Simply put, podiatrists say this specific type of footwear is designed to give your feet a break.
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type → put → break
They’re made with shock-absorbing materials that feel equal parts soft and supportive, allowing your feet to get rid of tension, aches and pains between activities.
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feet → make → activities
And when I say “activities,” I don’t just mean running, lifting weights, walking and playing sports — recovery shoes can benefit anyone on their feet all day who needs a little relief.
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who → say → relief
To narrow down the absolute best recovery shoes on the market, the NBC Selected staff and I spent over a month testing almost 11 pairs to share our first-hand experiences with them.
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staff → narrow → them
I also interviewed two podiatrists, gathering information about the most important features to look for while shopping and why you shouldn’t wear recovery shoes all day.
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you → interview → shoes
The NBC Selected staff tested the recovery shoes below for over a month to share their hands-on experiences with them.
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staff → test → them
Before I assigned each tester a shoe, I made sure it had features that align with podiatrists’ shopping advice, including contoured insoles, deep heel cups, balanced cushioning and effective traction on the outsoles.
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that → assign → outsoles
I also noted which shoes are water-resistant and earned the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance.
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shoes → note → Acceptance
Learn more about how to shop for recovery shoes here and how we tested our picks here.
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we → learn → picks
Best basic slides
Oofos was one of the first brands to introduce the idea of recovery shoes, and over the years, it’s expanded its reach from runners to anyone looking to relieve fatigued feet, says Dr. Anne Sharkey, a podiatrist at the North Austin Foot and Ankle Institute.
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Sharkey → introduce → Institute
The OOahh Recovery Slide is one of the most well-known styles, and it’s also the first recovery shoe I tried.
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I → know → styles
I’ve worn it ever since I trained for my first 10K over a decade ago — after seeing how much I love my slides, my dad even bought a pair to use after golf.
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dad → wear → golf
When I put on the OOahh slides after a run, my swollen feet instantly breathe a sigh of relief.
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feet → put → relief
The insoles delicately cradle my arches, and the outsoles are semi-curved: They’re not totally flat, and they’re not severely rocker-shaped to the point that I have trouble balancing.
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I → cradle → trouble
The outsoles taper inward toward the middle of my feet, which the brand says forces them to stay centered on the base instead of sliding side to side — the textured insoles also help with this.
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insoles → taper → this
I feel where the outsole gets narrower when I’m wearing the shoes, and while it’s not uncomfortable, the sensation took a little getting used to.
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sensation → feel → little
These shoes are made with a medium-thick layer of cushioning that has a bit of give.
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that → make → give
However, it isn’t so soft that I sink into it.
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I → sink → it
I also love that the straps have a cutout in the center, which lets air flow through and adds a bit of flexibility, securing my feet without restricting them.
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air → love → them
These two shoes are nearly identical: they’re made from the same type of impact-absorbing material and have similar outsole shapes.
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they → make → shapes
The biggest difference is that the OOriginal Sandal has a toe post, so it’s a flip flop, not a slide.
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it → have → post
NBC Selected commerce editor Cory Fernandez says the toe post felt comfortable the whole time he wore these sandals, and that the material didn’t bother his skin.
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material → select → skin
He also found the shoes to be well-constructed.
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shoes → find → ?
“I appreciate that they don’t feel cheap, and they provide great arch support without it being painful the first time I wore them,” he says.
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he → appreciate → them
“They have a somewhat bouncy feel to them, so I felt like I could walk for a while.”
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I → have → while
Best for someone who likes maximum cushioning
In true Hoka fashion, the Ora recovery slides are one of the most highly cushioned pairs I tested with a substantial rocker-shaped outsole — they lift me off the ground more than most other options on this list, and they help me roll through strides so I’m noticeably using less energy to walk post-activity.
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I → like → energy
Thanks to the wider base and medium-soft foam, my feet and ankles are surprisingly stable while I’m moving and standing still.
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I → move → base
The shoe is also very solid — it’s as far away from a flimsy sandal as it could get, and the support is obvious as soon as I slip my feet inside.
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I → ’ → feet
These recovery shoes have four cutouts on the straps to allow for lots of airflow, and their textured outsoles have a lug-shaped design for maximum traction.
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outsoles → have → traction
NBC Selected editorial director (and three-time marathoner) Lauren Swanson swears by them.
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Swanson → swear → them
“I’ve worn Hoka’s recovery slides for years — pretty much since I started running long distances,” she says.
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she → wear → distances
“After a long run, my feet swell enough that most shoes feel like punishment; these are the only things I want to put on.”
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I → swell → punishment
Best clog (and biggest fashion statement)
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I see multiple people wearing the Kane Revive in New York City every day, so I feel confident naming them one of the “it” shoes right now.
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I → exaggerate → shoes
They were one of two recovery shoes our team tested that are a clog style: They fully surround the feet, have a marginally curved outsole and are made with firmer cushioning, so we determined that they’re a sturdy recovery shoe that really locks feet in place, giving you extra support while walking.
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that → test → support
“Overall, the material is durable and the quality is great,” says NBC Selected senior editor Nikki Brown.
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Brown → say → ?
She added that when she put these shoes on, she had to bend down to get the back of her feet inside using the built-in heel loop, so they’re pull-ons more than they are slip-ons.
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they → add → loop
One of the most unique parts of this shoe is that its upper (the part covering the top of your feet) is perforated, which increases airflow.
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which → cover → airflow
Our testers liked the breathability, but found that the material made noise when they were barefoot.
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they → like → noise
There’s also raised nodes on the insoles that activate blood flow in key pressure points, according to the brand — it feels good apart from some minor tickling, says NBC Selected video producer Josh Rios.
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Rios → ’ → tickling
Because of these factors, Brown and Rios say wearing socks with the Revive OB is a must.
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wearing → say → OB
…and 134 more, not listed.
The Aporia
