There are a few basic guidelines to follow when searching for the right footwear and best shoes to wear around the house. The first thing is, if you’re looking for house shoes, they should be easy to slip on and off. You probably don’t want something with laces, unless it’s really easy to slide on with the shoe lace. Typically a slipper, scuff or mule are the appropriate shoes.
Secondly, consider the bottom of your shoes. Do you have kids? Probably your best option is to get something with a durable sole for when you’re tripping over or stepping right on their toys late at night.
For pet owners, you may want something softer and maybe even a little porous – I say this because I used to have a dog who had accidents in the house. Whenever I accidentally stepped in a puddle of pee or poop, it was actually better if I had socks on since I knew what I stepped in right away compared to sandals when I tracked it all over the house. Gross but helpful, I know.
Ever since I went to college and lived in a dorm, I’ve owned a pair of shoes or slippers that I wear exclusively inside and never outside. We had a communal bathroom on each floor, which means we had to leave our room and walk down the hall if we wanted to pee or take a shower. This was somewhat inconvenient, and also pretty nasty if you just walked down the hall without the proper footwear on.
I also didn’t want to throw my sneakers back on every time I had to use the bathroom, so I made sure to get a good pair of slip-on shoes that I could use exclusively inside my dorm.
This practice continued after I graduated and moved from one apartment to the next. Whenever I come home, the shoes come off right at the front door, and I throw on a pair of slippers. During my 20’s and 30’s, I wasn’t home that much, so I didn’t think a lot about slippers and indoor shoes options.
Of course, this all changed when the world shut down due to the pandemic back in 2020. All of a sudden, we were all home for months and months with nothing to do. For those of us who love footwear and fashion, this became a great time to be creative with our day wear indoor shoe options.
Table of Contents
Best Shoes to Wear Around the House
Birkenstock Boston
I’ve been wearing different styles of Birkenstocks since the late ‘90s. They are durable shoes, they look great, and they’re easy to slide on and off in the comfort of your own home. The Birkenstock Boston is great because it has a closed toe so if you’re in the kitchen and drop something off the counter, you won’t hurt your foot.
The Boston is one of the most popular Birkenstock models right now, which is funny because I bought a pair for $40 at Urban Outfitters back in 2012 and everyone thought I was crazy. You can check out this article to help you find the best fit. Birks definitely go in and out of style, but for the time being everyone from your wife to your best friend will approve if you pick up a pair.
The North Face ThermoBall Traction Mule
I currently have these on right now. My wife got me this new pair for Christmas, and they are nice and warm and cozy to wear in the winter months. Only issue I have with them is that they are so insulated, they will start to smell if you keep your feet in them for long periods of time.
The ThermoBall Traction Mule features a 100% recycled P.E.T. ripstop upper with a non-PFC durable water-repellent (non-PFC DWR) finish for added water repellency. The ThermoBall™ Eco 100% recycled polyester insulation helps keep feet toasty even when they’re wet. Oso fleece collar lining provides plenty of comfort. A collapsible heel with elastic side panels allows you to slide them on and off with ease.
LL Bean Wicked Good Slippers
I had a pair of the L.L Bean Wicked Good Slippers during the pandemic and wore them for three winters from 2020 – 2023. They were super warm and comfortable shoes, and never smelled from my bare feet. The stitching did start to unravel after 3 years of wear, which I was a little bummed about.
Overall the shearling-lined slippers are supremely soft and warm. They have an indoor leather sole that softens up over time, and the premium suede upper looks great right off the bat. With all suede footwear, be careful with them as they stain super easily. I spilled an egg yoke on mine once and that stain was in there for good.
Bombas Gripper Slipper
Bombas makes these great gripper slippers – much more substantial than a sock, but not an actual slipper either. Now made with a thicker footbed for extra cushioning, these Gripper Slippers have an ultra-warm brushed lining, special grips on the outside designed to help prevent slips, plus a separate travel bag that makes packing a breeze. You may never want to wear real shoes again.
These are the kind of slippers I’d recommend if you have pets that are accident prone. You’ll be able to wash these off easily and throw them in the washing machine, which is super helpful if you step in a puddle of urine in the middle of the night.
Hoka Ora Recovery Shoe 2
If you’re a runner, the Hoka Ora Recovery shoe is great to slip on after a hard workout. The Ora Recovery shoe is a slip-on design that’s become synonymous with post-run relief. The Ora Recovery Shoe relaunched this season with a plush new upper. Backed by the same incredible HOKA cushioning as the previous iteration, this travel-ready companion packs expertly with a collapsible mesh upper. The Ora Recovery Shoe’s new memory foam heel adds quilted comfort, while an elastic band at the ankle delivers foot-cradling support. Basically, they are a great option if you’re looking for something more stable that a slipper.
Nike Calm Mule
Nike makes a shoe for pretty much every activity, including indoor footwear for when you’re working from home. The Calm Mule is a modern-day take on the classic mule at a very reasonable price point. With the Calm Mule, Nike invites you to enjoy a calm, comfortable experience—no matter where your day off takes you.
