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In my 20s and early 30s, I didn’t own flats. I lived in New York then, and, much like Carrie Bradshaw, I constantly ran around the city in 5-inch stilettos. Cut to eight years ago, and a freak slip on black ice caused me not only to break my ankle in two places, but to rethink my entire “shoedrobe” for good. Gone were the high heels of the past; in their place stepped a host of ballet flats and sandals that, while not doing much to increase my 5-foot height, definitely made my ankle feel a heck of a lot better, even long after it healed.
All this is to say, I’m constantly on the lookout for flat shoes that look as great as they feel. Although I *thought* going barefoot after that bad ankle break would feel better, it actually makes my ankle tighter and more uncomfortable—so it was paramount to start wearing flats and slides with more support. Enter: the Cushionaire Feather Cloud Recovery Slide Sandals ($25), which are my No. 1 summer shoe for just about everything. It was actually while writing this story about the most comfortable sandals for traveling that I even discovered these slides. And it’s lucky I did, as they’ve since become my go-to sandals that I wear inside and outdoors.
Cushionaire, Feather Cloud Recovery Slide Sandals — $25.00
Available sizes: 6-12
Colors: 20+
Pros:
- Plush yet supportive
- No break-in period
- Nonslip, rubber outsole
- Affordable
- Wide variety of colors
Cons:
- Only available in whole sizes
As mentioned, I’ve struggled with not wearing shoes since my injury. I’ve found that going barefoot on my hardwood floors since the break causes my ankle to swell and tighten. There are days I look down at my ankle and can’t believe how swollen it is, and no amount of rolling or massaging reduces the pain. Since I love the feeling of not wearing shoes (especially around the house) I needed a pair of flats that would make me feel like I was going barefoot even though I wasn’t.
I was originally determined to use these slides as my summer house slippers and was immediately drawn to their promise of comfort as well as the wide variety of vibrant hues. I’ll admit it was difficult to choose just one, but I finally picked Bright Pink. I quickly discovered that I loved them so much, I didn’t want to confine them to just my living room. Cut to me running errands, spending time in my apartment complex’s front garden, even heading to weekend brunches, all while wearing these comfortable slides.
Because, yes, comfort is the name of the game here. These Cushionaire slides are designed in waterproof rubber, with a 1.75-inch platform and a nonslip outsole. The molded footbed has +Comfort technology for—well, you guessed it, comfort. The tightness and aching in my ankle that had stuck around for years disappeared basically overnight once I slipped these slides onto my feet and walked around in them consistently. Thankfully, there’s no break-in period, and they’re super lightweight to boot—once they’re on my feet, I can walk around and still feel like I’m barefoot.
I’m hardly the only one who’s discovered these Cushionaire slides’ appeal, since at last count, they’d racked up over 25,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. “These shoes are very comfy,” writes one happy shopper in a five-star review. “Love the support and the feel of walking on marshmallows. I walked four hours straight with no achy feet.” I co-sign on all of this wholeheartedly. Another shopper who wears them for as many activities as I do calls them “clouds of happiness” with “really good support,” to which I say, absolutely.
Cut to me buying these in every color this spring. Out of the whopping 29 different colors available, I already have my eyes on lavender, mint, tangerine, and leopard print. That $25 price tag definitely makes them all the more appealing, too. Want to join me? Pick up a pair (or two, or three) for yourself on Amazon, here.
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