Our Menswear Editors Tested the Best Men's Casual Slip-on Shoes

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INVESTING IN a pair of the best men’s casual slip-on shoes is a wardrobe hack that makes getting out the door every day a little easier. Tying shoe laces may not take long, but removing that little step feels liberating. There is also a relaxed vibe that all of the best men’s slip-on shoes have, which transfers to any outfit, whether it’s joggers and a hoodie or jeans and a blazer. The bottom line is that these low-effort kicks made our testers look and feel more relaxed, and who couldn’t use that?

"Casual slip-on shoes" is a pretty broad category, so our style editors and writers sought out examples that are stylish enough to look good with a wide range of looks, comfortable enough to wear most days of the week, and durable enough to handle years of steady wear. We looked for casual slip-on shoes that got some admiring looks without being flashy and, most importantly, were so easy to wear that they quickly became our go-to footwear choice.

Best Men's Casual Slip-on Shoes

We found winners in a wide range of shoe styles, from a nylon loafer and a canvas sneaker, to a leather mule and an innovative new moccasin.

What to Consider

Upper

Slip-on shoes for men fall into two broad categories when it comes to upper material, they are either animal hide and wool or synthetic and cotton. Natural materials like leather and wool present a more refined look and have the huge benefit of being resistant to foot odor. That latter benefit is a product of leather and wool not retaining sweat, which provides a snack for microorganisms that create the funky smell.

On the other hand, cotton and synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are lighter weight and often much easier to clean and maintain. These fibers are easier and cheaper to produce and work with, which provides the much appreciated benefit of a lower price tag. The two big weaknesses of synthetic and cotton are that they aren’t as durable and leather and they can get stinky, especially if worn without socks—which is how many men like to wear slip-on shoes.

Sole

The two big factors to consider with any outsole are traction and durability. With a casual slip-on shoe, you don’t need a heel or any heavy duty grip because you won’t be wearing it with formalwear or on rugged and wet terrain. A flat leather or thin rubber outsole will get the job done. Just be aware that rubber provides more grip than leather, so a leather outsole with rubber pads is great because it gives a refined look with more reliable traction.

One other material to look out for is crepe, which is a perfect fit for casual slip-on shoes. Crepe offers exceptional grip, an extra layer of shock-absorbing cushion, and is much cheaper to resole than leather. The one downside is that dirt and dust stick to it, so crepe will get dirty fast and is not easy to clean.

How We Chose

For this story, Men's Health writers and editors tested out over twenty different casual slip-on shoes over many different categories, ranging from loafers to sneakers. We pulled from years of experience wearing this style of shoe, as well as testing new models from trusted brands. Along with wearing each shoe multiple times, we examined the materials and construction for quality and reliability. Every selection on the list had to be comfortable enough to wear for long stretches multiple times a week, be stylish enough to work with a wide range of looks, and—most importantly—be easy to slip on and off. Each selection on the list was the best performer in specific shoe and usage categories.

Original Easymoc

Easymoc founder Greg Cordeiro set out to improve the classic camp moc—a slip-on shoe with a reputation for comfort and durability—so that it was even easier to wear and more comfortable. After taking it for a spin, we concluded that Cordeiro’s ambitious goal was a resounding success. So much so that it secured a spot at the top of our list.

The original Easymoc has a lower back compared to a standard camp moc, so we were able to slide our feet right in with ease. That heel wall is reinforced with an extra layer of suede so it stays up, which kept our feet from slipping out as we walked. On the inside, a cushioned inset kept our feet comfortable after hours or wear.

Our style editors appreciated that the front of the shoe honors that old fashioned moccasin look, made popular by camp mocs, boat shoes, and loafers. It looks great with shorts, jeans, chinos, and joggers. The sturdy suede is more elevated than a sneaker and more relaxed than a dress shoe, hitting a sweet spot for elevated every-day wear.

What put Easymoc over the top for us is the longevity factor. The upper is a heavy suede with a leather lining that should last well over a decade. Vibram, one of the most trusted brands for boot soles, makes the rubber outsole and it can be replaced by Easymoc for $75 or any local shoe shop. Even the Ortholite insole can be replaced. This is truly an investment shoe that can be worn for decades.

Read more: Best Loafers for men

The Monterrey

Semi-dressy leather and suede round toe slip-on shoes have become popular in the last few years, so we checked out a few of them in our testing. The Monterrey looks similar to many of the other options we checked out, but a few hidden details stand out in what has become a crowded field. On the inside, Tecovas used a sueded leather panel that wraps around the back of your heel and provided bar the far the best heel-slip prevention in our testing.

It was the sole construction, both inside and outside, that really won our testers over on this slip-on shoe. The insole has a layer of leather placed over top of a foam layer, which provided ample cushioning while still allowing the insole to mold to the wearer's foot over time. On the flip side, the lower half of the heel stack is rubber, which not only kept us sure footed, but created the best shock absorption of any leather-soled slip-on we tested.

All those little unseen details added up to an exceptionally comfortable leather slip-on shoe that could handle every-day wear and also dress up with office or formal wear. The icing on the cake is that the Blake stitch outsole can be easily and affordably re-soled multiple times, allowing for decades of service.

