With training well underway for the first in a series of ultramarathons, I’ve been exploring every possible way to gain an edge in recovery. I stumbled upon OOFOS, a company focused on active recovery footwear designed to reduce the stress of everyday activities on the body. Utilising their proprietary OOfoam and a patented footbed design, OOFOS claim their recovery slides, sandals, clogs, slippers, shoes — and even boots — absorb 37% more impact than traditional foam footwear. With weekly mileage increasing, I decided to put this claim to the test and review the OOFOS recovery slides. After over a month of use, here’s what I think.

What’s the Point of Recovery Slides?

Recovery slides are a relatively new addition to the endurance athlete’s toolkit, but their purpose is grounded in a well-documented physiological truth: recovery matters just as much as training. As running shoes undergo a technological evolution, it makes sense to see attention being given to what we wear between runs.

The principle behind recovery slides is simple but supported by biomechanics and load management research. Every step you take, whether running or walking, generates ground reaction forces that your body must absorb. These forces typically range from 1.5 to 3 times your body weight during walking and up to 2.5–5 times during running, depending on your pace and gait.

Over time, those loading forces accumulate. Even when you’re not training, your muscles, tendons, and joints are still under strain — walking around the house, standing in queues, running errands, commuting, etc. For runners managing high training volumes, that additional “background load” can push total weekly stress beyond what tissues can tolerate, increasing the risk of overuse injuries such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints, or tendinopathy.

This is where recovery slides come in. Designed with highly cushioned, impact-absorbing foams (like OOFOS’ proprietary OOfoam), they reduce ground reaction forces. That translates to less stress on your feet, ankles, knees, and even your lower back, during daily activity.

I like to think of it like this: If you’re aiming to run 50 miles a week and your body’s threshold for injury risk sits around 60 miles of total load, it’s easy to tip over that edge with the movement of everyday life. By wearing footwear that limits impact when you’re not training, you’re effectively reclaiming margin in your weekly load budget.

Don’t get me wrong — injury is far more complex and multi-faceted than simply “hit X miles and get injured.” Weekly intensity is just as important, if not more so, than mileage. But if we can reduce the impact of everyday movement, we give our bodies more bandwidth to recover — and lower the risk of injury in the process.

Who are OOFOS?

The team behind OOFOS are seasoned footwear industry veterans, having cut their teeth during the athletic shoe boom of the ’70s and ’80s. What they noticed was a glaring gap: while shops were packed with shoes built for rebound and energy return, there was nothing designed to do the opposite — absorb shock after a workout. So they set out to change that.

Over the course of two and a half years, they developed the first product in what would become the OOFOS recovery range, combining their proprietary OOfoam with a patented footbed designed to reduce impact and support post-activity recovery.

What We Tested

OOFOS kindly sent over two pairs of recovery shoes, the men’s OOahh Slide Sandal in black (£55), and the women’s OOcloog Clog in nomad (£75). I’ve used stock product photos because a) you really don’t want to see my feet (trust me — nothing kills a foot modelling career faster than years of climbing); and b) if you’re into grim-looking feet, it’s going to cost you — I don’t give that kind of content away for free.

OOFOS Sizing

If you’re ordering the slides, I’d go true to size. If you’re ordering the clogs, it might be worth going up a size, especially if you’re planning to go dad-style and wear socks!

The OOFOS Tech

OOFOS recovery footwear is built on two core innovations: proprietary OOfoam and a patented footbed design. According to the brand, OOfoam is a closed-cell material that absorbs 37 % more impact than traditional footwear foam, redirecting energy sideways to ease stress on ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. This gives your feet a softer landing and supports a more natural walking motion — like stepping on grass rather than concrete.

The magic doesn’t stop there. The patented footbed cradles your arches and stabilises foot motion, reportedly cutting ankle exertion by up to 47 % when paired with OOfoam. Independently backed by a University of Virginia study, wearing OOFOS has been shown to reduce joint stress and ankle power demand.

