Experts agree–you should not be walking at home barefoot.
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If you’re a strict no-shoes-inside-the-house family, we totally get it: Wearing your shoes inside can feel like you’re bringing the dirt, mud, and grime of the outdoors into your clean home. Plus, who wants to wear their work heels, walking shoes, or sweaty gym sneakers inside, anyway? But, as it turns out, going barefoot at home actually isn’t great for your foot health. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution: wearing comfy, cushiony indoor slippers with arch support.
But wait—why is it not recommended to walk barefoot around the house, anyway? Walking inside without shoes can add unnecessary pressure to the ball of your foot, heel, and arch, explains Brad Schaeffer, D.P.M., board-certified foot surgeon in New York City. “We should all avoid walking barefoot at home all the time,” says Jackie Sutera, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., nationally renowned podiatrist and Vionic innovation lab member. “Doing so causes pain and inflammation over time due to lack of support and a slow atrophy of the fat pads on the bottom of the feet.”
But it’s not just regularly walking barefoot that can cause this; even just normal aging, weight changes, and hormone changes can cause what’s called fat pad atrophy, which is when the fat pad on the bottom of your feet becomes thinner and your body’s shock-absorbing cushion is reduced. Over time, this can cause chronic pain and callus formation under bones and pressure points, notes Sutera.
Meet the Experts: Jackie Sutera, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., nationally renowned podiatrist and Vionic innovation lab member; Brad Schaeffer, D.P.M., board-certified foot surgeon in New York City.
That’s where comfy indoor slippers come in: Wearing these indoor shoes around the house is an easy way to cushion your feet and protect those fat pads, helping your feet stay more comfortable and pain-free. When shopping for the best slippers for women, it’s important to look for ones with the right arch support. “Our feet have a variety of tendons and ligaments that need the appropriate support to help stabilize our bones in the feet,” says Schaeffer. Here, we’ve rounded up the very best slippers with arch support you can buy, as recommended by podiatrists and top-rated by reviewers.
Ready to feel like you’re walking on clouds? Check out our top picks for comfy slippers with arch support below.
These podiatrist-designed slippers from Vionic (which we named one of the most comfortable shoe brands in 2021, by the way) are biomechanically contoured to support your arch and realign to avoid irregular foot distribution. A flexible midsole works to absorb shock while reducing stress on feet, ankles, and knees. Plus, the footbed is treated to be anti-bacterial and odor-resistant for a clean feel. One Vionic shopper writes, “Within a matter of days, my heels no longer ached. My heels and arches were finally pain-free.”
Made with a soft, cozy, and machine-washable vegan faux-shearling material, these comfy slippers come in a fashionable mule style that’s easy to slip on and off. They also are constructed with a unique foam technology that absorbs impact while you walk, providing the ultimate comfort and support. “These are SUPER soft on the bottom of the foot,” writes one Zappos shopper, who notes that they have good arch support. “I wish I could wear these everywhere. I am currently using them as house shoes because I want to wear them all the time, and my feet don’t get hot like [they do in] some slippers.”
For under $30, these supportive slippers are quite the steal. Featuring a multilayer arch for added comfort, memory foam cushioning, and a durable rubber sole, you’ll want to wear these everywhere. They also include all-over terry for luxurious comfort and a versatile outsole for on-the-go. One reviewer says, “Love these and wear them all day every day!”
Schaeffer recommends these slippers for their ultra-supportive base. The footbed is cushioned with classic Tempur material, which adapts to your foot’s pressure points, and you’ll get extra support from the rubber sole. They’re an easy slip-on style and have a soft terry cloth lining. One reviewer says, “These cushions last, and I can wear them around the house all day cleaning!"
Made of suede with a warm, ultra-soft shearling lining, these cozy slippers deliver on comfort with the help of padded uppers, ergonomically shaped midsoles, and lightweight cushioning with impact-absorbing pillows. “They are the most snuggly, comfortable slippers I have ever owned for wearing around the house,” raves one reviewer. “They do not come off your feet when you are walking or going up and down steps...The inner shearling lining is the most delightfully soft, warm, and comforting material for winter also—it is truly like your feet are getting a hug when you wear them.”
