21 Best Arch Support Slippers to Keep Feet Comfy on the Road (2024)
October 7, 2024
As thrilling as long days of sightseeing can be, there’s something so relaxing about kicking off your shoes and slipping those throbbing feet into a pair of plush hotel slippers. With your feet propped up on the bed, fuzzy lining soothes your soles—and your soul. But the harsh reality comes rushing in once you stand up. A few trips around the hotel room, and you realize, they’re nothing more than glorified feet warmers.
While our step counts in travel slippers may pale in comparison to our walking shoes, we also wear them at a time of recovery when our feet need them most—and for many of us, that means it’s just as essential to find slippers with the same arch support as in everyday shoes.
For years, I didn’t want to waste suitcase space on something I’d use so little, so I wore an old pair of Havaianas as hotel slippers (and beach flip-flops). But since I’m flat-footed and started to suffer posterior tibial tendonitis, doctors told me that I shouldn’t take a single step without proper arch support. So I switched those flip-flops to Birkenstock Arizona sandals.
They did the trick for awhile, but I missed out on that coziness hugging my feet after pounding the pavement on my travels. While packing for the Boston Marathon earlier this year, I remembered that my friend and fellow runner Louisa always told me how essential Oofos were after distance races. I happened to have a pair of its Oofos Oocoozie low shoe that I was wearing around the house during my bouts of foot and ankle pain, so I tossed them in my suitcase.
After crossing the famous Boylston finish line in my Hoka Cliftons, I limped my way back to The Westin Copley Place, Boston and slipped my feet into the Oocoozies—and couldn’t believe the difference. My poor legs and feet had just been screaming at me for having completed the challenging 26.2-mile course. But these supportive slippers cradled my sole and soothed the impact of every step, making me realize just how important arch support is for slippers.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
FAQ:
What are arch-support slippers?
A fuzzy, cozy slipper may be the very picture of hygge, but unfortunately hotel-provided flat ones—even if they come from a luxurious brand, as so many do now—are still just on a thin layer of foam, meaning they could be as harmful to your feet long-term as flip-flops.
“I would recommend travelers to shop around and try on different types of slippers to see which ones feel best,” she says. “Not all shoes are alike so I would see what feels good to each individual.” If you’re looking for a place to start, she says Oofos, Vionic, and Orthofeet offer consistent support.
Do I need arch-support slippers?
In general, Mateen says, it’s those with flat feet who benefit the most from arch support. “This is because excessive flattening can lead to chronic foot conditions such as heel pain, arch pain, and even lead to hip and knee pain,” she says. Those with a more standard arch or high arches “may not find the arch slippers as comfortable.”
If you don’t know what kind of foot type you have, she says that running shoe stores can help with diagnoses. But if there’s any pain involved, it’s important to speak to a foot and ankle specialist for medical attention.
Why is arch support important?
When it comes down to it, it’s all about keeping your feet healthy on the go, since arch support “can allow proper alignment of the foot biomechanics, particularly those with a flatfoot and low arch,” Mateen says.
Travelers who spend their days in supported shoes often have the instinct to switch into comfortable house slippers indoors, but that can do more damage. “If they do not have support similar to their daytime shoes, this can cause pain of the foot and ankle,” she says. “I tell patients that we should think of orthotics or arch support similarly to reading glasses: Those who need reading glasses will use them regularly and arch support is no different!”
It’s also important to remember that wear and tear applies to arch support too. “I would also recommend changing out your slippers once you feel like they aren’t as supportive as they used to be, just like regular running shoes or everyday wear,” Mateen says.
With all of these factors in mind, we rounded up 21 of the best arch support slippers to keep you supported on your travels.
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Open-back slippers
Birkenstock Zermatt shearling
A Birkenstock that’s an actual slipper? Yes, it exists. Complete with the brand’s iconic cork-latex footbed, the Zermatt takes that sturdy orthopedic support and graces it with genuine shearling and wool to provide a dreamy contrast of solid and soft.
FitFlop Chrissie II
These “haus” slippers, as FitFlop calls them, strike a balance of snug and supportive. The loafer-style shoes are made of polyester felt with a slip-resistant rubber bottom, but their secret ingredient is the brand’s iQushion midsole with ergonomically-shaped cushioning.
Vionic Gemma II Mule slipper
When my foot issues first started requiring arch support, a friend pointed me to Vionic, which has its scientifically-based contoured arch insole in its diverse range of shoe offerings, from sandals to sneakers, and even slippers. Available in faux-shearling, wool, or flannel, the Gemma II adds a layer of padding on top of its trademark firm support in a design that earned it the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance. To ensure a snug fit, there’s also an adjustable enclosure.
