Oofos Review
Oofos Recovery Sandals Product Review
Disclaimer: I received a pair of Oofos Ooriginal Sports Sandals to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
If you follow me on Instagram, then you’re probably aware of just how excited I was to get my hands on a pair of Oofos recovery sandals. Recovery shoes were a concept I had never really heard of or considered, I just knew that taking off my running shoes after a race is a close to a euphoric experience. Even during regular training, it feels pretty good to strip off your kicks after a tough run but I've always just opted to go barefoot. Enter Oofos...
From their website:
WHAT MAKES OOFOS INCOMPARABLE TO OTHER RECOVERY SHOES?
ABSORBS MORE SHOCK THAN TRADITIONAL FOAMS Athletic shoe foams are designed to “rebound” and propel you forward. Revolutionary OOfoam does the opposite, absorbing 37% more shock with every step than traditional footwear foam.
REDUCES STRESS ON SORE FEET, KNEES AND BACK Your feet and joints take a pounding on hard surfaces. Slipping on OOFOS after a workout provides them with relief and a chance to recover.
CRADLES YOUR ARCHES Unlike flip-flops, the OOFOS patented footbed is designed with tremendous arch support to take the pressure off of ankles, knees and hips, as well as your lower back.
ENABLES MORE NATURAL MOTION Biomechanically designed, OOFOS flex with both your foot and the ground. The soft, flexible OOfoam material enables your foot to articulate the way nature intended.
What is Oofoam?
Alright so let's tackle a few of the product highlights one by one. First I want to talk about the foam itself. It's almost impossible to describe what if feels like to step into a pair of Oofos because they're just so comfortable. The material feels somewhat similar to a yoga mat, but a really thick and squishy yoga mat.
I had the privilege of talking with a few representatives from Oofos and learned that the company actually got its name because when the shoes were invented, all anyone could say when they slipped them on was a relaxed "Ooooooo." The story checks out because your feet just slowly sink into the pillowy sole as soon as they're on your feet.
Save your Legs
The shock-absorbing foam also helps take the stress off of your legs after a run which I was especially excited about because of my knees. I have incredibly tight IT bands and so recovery after a run is essential for me to avoid another flare-up. I'm in the midst of fall race training and so I've worn my Oofos after every single run since I got them.
Whether it be a weekend long run or a mid-week pace run, I keep them in my gym bag so I can slip them on as soon as I'm finished. Now, I already pay a lot of attention to stretching post-run to aid my knees but since trying the Oofos, my legs barely even feel the traditional "next-day soreness" I associate with a tougher workout.
Arch Support
Another huge perk for me was the arch support. I have very high arches and when I first injured my IT bands after my first half-marathon, my physical therapist cited my lack of arch support as a major contributor to the injury. Now, I still don't wear arch supports in my running shoes and instead have worked to strengthen my arches and other stabilizing muscles, but after a run, I'm more than happy to let my arches take a break.
In the past, I've also had shoes with supports that hurt my arches because they're too rigid. The Oofoam comes in handy again here because you get significant support but as if your arches were being cradled by the clouds.
Natural Motion
Another thing I love about Oofos is that it encourages natural motion in your stride. If I'm not somewhere that requires shoes, I'm always barefoot. I just like being barefoot, but I also like to think that it helps strengthen some of the stabilizing muscles in your feet and legs by using them in their natural state. One of the focuses of the Oofos shoe design is that they allow your feet to spread out like you're barefoot. Although you get the additional support from wearing the shoes, it gives you the same feeling as if you're walking barefoot.
Overall Comfort
Aside from all of the amazing benefits they list on their site, I've really just fallen in love with how comfortable Oofos are. And it's not just me. If my Oofos aren't in my gym bag, I leave them by the front door and if my wife beats me home, I usually find her wearing them around the apartment.
The best thing about Oofos is they're not just beneficial to wear after a run. The post-run support is phenomenal but anytime you can wear them, they just make your legs feel so good. It's hard to explain unless you've tried them because "You don't know #TilYouOo."
If I don't explain it well enough, here's a helpful video Oofos put together to help explain the technology behind their design.
As far as cons, I wracked my brain to find anything but all I really noticed while testing them was that my the bottoms of my feet tended to get a bit sweaty after walking around in them. Because the material doesn't absorb any of the moisture, they would get a little slippery but that was really only after I played an intense game of ping pong in them. Even if you do sweat in them, they're machine washable so don't worry about getting them smelling!
If you're in the market for a nice pair of post-run recovery shoes, you have to check out one of the many styles from Oofos. They're comfortable, feel great on your legs, and pack easily into a gear-check bag for post-race festivities!