Engineered to enhance comfort and alleviate pain from arthritis, bunions, heel pain, hammertoes, and more, this pick is one of Dr. Schaeffer’s top slippers. They’re designed with premium orthotic insoles with anatomical arch support, a wide toe-box, cushioned sole with a mild rocker, and an adjustable strap. These slippers are made with a faux fur interior and soft suede leather upper for style, durability, and the soft-to-the-touch comfort you need. One reviewer writes, “Best slipper I’ve ever had. Comfortable with support.”
Get these stunning shoes in 12 colors, and you’ll want to rock them in and out of the house. They don’t look like a classic slipper, but the cute loafer has a foam cushion interior and offers support for your arch and heel. We love that they also come in multiple material options, like faux fur, velvet, knit, and woven raffia for vegans, or suede for a classic look. “These shoes are both comfortable and stylish,” writes one satisfied shopper. “They’re great for standing on your feet all day.”
The stunning house loafers are designed with vegan apple leather, recycled polyester vegan suede, cork insole, and sugarcane sole that’s good for your feet and the environment. You can effortlessly dress them up or down, they’re easy to slip on and off, and have a lightweight, sneaker-like feel. We love their soft and cozy inside lining and supportive insoles that make them perfect for walking on hardwood and tile floors. “I love the colors and overall look of the shoes, the way they fit, the sustainable aspect, and the support,” a reviewer says.
If you’re looking for a comfy pair of indoor slides, you can’t go wrong with this popular pick from Oofos. Made out of a cushiony foam that’s machine washable and is designed to minimize odor, these top-rated slippers offer a patented footbed that absorbs impact while also cradling and supporting the arches. In fact, reviewers rave they offer “excellent” arch support, with one shopper writing: “Hands down most comfortable casual sandals...The arch support feels very natural, not just a lump in the middle of the sole like the alleged arch support in some other brands. They are super squishy, plenty of cushioning.”
These slippers not only come in a wide range of colors and patterns, but they’re also a pick recommended by Sutera. “The Relax Slippers have been a favorite of mine because they are adjustable, which is very important for anyone with bunions, hammertoes, different width feet, or those with a wide forefoot,” she says. The terry cloth footbed and upper create a comfortable step, helping to reduce fatigue, and the adjustable hook-and-loop closure is easily customizable to fit your unique shape. “When I do housework, they give me the support for all the required motion I go through,” one Vionic shopper writes. “The soft material also warms my feet when it’s cold.”
If you’re looking for a pair of cozy, plush slippers, this pick has you covered. They’re lined with the softest fleece for a plush feel and extra warmth. Not only are they designed with arch support, they also include a memory foam cushioned footbed for the ultimate comfort and support as you move about your day. One reviewer said, “I like this slipper. It’s warm, cozy, and great for arch support. Great price, too.”
Made from upcycled scraps of ZW Merino Wool from wool shoes and GRS certified recycled polyester, these dreamy slippers are everything your feet need. They’re ultra-warm and have a cushy midsole to keep your feet comfortable and supported and an FSC certified natural rubber outsole for extra non-slip grip as you roam around. One reviewer writes, “They are super comfortable, super warm. They are my go-to slipper this winter.”
Generally, experts agree that walking barefoot at home isn’t good for your health, as this can add lot of pressure to the ball of your foot, heel, and arch and lead to atrophy of the fat pads on the bottom your feet—ultimately causing pain and inflammation over time. That’s why podiatrists recommend wearing slippers around the house whenever possible, as this can provide your feet with the support and cushioning they need to stay comfortable and pain-free. Slippers that are designed to offer arch support, especially, will help to maintain the natural alignment of your feet, providing them with the ultimate comfort while walking around the house or anywhere else you go.
We consulted Jackie Sutera, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., nationally renowned podiatrist and Vionic innovation lab member, and Brad Schaeffer, D.P.M., board-certified foot surgeon in New York City, to determine what you should look for when shopping for slippers with arch support. Additionally, we combed through hundreds of reviews, ratings, and specs online to find the best slippers with arch support.
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
Arielle Weg is the associate editor at Prevention and loves to share her favorite wellness and nutrition obsessions. She previously managed content at The Vitamin Shoppe, and her work has also appeared in Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Cooking Light, MyRecipes, and more. You can usually find her taking an online workout class or making a mess in the kitchen, creating something delicious she found in her cookbook collection or saved on Instagram.
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