Articles of footwear in accordance with some aspects of this technology include a foot support component and/or heel counter structure that includes openings, voids, and/or grooves around the heel area. These openings, voids, or grooves may make the heel counter structure more conformable, lightweight, and/or flexible. The openings, voids, or grooves may allow the heel or heel counter structure to conform better to the heel/foot of a user, providing and an adaptive response, adapting differently to different heels. The openings, voids, or grooves may be customized within the heel counter component based on the shape of the foot and/or heel of the user. Additionally or alternatively, these openings, voids, or grooves may make the heel construction better to conform to the wearer's heel and better to contain and move with the wearer's heel, e.g., during use and to improve flexion, comfort, and fit.

An insulating shoe insert including a core layer formed of a cellular material, and a top layer and a bottom layer bonded to opposing sides of the core layer, respectively, the top layer and the bottom layer being configured as thin sheets of aromatic polyamide material such that the top layer and bottom layer cooperate with the core layer to create a heat transfer resistance sufficient to resist transfer of heat through the core layer.

The present invention is an insert having a raised region that contacts an arch region of a wearer's foot, which may be selectively reinforced with a removable supplemental support. In exemplary embodiments, the insert includes a heel region adapted to receive at least a region of a heel of a wearer, and the raised region has a length situated along a width of the insert and adapted to underlie a calcaneus-midtarsal connection of a foot the wearer. The raised region is defined by a bottom semi-cylindrical surface that forms a cavity below the raised region so that an apex of the bottom semi-cylindrical surface lies above a bottom flat surface of the insert. Inside the cavity, the support is removably coupled to the cavity for selectively increasing or decreasing a rigidity of the raised region of the insert in order to apply a user-selected therapeutic pressure.

The present invention is an insert having a raised region that contacts an arch region of a wearer's foot, which may be selectively reinforced with a removable supplemental support. In exemplary embodiments, the insert includes a heel region adapted to receive at least a region of a heel of a wearer, and the raised region has a length situated along a width of the insert and adapted to underlie a calcaneus-midtarsal connection of a foot the wearer. The raised region is defined by a bottom semi-cylindrical surface that forms a cavity below the raised region so that an apex of the bottom semi-cylindrical surface lies above a bottom flat surface of the insert. Inside the cavity, the support is removably coupled to the cavity for selectively increasing or decreasing a rigidity of the raised region of the insert in order to apply a user-selected therapeutic pressure.

An insole for a shoe can include a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, a rear end and an opposing front end. At least a section of the top surface proximate the rear end can be concave. At least a section of the bottom surface proximate the rear end can be convex. A plurality of spaced-apart holes can extend through the insole from the top surface to the bottom surface. The plurality of spaced-apart holes can be arranged in two rows. A first row of the two rows can be spaced radially inward with respect to a second row of the two rows. Each of the plurality of holes of the first row can have the same size. Each of the plurality of holes of the second row can have the same size.

An insole for a shoe can include a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, a rear end and an opposing front end. At least a section of the top surface proximate the rear end can be concave. At least a section of the bottom surface proximate the rear end can be convex. A plurality of spaced-apart holes can extend through the insole from the top surface to the bottom surface. The plurality of spaced-apart holes can be arranged in two rows. A first row of the two rows can be spaced radially inward with respect to a second row of the two rows. Each of the plurality of holes of the first row can have the same size. Each of the plurality of holes of the second row can have the same size.

A boot comprises: an outsole and an upper affixed to the outsole, the upper comprising a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) upper body and a composite toe cap. The composite toe cap comprises a fiberglass reinforced polymer, and the composite toe cap comprises a tapered surface.

A boot comprises: an outsole and an upper affixed to the outsole, the upper comprising a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) upper body and a composite toe cap. The composite toe cap comprises a fiberglass reinforced polymer, and the composite toe cap comprises a tapered surface.

Embodiments are directed to an insole for footwear. The insole preferably includes a bottom surface, a peripheral sidewall, and a relief. The bottom surface has a perimeter, and the peripheral sidewall preferably extends upward from the perimeter of the bottom surface. The relief is preferably disposed in the peripheral sidewall.

Embodiments are directed to an insole for footwear. The insole preferably includes a bottom surface, a peripheral sidewall, and a relief. The bottom surface has a perimeter, and the peripheral sidewall preferably extends upward from the perimeter of the bottom surface. The relief is preferably disposed in the peripheral sidewall.