Our feet are the unsung heroes of our bodies: They do a lot of hard work without getting much appreciation. Whether running, walking, or hiking, our feet carry us for miles and miles, then we trot off to attend to the non-sporty side of our lives—often in ill-fitting shoes devoid of arch support or cushioning.

No more! Our hardworking feet deserve more respect—not to mention support, cushioning, space to spread, and maybe some massage nubbins thrown in for good measure. You can find all of this in a quality recovery shoe. 

We had more than a dozen active BAMRbassadors test seven styles of recovery shoes (one brand got nixed, due to lackluster reviews). Your feet (and body) will appreciate you finding a pair that sounds right for you. (And note: Almost all of the brands featured in this review make multiple styles of recovery shoes—so if you like the features of one style, but maybe not its looks, check out the brand’s website for more options.)

OOFOS OOmega OOlala Sandal

Price: $89.95

Sizes: Women’s 5-11

When we asked our testers if they’d ever worn recovery shoes before, the most common response was, “Yes, OOFOS.” Savvy women: Since 2011, OOFOS has been making recovery shoes with a special impact-absorbing foam called OOfoam™. It kickstarts recovery by enhancing mobility and reducing load. “The cushioning was incredible—felt like firm pool noodle foam in the best way,” wrote one runner. “It struck a balance between supportive and squishy.” An avid walker suffering from plantar fasciitis in both feet (!) experienced an instant “I-can-walk-without-pain” kind of feeling when she slipped on this sandal. “It made my feet feel ultra-supported, and the pain was greatly reduced while walking and afterwards.” 

All our testers fell in love with this flip-flop’s “super-chunky platform sole” and “the patent-leather look of the toe strap.” A stylish, former Brooklynite confided she loves that, “this feels like a normal fashion flip-flop I can wear out and about with regular clothing and it doesn’t scream ‘recovery shoe.’” Another tester got style points from her teen babysitter, who informed her platform flip-flops are really in right now. “Definitely a trendy, easygoing look.” Plus, this mega-midsole provides an extra 15mm of impact-absorbing OOfoam™ technology.

Reminder: Function matters more than fashion when choosing footwear—and these OOFOS deliver. One runner reported: “My feet felt relaxed and happy” in these sandals, which “gave a nice break to my legs and feet post-workout without feeling too firm or flimsy.” The dedicated-walker deemed these her, “secret weapon against my PF.”

Topo Athletic Rekovr 2

Price: $120 (save 15% w/ code AMRwinter2025)

Sizes: Women’s 6-12

Warning: Once you put on these incredibly versatile slipper-shoes, you might only take them off to go running and shower! (At least that’s what happened with AMR co-founder Sarah.) They offer excellent traction courtesy of “the grippy Vibram sole,” and “they are cute enough to wear around for day-to-day activities and even to work,” confessed a tester. The charcoal gray color of the blended wool upper (which naturally resists odor) won raves from all the testers, saying it, “matches everything.” (SBS agrees.) One tester even wore them on an overnight flight to Europe, then walked around Paris in them. (Oooh-la-la!)

One big point of differentiation between these kicks and most others in the review is the footbed: It’s covered with repeating, 3D ridges that lightly stimulate and massage the nerves along the bottom of your foot. Said one tester: “There is a definite ‘aaaaahhhh’ moment when sliding my foot into these shoes—it feels very indulgent, like a little spa day for my feet.” Another weartester reported wearing these slipper-shoes after a 14-mile run, then on a Target run. “My feet felt surprisingly good—normally they would be screaming after all that!” 

A tester with an exceptionally high arch had fit issues, though: “They are a bit tight where the fabric comes across the highest bone at the top of my foot.” High-arched Sarah hasn’t experienced that problem, and she let the tester know the wool upper gently eases over time.

Dansko Devyn

Price: $60

Sizes: Women’s 5.5/6-11.5/12

These slides are by the maker of beloved Dansko clogs. The one-piece upper (as in, it’s not adjustable) and the outsole are made of lightweight EVA, while the “cushy,” contoured footbed is firmer molded polyurethane. “The extra padding that sits on top of the mold feels wonderful under my bare foot,” reported one multi-time marathoner. Another tester found the soles, “a little bulky,” yet she wrote, “the comfort overrides that!”

A marathoner deemed these slides “terrific,” saying they “helped with foot and calf soreness after workouts, as well as my lower back, which tends to tighten up after long races.”

