Flip-flops’ cool older sibling, slides are the last word comfortable, handy summer time footwear. The very best slides for ladies take these components to the following stage—they’re principally clouds in your toes to drift on, they gained’t depart you a sweaty mess, and so they’re cute sufficient to put on along with your whole heat climate wardrobe, from leggings to summer time clothes.
However right here’s the factor: Not all slides are created equal. In truth, a number of them lack most of the key options podiatrists prefer to see in footwear, like arch help, dependable shock absorption, and a again strap or heel counter. They will additionally put you liable to harm you probably have steadiness 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 comfortable—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 might want to do is choose which pair is your favourite (nonetheless robust, we all know).
Our high picks
- Greatest Total: Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap, $80
- Runner-Up: Oofos Ooahh Slide, $60
- Greatest for Arch Help: Birkenstock Arizona Tender Footbed, $150
- Greatest Price range 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 the most effective slides
Want a straightforward shoe for seaside days, pool journeys, take-out runs, or lounging at residence? Slides are the reply. Take a look at our picks beneath, then learn on for knowledgeable recommendation on how to decide on your excellent pair.
Greatest Total: 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 comfy. I’ve by no means owned a pair that really feel this good.” One individual wore theirs for over 100 hours and observed that they have been nonetheless simply as comfy because the day they tried them on.
This slide is comfortable, supportive, breathable, and steady 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 which you could 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), that means a panel of consultants has discovered that their high-quality design promotes wholesome toes. 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 strain off her toes.
Sizes: US 6 to fifteen | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial supplies, proprietary foam
Actually, we’ve but to see a yr go by the place the Birkenstock Arizona isn’t in trend, 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 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 an in depth match throughout your forefoot and midfoot.
Sizes: EU 36 to 42 | Widths: Slender and medium | Supplies: Suede, cork, foam, EVA
Greatest Price range 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 toes and each straps are adjustable to verify they keep comfortable. And excellent news when you’re planning to sit down poolside this summer time: They’re plastic and able to tackle water.
“They’re shockingly comfy, for being so inexpensive,” one SELF editor says. “I’ve main foot points and am in a position to 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 of 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 facet, however in response to SELF’s director of health and meals, it has loads to supply by way of cushion—a lot in order that it ousted her different comfortable 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 time shoe,” she says. In the event 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 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 superb possibility for individuals who take care of plantar fasciitis, because it has a thick, closely cushioned sole that ought to assist cut back among the affect out of your footsteps.
Sizes: US 5 to 16 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: EVA
Greatest for Restoration: Vionic Rejuvenate
These slides are what goals are manufactured from 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 toes.
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 beneath 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, along with your favourite colourful socks. We additionally like that the only real will get thicker on the heel for a bit of extra consolation. Take our phrase for it—you need these in your fitness center bag to let your toes breathe after a tough exercise.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial supplies, foam
Adidas Adilette Consolation Slides
They could look an entire 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 comfortable as ever. You’ll be able to actually put on them exterior (the only real is sturdy sufficient for pavement, grime, or sand), however additionally they make the right breezy home shoe if clogs and slippers are inclined 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 toes really feel glad. They’ve a light-weight construct and squishy footbed to place a bit of 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 overview. “What actually stands out is how light-weight they’re whereas nonetheless offering glorious arch help. The restoration design is ideal for drained toes, and I’ve observed 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 underneath 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 underneath 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 purchasing for slides
The components beneath set comfortable slides aside from just-okay ones.
Slides aren’t typically very supportive, however as we talked about earlier you may’t deny the sheer comfort of a superb pair—and Dr. Anderson notes that they’re a superb possibility for brief errands and outings the place you’ll be off your toes 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’ll find 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 the best choice.
Cushioning is useful too, and slides marketed for “restoration” are sometimes made with thick layers of comfortable 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 toes and joints rebound sooner from robust exercises. Whereas they’re fairly darn comfy, they most likely gained’t optimize your relaxation days in any substantial manner, Dr. Ferguson says. Your finest shot at a stable 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 strain in your arch. If you stroll, the straps ought to preserve 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 may tighten them simply sufficient to present 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 fitness center, run to the grocery retailer, hold by the pool, and so forth. The pairs that they actually liked made it onto this closing record.
Any of the slides we didn’t take a look at have been really helpful by podiatrists who know what to search for in comfortable footwear. Plus, we sifted via critiques from varied retailers; all of our picks are backed by lots of, if not hundreds, of glad consumers.
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