Soft material and comfortable when walking. I have two brands of slipper-ballerinas which I use all time to walk in the house. I like this pair more because the insole has such a cushion that makes them very comfortable to walk around the house all day. I live in a cold country and my apartment has wooden floor. So besides the heating system, they protect my feet while taking care of my floor. They also avoid that my neighbors downstairs hear all my steps on the wood. They look and last better than socks (in terms of cleaning them, cause the sole material). I also take 'em with me for my long travels: I take my shoes off in the plane, my feet rest but they are still protected against the cold on the floor of the planes and every time I want/need to walk around.