While available in a trendy shade of pink, these slides didn’t score many beauty points, however. The husband of one tester’s best running friend dubbed them, “birth control shoes.” (Yikes!) To which the tester retorted, “Danskos are the shoes worn by nurses on their feet all day, and the Devyn fits within that reputation well. You’ll love the way they feel, not the way they look!”

Birkenstock Arizona Soft Footbed

Price: $150

Sizes: Women’s 4-12.5

Did you do a double-take when you saw this shoe? Yes, this longtime (since 1973!) favorite qualifies as a recovery shoe thanks to its contoured footbed. One tester brought her Birkenstocks to a recent half-marathon to wear immediately after the race, and her feet “were so happy. They supported my sore feet with a gentle arch and comfortable footbed that was definitely needed post-race.” The German-made Arizona features an additional foam layer for cushioning over the contoured footbed, making them “amazingly comfortable right out of the box with great arch support” for the half-marathoner. 

Yet a marathoner reported needing a gradual, lengthy “break-in” period for her Arizonas. “They definitely feel way more comfortable, and I can tell that they will become my favorites with time,” says the tester, who got great guidance from Birkenstock customer service reps, including advice on wearing them with socks (!) at first. The 26.2’er reported: “I really love how they feel now with socks after a long run.” 

All the testers appreciated the ability to adjust the two “soft suede straps” via buckles. And a size 12 tester was grateful for the size range offered. 

Don’t let the $150 price tag turn you away: One testers has previously had fake Birkenstocks (dubbed “Firks” by her teen daughter), but no more: “The Firks I have previously bought last only one or two summers, so it would be worth it to pay the higher price up front and not have to replace them for several years.”

Kane Revive Active Recovery Shoe

Price: $75

Sizes: Women’s 5-20

As one tester wrote, “This shoe was a good reminder not to judge the appearance of the shoe, and choose function over fashion.” Two of our three testers really liked how these shoes worked for them after a long run or lots of walking—and one Colorado tester even dug how they look. “They’re definitely fun and a little funky, which I appreciate. They’re not exactly stylish in a traditional sense, but they stand out.” Plus, she gave them bonus points for being able to double as water shoes: The Revive is made of a proprietary bio-based closed-cell foam that doesn’t absorb moisture. And, the upper is dotted with substantial, oval-shaped holes. 

The two Kane-loving testers (the third tester found the upper material significantly irritated her hammertoe after about a half-hour of wear so she stopped weartesting them) valued the shoes’ “great arch support.” Wrote one, “My bony, high-arched feet appreciates cushioning that doesn’t feel ‘squishy.’” They were divided, however, on the small, raised “nodes” on the footbed designed to activate blood flow in key pressure points. “I really like the little knobs inside: They gently stimulate my feet and make the shoes feel super-restorative,” wrote one, while the high-arched runner confided, “I didn’t like the nubby insole when I wore them barefoot…most likely a personal sensory preference.”

One runner reported, “the shoes seemed to help absorb shock to bring relief to my hips and low back, which are often sore after long runs.” She also said the Kanes helped prevent foot and toe cramps she sometimes suffers after a multi-mile endeavor. Another runner told us the shoes helped reduce her post-run Achilles pain. 

A sizing note: These are only available in all-gender whole sizes. A tester recommended going down a size if you’re between sizes.

Vionic Rejuvenate Recovery Sandal

Price: $85

Sizes: Women’s 5-14

These slides are the Crayola crayons of recovery shoes: They are available in a dozen colors! They sport a wide, cushioned strap that adjusts with Velcro closure; the strap’s fabric underside is “soft and comfortable,” according to one runner. A triathlete wrote: “The upper feels like a hug on my foot.” And her kids also gave them a thumbs up on style. (“Cool sandals Mom!”)

Testers’ feet were held secure while gals were walking around. “The sides are slightly higher than the [molded EVA] footbed, which nicely prevents your foot from sliding off the edges.” The footbed is also textured, which “felt great on bare feet,” reported the triathlete. “It felt like a nice massage to my arches and the bottom of my feet that sometimes feel tight after long runs,” wrote the runner, who appreciated that the slides put her body in better alignment. “I often stand with my weight too far back, causing hip/pelvis and low-back discomfort. When I wore these, I felt that my hips, knees, and ankles were stacked over one another better. They took strain off my back and lower body, allowing those muscles to recover better between runs.” 

Our testers had differing opinions on the 2” sole height: A self-described “shorter gal” liked the height of the sole, while a nearly 5’ 11” tester would have preferred “a shorter stack height.” But she theorized the height of the foam cushioning performs some of the shock-absorption function. She joked: “I will leave that feature up to the experts!”