A grid for selecting an appropriate embodiment of an athletic shoe having an upper and a multiple part sole forming an interior volume for receiving an individual's foot. The multiple part sole comprises an inner sole for engaging the plantar surface of the foot, a midsole attached to the exterior of the inner sole and substantially coextensive with the inner sole, and an outer sole attached to the midsole. The outer sole has a first portion extending from the toe of the shoe to a position beneath the foot selected according to the intended use of the shoe, and has a second contiguous portion extending from the selected position to the heel of the shoe, the first portion providing a landing surface for the shoe and the second portion being relatively thin as compared to the first portion thereby promoting proper posture and gait of the wearer.

An article of footwear can include a tensioning system with a multilayered upper and a relatively narrow strobel. One layer of the upper can be attached to an outer periphery of the strobel. Another layer of the upper can be attached to a portion of the sole structure. In addition, a lacing region can be formed by folding a laminated structure including the second layer. A third layer of the upper can provide a bootie within the article of footwear configured to receive a foot.

A sole structure can include provisions for improving the cushioning characteristics and stability of an article of footwear. The sole structure may include multiple layers with specialized structural properties designed to integrate regions of stiffness with cushioning layers. In some cases, the sole structure can include at least two independent stability layers that differ in stiffness.

The disclosed method provides a way to manufacture a style of an article of footwear in bulk, while providing customization for heel stability for individual customers. Moreover, the disclosed method provides a way to customize articles of footwear for a customer on an ongoing basis, such that the heel stability of the articles of footwear is refined until a tailored fit is achieved for the same customer. Generally, the method may include providing a user/customer with an article of footwear, getting evaluation information about the stability of the article of footwear from a survey (e.g., asking the user to rate the stability of the article of footwear in a smartphone app), modifying the next article of footwear provided to the user/customer according to the evaluation information, and iterating through this process to give the user an article optimized for stability.

A method of manufacturing articles of footwear that includes steps of providing articles to a customer, receiving evaluations of one or more structural characteristics of the articles and making new customized articles for the customer based on the evaluations of one or more structural characteristics. The method can be conducted as a cycle that is repeated each time the customer buys a new pair of footwear.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the forefoot cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the forefoot cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures or incisions that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.

An insole is provided that is constructed out of a mesh material that is stretched and suspended over a cavity formed in a shoe. The mesh surrounds a foam base and a rigid frame positioned under the foam base. The foam base is shaped so that a cavity is formed between the top surface of the foam base and the mesh positioned over the foam base to provide a “trampoline” effect for a wearer's foot.

Implementation described and claimed herein include a cushioning structure and method for manufacturing a cellular cushioning system, which allows for maximum comfort through the compression and shock cycle. Specifically, a cushioning structure comprises void cells formed in an array, which comprise multiple outwardly curved surfaces, with varying radius measurements. Stiffness in the void cells can vary by varying the Radii. Outwardly curved surfaces prevent buckling and provide support for high impact by absorbing energy.

An article with a sole structure including a first layer and a second layer are disclosed. The first layer includes a set of apertures arranged in an auxetic configuration that permit the first layer to exhibit a first auxetic behavior. The second layer includes a set of projections arranged in an auxetic configuration that permit the second layer to exhibit a second auxetic behavior. The first layer and the second layer may be joined together in a manner that allows the first auxetic behavior to occur independently of the second auxetic behavior.

Shoe heel devices comprising a longitudinally compressible and transversely expandable shock absorber within a bore.