We Tried Ugg Fluff Yeahs and 7 Other Popular Slippers—Here’s What We Loved (and Loathed)

Price: $100
Materials: Wool upper, leather sole
Where to buy: Glerups, L.L.Bean

Why we loved them: The Glerups were an overall top-tier pick for our entire team. The felted wool upper is warm, breathable, and not at all itchy. “Feels like I’m wearing nothing at all,” says Perry Santanachote, a writer and one of four evaluators. “They’re super light and easy to move around in.” Felted wool is wool that’s been washed so that it’s soft and pliable. The wool is cut into single pieces; then workers glue, then sew, the leather soles to the bottom of the slipper.

Because they’re handcrafted with natural materials, they’re a bit pricier than our other picks—but they’ll likely last longer than many other options, potentially making the cost worth it if you have enough for the initial splurge. They’re also attractive, albeit a bit granola: “I feel like a self-satisfied academic when I wear them—in a good way,” says Laura Murphy, a writer who helped evaluate the slippers.

Things to note: The leather soles are not super slick—they have some texture, which gives it a little bit of grip—but those with mobility concerns may want to consider the Glerups with a rubber sole, which we didn’t evaluate. The leather sole also gets a bit stained if you’re wearing them in the kitchen, so if you care about how the soles of your slippers look, again, consider the rubber-soled option. And they’re not particularly quick to slip into like many other slippers; instead, you have to wiggle your foot into them, similar to how you’d put on a standard shoe.

Price: $60
Materials: Plastic foam, faux fur lining
Where to buy: Amazon, Crocs, Macy’s

Why we loved them: Three out of four evaluators found themselves head over heels with the Lined Crocs. These slippers are made with ethylene-vinyl acetate foam, a form of plastic that softens and molds to the foot with time, and is lined with faux fur. “I am pleasantly surprised that these are extremely comfortable,” says Ginger Cowles, a managing editor and member of the slippers evaluation team. “These are excellent work shoes, and if I’m going to be prepping for a big event—think Thanksgiving or a dinner party—these are the shoes I’ll be wearing from now on.” These clogs, as Crocs calls them, feel stable and secure, with a thick, textured sole that doesn’t slip and provides ample distance and insulation from frigid floors in the winter. They’re also machine washable (in cold water only), though we haven’t tried washing these shoes ourselves. 

A foam strap can either be pulled over the front of the shoe, transforming the Crocs into a slide, or over the back, making the shoe more secure on the foot. 

Things to note: Because these are synthetic, they may not last as long as slippers made with natural materials like wool. The synthetics may also cause sweaty feet for some folks. 

They also look, well, the way they look, which may or may not be a problem for you. “I am embarrassed every time I look down,” says Murphy. “They look like clown shoes.” But this was less of a problem for the rest of us, who have been enthusiastically clomping around, clownlike, in our chilly homes for weeks.

Price: $100
Materials: Sheepskin upper, rubber sole
Where to buy: Amazon, Macy’s, Ugg

Why we loved them: These are the indisputably coolest slippers of the bunch. Made with real sheepskin, they’re almost comically fluffy and soft — in my notes, I wrote that they felt “like wearing clouds on my feet.” The colors are rich and even, and the rubber outsole is stable enough that these slippers can be worn outside (and often are, as Megan Fox and Gigi Hadid have demonstrated). Because they’re so cozy and fun, they make for a great holiday gift. 

Things to note: These slippers are heavy, weighing 1 pound total, and come with a 1.5-inch angled platform, so they may not be a good choice for those with mobility issues. “The sole is stable and grippy but that nearly 2-inch platform is just a rolled ankle waiting to happen, especially when my spastic dog gets underfoot while I’m cooking,” says Santanachote. And because the toes are exposed, those with super-cold feet may want to opt for socks—or another type of slipper.

Price: $40
Materials: Acrylic, nylon, and wool blend
Where to buy: Bombas, Dick’s Sporting Goods

What we loved: Bombas specializes in t-shirts, socks, and underwear, and indeed, these slippers are more sock than slipper. But the PVC nubbies on the bottom give them some traction, so you’re less likely to slip around when moving from the fridge to the sofa—which is the ideal activity in these slippers. 

This warm knitted pair comes in four richly dyed and charmingly patterned colors, with a soft rayon lining. “They don’t have a hard sole, which I like, because that makes them more comfortable to wear while curled up on the couch reading,” says Murphy. I wear them while working (please don’t tell my doctor I sit cross-legged in my desk chair all day) and though my feet run cold, they’re never chilled in these.

They’re also great for travel, in part because they’re so packable but also because they come with a soft fabric bag for storage. And since they’re washable and come in only a handful of adaptable sizes, we could see them being a great guest slipper option, for those who prefer that their houseguests leave their shoes at the door.

Things to note: As these are socklike, they have zero arch support. And while they’re pretty warm, two of our evaluators noted that they’d be even warmer and more durable if they contained more than 20% wool. 

Price: $79
Materials: Suede upper, shearling lining, rubber sole
Where to buy: LLBean, Nordstrom

These slippers have a lot going for them—they’re made with sheepskin and lined with super soft shearling (the pelt of sheepskin). Though nobody ranked them in the gutter, they were none of our favorites, either. Some of us found our heels slipping uncomfortably out of the back of the slipper while walking, and the rawhide ties appear mostly for aesthetics. They’re beautiful, though—Murphy calls them “#Cabincore”—and they’re made with high-quality materials. “The real shearling is superior by a lot. It makes a huge difference,” says Cowles, though Santanachote says, “if only I could keep these slippers on my feet!”

Price: $70
Materials: Synthetic fabric upper and lining, plastic midsole, rubber sole
Where to buy: Amazon, Vionic, Walmart, Zappos

These open-backed synthetic slippers are extraordinarily supportive and have a “Seal of Acceptance” from the American Podiatric Medical Association. These seals are awarded to foot-adjacent products that have been “found to promote good foot health,” according to the APMA. They’re adjustable, so they’ll stay on feet that are wide or narrow, and they lightly mold to your foot, assuring a perfect fit. 

But they’re not especially warm, which makes them difficult to recommend as a slipper option. And true to their function, they’re orthopedic-looking, which might not appeal to everyone. If you’re looking for a supportive, grippy slipper that you can wear year-round, the Vionic Relax slippers are a good option. But if your feet run cold, or you want to look down at your feet and like what you see, these may not be for you.

Price: From $30
Materials: Faux fur upper and footbed, plastic sole
Where to buy: Amazon, Puma 

These slides are soft, fluffy, and on-trend, but three out of four of us could not comfortably fit these over our relatively average-width feet. Those with narrow feet will likely have better luck. Because they’re slides, they’re not super warm, but they’re made with faux fur, which Cowles says she found got a bit sweaty as she wore them doing chores. The plastic soles are “very stiff and inflexible so I have to walk like a duck or shuffle to keep the slippers on,” says Santanachote, while Cowles notes that “I have a toddler, and when she’s asleep, I feel a strong need to step quietly near her room. I could not do that wearing these slides.” 

Price: $45
Materials: Suede upper, faux shearling lining, rubber sole
Where to buy: Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy’s, Target, Walmart, Zappos

These slippers were universally unpopular among our evaluators. They fit oddly—tight around the toe box, but they completely slip off the heel while walking. The suede uppers are lined with faux shearling, which is soft but may get sweaty for some—though the slipper sits very low on the foot, leaving most of the foot exposed to cold air. The rubber soles are thin and feel insubstantial, and some hard strings of glue clung to the outside of one set of slippers, which doesn’t make the manufacturing seem promising.