Most dangerous types of shoes

Your most comfortable shoes may also be your riskiest. A new review of federal injury data finds that slippers top the list for the most serious shoe-related trips to emergency rooms, ahead of flip-flops, sandals and even high heels, according to Parade. Analyzing 2021-2025 Consumer Product Safety Commission records, researchers estimate that slippers are linked to about 20,750 emergency room visits per year, about as many as boots, but with much worse results: About 40% of slipper cases resulted in “serious injuries,” such as broken bones, compared to 31% for flip-flops and 17% for boots. The CDC advises avoiding backless shoes, choosing non-slip, well-fitting shoes, and skipping walks with socks, especially for adults 65 and older, for whom falls are the leading cause of injury. The breakdown, via Maisonlaw.com:

The most dangerous according to the severity of the injuries:

1. Slippers, 40.3%
2. Flip flops, 30.9%
3. Sandals, 27.9%
4. High heels, 26.3%
5. Sneakers/sports shoes, 20.1%
6. Boots, 17.1%

The most dangerous according to the number of emergency room visits

1. Boots, 20,840 visits per year
2. Slippers, 20,750
3. Flip flops, 16 083
4. Sandals, 15,961
5. High heels, 10,290
6. Sneakers/sports shoes, 8,630