12 of the best recovery shoes, sliders and flip flops to look after your feet post-run

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.

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. One flat-footed tester wears these every single day round the house, and claims they're one of the few shoes that don't cause him discomfort.

If you love FitFlop's tech but aren't made on toe-post shoes, these are for you. (That tech includes ergonomic engineering to tweak your body's alignment and natural movement as well as a pressure-diffusing midsole, btw.)

This classic slider style comes in five on-trend colours and offers excellent support thanks to the grippy waffled footbed that stops your foot sliding around (even in socks) and midsole design, which has give but not a ton — ideal if you're not a fan of the cloud-like bounce often on offer. The sole offers a slight rock for comfortable natural walking and the arch support is superb too. A new favourite.

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 Looks wont appeal to all. All in all? A joy to wear.

We may or may not have uttered an expletive when we first put these on — that’s how insanely comfortable they are. With stylish sandal looks but plush, sink-your-soles-in footbeds, these are a brilliant every day option for the summer, and don't look bad worn with socks when the temperature drops too.

The two upper straps are delightfully squishy and luluelmon has cleverly reduced the number of points your skin comes into contact with seams for chafe-free comfort.

We (stupidly) did wear them on a long walk in 30°C+ heat and got one tiny blister on the top of one of our feet — which is of course a totally individual thing, but even so, we wouldn't recommend them for extended wear in hot weather. That said, we pretty much live in these now.

These recovery flip flops are crafted from foam (in both the upper and midsole) a super lightweight, flexible and comfortable shoe. The slight rocker sole means there's less work for tired feet to do and it's comfortably squishy too, with good cushioning, while 'Microwobbleboard' tech in the midsole helps diffuse pressure as well as reduce impact.

Yes, the toe-post design isn't for everyone, and we did feel this one could be a bit softer as it's on the firm side. That said, the upper straps are very cushioned and very comfortable against skin, plus there's good grip on the footbeds so you don't feel like you have to clench your foot to keep the shoes on. Of course, unless you're a toe-sock fan (anyone?) you can't really wear socks with these, but if you're generally a flip flop fan, they're a no-brainer.

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!

Shop the women's clog here.

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.

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.

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, which still fall into the recovery line up due to the levels of comfort and the bumpy foot bed. These 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).