Oofos vs. Telics: Recovery Sandal Review & Comparison

You may have heard great things about Oofos sandals for recovery after running. These soft foam sandals are designed to help speed up recovery by reducing physical stress. I received a pair for Christmas last year and wore them after long runs or back-to-back run days but not very often otherwise. I could definitely tell they helped me recover but I only wore them for this purpose.

Last month I started experiencing aches and pains in my Achilles tendon, and I noticed that when I wore the Oofos, the pain and discomfort were reduced. My podiatrist confirmed that for someone like me, with high arches and a stressed Achilles tendon, foam recovery shoes like Oofos are perfect. The thick foam heel reduces stress on the tendons at the back of the leg and heel, the middle of the Oofos provide good arch support, and the flip-flop style allows for a natural foot motion when walking.

I decided to try out a competitor of Oofos, Telic, to see how they measure up against genuine Oofos. The standard Oofos flip-flops (OOriginal Sandal) usually retail for around $50, while Telics can go for as low as $25-$35 on Amazon, depending on size and color.

Here are some side-by-side images of the Oofos versus the Telics. The Oofos are size 43 (10 M / 12 W) and the Telics are XL (11 M / 12 W). Yes, I have big feet.

You can see that the Oofos have a more curved and natural foot shape, with a much wider toe box. The Telics have a much more defined ridge between the foot and toes. You can't tell from the photo but the Oofos have a lot more bounce to the foam, with a much more supple feel. The Telics feel harder and less forgiving. Since I have very wide feet and a bunion on my left foot, I need the width provided by the Oofos. Although the sizes are supposedly equivalet, the Telics are too small for my feet. Looking through the reviews on Amazon, other shoppers have experienced issues with confusing size changes from Telics, so be careful picking out a size if you decide to give them a try.

In this view you can see the foot shape difference again. The Telics appear to have a more rugged sole with deeper grooves between the blocks, though I have never had any traction issues when wearing Oofos both indoors and outside. In the far right picture, you can see that the heel foam is thicker on the Oofos. You can really feel this when you're wearing them. Along with the softer foam feel on Oofos, I believe the more expensive shoes warrant the fame and accolades. I would highly recommend Oofos recovery sandals for runners, especially for those who have high arches like me and who need extra heel support for injury recovery. I can't recommend the Telics.

Amazon shopping tip: I got my most recent pair of Oofos from Amazon Warehouse. They were like new but half price. Amazon Warehouse items are often just customer returns so the products are like new but no longer have their original packaging or sealed box, etc. Most of the time the same return policy applies for these items as for completely new items. You should check the terms per item you purchase, but all of the shoes and clothing I have purchased via Amazon Warehouse have had the same no-questions-asked return policy. The black Oofos you see above showed absolutely no sign of wear, soiling, or imperfections at all -- they were truly like new and a great bargain at half the regular price. Check out Amazon Warehouse periodically for running gear. You never know what you might discover!

Oofos shopping tip: When you shop for Oofos on their official website, Oofos.com, you'll find their latest products and best selection. In addition to their popular flip-flop sandals and clogs, Oofos now offers shoes and boots that you can't (yet) find on Amazon. In my experience, you'll also find a wider availability of sizes and colors.

1 Oofos Ooriginal Sandal

Found on Amazon

RECOMMENDED
PROS: Extra soft foam, wide toe box and foot shape sole, arch support
CONS: Pricey, limited color choice for larger feet

2 Telic Flip Flop

Found on Amazon

NOT RECOMMENDED
PROS: Affordable, more color choices
CONS: Wonky sizing, stiff foam, less support than competition

Comments

Elizabeth on September 2, 2024 at 1:10 PM wrote:
Your interview confuses me a little bit. I’m not sure what you mean by support. It sounds like when you say support you actually mean cushion? I normally associate support with a more structured shoe, which is the way you make the Telic sound, whereas I associate a thicker sole and softer foam with cushion. It makes me wonder if the Oofos are more likely to lose their shape and compress with wear? I’d be interested in a follow up review that describes that quality. I do like the idea of a more natural toe box.
Amy on September 19, 2024 at 2:07 PM wrote:
With support I am referring to both foot shape (for arches and heel) and the thickness of the soles (cushioning). I can't speak to compression or wear on Telics, but I wear Oofos pretty much full time now and I replace them when the soles wear out, which happens before I notice any foam compression.

Leave a comment

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.
Your email address will not be published

Can You Wash a Sparkle Athletic Headsweats Tiara Visor in the Dishwasher?

It's fun and cost-effective to find slightly used running gear, including hats. Many hats can be washed easily in the dishwasher, or top-loading washing machine, using a cap-washing frame to help the hat keep its form. I love Headsweats visors and I'm always on the lookout for...

Can You Wash a Sparkle Athletic Headsweats Visor in the Dishwasher?

I recently purchased some slightly used Sparkle Athletic Headsweats visors from Poshmark. Poshmark is an online marketplace where users can buy and sell new and used goods, mostly clothing.  I received the visors and they were as advertised, with a few sparkles missing and lightly soiled. So...

Last Chance Sale at Oofos.com

Save 10% on shoes and sandals at Oofos.com. You can apply the discount on sale items: Last Chance Sale at Oofos.com. I've been wearing Oofos sandals and shoes for a couple of years now. They help with run recovery and offer my weak Achilles...

Gear Review: Knuckle Lights

I got a pair of Knuckle Lights for Christmas last year. I used them on every o'dark thirty run I did this year. They got particularly heavy use during May, June, and July, averaging 10-12 miles per week.Knuckle Lights are worn on your hands. You adjust...