If you wear orthotic insoles in your everyday shoes, finding something suitable for home can be less straightforward. A soft slipper may feel comfortable on its own, then become tight across the top or loose at the heel once your orthotic is inside.
Some slippers can accommodate your own orthotics, provided the insert, your foot and the slipper fit well together. A removable insole creates space, but you still need to check the heel position, room around your toes and how the fastening closes. This guide explains those checks, starting with our closed-heel Hartley slippers and introducing Burley slipper boots as an ankle-height alternative.
If your orthotist or podiatrist has given you specific footwear instructions, follow those when choosing indoor footwear too.
Start with the orthotic you actually wear
Take your orthotics with you when trying on slippers. Bring the socks you normally wear at home as well: a trial with thick winter socks can feel quite different from one with a thin pair.
Look at the shape of the insert, not just its length. A raised heel cup, firm arch section or thick forefoot needs space in a different part of the slipper. An insert that fits your outdoor shoe does not automatically fit a slipper carrying the same size label.
Some slippers have arch support built into their own footbed. If you already use a separate orthotic, check whether the slipper can accommodate that insert as well as your foot. The words on the label tell you less than trying the two together.
How to check slippers with removable insoles
Try both slippers with your own orthotics before deciding. Work through the following checks with the straps open, then fastened. If you normally need help when trying footwear, arrange the trial in the same way.
1. Check how the orthotic sits inside
For a full-length orthotic designed to replace the original footbed, lift out the supplied removable insole and try the orthotic in its place. If you use a shorter device, or have been told to keep a particular layer underneath it, check the intended arrangement with your orthotist first.
The insert should sit in the position intended for it, without its edges curling against the upper or rocking inside the slipper. Check it before putting your foot in; a large opening makes this easier to see. Do not force it into a narrower base or trim a prescribed device to make it fit.
2. Look at where your heel rests
Put the slipper on and settle your heel into the back. Notice whether the orthotic raises your heel above the enclosed rear section. Then fasten the straps and check whether the heel remains comfortably within the back as you move.
A closed heel is a useful starting point, but its shape still has to work with your foot and insert. If your heel repeatedly lifts out, tightening the front straps may leave you with pressure over the instep and the same problem at the back.
3. Check the space above and around your toes
An orthotic can change how high your foot sits. Check for contact above the toes as well as crowding at the sides. Your toes should have room without being pushed into a curled position, and the upper should not press down when you stand.
Width and depth answer different questions. A wide slipper can still be too shallow for a thick insert. For the broader explanation, see our guide to extra depth versus wide-fit shoes; here, the important test is the space left around your foot with the orthotic in place.
4. Fasten the straps without pulling the upper tight
Close each strap so it holds the slipper comfortably. Check the lower part of the opening and the area over the instep separately. Two adjustable straps let you change the hold in those areas rather than pulling the whole front tighter at once.
The straps should reach their fastening areas with a comfortable overlap. If you have to pull hard, leave a strap barely attached or squash the upper down onto your foot, the combination needs reassessing. More adjustment cannot create unlimited internal room.
5. Try a few ordinary movements indoors
Walk a short distance on a clean indoor surface, turn and sit down as you normally would. Notice whether the slipper follows your foot, whether the insert shifts and whether you start gripping with your toes to keep the slipper on.
Compare how the two feet feel; they may not need identical strap adjustment. If something pinches, rubs or causes pain, stop the trial and have the fit checked. A slipper should not need you to ignore an obvious pressure point.
Common fit problems: what to check next
| What you notice | What to check |
|---|---|
| Your heel sits high or lifts out. | Look at the depth around the heel and how the rear of the slipper meets your foot. Check the complete fit before tightening the straps further. |
| The slipper presses over the top of your foot. | Check the remaining instep space and the intended footbed arrangement. A thicker insert may need a deeper style. |
| The straps only just reach. | Check both strap positions with your usual socks on. The fastening should close comfortably without pulling the upper tight. |
| The orthotic rocks, curls at an edge or will not sit in position. | Compare its outline with the space inside the slipper. Ask for a fit check rather than forcing or altering the device. |
| The slipper moves around your foot as you walk. | Recheck the heel hold and strap adjustment. Extra length will not solve a loose fit. |
Buying a larger size is not an automatic solution. It adds length as well as changing the fit elsewhere. If the problem is pressure over the instep or a heel sitting too high, check usable depth first. Extra length can leave the slipper loose while the original problem remains.
Hartley slippers, with Burley as an ankle-height alternative
Start with Hartley if you prefer a lower-cut, closed-heel slipper. Burley slipper boots are an alternative if you would like more coverage around the ankle. Both styles have felt uppers, a seam-free felt lining, a flat sole profile and removable felt insoles. Each has two adjustable touch-fastening straps across the front.
Arch support is built into the sole as well as the removable felt insole. The shaped, felt-covered base remains when you lift the supplied insole out, so check that your own orthotic sits comfortably on it. Either style can also be worn without the supplied felt insole for extra room.
| Style | How it differs | See the options |
|---|---|---|
| Hartley | A lower-cut felt slipper with a closed heel. The two straps open the front for entry and let you adjust the hold across the foot. |
Hartley for women Hartley for men |
| Burley | An ankle-height felt slipper boot for those who prefer more coverage. It also opens at two front straps. |
Burley for women Burley for men |
Both are extra wide and extra deep 6E styles. That describes the fitting, rather than a promise that every orthotic will fit. Start with the shape and coverage you prefer, then carry out the checks above with your own insert.
Buying online? Check the details before choosing
Use the size guide on the product page and check the available size and colour options. When you contact us about fit, tell us which orthotic you use and what happens in your present slippers: for example, whether your heel sits too high or the fastening will not reach.
A photograph of the orthotic beside the removable insole, with a ruler showing its length and width, can help explain the problem. The raised sections and thickness matter too. Measurements help narrow the choice, but they cannot replace trying the slipper and orthotic together.
Try your slippers with your own orthotics in Farnham
Bring your orthotics and usual socks to our shop at 49 Downing Street, Farnham. You can compare the lower-cut Hartley with ankle-height Burley and check the complete fit before choosing. Book a free shoe fitting, or browse our wide-fit slippers to see the styles and current options.
For general guidance on orthotic insoles and footwear, see Dorset County Hospital's foot orthoses leaflet. Advice for prescribed footwear can differ; Guy's and St Thomas' guidance explains why changes to supplied insoles should follow your clinician's advice. These sources provide general guidance and do not endorse individual slipper models.
