sportstyle

"First and foremost, consumers look for comfort. With recovery shoes, that takes the form of relieving stress and pressure points on our feet. For us that means flexibility, optimal arch support and so, but supportive, foam and uppers. We believe recovery footwear is more than just so squishy foam and our goal is to provide the best solution. We divide the foot strike into its three main functions and provide three unique comfort solutions within one shoe. We call it TRI-MOTION." – Brad Bischel, co-founder, VELOUS "Aer a long hard, run or cycling session, athletes' feet are tired, sore and begging for a breeze. Consumers are looking for footwear that is comfortable, supportive and super ventilated. ere should be a generous fit with no pressure points, robust arch support to help the foot relax and an upper style that allows maximum ventilation. e arch support should not be too so because a very so midsole requires the small muscles in the foot, ankle and lower leg to fire to maintain postural stability" – Mark Paigen, founder, Tread Labs "Gone are the days of one-dimensional footwear. We are offering ingenious solutions that empower consumers to stride toward complete wellness. e patented Xelero technology features a dynamic midsole that provides exceptional cushioning and stability, promoting a smooth gait and reducing the impact on joints. is unique innovation sets our recovery shoes apart, making them suitable not only for recovery or aer exercise but also for daily wear." - Dan Werremeyer, president, Instride Shoes "Consumers are first looking for after- race immediate relief. No matter how long the race, the will to feel cocooned and comfort is top of mind. We have seen that comfortable lightweight non- compressive slippers are the solution to accompany sports men and women outside of their run." - Carl Sipos, global trail running product marketing manager, Salomon "Consumers are looking for a recovery shoe that not only feels comfortable but also looks good! We designed ours to look elegant, minimal, and feel like you're walking on air." – Sarah Humphries, director of marketing, Zensah "Today's consumers are looking for recovery shoes that blend comfort, style, and functionality. We blend all three elements together in our recovery line with the Rekovr and Revive. Both models have comfortable uppers that wrap and secure the foot over the midsole platform while our Ortholite 3D Wave Sense footbed delivers light stimulation underfoot. ey both also feature Vibram XS Trek EVO outsoles which deliver excellent durability and traction on a variety of terrain." — Russell Stevens, product manager, Topo "Proper support, cushion, and breathability are three benefits the consumer looks for in a recovery shoe. Support is not just important under the arch; it is equally important in the heel to distribute weight properly. Cushioning is important for shock absorption and foot comfort. Finally, a clean and healthy environment is crucial to foot health. Having a shoe that is breathable post workout allows our feet to dry and prevents potential problems." - Matt Dieckhaus, VP of sales and marketing, Latitudes (mōshn) "Consumers are looking for recovery footwear that provides so but supportive comfort." – Keith Shelton, merchandising and product development, Skechers Performance "Most importantly, superior arch support. at's the defining feature of this category. Secondly, a recovery shoe must be virtually weightless. Currently, the category is all about color treatment. We have had lots of success with fun and vivacious prints." – Megan Gold, design director, Alegria "We spend much of our time standing and walking on hard, unnatural surfaces. While performance foams may be getting soer and soer, they feature high- rebound energy return properties. at can be great for running and court sports, but for the majority of their day, it is more important to have footwear that can absorb impact. OOFOS feature OOfoam technology, which has a slower rebound and mimics what it's like to move on more forgiving surfaces." – Darren Brown, head of marketing, OOFOS "Traditionally recovery was mostly geared towards intense sport activities, but we saw a need for the everyday person. While Rejuvenate and Restore were geared towards a sportier aesthetic, we thought how someone might not want the sporty look but want the benefits of our recovery series with silhouettes that they could wear throughout the day with any outfit. is is how we came up with Awaken and Activate." - Scott Radabaugh, senior director of design, Vionic "Although the recovery market is still dominated by spring and summer styles, we are seeing more and more that consumers want an option for colder months. Slippers, boots and closed-toe shoe options are starting to really gain traction. More traditional streamlined designs are giving way to extra thick soles as more and more people are seeing (and feeling) the benefits of beefy shock-absorbing midsoles." – Aaron Azzarito, president, Telic Q. What are consumers looking for in a recovery shoe today? 24 • September/October 2023 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com FOOTWEAR RECOVERY TIME!

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