It doesn鈥檛 matter if you鈥檙e a thru-hiker logging daily, double-digit mileage with a few thousand feet of vert or a recreational skier chasing toddlers more than face shots; recovery is critical. More often than not, our feet are the powerhouses propelling us through the fun. The 26 bones, 33 joints, and 100 ligaments and tendons packed inside our feet allow us to walk, run, and skip down the trail but, it comes at a cost: our feet get worked. That鈥檚 why both recreational and elite outdoor enthusiasts have turned to a number of solutions to help their muscles and feet recuperate faster. One of the best practices? Active recovery.
Active recovery is the practice of low-intensity exercise or movement after the tougher, high-intensity activity. It may seem counterintuitive at first that you should move rather than flop on a couch after challenging yourself in the mountains. But , active recovery is an effective way to heal your body. Difficult outdoor activities often lead to muscle fatigue that can last up to a few days, however if you participate in a mellow activity like walking or even gentle hiking, you鈥檙e more likely to reduce the lactic acid buildup in your muscles and increase blood flow to the healing tissue. It鈥檚 not sorcery; it鈥檚 science, and professional athletes like legendary climber Lynn Hill swear by it.
鈥淭raining is about stressing your muscles and your body to adapt,鈥 says Hill, who made a name for herself as the first climber to make a successful free ascent of The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. 鈥淚鈥檓 still in pretty good shape and don鈥檛 have any injuries, and I think a lot of that has to do with being aware of my body and ensuring I participate in active recovery.鈥
Of course, not all active recovery is equal. That鈥檚 why OOFOS dug into the data before creating : intentionally designed shoes for active recovery. The secret is in the foam. The brand uses a 鈩, a closed-cell, water-resistant foam proven to absorb 37% more impact than other foam footwear. When combined with their patented footbed that supports arches and reduces ankle energy exertion by up to 47%, OOFOS kicks minimize muscle fatigue and tension while expediting recovery.聽
Bottom line: gets you back out doing what you love a lot faster.
鈥淎s a climber, I stuff my feet in really tight shoes,鈥 Hill says. 鈥淭hey bend your toes back and you get calluses and bunions, so in between climbs and pretty much whenever I鈥檓 not in technical shoes, I鈥檓 in my OOFOS to eliminate the stress on my feet. There鈥檚 different models for different things, and I wear them all.鈥
From sandals and shoes to clogs and slippers, OOFOS has a style for every purpose. That鈥檚 the beauty of active recovery with OOFOS. If you鈥檙e walking around town after an epic slog, throw on a pair of OOmg eeZee Low shoes to heal your limbs quicker. Enjoying an evening at home after shredding powdery lines all day? Try the OOcoozie Low slipper-style shoes. The latest line is the , a breathable hybrid-type of recovery shoe designed specifically for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers. As with all OOFOS shoes, OOcandoo uses the magical OOfoam to reduce stress on sore knees, back, and feet while also encouraging a natural gait.聽
鈥淔rom the first time I stepped into my OOFOS, they felt so good,鈥 Hill admits. 鈥淎nd I think that鈥檚 the reaction I鈥檝e seen from everybody who tries them on. I call them my quiet shoes: I move so softly and gently when I鈥檓 wearing them.鈥
OOFOS, the global leader in recovery footwear, was founded by a team of industry veterans to provide active recovery for active lifestyles. Made with revolutionary OOfoam鈩 technology, OOFOS are designed to absorb impact, so your body doesn’t have to. Magic, right? Actually, it’s science. The science of OOfoam鈩 technology.