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A few years ago, I had pain on the upper right side of my right foot that wouldn’t go away, so I went to a podiatrist. While he said that it was nothing serious, he suggested that I get a pair of Oofos recovery slides and recommend not only wearing them instead of my shoes as much as possible but also wearing them at home instead of barefoot.
“All these people who work from home don’t realize that your feet need more support than you think, especially as you get older,” she told me. “It’s a big problem during (part of) the pandemic when everyone is at home all the time.”
Wearing Oofos helped relieve my foot pain within a few weeks, and since then I’ve become an expert on recovery slides, many of which are made of high-tech foam and other cushiony materials. In fact, it is made for recreational and more serious athletes for before and after activities, whether that is running, soccer, basketball, tennis or any sport that causes leg fatigue. However, they are also recommended to help with removal plantar fasciitis.
What are the best recovery slides?
While I’m still a fan of Oofos slides, I’m still a bit partial to a pair of slides. Ok Recover which I got last year. People have different shaped feet, however, and different preferences for how firm or soft they want their recovery slides to be, so my preference may not be yours. Also, to be honest, I haven’t tested every slide repair out there — dozens, if not hundreds, of models are out there, and some are the same as others because copycats overrun the market.
I also found that while some slides fit true to size, many fit larger than their indicated size and require you to size down, while others are smaller, perhaps requiring you to size down. (I note that for each choice, whether it fits true to size or not.) Unless otherwise noted, All models in this list are unisexoffers men’s and women’s sizes for the slide. I will add more options as I find new top recovery slides.
Best recovery slides of 2026
Not to be confused with Hoka (which also makes a good pair of recovery slides on this list), Oka slides tend to be comfortable and convenient. Available in several colors, the Oka slides are more durable than my Oofos Oohha slides and are also better in water. They have 35 millimeters of “buoyant foam,” 12 cooling vents and “a wide surface that cradles without squeezing.”
The company also touts the slides as “reinforcing deep heel cups that lock your foot in place.”
But it’s worth noting that most people need to order one size up to get the best fit. I’m usually a size 10, but the slide that fits me best is the men’s 9 / women’s 11. They have good arch support, too. Read my full review.
Oofos is one of the most popular recovery slide brands — I appreciate how well they heal my feet. (They are softer than some slides.)
Its Oohha model is made from the company’s patented footbed and Oofoam technology, which is said to absorb 37% more impact than traditional footwear foams. The closed-cell foam is machine washable and “designed to minimize odor.”
I have been wearing these Oofos for a few months and have been able to relieve the pain on the top of my right foot that I have been experiencing. They hold up well, even with a lot of outdoor use. My only concern is that they get slippery when water gets on them, so they are not good for rain or walking in shallow water. (My feet are sliding around.)
They ran a little, so I went down from my usual 10 to a boys 9/girls 11. The slides are available in several colors.
Vktry has made a name for itself with its performance insoles, which are made using carbon fiber. But recently, it has ventured into recovery footwear with a set of recovery clogs and recovery slides, both of which sell for $99.
These slides feel more stable than the Oka and Oofos, and they have a smaller arch and deeper heel cup. The clogs and slides feature 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 don’t need to completely submerge them in water, so that’s a bit much.
They run true to size, so start with whatever size you normally wear.
Many people swear by Hoka’s running shoes, and I love the Ora Recovery Slide 3 slides, although my kids don’t like the color I chose. (The company offers several color options, but I already had some darker colored slides, so I decided to go with a lighter color.)
The Ora Slide 3 is a bit more durable than the Oka and Oofos and has good traction on its soles, very similar to running shoe soles. They also have less arch support and run wide and quite large.
I measured a men’s size 9/women’s 11, and it fits perfectly, but I still have room to spare.
Fleks makes several styles of recovery slides, sandals and clogs. One of the slides that identifies the attributes is that it is all made from 85% recycled materials, including performance foam waste (which is all the excess foam scraps from factories that make athletic shoes).
Created by nonslip Blumaka technologythe 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 have just the right amount of arch support and depth in their heel cup. They are also good in water.
Note that they run true to size and have a medium width.
Roll Recovery, which makes some interesting rollers for muscle recoverymoved into the recovery footwear market recently. I tested the new SuperPlush Solace, billed by the company as “the most premium, most luxurious recovery shoe ever made.”
A pair runs a little more expensive at $110. However, the slides have some natural suede as part of the construction (with an adjustable Velcro strap which I appreciate), along with Roll Recovery’s patented Cradle-Design footbed, which cradles my feet nicely. Available in a few different color options, these slides are springy but sturdier than Oofos’ Oohha slides and not as thick.
I decided to size down for this one, and to be honest, they are small. Note that the SuperPlus Solace appears to be unisex, but Roll Recovery has separate product pages on its website for the men’s and women’s versions.
