Cooling Gel Recovery Shoe Prototype

I’m developing a post-workday recovery shoe that instantly eases foot pain by combining a freezable soft-gel sole with an upper made from neoprene, the same flexible material used in wetsuits. After a few hours in the fridge or freezer, the shoes should slip on and provide a soothing, cold-therapy cushion while the neoprene stays comfortably snug and slightly water-absorbent on top of the foot.

Here’s what I need help with right now: an end-to-end prototype design that I can hand to manufacturers. That includes choosing the right medical-grade gel formulation, working out a compartment or channel system so the gel stays evenly distributed under load, specifying the thickness and stretch rating of the neoprene upper, and translating the concept into CAD files with tech-pack-ready measurements in Small, Medium, and Large. If you have experience with footwear tooling, thermal plastics, or gel insert moulding, that will be invaluable.

Deliverables
• Detailed 3D CAD files for sole, midsole, and neoprene upper in S, M, L
• Material specifications and sourcing suggestions for the gel pack and neoprene layers
• Assembly instructions outlining bonding or stitching methods that preserve cold retention and flexibility
• A brief testing protocol for cold retention and durability so I can validate the pain-relief performance before scaling

I’m ready to move quickly once the design is locked, so please share examples of similar soft-goods or footwear work you’ve handled and tell me which tools—SolidWorks, Rhino, Adobe Illustrator, etc.—you’d like to use.