Men's Slippers: House Slippers That Fit, Grip and Stay Warm

The best men’s slippers come down to three choices: shape, width and sole. Moccasins hold the heel, clogs slip on fast, and slipper boots keep ankles warm. Men with broad feet should look for a pair sold as wide. If you step outside for the mail or the dog, choose a sole the maker says can go outdoors.

Men’s slippers you can wear outside: which soles to look for

Men’s slipper soles come first, because a house slipper often does a second job on the porch or the driveway. Dearfoams puts the rule plainly: “Slippers need to have a sturdy, outdoor sole in order for you to be able to wear them outside.” On its own site, it says, the sole is covered under the product features.

Makers use their own wording for this, so look for it by name:

• Indoor/outdoor sole. Isotoner uses this label, including on a men’s sweater knit clog.
• Hardsole. Minnetonka uses this word for men’s styles such as its pile-lined moccasin.
• Traction outsole. OluKai tags some men’s shearling-lined mules with “enhanced traction outsole.”
• Leather or natural rubber sole. Glerups offers these on its felted wool slip-ons, shoes and boots.

A soft fabric or felt sole belongs indoors. Treat any outdoor label as the maker’s description, and check the sole on the exact pair you want.

Moccasin, clog or slipper boot for men

Men’s house slippers come in three main shapes. Most of the choice is about how you take them on and off.

Moccasins wrap the whole foot, heel included, so they tend to stay on better when you walk or climb stairs. Acorn and Minnetonka both sell men’s moccasin slippers. Our moccasin slippers guide covers fit.

Clogs and scuffs are open at the back. You can step into them without bending, which suits anyone in and out of the house all day.

Slipper boots rise above the ankle. They cover the most and take a little longer to pull on.

Collapsible heels sit between the first two shapes. Acorn sells a men’s collapsible heel moccasin, and Isotoner lists collapsible heel as a feature of some men’s styles. The back folds down for slipping on and stands up when you want the heel held. With the heel folded, the slipper is open at the back like any backless style, so stand the heel up for stairs.

Our slippers guide explains what health sources advise on soles for stairs and polished floors.

How to find wide men’s slippers

Width is easy to miss on men’s slippers, since many come in only one. Dearfoams says the styles on its site “are medium width,” and it keeps wide widths as a separate men’s category. Minnetonka lists wide and extended sizes separately too.

A few habits help when your feet are broad:

1. Look for the word “wide” on the style, not only on the brand.
2. Measure your foot late in the day. The NIDDK tells people with diabetes to buy shoes late in the day, “when your feet are the largest,” and the habit works for anyone checking fit.
3. Allow room for socks if you plan to wear thick ones underneath.
4. Consider a knit or felted upper, which tends to give more than stiff leather.

Anyone with bunions, hammertoes or diabetes should ask a podiatrist what fits. The NIDDK notes that people with diabetes who have a bunion or hammertoes may need extra-wide or deep shoes. Width labels are in our wide slippers guide.

Men’s slipper sizes on a letter chart

Many men’s slippers come in letter sizes that span two shoe sizes, and the chart changes by maker. Here is how one maker, Dearfoams, sets its men’s sizes:

Dearfoams says to pick the next larger size if your foot falls between two lines on the chart. On its unisex chart, a women’s size runs two above a men’s, so a men’s 7 matches a women’s 9. If your foot is longer than the last line, our guide to slippers for big feet covers large sizes.

Lining choices for men who run hot or cold

Lining decides how warm a men’s slipper feels once the shape is settled. OluKai and Minnetonka both sell shearling or sheepskin-lined styles, the classic warm choice. Our leather slippers guide compares suede and smooth leather uppers. Fleece and sherpa are lighter and sometimes washable. Glerups uses felted wool, a less plush option if your feet overheat.

Care depends on that lining. Dearfoams says most of its slippers are machine washable, but not those with suede or fur, and does not recommend the dryer for any slippers.

Thick socks can help too: our slipper socks guide covers when socks alone will do. A foot-shape question is a different matter, and our page on slippers with arch support sets out what makers do and do not claim. Shopping for someone else? Our women’s slippers guide takes the same choices style by style, and our UGG slippers guide covers that brand’s sizing.