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Why Are TELIC Recovery Sandals Described as Offering the Sensation of "Walking on Clouds"? A Physical Therapist Explains Their Effects in Detail
When summer arrives, many people are drawn to wearing sandals. They're breathable, allowing your toes to move freely. However, after traveling a bit of a distance, foot pain or fatigue can often occur.
American-born TELIC, however, is different. Lightweight and molding perfectly to the sole, they help your feet glide smoothly forward as you walk.
This sensation, often described as "like walking on clouds", raises the question: how was this comfort achieved?
To answer this, we spoke with Naoto Takeda from Shimokitazawa Hospital, a physical therapist who has evaluated and recommends TELIC. What does this trending recovery sandal look like through the eyes of a professional?
PROFILE
Naoto Takeda
Shimokitazawa Hospital Physical Therapist
Graduated from Mejiro University, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. After university, gained wide experience at a general hospital as a physical therapist, covering acute care through to community rehabilitation. Joined Shimokitazawa Hospital in 2017.
Recovery Footwear Born in America, Perfected in Japan
TELIC is a recovery footwear brand established in the US in 2012.Their sandals quickly attracted attention for their superior comfort and lightness, and the following year were crowned the Best Comfort Shoes by readers of The New York Times.
Their comfort level has even been acknowledged by ACFAS (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)[1]. According to ACFAS physicians, "You can wear them all day with no pain, and they promptly alleviate and absorb everyday foot pain and stress."
They've received rave reviews not only from everyday users but also from athletes as recovery sandals, helping to care for feet damaged in competition.
A Brand Verified & Recommended by Japan's First Comprehensive Foot Health Hospital
When TELIC arrived in Japan in 2015, their comfort features were further refined to better fit Japanese feet."In 2018, when Fellows Co., Ltd., which owns the domestic TELIC trademark and oversees planning and manufacturing, approached us, Shimokitazawa Hospital began to supervise these sandals. Currently, from a medical perspective, we provide feedback on product verification data for ongoing improvement."
Shimokitazawa Hospital is Japan's first comprehensive foot health hospital, and the only research institution in Asia focused exclusively on foot health.
"Walking fulfills our desire to go places, but it's also the ultimate health practice. This hospital was founded to eliminate foot pain or problems that can get in the way.
Its founder and current director, Dr. Katsuya Hisamichi, learned about podiatrists, specialized foot doctors in America, and wanted to create a hospital in Japan with dedicated foot specialists.
Just as ophthalmologists focus on eyes and dentists on teeth, podiatrists comprehensively treat every aspect related to feet.
The comprehensive examination and treatment includes not only skin, nails, bones, muscles, and blood flow of the feet, but also checks for nerve disorders, diabetes (which is the leading cause of lower limb amputation), appropriate footwear selection, and even walking instruction."
A Closer Look at TELIC's Signature Model
So, what kind of sandal is TELIC, now recognized by Shimokitazawa Hospital?Let's take a look at their signature model, the FLIPFLOP ULTRASOFT.
The 3.5cm smooth, resilient sole clearly offers excellent cushioning.
The sole is made from TELIC's proprietary EVA material, specially blended to provide even more cushioning, shock absorption, and lightness compared to ordinary EVA.
Despite its chunky, voluminous look, these sandals feel surprisingly light to wear. They're supple against your feet while still offering just the right amount of bounce.
"Just because something is soft, doesn't mean it's always more comfortable. If your sandals are too squishy when standing on hard pavement, your body can become unstable, actually making you tire out faster.
With TELIC, the balance between softness and firmness is spot on, allowing you to stand firmly on both feet."
Next, let's try walking. Your toes can move freely and grip the ground, making each step feel effortless.
The raised T-mark on the footbed comes from the brand's initial. These countless T-marks provide just the right grip, contributing to how easy it is to walk.
Reliable Arch Support Created by a Shaped Footbed
The footbed is contoured, giving the impression your arches are well-supported. The deep heel cup cradles your heel, providing extra stability.
"The sole of our foot has a structure called the arch, formed by ligaments, muscles, and bones. This disperses your weight and absorbs shock.
The TELIC footbed is molded with a wavy, three-dimensional shape to match this arch.
This arch support, combined with the cushioned EVA material, helps absorb the impact from walking, reducing strain on your ankles, knees, and calves."
Arch support isn't just about comfort.
"It can also help suppress excessive inward rolling (overpronation) around the heel. When this happens, the arch collapses, the angle and direction of your shin changes abnormally, and it can negatively affect your knees, hips, and the whole body."
Arch Support Proven by Experimental Data
"There's a measure called the Mary's Angle for evaluating the arc of the arch. It shows the angle of your arch under load, helping to check how well your arch is supported or how flat your foot is.Using weight-bearing radiographs (a method that measures pressure distribution on your soles while standing), the state of arch support is obvious at a glance."
Indeed, compared to generic sandals (left in the photo), you can see that the Mary's Angle (red line) is larger in TELIC sandals (on the right). The size of this angle shows how well the arch is supported.
"In other words, wearing TELIC helps your bones return to where they should be."
There is also data measuring pressure on the sole.
As you can see in the image above, when wearing TELIC, the red areas—which indicate greater pressure—are spread out rather than concentrated in one spot.
"If too much pressure is focused on a specific area, it can cause pain or other symptoms. TELIC's arch support and shock absorption distribute your body's weight from points to surfaces all over the sole.
This reduces the load on the metatarsals (the long bones on the instep), making it less likely for pain or fatigue to occur."
Rocker-shaped Bottom Supports Forward Motion
Takeda, who has tried many comfort sandals, says the thing that stood out most was how smoothly the feet roll forward.
"I was amazed at how easily my feet moved forward. That's thanks to the curved sole, just like a rocking chair. This shape helps you transfer your weight more smoothly, so you can walk farther with less effort."
Normally, your calf muscles are engaged as you push off with your toes when walking. But with TELIC, the rocker bottom structure eases that strain, so you're less likely to get tired.
There are plenty of design options too. In addition to items like the "W-FLIPFLOP" thong, there are also types that hold down the foot with an upper panel.
"The comfort of TELIC is often described as 'like walking on clouds.' And that image really fits—it's as if you're lightly hopping across the clouds. There aren't many sandals out there that are so easy to walk in."
With medical evidence backing up the comfort of TELIC sandals, they're truly the next-generation footwear that turns "walking" into fun.
Note:
[1] ACFAS (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) is a professional organization for foot and ankle surgeons, established in 1942. With the mission of advancing the science and techniques of foot and ankle surgery, ACFAS supports surgeons, promotes patient care, and works to elevate both education and surgical standards across the field.
Interview Support
Address: 2-8-16 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3460-0300
Consultation Hours: 9:00 – 12:00, 14:00 – 17:00
Closed: Sundays
Text by Ryota Osujo
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