An example ski boot includes a shell, a liner, and a heating system. The heating system includes a heating element disposed inside the shell, such as in the liner, and heating element circuitry connected to the heating element, and the heating element circuitry includes a charging port, a rechargeable power source connected to the charging port and to the heating element, and a charge counter circuit connected to the charging port and to the rechargeable power source, wherein the charge counter circuit is operable to count a number of times that the rechargeable power source has received power by way of the charging port.

An example ski boot includes a shell, a liner, and a heating system. The heating system includes a heating element disposed inside the shell, such as in the liner, and heating element circuitry connected to the heating element, and the heating element circuitry includes a charging port, a rechargeable power source connected to the charging port and to the heating element, and a charge counter circuit connected to the charging port and to the rechargeable power source, wherein the charge counter circuit is operable to count a number of times that the rechargeable power source has received power by way of the charging port.

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.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper defines a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper is at least partially defined by a textile. The textile includes a first area that is substantially smooth. The first area defines a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity. The textile includes a second area. The second area includes a plurality of projection structures that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity at varying heights. The second area includes a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity. The plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures are in an alternating arrangement across the textile.

A ski boot comprising: a substantially rigid foot-case, which is adapted to accommodate the user's foot and has the lower part structured to couple with a ski binding device; a substantially rigid cuff, which is adapted to surround the lower part of the user's leg, and is pivotally joined to the foot-case so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot; and foot-case closing means which are adapted to selectively close/tighten the foot-case against the user's foot, and comprise: an oblong, transversal locking band with a flexible and substantially inextensible structure, which extends transversally to the midplane of the ski boot, astride of and flush to the protective tongue or gaiter, and has a first end firmly fixed to a first lateral side of the foot-case; and a manually-operated coupling assembly, which is adapted to connect the second end of the transversal locking band selectively and alternatively to the foot-case or to the cuff, at a second lateral side of the foot-case opposite to said first lateral side.

The invention relates to a quick lacing system (10) for releasably fixing at least one shoelace (20) to a housing (30), which has a channel (40) for feeding through at least one shoelace (20), wherein the channel (40) is at least partly made of a movably mounted rocker (50) with a substantially concave interior (60), which is oriented in the direction of the channel (40), on a first side and at least partly of an eccentric jaw (70), which interacts with the rocker (50) at least in a closed position of the quick lacing system (10), on a second side substantially opposite the rocker. The invention also relates to a shoe equipped with such a quick lacing system (10).

Device for connecting the lower leg J of a skier S, with a foot P and an ankle axis CC′, to a ski binding F mounted on a ski board PS, comprising a footwear assembly (30), a tibial connection (16) with at least one rigid rod (16-3), said at least one rigid rod comprising an upper end (16-1) comprising means (18) of attachment to the lower leg J, including securing means (24) and a lower end (16-2) comprising a pivot connection (20) pivoting about an axis AA′ with respect to said footwear assembly (30), characterized in that it comprises means (22) of articulation having at least one degree of freedom, these means being interposed between the upper end (16-1) of said at least one rigid rod (16-3) and the means (18) of attachment to the lower leg J. The invention also covers the footwear assembly equipped with this device.

Device for connecting the lower leg J of a skier S, with a foot P and an ankle axis CC′, to a ski binding F mounted on a ski board PS, comprising a footwear assembly (30), a tibial connection (16) with at least one rigid rod (16-3), said at least one rigid rod comprising an upper end (16-1) comprising means (18) of attachment to the lower leg J, including securing means (24) and a lower end (16-2) comprising a pivot connection (20) pivoting about an axis AA′ with respect to said footwear assembly (30), characterized in that it comprises means (22) of articulation having at least one degree of freedom, these means being interposed between the upper end (16-1) of said at least one rigid rod (16-3) and the means (18) of attachment to the lower leg J. The invention also covers the footwear assembly equipped with this device.

The invention relates to a closure buckle for closing a ski boot, which buckle comprises a main lever (2) hinged to a base (1) and having a longitudinal notch (20) in which a tie rod (3) is mounted that is connected to a fastener hook and that has an end carrying an auxiliary lever (4), said buckle being characterized in that the main lever (2) is provided with a protective plate (21) laterally defining a housing (24) for receiving the auxiliary lever (4), and the invention also relates to a downhill ski boot equipped with such buckles.