Flip-flops’ cool older sibling, slides are the last word cozy, handy summer time footwear. The very best slides for ladies take these elements to the following degree—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 time attire.
However right here’s the factor: Not all slides are created equal. In actual fact, a variety of them lack most of the key options podiatrists wish to see in footwear, like arch help, dependable shock absorption, and a again strap or heel counter. They’ll additionally put you vulnerable to damage when you have steadiness points or are liable to tripping, bodily therapist Melania Anderson, PT, DPT, supervisor of the Complete 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 sporting them round the home, out to run errands, or for a day on the seaside. To deliver you feet-friendly pairs that transcend the fundamentals, we requested SELF staffers and podiatrists for his or her suggestions. All you should do is decide which pair is your favourite (nonetheless powerful, we all know).
Our prime picks
- Greatest General: Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap, $80
- Runner-Up: Oofos Ooahh Slide, $60
- Greatest for Arch Help: Birkenstock Arizona Delicate Footbed, $150
- Greatest Finances Decide: Shade & Shore Neida EVA Two Band Footbed Slide Sandals, $10
- Greatest for Strolling: Lululemon Restfeel Slide, $58
- Greatest for Plantar Fasciitis: Hoka Ora Restoration Slide 3, $60
- Greatest for Restoration: Vionic Rejuvenate, $90
On this article
Store one of the best slides
Want a simple shoe for seaside days, pool journeys, take-out runs, or lounging at dwelling? Slides are the reply. Take a look at our picks under, then learn on for knowledgeable recommendation on how to decide on your excellent pair.
Greatest General: Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap
After we gave the Extremely Wrap slide a Sneaker Award in 2023, our testers had nothing however glowing issues to say: “These sandals are past snug. I’ve by no means owned a pair that really feel this good.” One particular person wore theirs for over 100 hours and seen that they have been nonetheless simply as snug because the day they tried them on.
This slide is cozy, supportive, breathable, and steady on slippery surfaces. It additionally has adjustable straps to forestall 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 wherever—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), that means a panel of consultants has discovered that their high-quality design promotes wholesome ft. Podiatrists have beforehand really helpful them to SELF for folks 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 fashionable appears to be like. Paulina Piekarska, DPM, a foot and ankle specialist and surgeon at Hartford HealthCare Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute St. Vincent’s Medical Middle, beforehand really helpful this traditional 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 may guarantee a detailed match throughout your forefoot and midfoot.
Sizes: EU 36 to 42 | Widths: Slim and medium | Supplies: Suede, cork, foam, EVA
Greatest Finances Decide: Shade & Shore Neida EVA Two Band Footbed Slide Sandals
One SELF editor says she lived in these Birkenstock look-alikes final summer time. They’re barely contoured to hug your ft and each straps are adjustable to verify they keep cosy. And excellent news in case you’re planning to take a seat poolside this summer time: They’re plastic and able to tackle water.
“They’re shockingly snug, for being so reasonably priced,” one SELF editor says. “I’ve main foot points and am capable of put on them continuously with none ache.” As a pleasant bonus, she doesn’t have to fret about them getting soiled: “I rub a bit dish cleaning soap on them to get them good as new.”
Sizes: 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: EVA
Greatest for Strolling: Lululemon Restfeel Slide
The Restfeel’s sole is on the thinner aspect, however in response to SELF’s director of health and meals, it has a lot 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 grew to become my go-to summer time shoe,” she says. When you can’t get your 10k steps in with out blisters, take into account swapping your sandals for these infants.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Foam, rubber
Greatest for Plantar Fasciitis: Hoka Ora Restoration Slide 3
Podiatrists (and SELF staffers) love Hokas for relieving plantar fasciitis ache (which normally appears 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 advised SELF that the Ora 3 is a superb possibility for individuals who take care of plantar fasciitis, because it has a thick, closely cushioned sole that ought to assist cut back a number of the influence out of your footsteps.
Sizes: US 5 to 16 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: EVA
Greatest 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 one of the best 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 may’t wait to slide on? The choices under come extremely really helpful 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 a bit extra consolation. Take our phrase for it—you need these in your fitness center 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 in trendier colours. This author has had her pair for about seven years, and so they’re simply as cozy as ever. You possibly can actually put on them exterior (the only real is sturdy sufficient for pavement, dust, or sand), however additionally they make the right breezy home shoe if clogs and slippers are inclined to really feel too sizzling 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 certain to make your ft really feel comfortable. They’ve a light-weight construct and squishy footbed to place a bit 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 assessment. “What actually stands out is how light-weight they’re whereas nonetheless offering wonderful arch help. The restoration design is ideal for drained ft, and I’ve seen much less foot fatigue since I began sporting them.”
Sizes: 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: EVA
FitFlop Lulu Thong Sandal
These $1 flip flops that fold beneath 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 provides some good cushioning beneath 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 under set cozy slides aside from just-okay ones.
Slides aren’t usually very supportive, however as we talked about earlier you may’t deny the sheer comfort of a great pair—and Dr. Anderson notes that they’re a high-quality possibility for brief errands and outings the place you’ll be off your ft more often than not (say, lounging by the pool). You simply need 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 you will discover a slide that feels supportive, that means its insole maps to and cradles the form of your foot, and considerably safe, perhaps 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 lots of our prime picks, just like the Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap, Oofos Ooahh, and Hoka Ora 3. These manufacturers declare that these designs will help your ft and joints rebound sooner from powerful exercises. Whereas they’re fairly darn snug, they in all probability gained’t optimize your relaxation days in any substantial approach, Dr. Ferguson says. Your finest shot at a stable restoration routine is consulting with a bodily therapist or sports activities medication 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 arising off of the footbed. Adjustable straps actually are available in clutch as a result of you may tighten them simply sufficient to present you further safety as you progress.
How we examined one of the best slides
Our testers wore their slides to stroll their canine, take out the trash, drive dwelling from the fitness center, run to the grocery retailer, grasp by the pool, and so forth. The pairs that they actually liked made it onto this remaining record.
Any of the slides we didn’t check have been really helpful by podiatrists who know what to search for in cozy footwear. Plus, we sifted by critiques from varied retailers; all of our picks are backed by a whole lot, if not hundreds, of comfortable customers.
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