The 9 Best Recovery Shoes For Sore Feet

• Podiatrists love these
• Lightweight

• A very weird underfoot feeling to the newbies
• Feel a little fragile for tougher outdoor conditions

I wish that podiatrists and physical therapists could all receive commission for the Oofos slides they've recommended over the year. The Oofos recovery slide basically reinvented the game, and there's no reason not to stick with the classic. They're designed with a proprietary foam and constructed to put your feet in the healthiest position possible. That said, they do have a lot more going on under the foot (it feels almost bumpy, rather than a cloudy cushion), which takes some getting used to. My PT promises it's worth it.

• Great for travel
• Soft, collapsible heel

• Pricey
• Not as much midsole cushion as other options

Recovery shoes sometimes need to do more work than go from the car to the gym, and for anything that involves the outside, we're going with Arc'teryx's Kragg. It's essentially a slip-on sneaker built with a grippy Vibram outsole and stretchy upper. We are extremely partial to the soft heel, which can collapse to be worn as slides or pulled up for a full sneaker.

• A solid shoe
• Won't ruin a 'fit

• Heavier heel can drag a bit
• Some think sole too stiff

If you want a recovery shoe that you can pull off with just your normal (very good) outfit, it's the Nike ACG mule. It's a thicker shoe, which is nice for wearing outside in all types of weather. These are built with a supportive foam midsole, rubber outsole, and navy suede upper.

• Regular, wide, extra wide sizing
• Excellent cushioning

• Will require you lace them
• Not as easy as some other options

Running sneakers are gatekeeping all the best foot support out there, but we're here to blow up their spot. For all-day, foot-wide support, a cushion-heavy running sneaker makes for an excellent recovery shoe. Give, of course, you don't also beat down that midsole support by running in them.

• Lightweight
• Roomy fit

• Not adjustable
• Will squeak when wet

New Balance's new all-foam recovery shoe is insane, and we love it for that. It's as easy as a slide but with more top-of-foot protection and a back, so you don't to clomp around. The top is meant to hug your foot, while the interior is designed to massage your foot while you walk.

• Easy to slip on
• Reliable support

• Not adjustable
• Aesthetic not for everyone

Remember: running sneakers not beat down from running make excellent recovery shoes. These have a ton of cushion with enough stability that you don't feel sucked into the ground. The laceless design makes them easier to throw on than its laced counterpart.

• Top foot support
• Smart ventilation

• Not a ton of color options
• A specific aesthetic

Foam slides are the latest and greatest in techy, athleisure infiltrating the fashion space. These shoes are a great example. They are function first—recovery first!—and we're probably wearing them with crew socks on a coffee run right now.

• Puffy upper
• Some heel support

• Some with wider feet felt they're hard to put on
• Controversial lacing system

You honestly can't go wrong with any Hoka as a recovery shoe. All that thick cushioning, in any of its forms, is instant foot relief. But these new Oras are fun. They're designed with that substantial Hoka cushioning with an insulated puffy upper. You bet we're walking the dog in these.

• Venting
• Adjustable backstrap

• Some areas might rub
• Better to wear with socks

Birkenstock's EVA shoes are excellent summer choices, particularly if you're around sand or water. These clogs hug your foot and are super lightweight. We like how easy they are to clean—just a little rinse and you're good to go.

Cushion! No, but actually. Smart cushioning is your friend. The smart part means that it's not cushion just for feeling soft, but cushioned in the right places that are gentle on the tired parts of your foot but supportive on the others. Your foot anatomy and activity you're recovering from will impact this, too. A slide or sandal is great for throwing on, for example, but isn't as good if it feels like it's clomping around.

As people who love shoes, we know intimately what it is like when you wear new, uncomfortable, and stiff shoes. And you bet we have shoes we look forward to wearing post-bad-shoe day. These shoes we've tried, some at the behest of our beloved physical therapists, and they're the ones we reach for when we can't be bothered with a shoe that might hurt.