Crocs Unisex-Adult Mellow Recovery Slides Sandal

Product Information

In the past two decades, Crocs cemented itself as one of the pioneers of foam-based slip-on footwear. Its unconventional design served a bigger purpose than just getting water out of the shoe, it also became a staple comfortable shoe for rest days. The Crocs Mellow Slide debuted in 2022, seeking to redefine foam slides once again. This model boasts an open-toe design constructed with the brand’s plush LiteRide technology. Open windows on the sides regulate ventilation as the shoe has no round holes. The soft footbed provides sink-in comfort with a slow rebound for recovery. Wavy designs on the foam outsole extend to the midsole for additional design.

Support: All recovery shoes should provide support for your feet. This means the footbed should be anatomically designed to match the shape of the bottom of your foot. The heel of the slide should cradle your heel, and the medial side of the midfoot area should curve upward to support your foot’s arch. Durability. While you should never wear recovery shoes while doing strenuous activities like running, biking, hiking or playing intramural sports, they are often worn outside and should be able to stand up to the elements. Look for textured outsoles (the bottoms of the shoe) that provide good grip and the use of high-quality materials to ensure these shoes last. How exactly do these specially designed shoes do this? It's all in a few key features, including the sole cushion and support, increasing blood flow in feet and a structure that allows seamless weight shifting from heels to toes in fluid motion. Breathability. Most of the best recovery shoes promote airflow in one way or another, to ensure any sweat or moisture retained during a workout can effectively dissipate after you leave the gym. Whether that's through intentional design features — like a perforated vamp or cutouts, or the use of airy materials, like mesh — it's important to keep your feet cool and dry. In addition to wearing them after completing routine exercise (especially an exhausting workout!), you may be referred to recovery shoes if you are experiencing foot pain caused by a movement-related injury.

Beyond that, there are a few points to consider when searching for the right pair of recovery slides for your needs. Plantar fasciitis: "This condition is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue which runs along the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes," Dr. Alvarez explains. "Wearing recovery shoes can help reduce strain on the inflamed area, while cushioning the heel and providing arch support as well as extra room for swelling in the foot."

I never thought I was a slides guy until I was gifted a pair — now I live in them. After a run or workout, recovery slides are a great way to help your feet (and the rest of your body) rest and recharge. But the same features that make them good for recovery — like plush cushioning and supportive footbeds — also make them ideal candidates for at-home lounging. Bottom line: Recovery slides are versatile footwear, and it’s worth investing in a quality pair. Your feet will thank you. Proper arch support, extra cushioning and pressure reduction are all key features in recovery footwear,” Ferrigno-Taddeo says. Ralston, who was also the physical therapist for the 2022 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team, says to look for designs specially earmarked for recovery and seek out a wide toe box when selecting post-workout shoes so that toes can splay naturally and allow for movement of the metatarsals. “Breathability, gentle cushioning [and] arch support” are also critical, she says. “If needed, an elevated heel can reduce stress on the Achilles tendon, with the goal of aiding in faster tissue and joint recovery.”A recovery shoe is an important resource among other tools that allow people to train hard frequently or even daily, and then feel rested before the next training rolls along, explains Dr. Sharkey. Runners, in particular, experience joint soreness in legs and feet after long runs — recovery shoes help ease the strain on these joints. When it comes to shopping for a pair of recovery shoes, runners and athletes alike will need to readily identify the following design features for the best results. If you're interested in pain relief and injury prevention, choose recovery shoes that feature: For this story, Zee interviewed two patient-facing podiatrists who treat a wide array of patients that are at various activity levels, including those who have experienced sports-related injuries. They are: A recovery shoe is a shoe designed with cushioning and support with the goal of helping athletes recover faster from activity," says Anne Sharkey, D.P.M., a practicing podiatrist in the North Austin Foot and Ankle Institute in Texas.

Make the most out of your leisure time with the Crocs Mellow Recovery Slide! It’s not only suitable for rest and recreation, but it’s also good post-game footwear for athletes. Showcase the relaxed design of this clean Crocs Mellow Slide “White” rendition.Size and flexibility. Unlike sneakers or training shoes, experts say recovery shoes should not feel constricting in any way, including along the width of your foot and in the toe area. While padded sole support is key, you should be able to walk as naturally as possible (almost as if you were not wearing shoes at all). Ensuring a good fit on your slides, slip-ons or sandals will help blood flow and circulation in your foot, as well as help relieve any tenderness in your feet after a tough workout. Runners, hikers and gym rats seem to spend loads of time obsessing over the lightest, cushiest and newest high-tech running sneakers, all while forgetting one very important piece of the athletics puzzle: recovery. Recovery shoes and sandals differ from regular tennis shoes in that they are specifically designed to actively reduce joint stress, minimize swelling and aid in circulation after a long run or big, high-impact exertion. “The most common injuries [that] these shoes can help to aid in recovery for and prevent … are plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and Achilles tendinitis,” says Lisa Ralston, a physical therapist who’s spent over 30 years treating elite athletes. Recovery slip-ons and slides are generally not designed to be worn all day. Rather, they’re supposed to be used during rest while training, post-workout or after a big event.

Level of Cushioning: If you’ve just run a marathon or finished a difficult workout, Ferrigno-Taddeo suggests slipping on a slide with more cushioning, though it should still be relatively lightweight, so it doesn’t feel clunky on your foot. For recovery from low-intensity activities, like standing on your feet all day, she recommends less cushioning: You want a slide that’s supportive but mimics a barefoot feel, like the Olukai ‘Ohana below. First and foremost, foot pain is not the norm, so Dr. Anderson always advises consulting with a podiatrist for specific recommendations and treatments. But before you start replacing all of your beloved footwear with top-notch orthotics, know that arch support-specific styles are not necessarily warranted for everybody. Usually, people with flatter feet, arthritic conditions, previous injury, or tired and aching joints gain the most benefit from extra support. Athletes can also reap the benefits of solid arch support, as Anderson knows from her 20+ years as a ballerina. “As a podiatrist and a dancer, I try to choose shoes that fit properly, match the structure, length and width of my foot, and are comfortable,” she asserts. Sports or activities that are hard on your feet demand supportive shoes outside of practices or rehearsals to help your foot and leg muscles recover. Put simply, recovery shoes are especially crucial for those who are training for physical events or undergoing training regiments as they contribute to alleviating fatigue after exercise. Recovery shoes provide additional cushioning and comfort that can help reduce the risk of injury," says Dr. Alvarez, who adds that some healthcare providers encourage those with existing injuries to wear recovery shoes to reduce stress on implicated areas. "In wearing recovery shoes during training or competition, it's possible to extend running distances and speed up recovery times… Over time, wearing recovery shoes will enable runners to stay healthy and reach their full potential as an athlete."The elevated heel helps reduce strain on the Achilles tendon, alongside additional cushioning and arch support which reduces stress on foot muscles and ligaments," says Dr. Alvarez, a specialist within the Foot & Ankle Centers of America. "Many models feature extra wide toe boxes which allow for better distribution of pressure across the toes, while also providing more room for swelling if needed." Please note: If you buy through the links in this article, we may earn a small share of the profits. In recent years that's begun to change, thanks to the advent of recovery footwear, designed specifically for athletes and those on their feet all day to stimulate muscle recovery and thwart fatigue. We’re not podiatrists, but experience tells us that the love you show your tired feet will be repaid tenfold the next day as you put them through the wringer once again.