Unless you live in Hawaii or another dreamlike place you probably wear some sort of slippers while lounging. That piece of footwear can be as important as the ones you’re wearing while running or doing errands.
In this review, I will compare two amazing footwear brands – OOFOS and HOKA, and their best-selling sandals and slippers. By the end of the review, you will perfectly understand what makes them similar and different, what customers think as well as what I think.
Let’s begin.
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OOFOS vs HOKA Table Comparison
Before we start with an in-depth analysis let’s have a look at the brands and the featured products at glance.
| OOFOS vs HOKA: Which Are Best Recovery Sandals |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | France | USA |
| Technologies used | OOfoam Technology | Meta-Rocker Cushion Active Foot Frame |
| Machine washable | Yes | No |
| Shock absorbing features | Yes | Yes |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free Shipping | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.6 | 3.3 |
| Website: |
About OOFOS – Review
OOFOS was founded in 2011 and the men behind the idea were Juan Dias, Lou Panaccione, Paul Brown, and Steve Liggett. They were a team of footwear veterans and they were involved in developing, designing, and manufacturing footwear for some of the big guys such as Nike, Reebok, Clarks, Dunlop, and Pirelli. They realized that all the footwear stores are filled with shoes that are made to give you an exercise boost and help you exercise more effectively. But none of the stores had a shoe that absorbs shock after exercising.
It took them 2 years to develop a shoe that makes your hard-working body and feet feel rejuvenated. OOFOS shoes are made with revolutionary technology combined with a biomechanically engineered footbed.
PROS
- Wide variety of recovery footwear
- Free shipping
- Reduces stress on ankles, knees, and other joints
- Lightweight
- Machine washable
- A lot of positive reviews online
- Outstanding customer service
- 30-day free trial
CONS
- Some customers complain that sandals get stained easily
About HOKA – Review
HOKA was founded in France in 2009 by Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard. They came up with an idea to design a shoe that would allow them to run faster downhill. They designed HOKA One One running shoes with an oversized outsole which provided more cushioning than any other running trainer on the market at this time. HOKA shoes were mostly used by ultra-marathon runners but soon after they became popular with all types of runners since they were lightweight and had excellent cushioning.
Today, HOKA still offers the original models with the highest cushioning but they have introduced even lighter shoes that feature the same signature cushioning but they are super lightweight.
PROS
- Provides excellent cushioning
- High-quality footwear
- Recovery shoes and flip-flops feature shock absorber technology
- Free shipping
- Fly For 30 – Free 30-day trial
CONS
- A lot of complaints regarding customer service
OOFOS Sandals
OOfos sandals are made using the revolutionary OOfoam technology. This means that the sandals reduce stress on your knees, ankles, and back and provide excellent arch support. All the sandals are covered with the OO Promise policy – try them for 30 days and if you’re not satisfied, you can return them for free.
Also, all the products bought through the official OOFOS website will be shipped for FREE.
In order to present OOFOS sandals in the best possible way I will review Women’s OOriginal Sandal and Men’s OOahh Sport Flex Sandal.
Women’s OOriginal Sandal
Women’s Ooriginal Sandal – Blackwere the beginning of the OOFOS story. The combination of smooth style and OOfoam recovery tech lay the foundation for all the models to come.
Speaking of OOfoam recovery technology, it absorbs 37% more impact than regular footwear. Also, specially designed footbed reduces the impact on knees, ankles, and other joints. The sandals are machine washable and designed to minimize odor.
They are available in all sizes (5-16) and 10 lovely colors.
Men’s OOahh Sport Flex Sandal
Men’s OOahh Sport Flex Sandal is a result of the OOriginal upgrading process. The sandals feature an agile OOfoam strap for additional support and comfort. They are made using OOfoam recovery technology meaning that this footwear absorbs 37% more impact than other regular footwear. Also, it reduces stress on sore feet, knees, and back. The OOfoam technology provides arch support as well as allows more natural motion.
The sandals are available in all sizes (3-19) and 4 colors.
HOKA Sandals
HOKA combines three technologies to provide a specific experience. Meta-Rocker technology is like a wheel for your feet. This curved technology keeps you moving and prevents you from landing flat. HOKA Cushioned Midsole technology is like a high-performance shock absorber for your feet. Last, Active Foot Frame technology provides ultimate support and stability for your feet no matter what’s under them.
HOKA offers free shipping on all orders along with their FLY For 30 Guarantee. FLY For 30 Guarantee means you can take the shoes for a test for 30 days and return them for a full refund or exchange. No questions asked.
Women’s ORA Recovery Flip
ORA Recovery Flip will give your feet a well-deserved rest and care after an intensive run. The flip flops feature HOKA’s signature oversized midsole and Meta-Rocker geometry along with improved anatomically toe straps for a better fit. They also have an updated women’s toe post for improved comfort.
Thanks to soft top layer EVA, the flip flops give that immediate step-in comfort.
Women’s ORA Recovery Flip is available in 4 colors and 7 sizes (5-11).
All Gender Ora Luxe
Ora Luxe represents an elevated look version of Ora Slide. Thanks to EVA midsole made from sugarcane you’ll feel even lighter when walking while still experiencing the same post-run relief as with Ora Slide. Ora Luxe features an adjustable Ariaprene strap which is made of a foam and mesh mixture along with Velcro straps.
