A sole structure that includes recessed portions. The recessed portions are arranged such that the sole structure has auxetic properties. In some embodiments, sipes extend to the recessed portions. Additionally, the sole structure may include a central portion having auxetic properties and a peripheral portion.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure with a midsole component. The midsole component includes a plurality of holes arranged in an auxetic configuration. The plurality of holes includes through holes and blind holes.

A method of customizing the sole structure of an article of footwear includes providing a sole structure with a sole component having an inner surface and an opposite-facing outer surface. The sole component includes a plurality of inner recesses extending from the inner surface and a plurality of outer recesses extending from the outer surface, the plurality of inner recesses include a blind-hole inner recess, the plurality of outer recesses include a blind-hole outer recess, and the blind-hole inner recess is generally aligned with the blind hole outer recess along a vertical direction. The plurality of inner recesses and the plurality of outer recesses provide the sole component with an auxetic structure. The method further includes adjusting the flexibility of the sole component by selectively cutting or removing material from one or both of the blind-hole inner recess and the blind-hole outer recess.

Shoes and/or shoe elements facilitate natural foot motion and/or reduce forces tending to fight natural foot motion. In at least some such structures, a wearer's heel is secured to the hindfoot region of a shoe (e.g., by a strap system) in a manner that permits heel/forefoot rotation and that allows the lower leg to remain straight. In other structures, a shoe can include a heel supporting component that is separate from a midsole component, and this heel supporting component can move toward the lateral side and/or medial side of the shoe along an interface between the heel supporting component and the midsole component. Other suitable shoe and shoe component structures also are described.

A sole structure for an article of footwear can include auxetic openings and sipes. The auxetic openings and sipes may be applied in a regional manner to achieve different characteristics for the sole structure in the different regions.

A sole structure that includes recessed portions. The recessed portions are arranged such that the sole structure has auxetic properties. In some embodiments, sipes extend to the recessed portions. Additionally, the sole structure may include a central portion having auxetic properties and a peripheral portion.

Ski boot sole (10), characterized in that it comprises: a plate (11) made of a composite material comprising reinforcing ribs (20); rear (30) and front (40) components extending under the plate (11) and forming gripping tread patterns (35, 45).

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.

A material that includes at least one layer made of an auxetic structure and articles of footwear having soles comprising the materials. When the material is under tension, it expands in both the direction under tension and in the directional orthogonal to the direction under tension. The articles of footwear have soles that have at least one layer made of a material that has a pattern of sole elements with apertures. The sole elements have may rotate with respect to each other when the sole is under lateral or longitudinal tension, thus increasing the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the sole. One or more auxetic or flat liners may be used to prevent entry of debris into the apertures.