L.L.Bean Wicked Good Moccasins Review

Comfort and warmth rule supreme in the L.L.Bean Wicked Good Moccasins, thanks to the judicious use of bona fide long shearling used in the interior lining. We tested these slippers as being one of the most insulated in our lineup — just be aware that all this warmth means that they won't breathe as well as lighter and thinner options. We were delighted at how well the underside gripped on a variety of surfaces like rugs and hardwood floors. While these slippers lack much foot support, they work well enough for quick trips outside without having to change into something else. Quality is also off the charts, with excellent craftsmanship on full display and top-notch natural materials. Just be ready to spend a little time properly cleaning and caring for these gorgeous slippers for a long-term affair.

Comfort

We loved wrapping our tired feet in the long wool shearling of the L.L.Bean Wicked Good Moccasins — exactly what we needed after a long work week. Even the insole is covered in this luxurious material.

These moccasin-style slippers are surprisingly supple, not having the structure you'd find in a pair of walking moccasins made of tougher leather. Instead, the Wicked Good Moccasins are made from a buttery-soft suede. There's not much in the way of a supportive and cushy midsole, which makes these slippers even more limber.

The Wicked Good felt true to size in length, and maybe slightly narrower than other slippers we've tried on. However, L.L.Bean offers these in Wide sizes, if you're worried your feet need a little more room.

Insulation

The long shearling practically overflows out of the tongue and ankle collar from the interior of these slippers.

Even the insole is lined with shearling. And believe us when we say this luxurious material traps heat! Unlike other slippers, these moccasins have a full wrap, covering not only your toes and forefoot, but covering your heel as well. Not many other slippers feature such loft from the inner lining.

The suede upper also does a pretty pro job in keeping airflow between the outside and the inside of the slipper to a minumum. These are definitely the slippers you want on bitter wintry nights when you're looking for serious heat retention. Our freezer lab tests confirm this, with these slippers showing some of the highest temperatures in the interior of the slipper after being chilled at 0F for a few minutes.

Breathability and Moisture Management

It's true that suede has a reputation for being breathable, and that is the case for the L.L.Bean Wicked Good Moccasins. But when our feet got really hot, which often happened on a brisk walk and care of all that amazing long shearling insulation, we could feel our feet start to sweat. And even though the shearling has natural wicking properties, we personally may just be sweating faster than the upper materials can keep up, and taking off the slipper was our best bet.

This is easily verified using the “Darth Vader Test”. By carefully and gently blowing air onto the upper from your pursed mouth, you'll observe serious difficulty getting any air out. At rest, the threat of getting too sweaty falls off the wayside. But it does inform us that these slippers are best to be worn when it's truly cold, or even for those that suffer from Raynaud's, and definitely isn't something we'd suggest to wear during the local Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving. At first blush, the Wicked Goods may look like a regular pair of moccasins, but they're actually a powerhouse of warmth.

Traction

We mentioned how supple the L.L.Bean Wicked Good Moccasins are in hand, and we theorized that traction wouldn't be anything to write home about, but after testing them out on all sorts of surfaces and using our lab tests, our minds were changed.

The Wicked Good expressed some of the best traction of most any slipper in our lineup, thanks to its rubber outsole with wide lugs. If you live in a house with lots of stairs like our tester, this may be a pair of slippers you want to pay attention to. Hardwood floors showed the best traction inside, but they also did well on concrete sidewalks.

One thing to mention is that although the outsole is sticky, the rest of the slipper won't offer much in terms of stability or support. The upper is very floppy, the insole provides no arch support, and there's really nothing in terms of a midsole. It's a slipper, in other words!

Construction Quality

Another major strength of the L.L.Bean Wicked Good Moccasins is the high quality of materials used and the craftsmanship practiced when making these slippers. Long shearling is a primo material, and this slipper uses it on all sides of the interior.

The suede on the upper is buttery smooth and hand-stitched in places, giving these slippers a real signature look. The mostly cosmetic rawhide laces complete the look. And it may be a very small thing, but it is nice to only notice a small logo on the very bottom of the slipper, mostly out of view.

If taken care of, these slippers should last for many years. Because they're made from natural materials like suede and shearling, you will have to invest a little time in cleaning them following the manufacturer's recommendation for a long life with them looking their best. Obviously, these don't go in the washing machine. In fact, you'll probably want to avoid getting the suede upper wet all.

Should You Buy the L.L.Bean Wicked Good Moccasins?

L.L.Bean says they sell a pair of these every few seconds during peak season, and after testing, we can see why. These are some hot slippers! If you demand some of the warmest moccasin-style slippers made from natural materials with utmost care, the Wicked Good Moccasins fill this need. They're certainly more expensive than bargain pairs, but the value proposition is a good one. Take care of these, and they'll treat you and your feet well and last many years to come.

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