Footwear can include an upper forefoot part, an upper heel part, an outsole including a forward part joined with the forefoot part and a rearward part joined with the heel part. The rearward part can be selectively moveable in unison with the heel part from a closed mode secured to a wearer's foot, to an open mode to don or doff the footwear. The footwear can include a first shank defining a recess and a second shank including an engagement rim, the second shank tiltable to the open mode, with the engagement rim registered in the recess to stabilize the footwear in the open mode. The upper forefoot part can include one or more pockets, and the heel part can include wings that slidably fit therein. The wings can cooperate to secure the footwear in the closed mode and/or impair overextension in an open mode.

Footwear can include an upper forefoot part, an upper heel part, an outsole including a forward part joined with the forefoot part and a rearward part joined with the heel part. The rearward part can be selectively moveable in unison with the heel part from a closed mode secured to a wearer's foot, to an open mode to don or doff the footwear. The footwear can include a first shank defining a recess and a second shank including an engagement rim, the second shank tiltable to the open mode, with the engagement rim registered in the recess to stabilize the footwear in the open mode. The upper forefoot part can include one or more pockets, and the heel part can include wings that slidably fit therein. The wings can cooperate to secure the footwear in the closed mode and/or impair overextension in an open mode.

An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.

An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.

A footwear article includes an upper defining apertures spaced apart from one another in a first arrangement. A heel structure has a deformable element attached to a base. The deformable element has pegs spaced apart from one another in the first arrangement and extending through the apertures in the upper. A method of manufacturing a footwear article includes placing a deformable element between an inner layer and an outer layer of an upper and attaching the deformable element to a rigid base. The deformable element includes at least one peg extending outward toward the outer layer. The method includes inserting the peg through the outer layer so that the peg extends through the outer layer and is exposed at an exterior surface of the outer layer. After inserting the peg of the footwear element through the outer layer of the upper, the peg is secured at the exterior surface of the outer layer.

A footwear article includes a tongue and a tongue reinforcer, which helps the tongue maintain a shape and position when the tongue is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer may help the tongue maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article or when medial and/or lateral quarters press inward on the tongue.

A footwear article includes a tongue and a tongue reinforcer, which helps the tongue maintain a shape and position when the tongue is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer may help the tongue maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article or when medial and/or lateral quarters press inward on the tongue.

An article of footwear, method, and motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and a three-dimensional encoder. The three-dimensional encoder defines a major axis and has a surface having a tabs extending from a drum, an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of the tabs, and a beam break, positioned between the three-dimensional encoder and the optical sensor, forming a pair of slits. The optical sensor is positioned to view the tabs through the pair of slits, wherein the processor circuit is configured to operate the motor based, at least in part, on the signal as received from the optical sensor.

A rapid-entry shoe having an elastic element to enlarge a foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe and also having a stabilizer to prevent a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe from collapsing downward.

A rapid-entry shoe having an elastic element to enlarge a foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe and also having a stabilizer to prevent a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe from collapsing downward.