Made with soft yet responsive foam, these lightweight mules are easy to style and easy to pack. A removable heel strap adjusts for the perfect fit. The contoured design is made from a single piece of foam for a smooth, seamless feel. The subtle texture pattern on the footbed adds grip even when wet. A side cutout adds just the right amount of breathability. The outer shell is made from water-friendly foam that is easy to clean. Plus the rubber sole gives you excellent traction even on slippery surfaces.
Ugg Tasman Slipper
Ugg is a trusted footwear brand when it comes to comfy cozy footwear. Their current best slippers for men is the Tasman slipper. The Tasman is a longtime Ugg slippers fan favorite that continuously gets rediscovered generation after generation due to its ultra-lightweight, durable outsole, plush wool lining, and suede uppers. It goes with anything and has an easy slip-on silhouette that will stay timeless forever.
This slipper was made in a factory that supports women in their supply chain with the help of HERproject, a collaborative initiative that creates partnerships with brands to empower and educate women in the workplace. The outsole of this product is either a sugarcane EVA outsole, which is a responsible compound using sugarcane foam that allows for reduced dependency on fossil fuels by replacing petroleum-based ethylene, or a Treadlite by UGG™ outsole.
Teva ReEMBER Terrain
This is a mule that is perfectly suited for the outdoors if you’d like. It’s also great for indoor-use only, especially if you have kids that like to leave all sorts of sharp objects all over the floor. I prefer mules and slippers with hard soles now that I have my own kids in the house. You just never know when you’re going to step on a lego or tiny little tea cup in the kitchen – those things hurt!
Turning up the dial on comfort with Teva’s ULTRA-COMF insole technology and designed with slip-on ease, the ReEmber Terrain is the perfect post-adventure companion. Sporting a quilted, cozy upper inspired by topographic lines, this next-level lounge slip-on is finished with a trusty loop to hook onto your backpack for easy travel. TevaRAPID RESIST products have been treated with a protective coating that allows water to bead off treated materials, so you don’t have to worry about staining when you spill something on them in the house.
A webbing loop for easy on/off and enables attachment to a backpack. They have synthetic overlays to protect the toe, and a 100% recycled polyester collar for a cozy wool-like feel. Adventure-ready ripstop vamp with quilted stitch details inspired by classic outdoor gear.
Reef Cushion Homey
You’re probably going to bond with your Homeys, because these slippers are the perfect house shoe and ready to serve you all day at home in total comfort. The Homey is a good option because it’s an easy on-and-off shoe, with a cushioned and durable rubber outsole, 100% natural cork insole, and breathable fabric on the upper. They are the house shoe, redefined. The upper features 100% rPET Recycled Wool. The Microfiber footbed features the perfect blend of cushion and rebound, arch support and a deep heel cup. A lightweight rubber cupsole with swellular traction makes this very supportive footwear.
Crocs Classic Clog
If you’re listing the best shoes to wear around the house, Crocs need to be mentioned. I’ve been to plenty of hospitals, nursing homes, and other establishments where healthcare workers are on their feet all day, and they’re usually wearing a pair of Crocs.
The Crocs Classic Clogs offer a lightweight feel, a color for every personality, and an ongoing invitation to be comfortable in your own shoes after a long day. They are incredibly light and fun to wear. Water-friendly and buoyant; they weigh only a few ounces, so you’ll always be light on your feet around the house. Ventilation ports add breathability and help shed water and debris, so your feet won’t get smelly. They are easy to clean and quick to dry. Plus, a pivoting heel straps for a more secure fit.
YZY Pod
One of the most disruptive influencers of our generation designed a sock you can wear outdoors and in called the YZY Pod. People have called Kanye West nuts for wearing these outside, but to be honest they look kind of cool and would make a decent shoe/sock to wear around the house. Initially charging $200/pair, Kanye dropped the price all the way down to $20. What’s funny is they are not that much different from a barefoot running shoe or Nike’s famous water socks – they just go a lot higher up your leg.
To recap, here are a few things to remember:
What Type of Shoes Should I Wear Around the House?
It depends on your personal style and what you’re looking for: basically if you have small children, go for something more sturdy like a shoe that you can slide on and office easily. If you have pets, you may want something softer and porous and machine washable in case they have an accident.
What Type of Shoe is Best for Everyday Use?
Shoes that slip on and off easily are best for the home. You’ll also want to look for something that is easy to clean and wipe off in case you spill food or a drink on them. Plus, comfort is always a top need as well, especially if you have foot problems like plantar fasciitis. Your feet are the last thing you should have to be thinking about when you’re working or relaxing in your home.
What is the difference between a Mule and a Clog?
A mule is basically a shoe or sandal that doesn’t have a back to it. You can slip them right on, and they are enclosed so you don’t see your toes. This gives you a little more protection in case you drop something on your feet. Clogs are similar, but they typically have a heel, whereas a mule typically does not.
