Teva Story

N. Kenneth Owens

December 24th

As an 11-year-old boy, I suffered a life altering knee injury that drastically limited my future potential as an athlete. During a middle school basketball game, I shattered my patella (knee cap), tore my quadriceps loose (they knotted into a ball at the top of my thigh), and they had to fly in a knee specialist to "attempt" to put my left knee/leg back together the following morning. As this occurred in 1972, there was only so much they could do.

Ultimately, I was left with a deformed left knee (to this day, it looks like my third elbow), limited flexibility, less strength, and my speed, leaping ability, and constant pain were my rewards. In that moment, in 1972, I went from high jumping as high as any other boy in the nation and jumping as far as any boy my age to...starting all over again.

Suffice it to say that I never regained my full strength, speed, or jumping ability. I did what I could by compensating with my good leg, but track and field disappeared from my life, as basketball became the one sport that I could still play competitively.

After 33 years of constant knee pain, by body began to develop other problems, all hinging from that initial knee injury. Achilles problems, foot problems, hamstring problems, back problems, hernia problems...all of these issues resonated from the left side of my body...the same side as my left knee which I had injured long ago.

By age 44, I had to stop working out, because the pain was too extreme. Without constant exercise, I began to gain weight; I gained 75 pounds. Although I stand 6'2' tall, 275 lbs. proved too much for my body to handle. I went to the doctor due to chronic, knee back, and foot pain. My doctor said I was "obese" and that I would have to start working out and drop 75 pounds starting yesterday. She gave me several blood tests, and told me, "If you don't begin to exercise and lose this weight you will be a full blown diabetic, taking insulin shots in the very near future." Her words hit me like a death sentence...

One week later, my wife came home with a gift box. Inside the box was a pair of Teva Sandals. She said, " I heard that these are the most comfortable sandals to be found. People use them in Africa and all around the world to hike and climb in. Maybe they will work for you."

I remember opening the box, slipping them on my feet, and going for my first walk. Now, the reader should know that we live in the country. There are no street lights or sidewalks where we live. And, our home is about one half mile off of what locals call the "Pole-line Road". We have a rough and rocky, dirt road (about half a mile long) that leads to this Pole-line Road, and believe me, it is rough and rocky out here; we actually live in a place called "Rocky Bay"...no bay...just rocky.

I remember hesitating, just slightly, before trying out these shoes, as I had been unable to walk on this rough and stony dirt road without severe pain on past attempts. But, the fear of God had been put into me by my doctor. So, off I went.

I'll never forget my shock and disbelief as I took one step...then another...I waited for that excruciating pain that refused to surface with each successive step. I walked for an hour. When I returned home with a huge smile on my face, my wife asked, "Well, how did they work?"

Honestly, I was speechless. All I could do was smile; these magical sandals had given me hope. My life had been handed to me or "footed" to me once again. From that day forward, walking only twice each week for an hour, my body and my life have returned to me. I have lost 35 pounds in the last year, and plan to lose another 35 pounds in the year ahead.

My foot pain has disappeared (when wearing the Teva sandals), but when I use any other shoe, the pain returns. My back pain has also disappeared as has my pain in my achilles. Even my knee pain goes away when walking in my Teva sandals. I am not saying that these Teva sandals have cured me; I am simply saying that the pain goes away when I wear them or walk in them, and I am able to exercise once again. That is why I wear them whenever and wherever I can.

As a 47-year-old school teacher, who had to quit teaching physical education due to my severe foot and back pain, I now have a new life. I currently teach 5th grade, can lift up my 3 year old and my 5 year old once again (my back doctor told me I would never be able to lift my children again...even after he injected several cortisone shots into my spinal column). I can now run, wrestle, and play catch with my children. And, I give all the credit (with the exception of my primary physician) to TEVA.

With all my heart...thank you, TEVA, for creating footwear that has given me back my life! Thank you for giving me a "leg up."

Your forever, faithful, sole supporter,

N. Kenneth Owens

This shoe is GREAT!

Hoke Hinson

December 17th

I bought a pair of your shoes for mountain biking. They are so comfortable I can't seem to keep my feet out've and use them most everyday! The s/n on the shoe is 6052. They are a leather low quarter with olive green leather trim on beige leather with olive green parachute string for laces. The sole is medium grey material that sticks like glue t slick surfaces.

I wish I had another pair!

Just thought you'd like to know how good this model is.

Sincerely,

Hoke Hinson

DeLand, Fl

Ossagon Hiking Shoe

Richard Snouffer, MD

December 17th

I ordered this product based partly on the excellent past performance of prior TEVA sandals I have enjoyed.

I chose this model shoe (6001-Men's Ossagon Hiking Shoe in dark grey) primarily for wear in the urgent care medical clinic where I work 10-12 hrs per day, almost all of which is on my feet. (occassionally wet lineoleum over cement slab) In the clinic, my feet stay comfortable all day long in this shoe.

I had been previously very impressed with the grip of the spider rubber sole on wet surfaces. I had a pair of Teva sandals with this specific sole for about 7 years of hard use before the uppers gave up the ghost. (The soles were still in acceptable shape.) I was always very impressed with this sole's grip on even wet smooth floor surfaces like smooth tile and linoleum.

This security of grip is maintained with the Ossagon shoe as well--I've simply never seen the equal of Teva's spiderrubber sole for traction on smooth wet surfaces.

I also recently had the opportunity to use this shoe for its intended purpose as a trail shoe. I put it to a pretty good test on desert sandy soils as well as slickrock hiking and some moderate free-climbing on the desert trails in Arches National park and other hikes around Moab, UT. I put them to the test on 4-8 hour hikes wearing a 30+ lb pack starting at 4500- 5000 feet elevation. Some of these hikes had some pretty good exposure to elevation on "slickrock" ledges and fins, some of which were only about 6-10 ft wide and with a 40 ft drop on one side and 400-500 foot drop on the other! My footing felt secure at all times, and my feet were comfortable all day as well.

I like the style, even though it was selected for more practical reasons. The photos on this website, as of this writing, are a pretty good representation of this shoe's looks, so I'll let you be your own judge as to looks.

All around, comfort, style, traction and durability (so far, anyway), this is a very likeable shoe. I had bought it on the strength of brand satisfaction with a previous product. Of course, brand loyalty can be a fickle mistress. However, like it's predecessors in my closet, this shoe has thusfar really come through. I don't have anything negative to say about them at this point.

Thank you for your time, and for making really good footgear.

Richard Snouffer, MD

Anniston, AL

Hurricane 3

John de la Chapelle

December 17th

To Whom It May Concern:

I am 15 years old and purchased a pair of the Hurricane 3's at the beginning of this summer. They have increasingly impressed me with their comfort and functionality and are perfect for my uses.

A year ago I began to build rafts with my brother and three friends. Our trips down the local creeks were fantastic, however, the brush and rocks were rough on bare feet and waterlogged shoes were a hindrance. Tevas solved this problem.

I am always recommending Tevas to friends. My best friend and fellow rafter bought some a month after me, and he has never been more pleased.

Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

John de la Chapelle