t usually very supportive, however as we talked about earlier you possibly can’t deny the sheer comfort of a great pair—and Dr. Anderson notes that they’re a advantageous choice for brief errands and outings the place you’ll be off your ft more often than not (say, lounging by the pool). You simply wish to keep away from feeling like your arch is collapsing or your toes are gripping the within of the shoe as you stroll, she says. If yow will discover a slide that feels supportive, which means its insole maps to and cradles the form of your foot, and considerably safe, possibly with the assistance of a deep heel cup or toe groove, that’ll be your best choice.
Cushioning is useful too, and slides marketed for “restoration” are sometimes made with thick layers of cozy foam. That features a lot of our high picks, just like the Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap, Oofos Ooahh, and Hoka Ora 3. These manufacturers declare that these designs may also help your ft and joints rebound quicker from powerful exercises. Whereas they’re fairly darn comfy, they in all probability gained’t optimize your relaxation days in any substantial approach, Dr. Ferguson says. Your finest shot at a strong restoration routine is consulting with a bodily therapist or sports activities drugs specialist, Dr. Anderson says.
The footbed of your slide ought to hug the pure curve of your foot with out placing stress in your arch. If you stroll, the straps ought to hold your foot in place and forestall it from sliding ahead or developing off of the footbed. Adjustable straps actually are available clutch as a result of you possibly can tighten them simply sufficient to offer you additional safety as you progress.
How we examined the most effective slides
Our testers wore their slides to stroll their canine, take out the trash, drive residence from the gymnasium, run to the grocery retailer, hold by the pool, and so forth. The pairs that they actually beloved made it onto this remaining listing.
Any of the slides we didn’t take a look at have been advisable by podiatrists who know what to search for in cozy footwear. Plus, we sifted by means of critiques from numerous retailers; all of our picks are backed by a whole bunch, if not hundreds, of pleased consumers.
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