An article of footwear includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region, and a heel support device extending around the rear of a heel region from a lateral side to a medial side. The heel support device may include a plurality of slats and a base, the plurality of slats providing a progressive gradient of lengths and/or widths, and/or one or more pegs extending from the device for attachment to a footwear upper, and/or an elongated tip that may be disposed in a cavity of an extension of a heel collar of the upper.

An article of footwear has an upper and a heel system. The heel system may include a heel cage secured to a heel portion of the upper, and a heel counter. The heel counter may extend along the rear of the heel portion to an upper extent above the upper bar.

An article of footwear has an upper and a heel system. The heel system may include a heel cage secured to a heel portion of the upper, and a heel counter. The heel counter may extend along the rear of the heel portion to an upper extent above the upper bar.

A shoe includes a sole provided with a ground contact surface, an upper provided with an opening into which a foot of a wearer is inserted, the upper being attached to the sole and covering the foot of the wearer, and a correction member including an inner arm fixed to a medial foot side of the opening of the upper, an outer arm fixed to a lateral foot side of the opening of the upper, and a connection portion connecting the inner arm and the outer arm, the correction member being attached to the upper away from the sole in such a manner that the connection portion is disposed on a rear side of the opening.

A shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, comprising a heel portion that includes an adaptive heel element arranged in the heel portion of the shoe, wherein the adaptive heel element comprises a stretch material. A heel counter is arranged in the heel portion, wherein the heel counter comprises a lateral portion and a medial portion for supporting the heel of a wearer's foot and a posterior gap therebetween wherein the posterior gap forms an essentially vertical split portion, wherein the split portion is adapted such that the adaptive heel element can move and deform within the split portion, and wherein the adaptive heel element within the split portion is adapted to contour to the anatomical shape of the heel of the wearer.

A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator includes a lever arm. The lever arm may be deformable and biased towards the raised state. The lever arm may be articulated with a biasing force urging the lever arm to the raised state. The lever arm may have a variety of cross sections as well. The lever arm extends from a base, which may a sole portion of the footwear article. The lever arm and the base may be monolithic, permanently joined, removably joined, or otherwise connected.

A footwear article includes a collar elevator that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer’s foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole; an upper having a heel region; and a collar elevator coupled with the upper in the heel region. The footwear also includes a base affixed to the sole. The collar elevator is attached to the base and the base is an outsole, a midsole, an insole, or a strobel.

A foot support and cushioning device can include: a foot portion having a generally tubular shaped body including: a first opening located at a first terminal end at a top of the foot portion; and a second opening located at a second terminal end at a front of the foot portion for receiving a foot through the first opening and then the second opening, wherein the foot portion is made of a material that provides support to at least a portion of a foot of a user; and a heel cup including: a resilient body and a shock absorbing area that spans at least an area adjacent to the user's calcaneus bone. The heel cup is seamlessly attached to an underneath side of the foot portion. The device can provide shock absorption to a user's heels and compression support to the foot and optionally ankle.

A foot support and cushioning device can include: a foot portion having a generally tubular shaped body including: a first opening located at a first terminal end at a top of the foot portion; and a second opening located at a second terminal end at a front of the foot portion for receiving a foot through the first opening and then the second opening, wherein the foot portion is made of a material that provides support to at least a portion of a foot of a user; and a heel cup including: a resilient body and a shock absorbing area that spans at least an area adjacent to the user's calcaneus bone. The heel cup is seamlessly attached to an underneath side of the foot portion. The device can provide shock absorption to a user's heels and compression support to the foot and optionally ankle.

A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.