Hoka One One Ora Recovery Slide Review

Most runners strike the ground between 160 and 200 times per minute (depending on stride, speed, and terrain). When you couple that with the fact that most runners strike the ground at 2.5 times their body weight, the importance of proper recovery becomes is further clarified.

The goal of recovery slides (no matter the brand) is to provide shock absorption and arch support–two crucial recovery elements that we don’t get when we finish a long run, throw on a pair of shoes and head toward the next thing. Now, I’ve always been a slipper wearer, but when I lost my slippers a year or so ago, I started walking barefoot on my hardwood floors. It wasn’t long before I noticed my feet hurt… badly! Buying a pair of recovery slides provided a massive improvement and even when I finally located my slippers, I tucked them away in the closet in favor of my new Hoka miracle workers. So, while recovery shoes or slippers are also an option, many runners (like myself) prefer slides. They allow the feet to breathe and cool off without looking ridiculous if you feel a hankering for post-run brunch.

OOFOS

As I mentioned above, Hoka is not the first running brand to delve into the world of recovery slides. One of the original and more notable brand is OOFOS. OOFOS came onto the scene in 2011 as a functional footwear brand for active enthusiasts. The slides made by OOFOS cost between $60-90 depending on the style and design. It’s an admittedly high price point, but it gets you the Oofoam technology that boasts a 37% higher absorption rate than average footwear. The design is also specifically catered toward reducing stress on knees, ankles, and joints. While the OOFOS OOahh slides won’t win any style awards, they’re very much aligned with the athleisure craze of the moment and look sleek–with multiple color options and a minimalist design. However, it is worth noting that in addition to the high price point, the OOFOS slides don’t offer much traction for outdoor use. 

Specs: 20 oz in weight with a Proprietary OOfoam outsole and a slip-on fit

Chaco

The same soft footbed and arch support are found in the Chaco Chillo Slide–another popular recovery slide choice. While the Chaco slides are similar, they boast further functionality thanks to the signature Chaco straps that hold the shoes in place as you move around. Chaco isn’t a running brand though, and the thinness of the upper as well as the heel makes me question if the $50 wouldn’t be better spent on a more time-tested option such as OOFOS or Hoka.

Specs: 5.3 ounces in weight with a High abrasion EVA outsole with wave fin traction design. They are a slip-on style.

Crocs

Speaking of non-running-specific brands, let’s chat about the $50 Crocs Mellow Slide. For a polarizing brand, Crocs went with a more standard look with these slides. The shoes are plush and feature the trademark Croslite resin material. They look quite similar to the OOFOS or Hoka slides. However, the Crocs version doesn’t have as dense of a foam stack and it also has a much bigger open-toe box that–for female runners like myself–could pose a problem with proper fit. 

Specs: 13.4 ounces in weight with no heel drop confirmed–heel drop is hard to calculate with slides like the styles in this review.

Allbirds

Allbirds is a brand name is synonymous with soft comfort, so it makes sense that they came out with a recovery sandal called the Sugar Slider. Just like the other brands, Allbirds has its own trademarked cushioning material called SweetFoam. Despite the foam, moderate price point of $30-50, and reputable brand; I wasn’t overly impressed when I tried on the Sugar Sliders. The patterned soles are plushy but can irritate the foot because of their pattern. I also didn’t like the chunky strap, stylistically. That being said, they are on sale as of when I’m writing this review, so they could be worth a try if you’re bold. Before you go ahead and wing it though (pun intended), let me explain why I think the Hoka Ora slides are a better option.

Specs: Allbirds does not provide any weight or heel drop information for these slides. While I suspect the weight is similar to the competitor’s slides, I cannot confirm that personally. 

As I mentioned above, I’m a huge Hoka fan. That being said, I authentically did my research when looking for a pair of recovery slides. If OOFOS' pair felt better and had better reviews, I would have pivoted. I didn’t though. I found that when it comes to comfort, durability, and style; the Oras are perfect for my needs. There are now three editions of the Ora slides–the first and second editions are nearly the same while the third edition has an updated look. Since this review is on the original Hoka Ora Slides, I will mainly focus on those shoes, but I will touch on features of the Ora 3 slides for comparison purposes.

Specs

The Original Hoka Ora slides are 6.6 ounces and are made with an EVA outsole. 

Comfort

As I write this review, I’m wearing my bright blue Hoka Ora slides. But that’s hardly an isolated incident. Nearly every day, I’m wandering around my home asking my husband, “where are my slippers!?” Yes, I call them slippers. Why? Well, because they’re everything comfy and fun I expect out of slippers. Plus, aside from the occasional jaunt around the block, I mostly wear them inside or on the way home after a run. If you want to wear these outside though, they’ll pass with flying colors. The traction on the bottom is good and they have a little protective ridge around the exposed part that can keep out a bit of rain or snow.

I appreciate the thickness of the slides, which come with an EVA foam midsole that relieves the pressure of impact and strain. I can wear these while standing or working around the home with a fraction of the resulting achiness that comes from wearing regular slippers or flip-flops. I think these shoes have a near-perfect combination of comfortable rocker (with a 6 mm drop), arch support, and soft foam. Don’t believe me? Trust the American Podiatric Medical Association, which gave the Ora slides its Seal of Acceptance. 

I said “near-perfect” for a reason. If there is one thing I dislike about these slides, it’s that the ventilation isn’t more expansive. There are three slits on either side of the tops, which help let air in and out. But when I wear the slides for a while or it’s hot out, my feet get sweaty because those slits don’t extend farther down to where the foot actually heats up–toward the bottom. This isn’t a deal breaker for me, nor do I feel like the shoes are stinky as a result. It is, however, a drawback. Hoka recently released the Ora 3 slide which reportedly has a sleeker look and more open panels for airflow. If this is true, that’s a wonderful implementation of the feedback the company likely received on the first and second editions of the Ora.

The second critical thing I will note is not necessarily a con. It is more of a word of caution that these shoes run large. I wear a 7.5 typically and ordered these in a 7. I wouldn’t want to go any larger or smaller on them, so I definitely recommend sizing down if you’re between sizes.

Durability

I have owned my Ora slides for six months now and I wear them for the majority of my day. So believe me when I say that they are hardy shoes. I continue to feel like the shoes are soft and plushy, and if I wiped them down, they would easily look brand new. In other words: the logo and color are perfectly intact, and the material is still exactly as trusty (albeit a tad dirtier) as when I first wore these. The slides are less than $50 (around $30-40 at most national and online retailers), which is a great value. Thus, no cons to the slides’ durability as of now!

Style

I am listing style as the last category for a reason. Hoka was originally known as the dorky running brand. Just as I proudly wore my Clifton 2s back then, I wear my Hoka Ora’s now. Yes, they’re clunky. Yes, they aren’t as stylish as the sleek OOFOS sandals are. But I personally kind of like that. I enjoy the Hoka brand and what it stands for. I also think the thick appearance is fun and stylish in its own, unique way. There is also a lot of variety when it comes to color choices. I have an electric blue pair, but Hoka also sells green, orange, and black within the Ora 1 series. The Ora 2 slides are quite similar, however, they come in additional colors. The Ora 3 slides were just released at the end of 2022, but if you are able to find a pair, they come in 16 colors.