My Thoughts

Turns Out, They Weren’t Just Fancy Crocs

I’ll admit it. I’ve fully bought into the modern running shoe boom. Without today’s tech-loaded, max-stack marvels, I’m not sure I’d still be lacing up. Partly, it’s out of necessity — my spine isn’t exactly bomber, and those towering midsoles offer at least the illusion of support. But honestly? A big part of the appeal is that modern running shoes are just fun to run in.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t immediately buy into the hype. Like a kid convincing their parents to invest in the latest two-week craze, I had to talk myself into believing that a carbon plate and some supposedly “energetic” foam were worth dropping over £200 to shave a couple of seconds off my PBs. But from the moment I took the Hoka Cielo X1s — my first “super shoe” — out for a spin, I was hooked.

It was a similar story with recovery slides. I was intrigued, but sceptical. Of course I wanted to recover faster — who doesn’t? And if I could reduce the likelihood of getting injured in the first place? Even better. But I couldn’t shake the feeling they were just another gimmick. The latest in the seemingly endless list of must-haves.

Then plantar fasciitis flared up — and not long after, shin splints joined the party. A follower on Threads (cheers, @neverimitate) suggested I try wearing OOFOS around the house to ease the impact of day-to-day movement. I was curious. But hesitant. Were they really anything more than posh Crocs? I didn’t fancy spending £55 to find out.

My scepticism stemmed from the fact that my first encounter with recovery footwear was through big-name brands like Nike and Hoka. Don’t get me wrong — I haven’t tried either company’s slides. They might be the best thing since sliced bread. But something felt off about using the same foam in both their running and recovery shoes. The Nike Rejuven8, for example, uses ReactX — the same foam found in the InfinityRN 4. As far as I can tell, it hasn’t been tweaked with recovery in mind. According to Nike, it provides “a higher energy return than its predecessor” — React. Don’t energy return and impact absorption sit on opposite ends of the spectrum?

Coincidentally, a couple of weeks into the plantar and shin splint pain, a PR contact reached out to ask if I’d be interested in testing a pair of OOFOS. The timing couldn’t have been better, and I jumped at the chance. While I waited for them to arrive, I did a bit of digging. Turns out, OOFOS agree that energy return and shock absorption don’t belong in the same sentence. Where typical performance foams channel energy upward, OOfoam is designed to redirect it sideways — easing the impact on joints.

The recovery slides I first came across — like those from Nike and Hoka — would no doubt offer some benefit. Compared to walking barefoot, anything with a bit of cushioning is going to help. But unlike OOFOS, the foams used in those models weren’t specifically built for recovery. OOFOS was different. Rather than simply adding a buffer between your body and the ground, their foam actively redirected energy to reduce load. The tech sounded promising — and I was genuinely keen to get them on my feet.

First Impressions

OOFOS lean hard into the “OO” — OOfoam, “feel the OO,” “we got yOO.” It’s a bit much. Or at least, it was — until I actually stepped into a pair.

My first impression, my partner’s, and the reaction of every friend, family member, and neighbour I’ve eagerly convinced to try on the OOFOS recovery slides — before they even knew what brand they were wearing — has been, predictably, “Oooh!” I don’t think they could have named their foam anything else. If they had, it would’ve been a missed opportunity.

OOfoam doesn’t feel like the cushioning you’d find in a running shoe. There’s no bounce, no energy return, no sense that it’s trying to propel you forward. Instead, it’s squidgy — like pressing into dense memory foam. Your foot doesn’t sink in, like it might with something like Fresh Foam X. Instead, the OOfoam compresses slightly under pressure, then gently supports the foot as it returns to shape.

As I mentioned, when I received my pair of OOFOS, I was struggling with shin splints that made everyday tasks painful. The difference between walking barefoot and walking in the OOFOS was immediate. Whether or not it’s truly 37% less impact, there’s no denying the load on my legs felt significantly reduced.

When it comes to first impressions, no product I’ve tested has made a better one than the OOFOS recovery slides.

How I Used OOFOS

Obsessively — that’s how. When I’m at home and on my feet, the OOFOS slides are on. Even if I’m just getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom — a journey of no more than 15 feet — I’m wearing those bad boys.

Cooking, stretching, standing around half-dressed waiting for the shower to heat up — if I’m upright, I’m in the OOFOS. They’ve become the default. Not because I’m trying to be diligent, but because they genuinely make a difference. If I forget to put them on, I notice.

