An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, a slotted eyelet, an opening, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion and a lateral portion. The slotted eyelet is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion and has a major axis and a minor axis. A length of the slotted eyelet along the major axis is larger than a width of the slotted eyelet along the minor axis. The opening is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion, and the opening is spaced apart from the slotted eyelet. The tensile strand has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends through the opening and defines an aperture adjacent the slotted eyelet, and the second portion extends from the first portion toward the sole structure.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion, a lateral portion, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. The tensile strand has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion disposed between the first and second portions. The first and second portions are disposed adjacent the interior surface of the upper and have a first cross-sectional profile that is flat. The third portion extends from the exterior surface of the upper and has a second cross-sectional profile that is rounded.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion, a lateral portion, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. The tensile strand has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion disposed between the first and second portions. The first and second portions are disposed adjacent the interior surface of the upper and have a first cross-sectional profile that is flat. The third portion extends from the exterior surface of the upper and has a second cross-sectional profile that is rounded.

A shoe support structure comprising a hard rubber-like material and a gel material. The rubber-like material is constructed so that it has a change in thickness beginning at the arch, where it slopes down, leveling out at a thickness of about 1 inches. This change in thickness creates a frontal recess, leaving a bead of rubber at the outer edge. This cavity holds a thick cushion of about 1 inches of highly viscous gel material held in place by the rubber lip and adhered to the elastic material. This creates a cushion when the foot applies weight. The front of the sole and the back of the heel are equal in height, giving the entire surface equal height planes for balance. The two materials are one rubber like, one gel like and slope toward each other at the arch in identical angles.

A shoe support structure comprising a hard rubber-like material and a gel material. The rubber-like material is constructed so that it has a change in thickness beginning at the arch, where it slopes down, leveling out at a thickness of about 1 inches. This change in thickness creates a frontal recess, leaving a bead of rubber at the outer edge. This cavity holds a thick cushion of about 1 inches of highly viscous gel material held in place by the rubber lip and adhered to the elastic material. This creates a cushion when the foot applies weight. The front of the sole and the back of the heel are equal in height, giving the entire surface equal height planes for balance. The two materials are one rubber like, one gel like and slope toward each other at the arch in identical angles.

Rubber replacement articles prepared from curable compositions are provided. The curable compositions comprise: (a) an isocyanate-functional prepolymer; (b) a curing agent comprising a mixture of polyamines, wherein at least one polyamine has an amine equivalent weight of 125 to 250; and (c) an abrasion resistant additive comprising organic particles demonstrating a volume average particle size of at least 5 microns. The isocyanate-functional prepolymer is (i) a reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a polyamine having primary and/or secondary amino groups; and/or (ii) a reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a polyol.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, a slotted eyelet, an opening, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion and a lateral portion. The slotted eyelet is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion and has a major axis and a minor axis. A length of the slotted eyelet along the major axis is larger than a width of the slotted eyelet along the minor axis. The opening is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion, and the opening is spaced apart from the slotted eyelet. The tensile strand has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends through the opening and defines an aperture adjacent the slotted eyelet, and the second portion extends from the first portion toward the sole structure.

An article of footwear includes a navicular support structure on a medial side. The navicular support structure includes a non-stretch, tensioned material that reduces an interior volume of the upper of the article of footwear and redirects applied forces from the midfoot region of the article of footwear to other regions, such as the forefoot region.

An article of footwear includes a navicular support structure on a medial side. The navicular support structure includes a non-stretch, tensioned material that reduces an interior volume of the upper of the article of footwear and redirects applied forces from the midfoot region of the article of footwear to other regions, such as the forefoot region.

An article of footwear has an auxetic sole structure formed from members surrounding apertures. The members may have a trapezoidal geometry. Adjoining members are hingedly connected, so that they can rotate with respect to each other in the plane of the sole structure. The rotation allows the auxetic sole structure to expand when tension is applied.