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In my lifetime I have found very few pairs of slippers that I actually like and fit me well. In fact, I have had such difficulty finding slippers that the only reason I start shopping for new ones is if my old ones start crumbling to dust and falling off my feet as I walk.
I’ve shopped in several places that claim to offer the best wide slippers but, for some reason, they always seem to come up short on the men’s options front. Perhaps it’s simply my need for extra-wide slippers (or that I’m super picky) that makes it hard for me but I have grown determined to conquer this petulant problem.
If you don’t really care about the criteria I used to make my decision, I understand. I wouldn’t care either except that it was necessary to find the best of the best! Here’s the short version: I wanted comfortably wide slippers that would last me for years without having to resort to a custom-made option.
So whether you need the best slippers for sore feet after a hard day or soothing slippers for painful feet due to a condition, or are simply a bum like me and want the best wide slippers for your hobbit feet, here they are!
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What makes for a durable and comfortable slipper?
If the average person had to describe “fat people shoes” they would probably come up with an image of all-white Velcro shoes from Walmart. Very few people seem to appreciate that big guys can wear classy dress shoes, heavy women can wear heels, both genders can wear nice running shoes, etc.
Now, needing extra wide slippers has nothing to do with me being fat. I sincerely think that, if you don’t own a pair of slippers, you’re probably doing things wrong. Having house shoes has a ton of advantages: it helps your real shoes last longer, they keep your feet warm and comfortable, they protect your feet on short jaunts to the mailbox, and they keep your carpet cleaner than wearing shoes in the house!
So now that we know we need a good slipper, we need to figure out what that even means. When I was younger, comfort was the main thing I looked for in slippers. That and I wanted to feel like a mountain man or Native American when I wore them. Naturally, that lead me only to moccasins.
However, as I’ve grown (older and heavier) my taste in slippers has become refined a bit and I’ve been able to differentiate some specific things that make certain types of slippers the best choice for me:
- Comfort. If you’re in the market for slippers, you’re probably not surprised to find comfort as the number one item on my list. If you have sore or painful feet the idea of getting your daily shoes off and slipping into slippers is something to look forward to. In my mind, comfortable slippers have padding, some sort of insulation (sherpa), and a non-rigid sole.
- Stay on your feet. Some people might want extra wide slides or flip-flops in the house but I prefer a slipper that stays on my feet.
- Warm but not sweaty. I want to be able to wear my slippers sans socks when the feeling hits me. So they can’t be overly warm or have sweat-inducing material inside.
- Non-rigid soles. Any wide slippers worth their salt will have a sole of some sort. I don’t need a full hard sole (or I’d just wear shoes) but I do want to be able to wear them outside to the mailbox without getting stabbed by a thorn.
- Long-lasting. Even extra-wide slippers don’t fit quite right when I first get them. It typically takes me a month or two to really fall in love with footwear so I need something that lasts more than a season or two.
- Don’t look too “old” or “hospitaly”. I’m already wearing slippers, and not just normal slippers, extra-wide fluffy slippers. So the less I can look like I escaped from a hospital, the better.
- Width. Did I mention that I need extra-wide slippers? And, while I know not everyone has square feet, I purposely chose slippers that were capable of fitting a wide range of people.
Believe it or not, slippers that meet all of those criteria were not easy to find. I tried on dozens of pairs and looked at literally a hundred more before settling on the following four (2 for men, 2 for women) slippers that are (in my slippered opinion) the best of the best!
The Best Wide Slippers for Women
If you’re a woman with wide feet, be prepared to struggle to find shoes every time you shop for the rest of your life. Or at least that’s what my wife tells me. So, with her help, I set out to find the best slipper option for women.
Old Friend is one of the few brands that make high-quality sheepskin slippers that are meant for something other than skinny people to wear to Starbucks. Their “Bootee” is a mocassin style wide fit slipper that exceeded my expectations in terms of quality and my wife’s expectations in terms of comfort.
I will mention that, if you’re in between sizes, you’ll want to size up. Especially if you have sore feet that center around your toes. The sheepskin is so thick and fluffy that there can be a limited amount of space if you get too small of a size.
So if you need high-quality wide slippers for women, this is the top choice!
Best Extra Wide Slippers for Men
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard of UGG. Everyone knows they make some of the best quality sheepskin/sherpa goods. What some people don’t know is that they make far more than just boots for coffee runs. In fact, they make the very best extra wide slippers that a man can buy!
These are the very slippers that I currently own (and previously owned for 6 years before buying my current pair). They look great, are super comfortable, and are extremely durable. While it is probably a stretch to call them budget-friendly, the fact they will last several times longer than the average slipper means that you get the quality you pay for.
If you are looking for the best house shoes for a trip to Florida, this might not be your best bet. While my feet don’t get sweaty in them, they do keep your feet toasty which may be too much for some people.
However, if you need wide slippers for painful feet, for poor circulation, or just for your big ol’ wide feet, these are it!
Alternative Option for Occasional Use
If you live in a warm area where you don’t live in your slippers daily, you might want to avoid buying a high-end option.
Acorn makes the best budget-friendly extra-wide slippers out there and these are my wife’s favorite out of their entire line-up. The closed-back, breathable uppers, and low heel height make these some of the best slippers you can get if you want to wear them as house shoes.
Acorn calls their foot cushioning “marshmallow-like” and I’d have to agree with them! My wife reports that they are incredibly comfortable and my finger-squishes of the insole made me believe that they would be a godsend for sore or painful feet.
While these slippers are specifically made the reduce fatigue (by relieving pain and pressure) they are incredibly comfortable slippers (with multiple wide options) that I would recommend to everyone.
Best Men’s Slipper for Occasional Use
These slippers from L.B. Evans are so similar to the UGG option above that I feel comfortable comparing them. They are made of 100% leather with a sherpa lining and have strong but comfortable soles.
I’m pretty stuck on my current slippers so I can’t attest to the longevity of these, but I will say that they feel great trying them on and wearing them around. The sole feels a bit more like a loafer or house shoe than the average slipper, but maybe that just makes them the best fat people shoes for everyday wear?!
Whether they would last 6 years I don’t know, but if my current slippers don’t last as long as I expect, these will be the ones I try next!
Buying Extra Wide Slippers: Getting the Perfect Fit
If you’ve read any of our other shoe articles (such as Dress Shoes for Big Guys or Heels for Heavy Women) then you’ll know that I have lots of feelings about the importance of finding the right shoe for your size and foot shape.
Most big and heavy people come to the conclusion that even wide shoes simply don’t fit them and resign themselves to living with some level of discomfort for the rest of their life. Don’t take that path and assume that real/comfortable house shoes don’t exist. There are all types of shoes made for all types of feet and, to be honest, your feet are probably not very unique or different.
If you’re here looking for extra wide slippers, that’s a good start. You’ve recognized that you need a different type of shoe for your feet. I would recommend that everyone gets measured for their proper foot size at a store that sells orthotic shoes, and get additional recommendations there based on your foot type.
If you have sore or painful feet, you might find relief in many ways. While this might include a wider toe box, lower/high arch, more/less drop, etc. I’ve always had luck by telling my friends to do the following: get yourself a high-quality pair of fat people shoes and insoles for day use, and pair of well-fitting slippers for wearing at home.
So, whatever you choose, a great pair of slippers will hopefully bring you relaxation and enjoyment as the best house shoes for big and heavy people. So, until next time, keep relaxing!
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