Free shipping and returns. Shop for the most comfortable recovery footwear for both men & women at OOFOS®. Recover faster and feel the OO with OOFOS®. Shop now!
Source: OOFOS Recovery Footwear – Official Store
This is my first time writing about OOFOS on the site. I always saw OOFOS as CROCS. There wasn’t anything distinctive beyond the name and the fact that the shoes from the brand felt like another part of the wave of shoes made for quick access and comfort, I dismissed the company. I see a clog and I immediately think CROCS, which isn’t fair to OOFOS because these are very different companies. CROCS are built for comfort and price. They’ve become a darling of the collabs and fashion world, but overall, they never seemed serious, until they recently acquired Heydude Shoes after a few years of explosive growth. Watching the share price of the brand escalate and the transition into sneaker culture made me stop.
I took a long look at CROCS and found something interesting, people bought what was inexpensive and fast to throw on during the quarantine. This led to an uptick of quarantine foot injuries. I’m not saying in any way that the number of CROCS that have sold over the last two years has contributed to the increase in foot issues. Quite the opposite. CROCS are on par with the brands I’m covering in this series. There is researched evidence of the benefits of CROCS. After reading about the two brands featured in this discussion on Recovery, (I’m covering OOFOS in this first part), I found that the battleground could shift momentum away from CROCS because there are options which do a little bit more for your feet.
OOFOS isn’t just CROCS adjacent. The company was founded by industry vets looking to create a post workout shoe which could assist in the process of recovery. What does this mean? If you are actively working out, or planning to initiate a workout plan, you’re probably going to feel a bit sore. Leg day is every day for those who run as a part of their training. While lifting weights can contribute to building the correct amount of muscle to offset a lot of injuries and pain that arrives with the repetition of pounding in building stamina and stronger legs, most athletes have to add a Recovery routine to their training. At one point “Recovery” was RICE (Rest, Ice Compression Elevate).
“OOfoam® technology, OOFOS absorb 37% more impact than traditional foam footwear.” This information is good to read, but it fails to clarify why RICE and OOFOS should go hand in hand. RICE is for joints and muscles. You can’t really do those things if you aren’t a professional or scholarship athlete. The everyday athlete has to go to work, school or engage in additional activities around the house. There isn’t an extended period to RICE. OOFOS decided to cater to the active person who has to continue moving after the workout. “Then there’s our patented footbed that cradles and supports arches. When paired with OOfoam™, it reduces energy exertion in the ankles by up to 47%* compared to competitors’ footwear.”
CROCS are ergonomically designed, cost effective, but the brand doesn’t tout its ability to cradle the feet or absorb impact. As a matter of fact, CROCS have begun to take a lot of heat after their growth during the quarantine. While the 2005 study linked above shows that the shoes are ergonomic, new evidence is being presented to show the issues around the lack of a foot cradle and how the heel of the foot shifting inside of the shoe can lead to foot issues. OOFOS does what CROCS can do, better. OOFOS is up against some very stiff competition on this battlefield of Recovery and Comfort. CROCS has the cool factor. The competitor in part two has a serious history of smart design and recovery with an extremely stylish and improved look. Am I stating that a company that most people have possibly never heard of could disrupt the machine CROCS has become? Potentially, but to do so they aren’t just fighting a snapping reptile, they are fighting a brand that understands the assignment.
Part 2 tomorrow.