A stretchable member includes: a flat base made of a stretchable knitted fabric; and a limiting part extending in a stretching direction of the base, formed integrally with the base while having both ends in a length direction knitted in, and fixed to, the base, and configured to limit stretch of the base. The limiting part is longer than the distance between fixing points at which the limiting part is fixed to the base in an unstretched state, and is made of a knitted fabric which has a flat band shape and which is configured to become slack with respect to the base when the base is in the unstretched state.

A sandal comprising an upper and a heel strap made of at least five members, including three firm members and two elastic members. The heel strap is allowed to pivot relative to the upper, wherein a rear part of the heel strap is allowed to further pivot relative to the anterior heel strap members. The sandal includes elastic members that are stretched while the heel strap pivots downward under a downward force on the heel strap while a foot slides into the sandal. The elastic members force the heel strap to pivot upward when the downward force is released.

The present disclosure provides a pull-on style boot that fits better for a larger number of people sharing the particular shoe size. The boot of the present disclosure has the ability to expand to adapt to the user's particular foot and lower leg geometry. The boot provides an improved dynamic and static fit and also facilitates foot entry and exit.

A boot comprises: an outsole and a polymeric upper affixed to the outsole. The upper comprises an upper body and a gusset, which comprises a relaxed position and an expanded position, wherein the gusset moves from the relaxed position to the expanded position to accommodate a wearer's leg upon donning of the boot.

There is provided a shoe upper excelling in productivity, and a method for knitting the same. A shoe upper (1) includes a left side intermediate knitted fabric portion (5L) connecting a left side edge portion of a tongue (4) and an instep cover section (3), and a right side intermediate knitted fabric portion (5R) connecting a right side edge portion of the tongue (4) and the instep cover section (3). In such shoe upper (1), a width of an end of the tongue (4) is formed wider on a foot insertion opening (7) side than on a toe side, both side edge portions of the tongue (4) are overlapped with the instep cover section (3) in a thickness direction thereof, and the instep cover section (3), the tongue (4), and both the intermediate knitted fabric portions (5L, 5R) are all integrally knitted in a seamless manner.

A length-adjustable shoe, of which a length between a front end and a rear end thereof is adjustable, includes an outsole, an upper, a stretch fabric, and a control device. The upper includes a body portion and a heel portion which are mutually separated, wherein the body portion is directly attached on the outsole, and the stretch fabric connects a bottom edge of the heel portion and the outsole. The control device connects the body portion and the heel portion, wherein the control device moves the heel portion relative to the body portion as a whole in an axial direction from the front end to the rear end, which changes the length of the shoe.

An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes a tension balancing member to balance loads across different portions of the intermediate covering portion.

A shoe includes a heel counter with a heel cup. The heel cup may be uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and a lower portion. The upper portion has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion, and a thickness of the heel cup decreases from a peripheral portion of the heel cup toward a central region of the midportion. The central region of the midportion provides flexibility of the heel cup, and the rearmost portion of the heel cup has an overall vertical S wave cross-sectional shape.

An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes two tension balancing members engaged with driven tensioning members, and a common driving tensioning member that engages both tension balancing members.

Provided is a shoe with a replaceable screw-on heel.