conuly | It's that time of year when my thoughts turn to slippers

Here's the problem, and maybe somebody knows of an affordable solution.

1. My feet get cold in winter.

2. I need to wear something on them to keep them from getting cold.

3. I don't like not being able to move my foot. This is why I usually don't wear things on my feet unless I really have to.

4. I could wear socks, but socks without shoes get worn out very fast, and that's no good either.

5. They also have to be lightweight. I find the weight of shoes to be a personal affront to common decency.

So I want slippers with an actual sole but one that allows me to move my foot. I actually do know what I want in a slipper, then, I want a split sole. But if you google for that, you get ballet slippers, which, fair, that's how I know split soles are a thing, but those are not going to keep my feet warm.

So maybe what I want is slippers with very flexible soles, durable enough that they don't wear through the second I get my laundry from the unfinished basement, but flexible enough that I can still move my toes around and all that.

Oh, and they have to be available in a women's 11/men's 9.5, and if at all possible I'd prefer them to be cute.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

cimorene

In our climate, nearly everybody wears thick wool socks in the wintertime because the climate makes it impossible to avoid! In fact, it's not uncommon to wear them inside slippers. Wool socks inside sandals such as Birkenstocks, slides, or injection-molded comfort clogs are commonly worn indoors at work in the season when you have to leave your rain- and snowboots with your coat.

So I'm pretty confident in saying there's no widely available solution like you describe. There are so-called slipper socks, which are basically thick wool socks with a suede outsole sewn on, and that might be the closest, but the suede soles tend to be less than ideal for grip, and the thickness of a slipper sock is also less than the thickness of a whole slipper. Plus if you want split sole ones, it's plausible you'd have to sew the soles on yourself.

It sounds like what you need are some super lightweight shoes, really, possibly sized for fuzzy socks in them.

But it's possible you might manage with "ballerina" or "espadrille"-styled house slippers, which are also made with velour or fur linings and soft soles in felt, leather, or synthetic by various brands, like these by Espadrij l'originale (which is French, so idk if that particular brand is resold in North America or not, but some probably are). Suede moccasin style with fur or velour lining is also a thing, and that's no doubt a fairly soft sole some of the time.

From:

lilysea

Would something like this work?

https://us.vibram.com/shop/shop-all-products/womens-fivefingers/casual/kso-eco-wool-womens-W82.html

From:

conuly

Oh, I forgot about those.

Unfortunately, I also can't have stuff between my toes.

I'm aware this is excessively picky, but that's why I don't have any slippers!

From:

ratcreature

I wear vibrams because I like being barefoot and they offer protection while approximating the feeling of having your whole foot involved in walking, so I have several pairs, but even insulated ones suck for cold weather. The cold outer surface is maximized with the space between your toes also exposed to cold. Similarly to how mittens tend to be warmer than fingered gloves because your fingers all warm the same air bubble with a smaller outer surface regular shoes are warmer than toed ones.

From:

jhetley

I use "wicked good" shearling slippers from Beans. No idea if these fit your other requirements, but they are warm and I can do tai chi in them.

From:

8hyenas

https://www.landsend.com/products/muk-luks-mens-morty-ragg-wool-sock-slippers/id_361145?attributes=4512,43308,43330,43418,44255

are they cute? unknown. I wore these for years along with other landsend leather bottom slippers. I admit last year I changed to a stiffer halfboot with a rubber sole but that was so I could wear them outside.

From:

8hyenas

the ones i changed to are the wicked good shearling slippers from llbean mentioned above. my feet are still cold, but if i put in warm feet they stay warm for quite a while. honestly i think i need some sort of slipper with an external heat pack

From:

cimorene

Do you know about microwavable slippers? They're really probably not that useful for walking on. I haven't bought them, but I saw them for sale around everywhere about five years ago and I can still find them if I google.

From:

jessie_c

Egli's Sheep Farm has you covered. I've been using these for the past 25 years. They eventually do wear out, but it takes years to do so. They're warm, flexible and lightweight. The only downside is they're not 'affordable' at the first glance, but think of the Sam Vimes boots theory and spread the cost over several years.

