A few years ago, I developed some pain on the top right side of my right foot that wouldn’t go away, so I went to a podiatrist. While he said it was nothing serious, he suggested I get a pair of Oofos recovery slides and recommended not only wearing them instead of my shoes as much as possible but also wearing them around the house instead of going barefoot.
Not to be confused with Hoka (which also makes a good pair of recovery slides on this list), Oka slides tend to be very cushiony and comfortable. Available in multiple colors, the Oka slides are slightly firmer than my Oofos Oohha slides and are also better with water. They have 35 millimeters of “buoyant foam,” 12 cooling vents and “a wide upper that cradles without squeezing.”
The company also touts the slides’ “stabilizing deep heel cup that locks your foot in place.”
But it’s worth noting that most people should probably order a size down to get the best fit. I’m usually a size 10, but the slide that fit me well was the men’s 9/women’s 11. They had good arch support, too. Read my full review.
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Vktry made a name for itself with its performance insoles, made with carbon fiber. But more recently, it’s ventured into recovery footwear with a set of recovery clogs and recovery slides, both of which retail for $99.
These slides feel a little firmer than the Oka and Oofos, and they have a bit more of an arch and a deeper heel cup. Both the clogs and slides have a layer of cushiony foam on top of Vktry’s signature carbon fiber plate. While you can wipe them down with soap and water to clean, you’re not supposed to fully submerge them in water, so that’s a small downside.
They do run pretty true to size, so start with whatever size you’d normally wear.
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Fleks make several styles of recovery slides, sandals and clogs. One of its slides defining attributes is that they’re all made from 85% recycled materials, including performance foam waste (which is all those extra scraps of foam from factories making athletic shoes).
Crafted with nonslip Blumaka technology, the company says its footwear is “designed to reduce fatigue and support muscle recovery,” with each style offering “cushioned comfort and foot-cradling ergonomics to ease stress on your feet, legs and body.” Their grippy surface is a nice plus, and they had just the right amount of arch support and depth to their heel cup. They also do well with water.
Note that they run true to size and have a medium width.
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