OOFOS: OOoh, or NOOoo

The difference these slides made during my recent bout of shin splints was genuinely impressive. Looking back, the contrast between my recovery with OOFOS versus pre-OOFOS is huge. Previously, I’d cut back my training and taken a few rest days — but the pain lingered. This time, I did the same: reduced volume, rested — but added OOFOS. No shin splints.

I’m pretty sure it’s because rest isn’t as restful as we think. We’re still on our feet — cooking, cleaning, wandering around — and all that impact adds up. Having something underfoot that actively absorbs that load makes a huge difference. It’s like recovering passively, without even trying.

The shin splints might be gone, but the risk of overuse injuries never really disappears — especially when mileage climbs. OOFOS have shown they can help ease that load. So I’ll be keeping them in the rotation, not just for recovery, but as part of injury prevention too.

Who Should Buy OOFOS Recovery Footwear?

Honestly, my first instinct is to just say everyone and be done with it. But let’s break it down properly.

Injury Rehabilitation

If you’re dealing with a common overuse injury like plantar fasciitis or shin splints, the first step is usually to reduce your training load and work on strength and mobility to address the underlying issue.

What many people don’t consider, though, is how much load accumulates outside of training. Walking around the supermarket, standing in the kitchen, trips to the bathroom, and — if you’re British — the 20+ times you get up to boil the kettle every day… it all adds up.

Now, I can’t independently verify OOFOS’ claim that OOfoam absorbs 37% more impact than traditional foam. But I can say this: most of those daily activities? I’d normally do them barefoot. So if OOfoam really does absorb 37% more than shoes, it probably absorbs even more than nothing.

During my own shin splint recovery, wearing OOFOS around the house made a huge difference. Pain reduced quickly, impact felt lower, and I was back to running sooner than expected. I’d genuinely recommend them to anyone dealing with an overuse injury — though, of course, speak to a professional about your own situation.

Increasing Your Mileage?

Most of us have a weekly mileage ceiling — a point beyond which injury risk spikes. That limit’s different for everyone, but you’ll often hear runners say things like, “Every time I go over 40 miles a week, something flares up.”

If you’re looking to push that ceiling higher, OOFOS can help. They take the edge off the daily load that exists outside of your training plan — giving your legs more room to recover, and more margin to train without tipping into overuse territory.

On Your Feet All Day?

It’s not just runners who stand to benefit. If you work long hours on your feet — healthcare, hospitality, retail — OOFOS could be a game-changer.

I’ve done 12.5-hour shifts in healthcare. I know how brutal they are. Hoka might be the current go-to for nurses and doctors, but honestly, they’d probably be better off in OOFOS (though maybe not the open-toe slides). I just wish I’d discovered them back then.

📝 Quick Checklist: You Might Benefit from OOFOS If…

✅ You’re dealing with shin splints, plantar fasciitis, or other overuse injury
✅ You do a lot of walking or standing outside of training
✅ You’re ramping up mileage or training intensity
✅ You usually go barefoot around the house
✅ You’ve tried other “recovery” footwear and found them underwhelming
✅ You want passive recovery support without having to think about it

You Might Want to Avoid OOFOS If…

If you have flat feet, you may want to avoid the OOFOS as the arch support is quite pronounced. Other than that, the only reason I can think for not adding a pair to your collection is that you don’t love your feet. Meanie.

Verdict: Fancy Crocs or Legit Recovery Tool?

Even though I’m a fan of Crocs, suggesting that OOFOS are just a fancy version feels like a bit of an insult. Sorry, OOFOS — you deserve better.

No gadget or gizmo will ever replace proper training, strength work, mobility, nutrition, or sleep — but there’s no denying how useful these slides are for recovery. During a rough patch with both plantar fasciitis and shin splints, the OOFOS slides were the only thing I added to my routine. The pain relief was almost immediate, and it was clear they were doing what they promised: reducing the impact of everyday activity. As long as I own running shoes, there’ll be a pair of OOFOS waiting at home to greet my overworked feet.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve got feet. And if you’ve got feet, you should probably get a pair of OOFOS.

Cool Down Reads

Since we’re already on the subject, why not learn more about injury? Specifically, the relationship between strength training and the incidence of injury.

Need to sort out another area of recovery — sleep? Check out our review of 8hours.

Want a comfortable trail running shoe that’s good for your feet? Look no further than the Altra Lone Peak 9+.