From:

conuly

I'm also a bit concerned about wool. Practically everything gives me hives, what're the odds that wool is the one itchy thing that doesn't? Even non-itchy things, like "sleep" and "showers" and "breathing" make me hivey and itchy. Consequently, I avoid it like the plague. I could be wrong, but I could also be right.

From:

jessie_c

These are definitely not the itchy kind of wool. They're very soft fleece, still attached to the leather. It's a bit like walking on a cloud.

From:

senmut

Chelsea Sherpa Bootie Slipper is my preference. Very roomy, very warm, the sole is firm but ONLY under the foot itself, not encasing the outer edge of the slipper like so many have. Flexible and soft.

From:

readerjane

I have all those same requirements, except cuteness, and with the added caveat that the slippers need to be easy to step into and kick off.

I’ve been happy with this kind, from Target. I can feel the contours of the ground beneath my feet, which for some reason makes me feel so much more steady. Yet the soles are sturdy enough (while still flexible) that if I step on a stick, it doesn’t hurt my foot. And they do keep my feet warm on cold floors.

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-chaia-moccasin-slippers-stars-above/-/A-85206868?preselect=85185041#lnk=sametab

ETA: I take the leather shoelace-thingy completely out, so the slipper has more flexibility for my wide feet. The shoelaces make good cat toys.

Edited Date: 2022-11-19 04:25 pm (UTC)

From:

conuly

I mean, cute is more like a stretch goal.

From:

altamira16

Oh, you are someone with my giant feet, and also hate things between your toes. We may want something like the Northface men's thermoball slippers, but they may be too warm.

I will wander around stubbornly with my cold feet until I decide they are too cold and put on my wool socks. You may do something smarter than that.

From:

conuly

My feet aren't giant. They're the same size as my mother's, in fact.

From:

altamira16

I am taller than everyone in my immediate family and have the feet that go along with that. Part of this involves the diet in the US versus diet in other countries.

From:

kutsuwamushi

One of my solutions to this problem is to wear heavy wool socks with a light "no shoe" shoe like these. They're not split sole, but the sole is very thin and flexible. This particular shoe might not be for you (closest size is men's 10, and it's expensive), but this does keep my feet surprisingly warm without feeling weighed down.

(I actually use them as summer shoes too, so the price hurts less.)

Edited Date: 2022-11-19 04:54 pm (UTC)

From:

thewayne

I don't know if the soles would be flexible enough for your needs, but I got an excellent pair of fuzzy slippers from Bed Bath & Beyond a couple of months ago. They're just above ankle height, so they work well with sweat/athletic pants. Made by Cozy Mountain and allegedly contain memory foam. Best of all: machine washable! Leave 'em out to dry. And they are poodle-endorsed! Charlie, our black poodle, has paraded them around when I'm not wearing them: I found them relocated once and caught him carrying one around like a trophy once.

Very comfey, I'm quite happy with the purchase. I wear a men's 10.5, I expect they have a size very close to what would fit you well. IIRC, they cost about $20.

From:

conuly

I am not sure that endorsement is a good thing or not. Do I want my dogs to like my shoes?

Edited Date: 2022-11-23 03:01 am (UTC)

From:

thewayne

As long as I'm home, for the most part the dogs - and it's entirely one specific dog as far as I know - leave them alone.

From:

siliconshaman

Felt boots/shoes are a thing, you could find those on etsy.

From:

conuly

That's an idea.

From:

movingfinger

I weeded the holey and worn socks from my sock drawer recently, and I notice that the thickest-soled ones from Smartwool are essentialy showing no signs of wear after maybe seven years. I wear just socks around the house for three seasons, and the socks are in regular rotation. So maybe "good socks with thick soles" will do you.

