I tried nine high street slippers – Next’s £28 pair were a cosy winner

As the evenings darken and the heating goes on, there’s one winter essential I’m never without: a good pair of slippers. Slippers have had a glow-up in recent years. They’re no longer reserved for at-home cosiness, where you hope nobody comes to the door and catches your fluffiest pair around your toes. Thanks to UGG’s takeover of social media, cosy sheepskin styles have become as much an outfit staple as something to shuffle around the house in, with people wearing them on coffee runs and to the shops. The line between indoor comfort and outdoor fashion has never been blurrier. So what do you go for? A pair that can pass as outdoor wear, or the fluffiest ones you can find, promising to keep your feet warm enough to leave the heating off for an extra hour? With countless styles on the market, from classic moccasins to UGG-inspired slip-ons, I put a range of slippers to the test to find out which are worth spending your money on. Shorts Plakholm Austrian Hut Slippers Outsiders Store, £40 These were the biggest surprise of the lot. Unlike the faux-fur-lined slippers that dominate the slipper industry (and social media), these were like sliding on a thick second sock – and the most comfortable of the ones I tried. TU’s £15 Tan Contrast Stitch High Back Mule Slippers (left) and Outsiders Store’s £40 (right) Plakholm Austrian Hut Slippers (right) (Photo: TU/Outsiders Store) They’re honestly like walking on a cloud. The sole is incredibly soft and cushioned, and I thoroughly enjoyed trotting around the house in them. They’re not the cutest looking nor the fluffiest or warmest slippers I tried, but they’re impressively cosy without making your feet overheat. If comfort alone is your priority, these are hard to beat, and they feel like they’ll stay supportive for much longer than some of the softer slippers that flattened after a week. If you prefer a slipper to heat your feet, stick with the fur linings. 4.5/5 Tan Contrast Stitch High Back Mule Slippers TU, £15 If you don’t want to spend a fortune on something you’ll wear indoors, Sainsbury’s offer a range of affordable options that are still stylish. These £15 slippers are an UGG-looking dupe with a faux-fur lining and contrast stitching. The raised back gives them a more secure fit than a traditional open-back slipper, but it does take away the effortless freedom of just slipping them on easily. That is made up for by the fact it stops them from flying off your feet when you run up the stairs. They’re a great budget option providing plenty of warmth and comfort for the price. 4/5 [BUDGET WINNER] Navy Cord Velour Ballet Bow Slippers Next, £12 At £12, these ballet pump-inspired slippers are the cheapest in the test. The corded material and bow detail make them a cute, dainty option if you don’t want a chunky, fluffy slipper. Clarks’ £39 Beige Check Maree Cozy (left) Next’s £12 Navy Cord Velour Ballet Bow Slippers (right) (Photo: Next/Clarks) They’re comfortable enough that you almost forget you’re wearing them, it’s like having a thick sock on your feet. They’re ideal if you want something lightweight that won’t fall off when you put your feet up but they have less cushioning underfoot, so they didn’t keep my feet as warm as some of the chunkier options. 3/5 Beige Check Maree Cozy Clarks, £39 Clarks has built its reputation on practical, everyday footwear and I thoroughly enjoyed wearing the Maree Cozy slippers. The checked pattern sets them apart from others I tested, which were block plain colours while still looking classy enough to answer the door to the postman in. They’re small and lightweight, but the thin sole still feels sturdy underfoot. Like the Next moccasins, they feature a bow and contrast stitching which I personally loved, but I’m not sure they’re worth the money above the Next pair. 3.5/5 Shearling Slipper Holland Cooper, £99 I wanted to test a luxury option to compare the quality and Holland Cooper is known for its high-end, premium pieces. These slippers have a suede exterior and rubber sole with the classic look of a cosy loungewear shoe. They felt sturdier than some of the other pairs I tried, maintaining their shape while others quickly started to flatten under the foot after a few wears. Next’s £28 Tan Brown Moccasin Suede Slippers (left) and Holland Cooper’s £99 Shearling Slipper (right) (Photo: Next/Holland Cooper) The biggest difference is the real shearling lining, which felt slightly softer than the alternatives, although not noticeably enough to transform the experience. They’re definitely well made, but the near-£100 price tag doesn’t seem justifiable unless you’re particularly attached to the brand. 3/5 Tan Brown Moccasin Suede Slippers Next, £28 If ballet-style slippers aren’t for you, Next has more traditional options like these moccasins (which do cost more than double the price). These were among my favourite pairs in the test; they have the classic slipper look, with a back for extra support, and they stay firmly on your feet. The faux-fur lining is very cosy, and the bow and contrast stitching adds a little extra detail to a traditional design. They were much warmer than the ballet pumps with enough cushioning to make walking around the house comfortable all day. They’re a great balance of style, warmth and practicality. Cherie Mule Clarks, £40 These mules were probably the pair I wore most throughout the test, down to the slip-on design which made them ideal for slipping on when getting out of bed or popping to the kitchen to make a coffee. Lazy, I know, but ideal for no faffing around. Clarks’ £40 Cherie Mule (bottom) Regatta’s £50 Risley Clog (left) and M&S’s £30 Suede Bow Tie Mule Clog Slippers (right) (Photo: Regatta/M&S) The soft faux-fur lining made them very cosy and they weren’t too clunky, even with a thicker sole than some of the others. They did start to flatten after a week of consistent wear, but not to the point where they stopped feeling comfortable or keeping my feet warm. They’re not the most structured pair in the line-up, but if you want something easy to put on and wear around the house all day, these are a solid choice. 3.5/5 Risley Clog Regatta, £50 (currently on sale at £30) These are a great option if you want something that can do both indoor and outdoor. They’re the sturdiest pair of slippers I tried, so much so you can wear them outside the house (and not just to put your bins out). Still they keep a slipper-like feel with the lined fur interior, much like a dupe for the popular Birkenstocks. They’re one of the pricier options, so if you only want to lounge around your house, I’d probably give them a miss, as there are comfier choices. If you want a pair that does both, they’re a solid choice. 3/5 Suede Bow Tie Mule Clog Slippers M&S, £30 M&S is a high-street staple for everyday clothing, and its slipper range is no different covering everything from practical mules to fur-lined moccasins. These suede clogs give a dressier look to a traditional slipper thanks to their bow detail. At £30, they sit in the middle of the high-street price range which, after trying them, I felt was justifiable in some ways. The quality is good (they even survived my dog running off with them) and they’re comfortable enough to wear all day. The sole is thinner than some of the other options I tried, with less cushioning. It makes them great for milder days, but I found myself reaching for something cosier when standing on cold floors in the morning. As an indoor shoe alone they’re great, but as a slipper to provide warmth, they’re not the best choice. 2/5