The slide is designed to provide the support you want and thanks to a higher bed of soft cushion your body will experience less impact.
All Gender Ora Luxe is available in 12 sizes (W5-16; M3-14) and 10 colors.
OOFOS Customer Reviews
OOFOS has impressive customer reviews online. People love the products and the company sticks to the promises they advertise. OOFOS has a 4.0 score on Trustpilot based on 19.000+ reviews. Since we’re talking about Trustpilot and so many reviews I’d say this score is quite impressive.
Customers claim the sandals are so comfy and enjoyable to wear. Some even suggest OOFOS come up with other types of footwear such as waterproof boots. Other customers are thrilled with customer service agents. A customer’s son had an issue with OOFOS shoes and a customer service agent offered her email address to solve the issue. The review has been updated with a 5-star rating and compliments on the customer service agent’s approach, communication, and how the complaint was dealt with.
On Amazon, OOFOS has quite an impressive rating as well – OOFOS Unisex OOriginal sandals score 4.6 out of 5 and customers love them. Some of the customers claim they have never written a review before but OOFOS deserves praise. Other happy customers love the arch support and the comfort they provide.
Speaking of negative comments, some customers complain they didn’t receive shoes during the holiday season and now they’re requesting a full refund. Also, one unhappy customer praises the comfort of the sandals but claims that, after a week, some white spots began to appear on the upper of his sandals.
HOKA Customer Reviews
HOKA has quite a good reputation online but the rating breakdown on Trustpilot is a bit odd. HOKA has 3.3 out of 5 with35% 5-star reviews, and 52% 1-star reviews.
The customers love the footwear and they claim they are pain-relieving. One customer uses Ora Swirl sandals to recover after a marathon. The other one ordered a pair of flip-flops but the size wasn’t right. The return process was smooth and easy according to the review.
If you’re wondering why more than half of the reviews are 1-star ones the answer is – customer service. Customers complain about HOKA’s policies and customer service… a lot! There are several complaints about failed refund attempts. One customer claims that they ordered $500-worth footwear from HOKA and never received a pair. After FedEx and HOKA did their investigation, HOKA said that it’s not their policy to send replacement products or issue a refund. I’m sure there’s a valid explanation for this particular situation, but HOKA should focus and invest a bit more in the Customer service area.
Head to Head – OOFOS vs HOKA
Technology
OOFOS and HOKA make outstanding recovery footwear. Their signature technologies have a significant impact on support and stability, and that’s why customers are thrilled with their products.
Thanks to OOfoam technology, OOFOS shoes absorb over 37% more impact than regular footwear. Combined with OOFOS’s patented footbed that provides arch support, OOFOS footwear reduces the impact on ankles by up to 47% more than similar footwear from other brands.
HOKA applies three different technologies when designing footwear – Meta-Rocker creates a fast and smooth transition from heel to forefoot. HOKA Cushioned Midsole provides comfort with a higher bed of soft cushion. Active Foot Frame gives incredible support and as some customers claim it feels like your feet are being hugged.
Shipping and Returns
Both brands offer free shipping on all orders and not just that. OOFOS has the OO Promise policy meaning that you can try any pair for 30 days, 100% risk-free.
HOKA offers a similar one – FLY For 30 Guarantee, meaning that you take any pair for a test “flight” and return it within 30 days, completely free.
Customer Service
Speaking of technology and shipping/return policies, both brands are neck to neck. They have outstanding products, free shipping, and tempting 30-day risk-free policies. But when it comes to customer service, customers don’t think that OOFOS and HOKA are that similar.
OOFOS customer agents are fantastic according to online reviews. Customers left some negative reviews on Trustpilot and those turned into 5-star feedback only thanks to attentive customer service agents. Returns and refunds are smooth and easy, therefore you don’t have to worry if you ordered the wrong size of your slippers.
On the other hand, HOKA has major issues in the customer service department. At least that’s what customers say. Over 50% of reviews on Trustpilot are 1-star reviews and most of them are related to the customer’s service.
This is something HOKA should really pay attention to since the products are great.
The Verdict
If we focus on footwear only, OOFOS and HOKA are definitely tied. Both brands make outstanding footwear that rests and recovers your feet after an intense run, workout, or hike. The technology they use reduces the impact on your ankles, arches, and knees. Also, both brands offer a free 30-day trial and free shipping. But this review isn’t only about a product but about everything that you might want to know before typing in your credit card number. If you want to exchange a pair of shoes or return them, you don’t want to waste days and your nerves to complete the process. But sometimes that’s exactly what happens.
As you read, OOFOS demonstrated excellent customer service, and CS is truly important to most customers. The return process is smooth and the customer agents are super attentive.
On the other hand, HOKA seems to have some problems in the customer service area. A lot of customers complained about failed refund/exchange attempts and some of them even claim that the CS didn’t even reply to their emails.
Whether you go with OOFOS or HOKA you won’t make mistakes in terms of footwear, but you might experience some trouble with HOKA if you want to return, exchange, or simply file a claim.