A rapid-entry and rebounding fit shoe having one or both of a rapid-entry heel element and a rapid-entry tongue element and both snap back for fit. The rapid-entry shoe directs a user's foot into or otherwise accommodates a user's foot with respect to, a shoe opening, and thereafter secures a rear portion of rapid-entry shoe about a user's heel as well as forefoot.

A device for directly securing the heel of the foot of a wearer to the interior of a rear heel cap of a shoe. The device can include a first portion for adhering directly to the skin of the heel of the wearer's foot. The device can include a second portion for adhering directly to the material of the interior heel of the shoe. The device can be particularly useful in connection with shoes leaving the upper portion of the foot exposed without securing straps and having high heels. The device is subject to a shear force between the first and second portions when worn as opposed to a tensile force more commonly exhibited when a base of an implement is attached to the sole of a shoe.

A device for directly securing the heel of the foot of a wearer to the interior of a rear heel cap of a shoe. The device can include a first portion for adhering directly to the skin of the heel of the wearer's foot. The device can include a second portion for adhering directly to the material of the interior heel of the shoe. The device can be particularly useful in connection with shoes leaving the upper portion of the foot exposed without securing straps and having high heels. The device is subject to a shear force between the first and second portions when worn as opposed to a tensile force more commonly exhibited when a base of an implement is attached to the sole of a shoe.

An article of footwear may include various first strands and second strands. The cutting and second strands may extend from an area proximal to lace-receiving elements to an area proximal to the sole structure. The first strands may have a substantially vertical orientation and the second strands may have a rearwardly-angled orientation. The first strands may be located in a midfoot region of the footwear and the second strands may be located in both the midfoot region and a heel region of the footwear. Angles between the first strands and the second strands may be at least 40 degrees. Additionally, the second strands may have at least fifty percent greater tensile strength than the first strands.

Described are shoes with a rigid heel portion, and a collar arranged above the rigid heel portion. The collar includes a first collar portion and a second collar portion, the first collar portion and the second collar portion are configured to partially engage an ankle of a wearer of the shoe on a lateral side, a medial side, and a rear side of the ankle when worn. The first collar portion is more flexible than the rigid heel portion, and the second collar portion is more flexible than the first collar portion.

Described are shoes with a rigid heel portion, and a collar arranged above the rigid heel portion. The collar includes a first collar portion and a second collar portion, the first collar portion and the second collar portion are configured to partially engage an ankle of a wearer of the shoe on a lateral side, a medial side, and a rear side of the ankle when worn. The first collar portion is more flexible than the rigid heel portion, and the second collar portion is more flexible than the first collar portion.

A footwear insert comprising an insert member, the insert member comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface opposing the second surface, the first surface comprising a releasable attachment for an internal portion of footwear and the second surface comprising a releasable attachment for a foot. The insert may be a heel insert. There is also provided a kit comprising: a) a first insert member; and b) two or more second insert members, and a kit comprising two or more second insert members. The presence of a second surface with a releasable attachment to the foot means that the foot is indirectly attached to the inside of the footwear via the insert member and its attachment to the footwear. This impedes the foot slipping from the footwear and prevents movement of the foot against the insert member.

A footwear insert comprising an insert member, the insert member comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface opposing the second surface, the first surface comprising a releasable attachment for an internal portion of footwear and the second surface comprising a releasable attachment for a foot. The insert may be a heel insert. There is also provided a kit comprising: a) a first insert member; and b) two or more second insert members, and a kit comprising two or more second insert members. The presence of a second surface with a releasable attachment to the foot means that the foot is indirectly attached to the inside of the footwear via the insert member and its attachment to the footwear. This impedes the foot slipping from the footwear and prevents movement of the foot against the insert member.

An upper may include a reinforced panel. The panel may comprise a carrier, inner reinforcing strips and outer reinforcing strips. The inner and outer reinforcing strips may be respectively bonded to interior and exterior faces of the carrier. Each of the inner reinforcing strips may be approximately parallel to at least one adjacent inner reinforcing strip and separated from that at least one adjacent inner reinforcing strip by one or more unreinforced portions of the carrier interior face. Each of the outer reinforcing strips may be approximately parallel to at least one adjacent outer reinforcing strip and separated from that at least one adjacent outer reinforcing strip by one or more unreinforced portions of the carrier exterior face.

An antiskid-style sole includes a sole body (1) and a number of projections (2) disposed on the sole body (1). The projections (2) are elastic columnar parts. A cavity (22) is disposed in the middle of end surface (23) of the projection (2), and the wall of the cavity (22) is in the shape of cambered surface or inclined surface.