Boots can be comfortable and stylish by providing expansion in the shaft of a boot. Portions of a shaft can include deformable and/or elastically resilient materials. A resilient portion can provide for ease of passage of a foot down the boot shaft. Resilient portions can be arranged to provide camouflaging and/or blending such that resilient portions can be difficult to distinguish from conventional stylings on protective materials of a boot shaft. Resilient features may be curved or angled to visually fit in with and even be camouflaged by surrounding decorative ornamentation on the shaft. Some boots can have resilient material within an opening having a transition from an upper vertical portion to a lower curved portion that includes a turn of approximately 90 degrees in the shape of the opening. Some boots can have straps that can be positioned to physically obscure portions of resilient material.

The present disclosure provides a slip-on boot with fit features that enable snug fit while still allowing for convenient foot entry and exit. Related methods of using and manufacturing a slip-on boot are also provided.

The present disclosure provides a slip-on boot with fit features that enable snug fit while still allowing for convenient foot entry and exit. Related methods of using and manufacturing a slip-on boot are also provided.

A skate shield for use with ice skates. The skate shield includes a rigid shell made at least of outer and inner layers of fiber reinforced plastic or polymer (FRP), and a fastener assembly for releasably securing the shell to a boot portion of the ice skate. The shell includes a medial side portion interconnected to a lateral side section via a top portion. A reinforced section formed by reinforcing layers laminated between the outer and inner layers is provided in at least one of the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the shell.

Boot shafts can be designed for comfort by providing expansion in the shaft of a boot. Portions of a shaft can be replaced, augmented, or associated with a more deformable and elastically resilient material or materials. When effectively associated or integrated, the elastic material can allow for temporary expansion of the shaft to ease passage of the heel and foot through the shaft and into the shoe box. A long thin resilient feature can provide expansion and ease of passage of a foot down the boot shaft while also potentially minimizing conspicuous departure from conventional stylings. Such features can also be physically obscured with straps (which may rotate, for example). Such features may be curved or angled to visually in fit with and even be camouflaged by surrounding decorative ornamentation on the shaft of such a boot.

Boot shafts can be designed for comfort by providing expansion in the shaft of a boot. Portions of a shaft can be replaced, augmented, or associated with a more deformable and elastically resilient material or materials. When effectively associated or integrated, the elastic material can allow for temporary expansion of the shaft to ease passage of the heel and foot through the shaft and into the shoe box. A long thin resilient feature can provide expansion and ease of passage of a foot down the boot shaft while also potentially minimizing conspicuous departure from conventional stylings. Such features can also be physically obscured with straps (which may rotate, for example). Such features may be curved or angled to visually in fit with and even be camouflaged by surrounding decorative ornamentation on the shaft of such a boot.

A comfort system for Cowboy and work boots, including an insole chassis, an insole chassis backing board, and cushioning pads for absorbing and attenuating shocks encountered by a wearer of the boots. Cushioning pads are secured to a surface of the insole chassis backing board, and apertures in the insole chassis allow the cushions to pass through. Additional cushioning pads are retained in recesses in the midsole. Pads on insole chassis backing board and midsole are vertically aligned. A steel toe inset is utilized in conjunction with the comfort system for work boots. A rim may depend below the midsole to receive a foamed plastic pad.

A comfort system for Cowboy and work boots, including an insole chassis, an insole chassis backing board, and cushioning pads for absorbing and attenuating shocks encountered by a wearer of the boots. Cushioning pads are secured to a surface of the insole chassis backing board, and apertures in the insole chassis allow the cushions to pass through. Additional cushioning pads are retained in recesses in the midsole. Pads on insole chassis backing board and midsole are vertically aligned. A steel toe inset is utilized in conjunction with the comfort system for work boots. A rim may depend below the midsole to receive a foamed plastic pad.

A comfort system for Cowboy and work boots, including an insole chassis, an insole chassis backing board, and cushioning pads for absorbing and attenuating shocks encountered by a wearer of the boots. Cushioning pads are secured to a surface of the insole chassis backing board, and apertures in the insole chassis allow the cushions to pass through. Additional cushioning pads are retained in recesses in the midsole. Pads on insole chassis backing board and midsole are vertically aligned. A steel toe inset is utilized in conjunction with the comfort system for work boots. A rim may depend below the midsole to receive a foamed plastic pad.

A comfort system for Cowboy and work boots, including an insole chassis, an insole chassis backing board, and cushioning pads for absorbing and attenuating shocks encountered by a wearer of the boots. Cushioning pads are secured to a surface of the insole chassis backing board, and apertures in the insole chassis allow the cushions to pass through. Additional cushioning pads are retained in recesses in the midsole. Pads on insole chassis backing board and midsole are vertically aligned. A steel toe inset is utilized in conjunction with the comfort system for work boots. A rim may depend below the midsole to receive a foamed plastic pad.