Slipper Socks: Grippers, Real Soles and When Socks Are Not Enough

Slipper socks are thick socks with grippers or a thin added sole, made for cozy time at home. They work well for sitting, sleeping and lounging. For stairs, hard floors and older relatives, choose slippers with a nonskid sole instead, because Mayo Clinic and AAOS warn against walking in stocking feet. Grippers add some grip, but no real sole.

Gripper dots or a real sole on slipper socks

Slipper socks fall into three groups, and the bottom of the sock tells you which you have.

Slippers are a step beyond all three. Glerups, for one, sells felted wool slip-ons on a separate leather or natural rubber sole.

When slipper socks are enough

Slipper socks suit the times when you are mostly staying put: an evening on the sofa, cold feet in bed, or an extra layer inside slippers on very cold floors.

Bed is one place socks make sense. The NIDDK’s foot care advice for people with diabetes says to “wear socks in bed if your feet get cold,” rather than using a hot water bottle or heating pad. For how fibers compare on warmth, our warm socks guide covers wool, fuzzy and sherpa-lined pairs.

When to choose slippers over socks

Walking on hard floors is where slipper socks fall short. Mayo Clinic lists “walking in your stocking feet” among things that can make you slip, stumble and fall. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says, “Never walk in your stocking feet.” The National Institute on Aging warns against it too.

None of those sources singles out gripper socks. Our reading is that grippers add traction to a sock, but they do not turn it into footwear. These sources point readers to nonskid soles, so a slipper is the better pick in these cases:

• Stairs, tile or polished hardwood
• Parents, grandparents and anyone unsteady on their feet
• Carrying laundry, a mug or a baby through the house

Our slippers guide covers soles in more detail. Shopping for a parent or grandparent? Our guide to cozy gifts for older relatives has more ideas.

Choosing a warm pair of slipper socks

Slipper sock linings and fit matter most once you know you want socks. A fleece or sherpa lining feels warm at once, and wool suits longer wear and feet that get clammy. Our warm socks guide explains why.

Fit deserves a second look, since many slipper socks come in one size or broad ranges. If one size is too small, our guide to slippers for big feet covers larger sizes. A snug pair should still leave the ankle free of marks. For relatives with diabetes, the NIDDK says “do not wear tight socks or elastic stockings,” and that socks with no seams are best.

How to wash slipper socks without ruining the grip

Washing depends on the fiber and the sole, so the care label comes first. Three rules cover most pairs:

1. Plain knit and gripper socks. Follow the label, which may ask for a cold or gentle cycle.
2. Suede or leather soles. Treat these with more care. Dearfoams warns that a washing machine “will ruin” suede slippers, and our reading is that the same caution makes sense for a suede patch. Spot clean unless the label says otherwise.
3. Drying. Dearfoams does not recommend the dryer for its slippers, since it can misshape them. Air drying is the safer habit when a sock has a sewn-on sole or molded grips.

Replace a pair when the knit stretches loose: AAOS says to replace “shoes or slippers that have stretched out of shape and are too loose.” Worn-smooth grippers are a sensible reason too.

For more on footwear with a built-in sole, see our women’s slippers guide and men’s slippers guide. Gift ideas that pair with slipper socks are in our cozy stocking stuffers list.