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By Suzanne Blecher O ver the past few years, one thing about the recovery category has become apparent — the number of brands offering recovery footwear and the types of footwear they are offering has seen a spike. And as the latest crop of recovery footwear from a variety of brands reflects, consumers are seeking more than just function and comfort — they are also seeking style. "We feel the biggest opportunity in recovery is working to improve on the versatility and aesthetic appeal of the product," said Russ Stevens, product manager, Topo. "Customers want a post run product that's attractive, versatile, and comfortable. Creating the right blend of style and comfort will be the key in broadening the appeal of recovery beyond the injury label and into general aer sport and lifestyle wear." Darren Brown, head of marketing for OOFOS, noted, "Recovery footwear has everyday implications to help you feel better throughout the day and outside of workouts. As such, it is necessary to provide styling options that fit a wide variety of lifestyles and wearing occasions." Customer feedback has shown that many customers who start off with an OOFOS sandal or slide return to purchase new styles (like closed-toe options) "so they can implement active recovery into all aspects of their lives," he continued. While one exec commented that the space can appear to be overcrowded, there is a unique space for the footwear brands offering genuine active recovery (with the technology to back it up). "e category is growing for sure and more consumers are wanting the benefits of technical recovery footwear, while also being stylish," explained Velous Footwear Founder Tim Bartels. Velous has gained momentum in offering a recovery shoe that provides more than just a super so foam or really firm foam. "We provide a more technical solution and all-around support and cushion," he said. Kane Footwear CEO John Gagliardi, whose brand launched in 2021, views growth in the category as a win for all. "e more attention the category receives, the more educated consumers are on the importance of recovery," he commented. Education about recovery footwear and the importance of recovery in general for runners, is ongoing. "We encourage runners to think about recovery not just from an injury but recovery from their training and the stress that it can put on your feet and legs," explained Velous' Bartels. "We love to participate with our retail partners at race expos, there we set up a recovery zone to educate runners about the benefits of our recovery footwear and how it can help elevate their training and recover faster." "We focus our efforts on the active part of recovery, helping our customers fight fatigue and prevent injury. We spend a lot of time helping our retail partners understand the message of prevention," said Gagliardi. RECOVERY FOOTWEAR 12 runstyle Spring 2025 runstylemag.com FRESHENED UP NEW OPTIONS IN THE RECOVERY CATEGORY PROVIDE A STYLE BOOST.

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