The 9 Most Comfortable Flats of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Vivaia Square-toe Mary Jane

View On Vivaia.com

Mary Janes are having a moment, so we had to get our hands on Vivaia’s version. The knit flats come with removable herbal insoles that offer the perfect amount of arch support and cushioning for being on your feet all day. Thanks to the square-toe design, there is enough room to wiggle your toes comfortably, but the fabric straps ensure that the flats stay on your feet without slipping off. Plus, the straps are entirely perforated so you can make them as tight or loose as you need. 

We wore these flats around the city for commuting, around the office, and while traveling, and they were perfectly comfortable and cushioned for long periods of time. The best part is that the flexible design makes the shoe foldable so they can fit in a suitcase or purse without taking up much space. Even after two months of testing, the shoes are holding up well with just a bit of spot cleaning to make them look good as new. Our only recommendation is to wear thin, no-show socks if you’re prone to blisters. The shoe has a narrow fit, but, luckily, they come in wide sizes, as well as six neutral and bright color options like black, almond, ruby red, and denim. 

The Details: Sizes 5 to 11 | Knit, Natural Artemisia Argyi herbal insole, rubber

Best Loafer

Birdies The Starling Flats

View On Nordstrom $50 View On Birdies.com

Since slippers might not fall under the officewear category, we think these loafers from Birdies are the next best thing. Although they look like a pair of dressier slip-on shoes, they feature the most comfortable silky lining and cushioned footbed you could ask for in a pair of shoes fit for nicer occasions. With seven layers of memory foam cushioning and arch support, we mainly wore these loafers to and from the office when we were on our feet for hours on end. The non-slip synthetic sole offers plenty of traction on slick surfaces, and the leather or textile upper never feels too tight or restrictive on the top and sides of the foot, or in the toe box. We did experience some light rubbing on the heel at first, but that went away once we broke in the shoes after wearing them several times. To fit all style preferences, the loafers come in over two dozen velvet, leather, and suede options in tons of colorways.

The Details: Sizes 9 to 13 | Leather, textile, memory foam, synthetic 

Best Value

Frank Mully Round Toe Ballet Flat

View On Amazon $42

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Fit
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Support
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

One of the best parts of testing products is when we find less expensive items that prove to be just as good (if not better) than their pricer counterparts. In this case, these under-$50 ballet flats from Frank Mully wowed us with a comfortable fit right out of the box. As longtime fans of flats, these ones were worn non-stop for several weeks around the office, out with friends, and for running errands, and our feet actually felt supported and cushioned due to the breathable footbed and cozy textile lining. The round-toe design also allows plenty of space in the toe box so your feet will never feel cramped. The knit upper also has a bit of compression to keep the shoe from slipping. We wish the sole was a bit thicker, but it was still sufficient in the comfort and stability categories during our tests. 

The Details: Sizes 6 to 12 | Knit, rubber

Best Splurge

M. Gemi The Viviana

View On Mgemi.com

In search of a one-and-done pair of flats? These splurge-worthy M. Gemi flats come at a higher price, but we think they are certainly worth the investment if you have the means. They’re made with Italian Naplak leather, which is known for being soft and flexible while still maintaining a durable and supportive feel for shoes or handbags. There was a slight break-in period in which the leather needed to soften up a bit, but once it did, we were blown away by how flexible and cushioned these fully leather flats were for walking long distances. After two months of wearing, we love that they have an excellent sole with high-quality tread superior to other pairs of chic flats. The flats look like a pair of traditional ballet-style shoes, but the elastic band that goes across the top of the foot helps greatly with stability and support so the shoes never slip or rub. While they certainly look dressier, we also love that the flats are versatile enough to wear from the office to dinner.

The Details: Sizes 35 to 42 | Italian Naplak leather, rubber

Best Mary Jane

Rothy’s The Square Mary Jane

View On Rothys.com

Mary Jane-style flats were a hit during testing, and all of the pairs we tried scored nearly perfectly, so it was tough to just pick one pair to recommend. This style from Rothy’s are the ultimate travel shoe for versatility since we were able to dress them up for nicer occasions or wear them with jeans for a casual day-time look. They come with removable insoles that offer arch support and cushioning, and the recycled knit flats are machine-washable for easy upkeep after a trip. After two months of use, we love the eco-friendly and stain-resistant materials that are incredibly comfortable, even when wearing for long periods of time. The knit material is stretchy and flexible while still keeping the original shape of the vintage-style square toe and higher heel for security while walking. We wish the Mary Janes came in more than two colors since we’d love to buy more than one to circulate in our travel capsule wardrobe. 

The Details: Sizes 5 to 13 | Recycled knit | Machine-washable

Most Supportive

Vionic Caroll Ballet Flat

View On Amazon $90 View On Nordstrom $120 View On Zappos $120

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Fit
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Although they’re called ballet flats, these shoes are anything but flat. They have the most generous arch support and cushioning of all the pairs we tested, so they certainly wowed us in the comfort category. The flats come with removable EVA foam insoles that are lined with microfiber to promote breathability. If the higher arch support doesn’t work for you, we love that the insoles can be removed as needed. After wearing these on a 90-degree day, our feet weren’t even the slightest bit sweaty, which is a game-changer for summer footwear options. There is a slight break-in period, so we recommend wearing no-show or thin socks with the flats to let the leather loosen up a bit, but otherwise, they are cushioned and supportive right out of the box.

The Details: Sizes 5 to 12 | Leather, EVA, rubber

Best Ballet Flats

Margaux The Demi Flat

View On Margauxny.com

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Temperature
  5/5
• Fit
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5

Ballet flats are back and likely here to stay, so we think these are the best ones to invest in for virtually any occasion. The leather flats are perfect for the office, traveling, going out to dinner, shopping, or any other leisurely activity since they’re not only comfortable, but you can also wear them with different outfits. And after two months of wearing, the soft outer leather still looks brand new without any scratches or scuffs. Hands down, the best and most unique aspect of these ballet flats is the discrete system for adjusting the tightness of the fit. You can tighten or loosen the cord bow on the toe box of the shoe since it lines the top of the flat, adjusting the fit as needed. Thanks to the five millimeters of padding, the Demi flats have enough cushioning to absorb the impact when you’re walking while still feeling stable and sturdy on uneven surfaces. It would be nice if the shoes had a bit more traction, but the leather sole has more of a smooth texture on the bottom. 

The Details: Sizes 33 to 45 | Leather, foam

Best Sandal

Margaux The Wrap Sandal

View On Margauxny.com

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Fit
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Support
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

Lace-up sandals have a reputation for being flimsy at best and uncomfortable at worst, so we’re happy to report that these might just be the best wrap-around sandals on the market. The leather laces actually feel secure when we wrap them around each ankle three times, and all you have to do is make sure to tie them with a tight bow to make sure the sandals have the most secure fit. After wearing the sandals for long periods of time, the laces didn’t leave a dent, and the cushioning on the footbed was noticeable from a comfort standpoint. Similar to the Margeaux ballet flats we tried, there isn’t much traction because the entire shoe is made with a luxe leather material so you might want to stay away from slick surfaces. However, the sandals pack completely flat, which is a huge benefit for limited luggage space.

The Details: Sizes 33 to 45 | Leather, foam