The Best Recovery Shoes Give Your Feet Some TLC
When I first learned about recovery shoes, my inner skeptic figured they were just a fancy new way to market cushy sneakers and sandals. But it turns out, unlike a running or tennis shoe, these pairs aren't designed to help you train or perform at your peak—they’re meant to give your feet and lower legs a break. “I tell my patients: If your workout shoes were your ‘work,’ your recovery shoes are your ‘rest,’” physical therapist Lauren Glisic, DPT, CSCS, cofounder of Athletic Lab Physical Therapy and Performance Training in Santa Monica, tells SELF.
Austin-based podiatrist Anne Sharkey, DPM, tells SELF that, in addition to shock-absorbing foam, the best recovery shoes have extra arch support, a deep heel cup, and a rocker bottom sole to minimize how much work your soft tissues need to put in when you’re standing or walking around. Some brands also include a textured footbed that’s supposed to promote circulation and reduce swelling.
So if your achy feet are craving some sweet relief after a workout—or just a long day—it oes
Go ahead and splurge on one of these pairs—your feet will thank you.
Best Overall: Oofos Ooaah Slide Sandal
When SELF senior commerce writer Sara Coughlin tried out the Revives, she found “the longer I wore them, the better my feet felt—it was a true delight to slip them on after putting my feet to work.” She’s not alone. Running and strength coach Mary Johnson tells SELF that Kane’s are one of her go-tos after a hard workout. And Dr. Glisic says that the max cushioning is great for strength athletes in particular, since it can help reduce joint fatigue on active recovery days
“Kane is what I'm talking a lot about in my clinics right now,” adds Dr. Sharkey. She recommends this shoe to Crocs fans who need the support of an enclosed heel.
Aside from the breathable, perforated upper, one notable feature of the Revives is the textured footbed that's designed to increase blood flow to your soles. Although she was initially skeptical about how big of a difference this would actually make, Coughlin found “it has a very subtle, pleasantly kneading effect that engages my feet more than a standard insole, so they feel more ‘awake’ and less fatigued.”
If you love the boost that a carbon-plated shoe offers when you’re running, why not get a recovery shoe with that same extra oomph? The VKTRY clog, designed by a pedorthist, offers just that. “It has a carbon fiber plate built into it, so it really can help propel you forward, removing a lot of the work of those fatigued muscles,” Dr. Sharkey says.
She appreciates that the design includes a removable strap that you can slip over your heel for a more secure fit. Also helpful: the rocker bottom, extra arch support, and deep heel cup are all designed to make sure your feet and calves have to do as little work as possible to keep you upright. Bye-bye, fatigue.
Best for Home: Topo Athletic Revive
Slipping into these clogs feels like giving my feet a spa treatment. The soft fleece upper keeps my feet nice and warm, and the shoe is cozy enough that I don’t mind wearing them even while sitting on the couch. But unlike your everyday house shoe, this pair has arch support that's designed with a subtle, gradual curve. Plus, squishy pods in the footbed give my soles some extra love.
If I do end up puttering around more than lounging around, the grippy lugs on the bottom of the sole make sure I stay upright, no matter how tired my legs are. I’d just recommend ordering one size up, since my heels come right up to the back edge and would be a little comfier with a smidge more room.
Whenever her clients are on the hunt for recovery shoes, Dr. Glisic says Oofos is a go-to rec—the brand has the American Podiatric Medical Association’s (APMA) seal of acceptance for healthy footwear. Dr. Glisic likes the Oomy Zen sneaker in particular because it’s equally cushy and supportive. It has more of Oofos’ signature foam than any of the brand’s other shoes, while the foot-cradling design hugs your arch and heel.
When SELF contributor Lauren Wingenroth tried out a pair, she was instantly sold: “I’ve never felt the sense of immediate relief I had when I put the Oomy Zens on,” she wrote in her review, adding that she loved the feeling so much she made several friends try on the shoes too. She particularly appreciated the shoe's high arch, roomy toe box, and soft, supportive foam.
Best Firm: Vionic Rejuvenate Recovery Sandal
For patients who find Oofos or other recovery sandals to be too squishy, Dr. Sharkey recommends these firmer slides from Vionic. Like the Oomy Zens, these sandals have the APMA's seal of acceptance too. “They also have a little bit of a deeper heel cup, so I find that for anyone with balance issues, they feel more supported,” she adds.
One SELF staffer who tested them out loved the lightly massaging feel of the grooved footbed when her feet were aching. At the same time, she found the top-notch support also made them excellent house shoes any day of the week