Glerups slip on
One look at these felt slippers with a leather sole and you’ll feel all warm and fuzzy. After all, the natural wool will keep you toasty, while wicking away moisture. But the true beauty of the Glerups is in its details since the shoe naturally molds to the foot shape of the wearer. The company suggests wearing them barefoot for about three to five weeks, during which they’ll be shaped for just the support you need. Slip right into the warmth in a dozen shades, including a sweet cranberry red and soothing petrol teal. For more grip, they’re also available with a natural rubber sole.
Orthofeet Charlotte
Orthopedic shoes can get a bad rap for being chunky and style-less. But the Orthofeet Charlotte has a classic mule silhouette, enhanced with a suede upper and faux fur lining—and truly goes the distance in features that are all about keeping your feet happy. That includes a wide toe box offering room for foot swelling or bunions, a soft rocker ergonomic sole for an extra lift with every step, an adjustable strap to create a custom fit, and a specially-designed orthotic insole with an anatomical arch support to “prevent overpronation and improve alignment for flat feet,” the brand says.
PowerStep Clogs
Even indoor shoes can get their share of grime. So the brilliant feature of the PowerStep Clog house shoe’s latest design is that after removing the insoles, they’re machine washable. Of course, it is that orthopedically-designed insole with the combination of a cradled heel and shaped arch that helps reduce leg pain and tiredness. The latest update, available in black and brown, is also cozier with a fleece lining and soft faux fur cuff.
Oofos Oocoozie Thermo mule
Oofos built its reputation on slides that are lightweight yet impact-absorbing, with foam footbeds that cradle the arch. Later on, it adapted that recovery technology into a slip-on mule. Then earlier this year, the brand packed in extra warmth with the debut of the Oocoozie Thermo mule. Available in basic black or a super cute pink called Stardust, the shoe’s insulation comes from the renown Primaloft, specifically known for building warmth into its products, so it’s guaranteed to keep your toes toasty and your feet cozy.
Aetrex Mandy closed-toe slipper
There’s a simplicity about the Aetrex Mandy that makes it look like the dictionary definition of a slipper, yet there are so many details layered into its design. The hook-and-loop closure provides adjustability, while the memory foam footbed adjusts to your underfoot and the antimicrobial footbed tackles any concerns about stink. Most importantly, the base of the shoe is Aetrex’s orthotic system with arch support that promotes stability and alignment, a relief those with plantar fasciitis and other similar foot pains.
Teva ReEmber
Teva has long had a reputation of strength and durability, and when its Ember line launched in 2017, the brand added practicality to that list with the sneaker-slipper hybrid. That model has evolved into the ReEmber, a shoe that’s tough enough for all-day wear, but also ideal for serving as outdoor slippers on camping trips. The 25-mm cushioned foam insole takes the impact of every step, while the exterior is ready to battle the elements with a water-repellent coating applied topically to the recycled polyester upper and a traction-focused recycled rubber outsole.
Strive Vienna
The silver snake metallic colorway of the Strive Vienna is so fabulous, you just might forget all your foot woes. But a chic shiny upper made of natural nubuck leather isn’t all that these slip-ons have going for them. The brand’s biomechanical footbed technology follows the natural shape of the foot—arch included—with metatarsal forefoot support and a deep foot cup, also earning the APMA’s seal. As Strive says, “Your feet aren’t two-dimensional, so why wear footwear with a flat footbed?” The Vienna’s sole is also topped with soft faux fur for ultimate plushness.
Closed-back slippers
Bombas Sunday slipper
From the B Corp brand best known for its arch-support socks, Bombas’ Sunday Slipper is as cozy as its name implies—yet bears a solid base and sole that provides the support of outdoor shoes. That’s because it has a EVA midsole paired with memory foam that cradles your foot but is covered all over with sherpa for a relaxing fit.
Vionic Gustavo slipper
For every footwear type, there’s the perfect Vionic arch-support shoe. And these suede slippers take the closed-toe slipper genre up a serious notch. Available in the versatile shades of black, brown, and gray, the Gustavo looks like a dress shoe at a glance, but is lined with the most luxurious faux-shearling for an all-around softness inside. Plus the textured durable rubber outsoles mean that they can also go out on the road.
