Flip-flops’ cool older sibling, slides are the final word comfortable, handy summer time sneakers. The perfect slides for ladies take these elements to the subsequent degree—they’re principally clouds on your toes to drift on, they gained’t go away you a sweaty mess, and so they’re cute sufficient to put on together with your total heat climate wardrobe, from leggings to summer time clothes.
However right here’s the factor: Not all slides are created equal. The truth is, a number of them lack most of the key options podiatrists wish to see in footwear, like arch assist, dependable shock absorption, and a again strap or heel counter. They’ll additionally put you vulnerable to harm in case you have stability points or are susceptible 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 typically 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 carrying 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 it is advisable do is decide which pair is your favourite (nonetheless powerful, we all know).
Our prime picks
- Finest General: Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap, $80
- Runner-Up: Oofos Ooahh Slide, $60
- Finest for Arch Assist: Birkenstock Arizona Tender Footbed, $150
- Finest Finances 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 straightforward 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 good 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 had been nonetheless simply as comfy because the day they tried them on.
This slide is comfortable, 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’d like a pair of slides you can 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 toes. Podiatrists have beforehand really useful them to SELF for individuals coping with foot ache, and we named the flip-flop model a SELF Fave again in 2020. Each sneakers have the identical foam footbed, which our tester stated cradled her arches and took some stress off her toes.
Sizes: US 6 to fifteen | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial supplies, proprietary foam
Really, we’ve but to see a 12 months go by the place the Birkenstock Arizona isn’t in vogue, however there’s extra to them than fashionable appears. Paulina Piekarska, DPM, a foot and ankle specialist and surgeon at Hartford HealthCare Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute St. Vincent’s Medical Heart, beforehand really useful 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: Slender and medium | Supplies: Suede, cork, foam, EVA
Finest Finances Choose: 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 in the event 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 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 a little bit 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 facet, however in line with SELF’s director of health and meals, it has a lot to supply when it comes to 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 rapidly grew to become my go-to summer time shoe,” she says. When 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 informed 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 cut back among the impression 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 sneakers too: “These slides have changed my fuzzy slippers for the nice and cozy climate—and truthfully, 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 under come extremely really useful 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 will get thicker on the heel for a little bit extra consolation. Take our phrase for it—you need these in your gymnasium 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 may 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 comfortable as ever. You may actually put on them exterior (the only is sturdy sufficient for pavement, dust, or sand), however in addition they make the proper 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 opinions backing them, these slides are sure to make your toes really feel joyful. They’ve a light-weight construct and squishy footbed to place a little 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 overview. “What actually stands out is how light-weight they’re whereas nonetheless offering glorious arch assist. The restoration design is ideal for drained toes, 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 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 comfortable slides other than just-okay ones.
Slides aren’t usually very supportive, however as we talked about earlier you may’t deny the sheer comfort of a very good pair—and Dr. Anderson notes that they’re a wonderful choice 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 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 only option.
Cushioning is useful too, and slides marketed for “restoration” are sometimes made with thick layers of comfortable foam. That features a lot of our prime picks, just like the Merrell Hut Extremely Wrap, Oofos Ooahh, and Hoka Ora 3. These manufacturers declare that these designs can assist your toes and joints rebound sooner from powerful exercises. Whereas they’re fairly darn comfy, they in all probability gained’t optimize your relaxation days in any substantial method, Dr. Ferguson says. Your greatest 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. Whenever you stroll, the straps ought to maintain your foot in place and stop 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 provide 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 dwelling from the gymnasium, run to the grocery retailer, cling by the pool, and so forth. The pairs that they actually liked made it onto this closing listing.
Any of the slides we didn’t check had been really useful by podiatrists who know what to search for in comfortable footwear. Plus, we sifted by opinions from varied retailers; all of our picks are backed by lots of, if not 1000’s, of joyful buyers.
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