One shopper called them “magic slippers.”
Here’s one very important thing about me: I have flat feet, which makes shopping for shoes all the more difficult. More often than not, the “wrong” footwear causes me to wince in pain after a few hours of walking around New York City. And, with summer on the horizon and plans of spending all my time outside, I was recently on the hunt for reliable sandals I could walk miles in. Well, mission accomplished.
Enter Oofos, an active recovery footwear brand with products made with their signature OOfoam technology, which absorbs 37 percent more impact than traditional foam footwear materials, in turn offering the perfect blend of cushioning and stability, according to the brand. The footbeds also help support your arches — or lack thereof. They were, in short, exactly what I was looking for.
While orthopedic sandals that can lean a bit “ugly” aren’t my usual footwear of choice, I warmed up to the thought after seeing celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Gisele Bündchen, and Ashley Greene in them (Yes, I am not immune to being influenced, but let me live!). Now, I’ve tried a couple of styles from the brand, but it’s the Oofos Ooahh Recovery Slides that I keep going back to. They’re perfect for running errands, walking to yoga class, post-pedicure jaunts, and even for walking thousands of steps because you’re trying to avoid taking the subway. Plus, you can easily wear them with socks if you’re someone who doesn’t want their toes exposed, especially during the cold-weather season.
Buy on Nordstrom $60 Buy on Zappos $60
My go-to recovery slides come in nine different colors, so while you could opt for basics like black, slate, or navy, you could also embrace summer fun with pastel pink, blue, or green. They’re available for both men and women, and sizes ranging from 5 to 16, ensuring you’ll find a pair that fits you perfectly.
They’re beyond comfortable, which is why I wear them all the time. One Zappos reviewer wrote, “I feel like I’m walking on marshmallows and don’t want to take them off.” Another described them in a similar way, noting, “I feel like I am walking on bouncy clouds.” I agree with both, and that’s not a common way for me to feel in my shoes seeing as my flat feet need some extra TLC.
They’re also of much higher quality than many other sandals I’ve tried, which makes sense because they’re not really “cheap,” costing $60 a pop. Shoppers agree with me, with one writing, “How in the world did the manufacturer manage to combine a cushy feel and great arch support? This shoe delivers on both counts… it’s like a top-quality memory foam mattress, only for your feet.”
These are a great option for people with actual medical issues, too. One reviewer mentions, “I have plantar fasciitis, and the minute I put them on, I can walk without pain. They are magic slippers.”
Hesitant to take the plunge? There is one thing you need to be wary of. “The only con is that it makes me hate all my other shoes,” wrote one reviewer. You know what they say: Once you go orthopedic, you never go back.
Shop more comfy Oofos slides below.
Buy on Nordstrom $60
Buy on Nordstrom $90