A heeled footwear such as a shoe or boot includes a sole assembly and a heel part, wherein the heel part includes an insert formed in a first material. The insert includes a core body delimited by an upper surface, a lower bottom surface, and an outer surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces. At least a part of the outer surface is encased/enclosed in a second material different from the first material. The outer material forms an outer contour layer of the heel part. The sole assembly includes an outsole formed in the second material, and the second material is softer than the first material. The outsole and the outer contour layer are designed to be formed in one piece providing an outer sole unit being one component.

A heel attachment device for the heel of a shoe having an elevated heel is formed from a piece of solid elastic material having a top surface, a substantially horizontal bottom surface, and a substantially vertical opening extending from the top surface part way to the bottom surface so that the bottom surface is closed, producing a bottom layer having an inner bottom surface and an outer ground contacting surface. The inner bottom surface includes features that protect the shoe and the invention. The outer ground contacting surface includes features that reduce slippage against the ground and sound produced by walking, and the bottom layer can include features that cushion walking and/or produce light or color. The outer surface of the invention may have ornamental characteristics.

Heel dampening systems and footwear including the same. Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes at least an outsole and a heel assembly. The heel assembly includes a heel dampening system, an upper heel layer that includes a cushion aperture, and a lower heel layer. The heel dampening system includes a heel dampening layer configured to at least partially absorb an impact force and a cushioning projection that extends from the heel dampening layer and at least partially through the cushion aperture in the upper heel layer.

Heel dampening systems and footwear including the same. Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes at least an outsole and a heel assembly. The heel assembly includes a heel dampening system, an upper heel layer that includes a cushion aperture, and a lower heel layer. The heel dampening system includes a heel dampening layer configured to at least partially absorb an impact force and a cushioning projection that extends from the heel dampening layer and at least partially through the cushion aperture in the upper heel layer.

Heel dampening systems and footwear including the same are disclosed herein. Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes at least an outsole and a heel assembly. The heel assembly includes a heel dampening system, an upper heel layer that includes a cushion aperture, and a lower heel layer. The heel dampening system includes a heel dampening layer configured to at least partially absorb an impact force and a cushioning projection that extends from the heel dampening layer and at least partially through the cushion aperture in the upper heel layer.