Terra Mule

Mules are the ultimate slip-on shoe because you don’t need to use your hands at all. No back means that you can step right in and out. There are plenty of good options out there but our testers landed on the Luca Terra Mule because of its sleek look and subtly impressive construction. We really couldn’t find an outfit that didn’t work with the round leather toe and flat sole. It quickly became our go-to footwear for everything from grocery shopping to dinner dates.

Our shoe savvy writers were impressed with the construction of this modest mule. The upper is made from two layers of leather along with a leather footbed, which provides a sturdy shape and a softer feel on the inside. All leather means that it won’t retain odors and will mold to the wearer’s foot over time. The crepe sole is great because it provides strong traction and an extra layer of cushion. Better still, it has a stitched down sole, which means it can be replaced by any shoe shop with more crepe or rubber, or even a leather outsole.

Vans Slip On Re-Issue 98 Black & White Check

The Vans checkerboard slip-on sneaker has been a cultural icon since the ‘80s and trendy for the past decade. A fun fact is that it was created as a collaboration for the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1982. Originating from Southern California surf culture, it has transcended so many genres of the years that absolutely anyone can pull it off. The simple pattern, strong heritage, and comfortable wear made this the only slip-on sneaker that made the list.

If you’re going to pick a pair of Van’s checkerboard slip-ons, we recommend dropping a little extra for the ‘98 reissue. An extra twenty bucks gets heavier canvas upper with a higher vulcanized rubber sidewall and slightly thicker outsole. Some of our writers have worn Vans for many years and can attest that all of those features will significantly extend the life of the shoe compared to the standard model.

The Ravello Loafer

Building a loafer silhouette out of sneaker materials sounds simple enough but we’ve seen it fail by looking too casual. Rothy’s nailed this delicate balance and created a casual slip-on with sneaker level comfort and loafer-esque style. The entire upper is a soft nylon that felt very lightweight and flexible, and the sole is a solid rubber that had plenty of grip and just enough support.

From a style standpoint, our editors found this shoe to be the most successful modern take on a loafer that we’ve come across. Just like a pair of stretch chinos, it honors the classic look while adding the performance of modern materials. This is a perfect elevated every-day shoe for someone who wants to move on from sneakers without sacrificing comfort. It also fits perfectly into most contemporary office dress codes.

Larson Weejuns Loafers

The beauty of a good penny loafer is that it can dress up or down with equal effectiveness. If you're looking for a casual slip-on that can handle a suit every once-in-a-while, G.H. Bass is the way to go. Men's Health Fashion Director Ted Stafford chose the Larson Weejuns as the best loafer because it offers "unmatched value." The quality of the leather and construction used is on par with much more expensive leather slip-on shoes that we tested.

As Stafford pointed out, this old school loafer actually works best with a pair of worn-in old jeans. Loafers really shine when contrasted with casual attire like a plain white t-shirt or oxford button down. It is the perfect way to level up those sneakers you find yourself reaching for every morning.

Mellow Recovery Clog

We tested out the Mellow Recovery Clog for its intended use of helping our feet decompress after a strenuous workout. Then we quickly realized why we see this casual slip-on shoe all over the place, because it is incredibly comfortable. As it turns out, you don’t have to run seven miles or play five games of pick-up basketball to utilize the most comfortable Croc we’ve tried out. It is ideal for lounging around the house and running out for errands and especially for pre and post workout. However, we didn’t find it stylish enough to wear socially.

After a little research, we found out that the material is the secret to this slip-on’s comfort. The entire shoe is molded from a Literide foam, which is softer than the foam used for most other Crocs. The shape of the outsole and footbed provide more support than cloud slides, while giving a similar cushy feel.

Slip-on with Leather Sole

While it is technically a slipper, the sturdy wool upper and leather outsole allow this casual slip-on to handle light duty outside of the house as well. Glerup is a New Hampshire based brand making Danish style footwear out of 100% natural materials. The slipper is pure felted wool that has been molded into shape with a soft leather outsole sewn onto the bottom.

All of the wonderful properties of sheeps wool made this one of the most comfortable slip-on shoes we tried out. Wool is notoriously itchy, but felted wool is soft and cushy, which felt like a cozy chunky sweater for our feet. It is insulating but allows moisture to seep out, so our feet stayed warm without getting sweaty. Just be careful when wearing this shoe outside because the thin outsole doesn’t protect against any hard or sharp objects. Felted wool is very water resistant, but avoid any puddles or snow.

Are there causal leather and suede slip-on shoes?

Leather and suede are materials of choice for dress shoes and boots, but they make for really nice casual shoes as well. The fact is that the construction and material of the sole has more to do with how casual a shoe is than the upper. For example, a plain toe leather upper with a simple flat leather sole is much more casual than one with a stacked leather heel. The difference between a dressy loafer and a casual camp moc has more to do with the sole than the upper.

Shininess is also a good rule of thumb. If the leather upper comes with a shine, it is meant to be formal, while leathers that keep a natural matte finish can handle casual duty just fine.

A casual leather or suede slip-on shoe is the perfect way to elevate your everyday style by only changing one piece. The same jeans and crewneck sweater look much more refined with a leather slip-on than a pair of sneakers.

Shop More of the Best Men's Shoes

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