Oofos Oocoozie low shoe
These are the miraculous Oofos slip-ons that made me believe in arch-support slippers. Watching around my hotel room in them after the Boston Marathon, my legs turned from cement into feathers, attributed to the foam footbed that absorbs 37 percent more impact paired with the softness of the sherpa detailing. While my plan had been to just wear them inside post-race, I ended up wearing them all around town the next day and kept them on my feet not just through my flight back home to New Jersey, but again on another trip to Seattle that week. While those infamous Boston hills did a number on my legs, my feet were quick to recover as I wore nothing but these cozy low shoes for a week after. As a bonus, the closed cell foam means that it’s machine washable, making it easy to wick away any germs picked up on your travels.
Powerstep Twin-Gore slippers
Stabilization is key with Powerstep’s ArchWear shoes and the built-in support that their insoles have. That means a deep heel cup to cradle the foot along with a curved design that supports the arch to prevent feet from pronating, or rolling inward, while walking, which can lead to permanent foot pain (that’s my issue!). This men’s style comes as a closed-back shoe, with a heel-tab to slip on easily, and comes in light brown and dark gray.
Kuri Draft 2
The newest upgrade from Kuru—a brand known for its heel-hugging pain relief shoes—is the lightweight Draft 2 shoe. At just under 8 ounces, it’s 40 percent lighter than its predecessor for even better packability. Its interior has also been upgraded with fleece-like material for extra comfort, while the overall design focuses on flexibility. With extra lift in the arch and a special heel pad to lock in the foot’s rear position, pain will be a thing of the past.
Taos Convertawool slipper
While these double-face wool slip-ons—available in seven solid colors and two shades of leopard print, with a cork-looking thermoplastic rubber outsole—boast a cozy après-ski look, what really sets them apart is the removable footbed. Providing both arch and metatarsal support, the insole is made of premium polyurethane bottom and a wool lining, to truly cradle your foot in warmth and support.
L.L.Bean men’s Mountain slippers
The 112-year-old company is known for its classic products, like its 100-year-old Field Coat and its Boat and Tote from 1944. When it comes to relaxing footwear, its aptly-named Wicked Good Moccasins is a popular bestseller. But the Freeport, Maine, company is also full of hidden gems, including its Mountain Slippers. With all the snug elements of its moccasins, these are one-upped with toughness. Think: a water-resistant upper, the brand’s trademark three-needle stitching, plus chain-tread traction stolen from its own Bean Boot. And if that’s not enough, the oversized insole is removable, to slip in your own, if needed.
Open-toed slippers
Vionic Relax II slipper
“Talk about cute and comfy. A flexible midsole, an orthotic footbed, and plush terry cloth fabric? My feet have never been happier.” Those words came from none other than Oprah Winfrey herself, speaking on Vionic’s Relax slippers—which we can absolutely vouch for, too. And the new 2.0 version raises the bar in every aspect. First off, the adjustable cross straps are wider for a more secure fit and, let’s face it, a cuter style. The terry cloth has been replaced with faux fur and faux shearling, hugging your feet with more coziness. Available in 10 colors, including two camo designs, the shoe also boasts an APMA’s Seal of Acceptance.
Archies Arch Support slides
No bells and whistles here—just the essentials. It starts with a solid one-piece construction meaning there’s nothing to fall apart. The generous one-inch arch support provides the curvature flat-footers have been craving. On top of that, the footbed molds to your feet over time, so that the support it’s giving is bespoke to your foot’s nooks and crannies. Still skeptical? Archies offers a 60-day comfort guarantee.
Olukai Hila Heu slipper
A footwear company that focuses on Hawaiian-inspired shoes with a shorefront mentality may be far from thought when it comes to fuzzy slippers, but this B Corp does it right. Channeling a mindful island mentality, these slides offer a gentle arch, and even gentler step with shearling that’s plush and curly. And they’re appropriately available in two beach-inspired colors, a sand-inspired tan and an ocean-like blue. Further proof these are the slippers you’ve been looking for? Their name Hila Heu means hill and fuzziness of fleece.
Sollbeam fuzzy house slippers
With more than 23,000 ratings on Amazon averaging 4.3 stars, these slippers—available in 10 designs—have a trio of features that are all a treat for the feet. The contoured footbed helps with alignment and weight (and stress!) distribution, the deep heel cups help cradle the leg in the right direction, and, of course, strong arch support. As one shopper commented, “My back does better when I use these and the adjustable foot strap-cover is great on days when it looks like your foot has changed in size.”