My solution for the other side of your problem (what to wear in a brief outing to a less sock-friendly area) is that I keep a pair of Allbirds by the back door, and when I need to go round to the garage or over to feed the birds, I step in and out of them. Also work for quick basement runs. They are lightweight, flat, not super grippy, but have also lasted for years used this way. I don't wear them in the house, they're for out-of-living space. Far more durable than any slippers I have had.

If you want something to wear that isn't socks, maybe cheap ballet flats or "purse shoes." ETA: or moccasins, with soft leather soles, would probably allow you the degree of movement you want with some protection.

Edited Date: 2022-11-19 07:26 pm (UTC)

From:

lemonsharks

I wear these in winter:

https://www.amazon.com/MERIWOOL-Merino-Hiking-Socks-Women/dp/B085PT289B

75% wool, 3 pairs for $25. I'm a size 8.5 and wear a small. Add ABS anti skid fabric liquid over the entire bottom to create your own sole?

The last round of 3 pairs I bought lasted me 8 years before they started wearing out (they tend to felt on the inside).

From:

ysabetwordsmith

When I was young, my grandmother crocheted slippers for everyone in the family. They were rather like soft boots, with a double sole. And the sole was a separate piece from the upper, so if your feet hadn't grown, you could take off and replaced a worn sole. Patterns like that probably still exist, if you are a fibercrafter or know someone who is.

Me, I just wear socks now. It is possible to find slipper-socks with thicker soles, but I don't bother. I just get boot socks (which are also thick) and replace them more often.

From:

spiffikins

A couple of years ago, I found slippers like these (link) and ended up buying a bunch of them, LOL

They have stood up to me wearing them daily for a couple of years including the occasionally wander outside to put the garbage out. They are not waterproof at all but the sole is flexible and still reasonably tough.

I believe the term is "slipper socks" if you are searching - amazon has similar ones (here)

And yeah, I feel you - I'm a women's 11/mens 9.5 too :D

Edited Date: 2022-11-19 09:14 pm (UTC)

From:

shadowkat

I got in 2020, the UGG Women's Fluff Yeah Pixelate Slipper. It's open toed, size 11 (I have size 11 feet), and it was hot pink.

Go HERE

They've been a life saver. I wore them throughout 2021 and into 2022, when I was working from home.
And to the laundry in the basement, and if I get cold at home. I can move my feet in them and they don't restrict my toes.

From:

lassarina

I wear Snoozies - they're shaped like a slipper, feel like a sock, and have grippies on the bottom so you don't slip and slide.

From:

darkoshi

Slippers have been on my mind too!

Being able to move my foot and toes is a requirement of mine too, in all shoes but even more so in slippers.
I like sturdy soles on my slippers as otherwise they wear out too fast. (I've been repairing the soles on my warmest pair of slippers (bear-claw style) for over a decade now. That has included sewing the bottom of a new pair of slippers to the top of the old slippers, and then when those new soles started cracking, covering them in shoe goo.). So I always buy very large-sized slippers.

But recently I've been noticing that when my slippers are too loose or too wide, I don't walk normally; I have to splay my feet when walking to keep the slippers from flying off. So now I'm looking for some that are loose and comfortable but also snug enough to stay on, but also easy to slip into and out of. Among other things.

From:

gatheringrivers

There's these these. They *should* fulfill everything except maybe "cute", but you have the option of decorating them to make them cute. :)

(or you could get the name-brand instead of the knockoffs here.)

There's also this style

You might also find one of these options to be of help in staying warm during the coldest times.

From:

cimorene

Worth noting as an addendum to the LL Bean recs here that as corporations go, they're rather more politically active in the anti-choice field than many. So if your money going specifically to anti-choice lobbying etc is disturbing to you, it's better to stick with Lands' End and other similar brands in the same bracket.

From:

conuly

That is extremely important to me, thanks.

From:

cellio

I assume this is for home use, since one doesn't usually go out and about in slippers, so have you ruled out socks with slip-on sandals? Gives you soles under your feet, toe-freedom, and warmth, so the rest is finding cute socks, which seems doable.