What is it?
You probably recognise the Simba brand for things like the Simba cot mattress - we have already reviewed the excellent Simba Hybrid mattress. What you may not know is that you can also get Simba slippers. The brand has taken its mattress know-how and it applied it to slippers with three different clog-style designs - the Rok, Ylur and Stormur. Available in both men's and women's sizes, it's the Simba Stormur we're reviewing here.
Think of them as an alternative to Birkenstocks and you're on the right track. These aren't your ordinary slippers, rather high-quality, cushioned footwear that feature a shaped footbed with nine gel-filled points. According to Simba, this is designed to 'mimic the relaxing sensation and head to toe health benefits of reflexology' by applying gentle, cushioned pressure to key points on the soles of your feet.
This goes some way to justifying the price. The Simba Stormur slippers we're reviewing are priced at £69 while the Simba Rok slippers are priced at £89. That may seem expensive, but a pair of equivalent Birkenstock Boston clogs will set you back £115. That's a long way from the Marks & Spencer slippers your mum used to buy you for Christmas...
The Stormur slipper is a felted clog-style and available in a few different colours - grey, beige and green - there's a definite nordic vibe to the look and feel of these.
What are they like?
With a wonderfully soft merino wool upper, the Simba Stormur slippers feel lovely from the moment you get them out of the box. But sliding your feet in is a little unusual at first. That's down to the gel filled points in the sole. There's one at the heel, a couple by the arches and then a series of dots that sit just behind your toes. It's these that can feel odd initially.
However, once you're used to them, you quickly realise how well they work. These points apply pressure to key points of your feet. The idea, according to Simba is that they can help calm the central nervous system, improve blood circulation and assist pain relief in the rest of your body. All we know is that we've never worn a pair of slippers that are so comfortable.
The sole is in fact made up of three layers. There's the sturdy rubber sole which means you can wear them outside, on top of that is a cork-effect layer designed to align with the natural shape of your foot and then the soft top layer which features the nine stimulating support points, filled with a special gel which gently massages your feet.
Given that many people now work at home, having good quality footwear for round the house is crucial. Especially if you suffer from foot or ankle problems. Even after wearing them all day round the house, mainly on wooden and tiled floors, our feet didn't ache and the slippers certainly helped us feel more relaxed. We did find that the inside of upper was a little rough against the top of a bare foot, although wearing socks means this isn't a problem.
The fact you can wear them outside is also very useful - especially if you fancy a quick trip to the corner shop or just want to put the bins out. Although you're probably only one step away from doing the school run in a dressing gown...
Should I buy a pair?
If you want a super comfortable top quality pair of slippers, we can't recommend the Simba Stormur slippers enough. The clever design of the footbed gives great support and they are ideal if you spend all day in them. Your feet will thank you every time you slip them on.
If you have feet or ankle problems these are worth every penny, but even if you don't, these are still some of the most comfortable slippers money can buy. Having worn Birkenstocks for several years, we'd go as far as to say the Simba slippers are even more comfortable. Yet considerably cheaper. Give these as a gift and you'll be onto a winner.
