A relaxed clog that doubles as a house shoe Ruthie Darling/NYT WirecutterOf the four styles, the Casual Clog was the clear favorite. It’s practical, versatile, and comfy, with a slight sophistication that surprised testers. “No competition,” one tester said.Available in three materials — signature knit, hemp-textured raffia knit, and recycled velvet — and 12 color options, the Casual Clog is a familiar silhouette that mirrors other popular clogs, like the Birkenstock Boston. Our testers (and fans of the shoes on Reddit) found them to be much more comfortable than shoes from other brands straight out of the box. Their contoured footbed gives proper support by hugging the arches with a curved insole that’s made from soft and cozy microsuede.Available in 12 colors, these sleek clogs are washable and comfortable, with enough sophistication for wearing beyond lounging.At about $160, the Casual Clog is pricey, though it’s on par with comparable styles from other brands. (The Birkenstock Boston, for example, is about $170.) The clogs are well worth the price because we all got the most wear out of them. “These felt like shoes I’d love to have to slip on and off to run to the laundry room, wear on errands, and around the neighborhood,” one tester said, adding that she’d wear them with jeans. Another tester said they became her default house shoe. I wore them both in and out of the house, pairing them with athleisure pants and a blazer (inspired by Rothy’s website photography) for running errands and with basically anything (pajamas included) at home.The downside is that the Casual Clog is not the type of commute-to-meetings shoe that Rothy’s is known for. Wear to the office at your own risk. But its sleek, grab-and-go design won over our closets for life’s more off-duty scenarios.A classic, flexible loafer Ruthie Darling/NYT WirecutterThe Penny Loafer is a twist on the staple shoe style, incorporating Rothy’s signature flexible knit and cushiony soles into the classic design. We liked them, but, admittedly, they are not for everyone. If you’re hard-set on the look of leather loafers, stay away. But unlike other loafers, which can have a notoriously long break-in time, these were comfortable straight out of the box.These washable flats have all the classic elements of traditional loafers, offering an innovative stretchy material and a padded heel for comfort and support.Available in eight colorways, the Penny Loafer has a 0.75-inch padded heel that offers some height and support. It also has a removable insole that curves right at the arch, which I found to offer more shock absorption and support than other loafers I’ve tested. Though the toe box is narrow, it’s malleable, molding better to feet than leather loafers from the get-go. I loved this flexibility, as it made room for my ever-growing bunions and allowed my toes to move freely. They can be worn with or without socks, and our tester with wide feet found them so comfortable, she wore them on a six-hour flight.Style-wise, these loafers are hit-or-miss. They are very obviously a knit texture, which can be jarring for a shoe you expect to be made of leather. My leopard-print versions were surprisingly stylish, but other testers, who went for the black version, found them “ugly.” The best way to distract from the knit material (and “ugly” vibes) is to go for a print or to style them with a funky pair of socks.
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