Give your feet some love with the best recovery shoes, sliders and flip flops (2024)

Now hold on, before you judge this book by its cover - yes it's a more extreme looking version of a croc, but it's a very different bit of footwear. The gaps in the upper help the Yogui flex and keep the feet cool alongside the holes. The footbed is contoured and has a reassuring firmness to it that helps cradle tired feet. Quite the statement piece of footwear too!

Affordable, stylish and extremely well cushioned – what more could you want in a recovery shoe? In the Ora, Hoka has used a firmer foam that gently presses up on the arch of the foot to support it. There’s also a slight rock that takes the pressure off the legs by adding energy efficiency to your walking stride. Grooves on the bottom of the slide provide traction to prevent any slips too.

What the mahabis summer slipper lacks in cushioning, it more than makes up for in comfort - especially in the heat. These win all the breathability awards due to the very open weave of the upper, but the coolness also comes from the footbed that has a layer of natural cork on the top of it. It’s an ideal choice if your post-run feet always feel a bit swollen and sweaty. They also come in eco-friendly packaging, with mahabis planting a tree for every pair bought. The con? They’re definitely in the premium category when it comes to price.

Lululemon’s foray into footwear last year saw the release of the Restfeel. There’s certainly less cushioning than Hoka or Oofos, but they still feel pretty plush and look at-home with jeans or a skirt. We’d say this is a happy medium between a super-cushioned recovery shoe and a standard slider. They’re only available in half sizes though, so if you’re between sizes we’d recommend sizing up.

Lightweight, cushioned and super comfortable, Crocs make the perfect recovery shoe for runners. We like the classic clogs best (our executive editor is a big fan of these worn with socks around the office) as they're accommodating for wide, hot feet and come in a variety of colours and funky designs.

Wonderfully cushioned and offering excellent arch support, these shoes are a great option if you have flat feet and suffer from painful arches as a result. They deliver superb comfort and protection and can be worn as an everyday shoe –pairing well with jeans or leggings.

OOFOS were one of the first brands to focus on recovery shoes and it now boasts a number of different models. We particularly love its open-toe models, though – these OOahh Sport Sandals feel amazing to slip on post-race, with one of our testers refusing to wear anything else the week after a major marathon. With a structured foot bed and lots of cushioning, you'll be happy to have packed these in your race bag. They do run slighter small though, so we’d recommend going a whole size up.

This recovery flip flop has a soft ventilated strap so you don’t need to worry about any toe irritation here. There’s a cushy EVA footbed for extra comfort, which also helps to take excess weight off your feet to aid recovery. All in all? A joy to wear.

The flip flop or thong design of these Revs won't be everyone's taste, but if you don't like a slider then these are a fantastic option. The foot bed is designed to stimulate pressure points in the foot, boost blood circulation, relieve pain and speed up recovery. We just know they're soft and comfortable.

A classic from adidas, but still falls into the recovery line up due to the levels of comfort and the bumpy foot bed; they feel fantastic on tired feet and that little bit of airflow underfoot helps the feet remain cool. These can also be worn on holiday and not look out of place poolside (which can't be said for all the options).