HomeTop Knit Moccasin Review

Lightweight and carefree, the HomeTop Knit Moccasin make for a good all-season slipper you don't have to worry about getting ruined from a little weather or rough play. Made of polyester and rubber rather than leather, suede, or shearling, the HomeTops feel more like an extension to your favorite comfy sock and less like a built-up shoe. These slippers certainly don't pack the most insulation, but they're really breathable and perfect for milder conditions. The rubber outsole is good enough for some light outdoor use, but they're best for indoor use.

Comfort

The HomeTop Knit Moccasin feels more like a supplement to our coziest socks, given just how pliable the polyester knit construction and very thin rubber outsole are. If you're seeking a slipper without much support, these will work great for you. The midsole is made up of a deliciously spongy memory foam. We wouldn't feel too out of place wearing these on the couch or propped up on our ottoman, provided that the outsole was cleaned up from any outside chores.

The fleece lining on the upper and insole is soft to the touch, and there is a distinct lack of seams poking out to ruin the comfort. Even the ankle cuff's minimal reinforcement is found only on the exterior of the slipper. Width is generous, as we feel a slipper should be, and we experienced no pinching anywhere in the slipper with our regular-width feet. We'd describe these as true to size.

Insulation

Compared to some of the wool and shearling options we've reviewed, the insulation found in the HomeTop Knit Moccasin is quite thin. Our freezer lab tests confirmed our bias, with the HomeTops losing out to most other slippers that featured either thicker uppers, ones made of wool/shearling, or both.

Instead, the HomeTops are great everyday slippers for all seasons. In winter, we suggest pairing them with a warm sock. An advantage of their scant insulation is that they're lightweight and not bulky, making them more convenient to store and even to travel with, as they pack up tightly.

Breathability and Moisture Management

Due to the lower levels of insulation, these slippers were more breathable tahn others. We could wear these in all seasons, not just for the dead of winter. If you overheat easily, the HomeTops could be a good choice, especially at its modest price.

The upper of the HomeTop Knit Moccasin is actually quite thin, really allowing air and moisture to pass easily through. It must be noted that the upper isn't at all water-resistant, so if they do get wet from a passing shower or a puddle while you're outside, get ready for your feet to become wet, too.

Traction

One of the surprising features of the HomeTop Knit Moccasin is a bona fide rubber outsole. Rubber usually offers better traction than suede or leather outsoles, and it lets you wear these outside without fear of premature wear or falling to your grave from an untimely slip on a fallen leaf.

When we describe the outsole as “thin”, we mean it. You also won't find any lugs of any sort, which means although these do work outside, keep the tasks casual.

One of the tests we performed to try to quantify traction is our simple slanted platform where we find out at which angle a weighted slipper starts to slip off. The HomeTop Knit Moccasin made it to over 45 degrees before gravity won out. This is a very acceptable result, but many other slippers with stickier rubber surpassed it.

Construction Quality

Inspecting the HomeTop Knit Moccasin, we didn't reveal any appalling manufacturer defects, nor did they suffer any unexpected damage in our autumn testing season. But most of the seams we've observed on the HomeTops are single-stitched, polyester lacks the durability of leather or suede, the thin outsole will punch through, and eventually the memory foam midsole will crush out. This leads us to speculate that these aren't going to be family heirlooms you'll be passing down from generation to generation.

If we were to guess, damage in the upper at the big toe will be the first thing you'll notice, as early morning, pre-coffee stumbles will be rough for the HomeTops. For the price, it may be a justifiable amount of durability, especially if you live in a chaotic home like ours where puppies have been known to steal a slipper or two while we're at work. We will say (and our photos will attest) the upper attracts small debris like dog hair, which we didn't observe to be as much of a problem with suede or leather pairs.

Should You Buy the HomeTop Knit Moccasin?

If you are looking for a good-enough pair of versatile slippers that won't cost you dearly, then the HomeTop Knit Moccasin are a good choice. They're not automatically going to win the hearts and minds of any seeker of a fashion runway shoe, but they'll keep you comfy all through the year, and if they get dirty, you can throw them in the washing machine, then wear them to bed while falling asleep binge-watching your favorite guilty pleasure series.

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