For years, I tottered around in four-inch heels. It’s not the smartest move for someone who has flat feet and has dealt with plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia. More than likely, most of my foot issues stemmed from those evil but gorgeous looking shoes. These days, I get excited about a two-inch wedge heel.
I know there are lots of supportive shoes out there. Heck, I’ve written about walking shoes, dad shoes, and the best shoes for flat feet. When creating these roundups, I often included OOFOS due to their reputation and my research on the brand. OOFOS has the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) Seal of Acceptance. They give the seal to products that promote foot health and are of good quality. So, they’re the real deal. While they are most known for their therapeutic slides, OOFOS has created lace-up and step-in sneakers, slippers, clogs, and Chelsea boots throughout the years.
OOFOS OOmy Zen
Pros and Cons
- Waterproof
- Protects your lower body from chronic knee and back pain
- Machine Washable
- Arch support and footbed continue to work after heavy usage
- Snag-resistant knit
- Slightly pricey
- Sidewalls show dirt
Okay, But What is OOFOS?
OOFOS are supportive recovery shoes designed to relieve foot stress. Each OOFOS shoe has a biomechanically engineered footbed that cradles the foot when walking or standing. Another design feature that sets the OOFOS brand apart from other supportive shoes is its OOfoam patented technology. This foam absorbs foot shock 37% more than traditional footwear. The design decreases pressure on the knees, address gait instability, and the radial heel and forefoot design promotes natural gait mechanics. If you’ve ever wondered why you have lower back and knee pain at the end of the day, it’s due to foot issues. Researchers are releasing study after study onthe correlation between foot issues and knee and lower back pain.
My Initial Experience With OOFOS OOmy Zen Recovery Shoes
I was invited to one of the brand’s recent press previews and was thrilled to see them in person. At the preview, I had to chance to view their summer line of OOFOS slides, and the new OOmy Zen slip-in knitted sneaker. I was gifted a pair of OOmy Zen in Sky. Sky is a pale greyish blue at the event. Slipping them on, my feet felt different. I apologize for sounding hyperbolic. For the first time in an incredibly long time, I didn’t have foot pain. This recovery shoe enveloped my foot in soft, supportive comfort. The arch support fit exactly where it was supposed to hit. My feet felt aligned and relaxed. I couldn’t wait to take them on the road.
Sitting on top of the biomechanically engineered footbed, and cushioned by OOFoam, on the surface, the OOFOS OOmy Zen recovery shoe looks like a typical high-end knitted sneaker. Looks are deceiving. The seamless knit upper has zen bands designed to hug your heel and instep; they keep your foot in place without additional pressure. The high collar has front and back pull tabs.
Why My Foot Pain Immediately Went Away When I Put On A Pair Of OOFOS OOmy Zen
Once your foot is enveloped in the shoe, the footbed and foam work together to alleviate pain from the foot’s pressure points. Feet are gently aligned, while the rounded cupped heel increases stability. When you put on the shoe, your brain doesn’t think about the information, you’re only thinking about how comfortable the shoe feels on your foot. The shoe is so light, that unlike other supportive shoes, as you walk and stand in them, you’re not aware of your footwear.
For the road test, I asked OOFOS’ PR team if they could send me the OOmy Zen shoe in black. I knew that I would use and abuse the shoe, and I thought a black sneaker would hold up better on the New York City streets.
The first day the shoes arrived, I walked over 6 miles. Not once did I encounter foot pain. If you have foot issues, you know the real test of a supportive shoe is how your feet feel the next day. The next morning I had zero foot pain. When I was getting out of bed, I knew that I would wince a bit from pain generating from the balls of meet on a bare floor — after all, I walked miles the day before. I stood up, and nothing. Absolutely nothing. No foot pain, no back pain, no knee pain. This had never happened to me before. I’m used to slowly hobbling-hopping about until the morning foot pain goes away. For the first time in years, I didn’t have it.
From April 14 through May 10, I walked 55.5 miles wearing the OOFOS OOmy Zen recovery shoes/sneakers. One night a week, I work in a professional kitchen. There, I stand for 8 hours, slicing, dicing, mixing, and running around on a concrete floor. After wearing the Oomy Zen on one of my cooking shifts, they became my preferred shoes for cooking.
After wearing these shoes for 55.5 miles, I noticed that once the shoe is on your foot, you literally forget it’s on. The outsole is grippy; it didn’t matter if I walked on concrete, dirt, cobblestones, the street, or the sidewalk; the outsole ensured that my strides were unimpeded.
My lower back and knee pain disappeared when I wore the OOFOS OOmy Zen shoes daily.
Achy, fatigued feet were a thing of the past.
I could walk, hike, and even do a light jog wearing them.
I no longer tripped over cracks in the sidewalks. I am about as coordinated as Mr. Bean. Walking into my foot, tripping over anything, everything, and nothing was a daily occurrence for me until I started wearing these shoes. Seriously, spatial dynamics and I have never gotten along. The only reason why and how I noticed this was on a walk. I walked over and slightly tripped over a branch. No big deal. However, after almost a month of wearing the shoes, I realized this was my first mishap.
You can wear any type of sock with OOFOS, even the “no show” socks, and socks stay in place. Some socks and shoes don’t work well together. Some shoes manage to push the heels of socks off your foot, so you end up with a pile of fabric that sits between your foot and insole. Not with OOFOS.
OOFOS OOmy Zen
I Can’t Imagine Wearing Anything Else
After wearing OOFOS OOmy Zen for almost a month, I can’t imagine wearing anything but OOFOS as a daily wear shoe. I wish they made heels. The shoes are extremely durable. They’ve survived thousands of steps and still have that “new shoe ”appeal. The white sidewalls are a little dirty, but I walk down messy streets, sloppy subway stations, and buses so that something will end up in my shoes.
I plan to do a bit of summer travel, and will either pack my OOmy Zen shoes, or wear them on the flight. Not only are they light, they pack up neatly.
The OOFOS OOmy Zen is available in men’s and women’s sizes. The men’s version is black, light khaki green, and white, while the women’s version is black, white, light blue, and coral. The price is $159.95. While that might be high for an off-duty shoe, the comfort is priceless. If you want to read more unbiased reviews, visit Reddit PlantarFasciitis, and you’ll find many positive comments about how they alleviate pain.
