A sandal construction configured to provide high performance in athletic, sporting and other activities not typically associated with sandals. The sandal includes a sole with an integrated sole plate and an upper with a heel cradle configured to assist in maintaining close contact between the sole and the heel of the wearer's foot during use. The heel cradle may be molded with a three-dimensional shape that is anatomically correct and is inwardly angled to extend into and assist in holding the heel down against the upper surface of the sole. The sole may include a dual-density midsole with a softer upper layer and firmer lower layer. The sole plate may be embedded in the lower layer. The sole plate may include a heel cup defining a central opening. The upper surface of the midsole may include a heel recess aligned with the heel cup and the central opening.

An article of footwear including an upper and a sole. The upper includes at least two supports where each of the supports includes an end and the sole includes a top surface, a bottom surface and at least two slots extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, where the bottom surface includes a channel. A securing member is attached to each of the ends of the supports and inserted in the channel for securing the upper to the sole.

A sandal strap reinforcement apparatus which is incorporated into a sandal having a multi-hardness midsole to reinforce the opening around the straps. The apparatus may be made of a molded material, fabric, tape, an o-ring, cord, or the same material as the harder layer. The apparatus is molded into the midsole and serves to protect the hole or slot from damage from a strap inserted through the hole or slot.

The invention includes a shoe system including a sole having attached fasteners and interchangeable uppers having complementary fasteners. In other embodiments, the invention includes particular uppers that may be used in such a shoe system.

A shoe apparatus can including a base component with a sole, a strap component having a strap and a center connector, and a cover component comprising a material positioned between the base component and the strap and attached to the perimeter edge of the sole. The material has an aperture for receiving the center connector and a first opening positioned above a rearfoot portion of said sole for receiving a person's foot. The center connector is positioned through said aperture and connected to said forefoot portion of the sole. The strap component forms a second opening between the cover component and the strap for receiving a person's foot.

An article of footwear comprising a sole constructed for receiving a foot having a toe section and an ankle section with at least two loops fixedly attached to the toe section; an interchangeable upper, or several interchangeable uppers, having loops for securing the upper to the loops of the sole of the footwear; such uppers and soles attached by specialized clips adapted to facilitate a wide variety of advantages.

A component for an article of footwear and methods for manufacture thereof are disclosed. The component comprises a first portion of base material of and a second portion of added material. The second portion is bonded to the base material of the first portion by a process of adding material on the base material and the added material forms at least one fastening member for fastening the component to another component of the article of footwear.

A method for manufacturing a sandal, wherein various aspects of said sandal may be customized for a wearer's feet. The aspects can involve one or more of: the toe thong location, the position of the foot strap, and the arch support profile and arch support position. For a particular wearer, the optimal locations/settings of one or more of the foregoing aspects may be determined by applying a computer algorithm, which takes into account the foot data of the wearer, which foot data may be obtained from image/video capture technology. The method then assembles a sandal having the optimal locations/settings, such that the foot strap position, the arch support profile and/or the arch support position, as the case may be, are customized for the wearer. Also disclosed herein is a sandal having a foot strap position and/or an arch support profile and arch support position that is customized for the wearer, and made in accordance with the above-described methods.

A customizable sandal system having a sandal base, a retaining strap removably attached to the sandal base via at least one fastener. The retaining strap has two distal ends and each distal end is individually, removably attached to the sandal base.

The invention includes a shoe system including a sole having attached fasteners and interchangeable uppers having complementary fasteners. In other embodiments, the invention includes particular uppers that may be used in such a shoe system.