A shell for a ski boot of the kind comprising an outer shell made of a substantially rigid material and an inner liner made of a substantially soft material is provided. The shell is provided with a gaiter made of a waterproof material, and the lower edge of the gaiter is secured to the inner surface of the shell and the gaiter extends beyond the upper edge of the shell. Preferably, the base of the shell comprises a removable portion so that a through-opening is obtained in the base of the shell, which through-opening guarantees an easy access to the inner space of the shell for accurate securing of the gaiter to the inner surface of the shell.

Sports boot including: an inner boot; an exogenous shell, the dimensions of which allow the inner boot to be inserted into or extracted from it, the exogenous shell strengthening the inner boot and allowing it to be attached to a piece of sports equipment. The exogenous shell includes a sole, a forward part of an upper able to pivot with respect to the sole about a first articulation, and a rear part of an upper which is able to pivot with respect to the sole about a second articulation. The sole includes a continuous inner relief pattern having longitudinally-extending ribs separated by longitudinally-extending grooves extending continuously along an entire length of the sole. The inner boot includes a sole with a corresponding relief pattern, so as to position laterally and vertically the inner boot in the exogenous shell.

A single-pull tightened snowshoe binding is provided, the binding comprising: a sole plate configured to be hingedly interconnected to a snowshoe; a toe cap interconnected with the sole plate with a first anterior strap and a second anterior strap, wherein the anterior straps are configured to wrap around the lateral aspects of a toe box of a shoe inserted within the snowshoe binding, and wherein the toe cap is configured to interface with a top aspect of the shoe; a first lateral strap extending outward from the sole plate, wherein the first lateral strap is configured to wrap upward along a lateral aspect of the shoe and extend toward a posterior aspect of the shoe; a second lateral strap extending outward from the sole plate, wherein the second lateral strap is configured to wrap upward along a lateral aspect of a shoe and extend toward the posterior aspect of the snowshoe binding; a first tightening strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first tightening strap interconnected to a posterior aspect of the toe cap, the first tightening strap slideably interconnected with the distal end of the first lateral strap, wherein the second end of the first tightening strap is configured to span around the posterior aspect of the shoe; a second tightening strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second tightening strap interconnected to a posterior aspect of the toe cap, the second tightening strap slideably interconnected with the distal end of the second lateral strap, wherein the second end of the second tightening strap is configured to span around the posterior aspect of the shoe; the second ends of the first and second tightening straps interconnected by a strap tightening mechanism; wherein tightening of the first and second tightening straps simultaneously retracts the toe cap toward the sole plate, retracts the first and second lateral straps upward along a lateral aspect of a shoe inserted in the binding, and biases the shoe toward the toe cap.

A tightening device for tightening a ski boot includes an elongate panel having a proximal end and a distal end. The elongate panel is positioned about the ski boot's shell between opposing sides of the shell. A tensioning mechanism is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel. A tension member is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that an operation of the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tension member. At least one guide member is coupled with, or positioned on, the proximal end of the elongate panel adjacent to the tensioning mechanism. The tension member is coupled with the guide member to route or direct the tension member between the opposing sides of the shell and along a portion of the elongate panel.

A tightening device for tightening a ski boot includes an elongate panel having a proximal end and a distal end. The elongate panel is positioned about the ski boot's shell between opposing sides of the shell. A tensioning mechanism is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel. A tension member is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that an operation of the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tension member. At least one guide member is coupled with, or positioned on, the proximal end of the elongate panel adjacent to the tensioning mechanism. The tension member is coupled with the guide member to route or direct the tension member between the opposing sides of the shell and along a portion of the elongate panel.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for improving physical activity performance analysis, and more specifically to a system and method for using motion, pressure and position sensors embedded in equipment or footwear of a user to assess physical activity performance. The sensors can collect pressure related data, transmit the data to a server for processing, and the user can receive feedback based on their performance.

Ski boot device for ski boots (1). Ski boots have a front sole section (3) with a front interaction surface associated with binding and releasing from a front ski binding, and a rear sole section (4), in a common plane (8), with a rear interaction surface associated with binding and releasing from a rear ski binding. The ski boot device of the present invention is attached to the ski boot and comprises a toe portion formed and attached to the ski boot sole (3) without interfering with the front interaction surface during binding or releasing, a heel portion formed and attached to the heel (4) of the ski boot without interfering with the rear interaction surface during binding or releasing; and a support portion (10A, 10B) provided intermediate the toe portion and heel portion and having a shaped profile which extends below the common plane and provides a contact surface during walking.

A liner for a ski boot has a tongue with an outer substantially saddle-shaped generally stiff layer generally conforming to a dorsal surface of a foot, an inner padding layer contacting the dorsal surface and having a first and second portion. The second portion covers at least a part of a dorsalis pedis artery and is softer than the first portion. A support layer is outside the outer layer and at least partially overlaps the second portion. Also provided is a tongue for footwear having an outer substantially saddle-shaped generally stiff layer conforming to the dorsal surface, an inner padding layer contacting the dorsal surface and having a first and second portion. The second portion covers at least a part of a dorsalis pedis artery and is softer than the first portion. A support layer is outside the outer layer and at least partially overlaps the second portion.

Adjustable and/or dual-suspension boot levers for hardshell boots, having upper parts and lower parts that rotate relative to one another, are disclosed. Adjustable boot levers disclosed herein are adjustable along a continuum or at one of a plurality of preset positions on a lever to provide a forward-lean angle customizable to a user's preferences. Dual-suspension boot levers provide fore-aft dampening and are also customizable by selection of appropriate elastic materials and properties for use in the forward-lean and backward-lean suspension devices. In some embodiments, adjustability and dual-suspension are combined in a boot lever design.

Articles comprising one or more additively-manufactured components are provided, as are method of additively manufacturing such components. The additively-manufactured components are designed to enhance performance and use of the article, such as, but not limited to: impact protection, including for managing different types of impacts; fit and comfort; adjustability; and/or other aspects of the article. The provided methods of additive manufacturing include methods involving expandable materials and the expansion of post-additively manufactured expandable components.