An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, and a securing mechanism. The upper comprises a toe region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side, and is coupled to the sole structure. The securing mechanism is fixedly attached to the upper and comprises a forefoot portion and a heel lock element. The heel lock element has a first and a second end and extends from the lateral side of the upper, passes around the heel region of the upper, and extends to the medial side of the upper. The heel lock element comprises a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the upper and is configured such that tensioning the securing band adjusts the heel segment of the main portion relative to a wearer's heel.

A moisture-permeable waterproof shoe includes an upper made of a jacquard woven fabric, and an inner sleeve body fixed to an inner surface of the upper and including a three-dimensional sleeve portion, and a moisture-permeable waterproof membrane attached to the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes two layered structures connected to and cooperating with each other to define a foot space. Each layered structure includes an outer fabric layer, a lining fabric layer and an intermediate foam layer. A connecting layer connects the moisture-permeable waterproof membrane to the inner surface of the upper. A sole is fixed to a bottom end of the upper and a bottom portion of the inner sleeve body.

Provided is a heat-resistant waterproof breathable material (5), comprising: a heat-resistant waterproof breathable layer (7); a surface protection layer (6) provided on one side of the heat-resistant waterproof breathable layer; and a breathable supporting layer (8) provided on the other side of the heat-resistant waterproof breathable layer. Also provided is a breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe (10), wherein a part thereof is made from a heat-resistant waterproof breathable material (15).

An item of footwear including an outsole secured to an upper is provided. A bootie is attached to the infill panel. The bootie and infill panel combine to form a cavity receiving the wearer's foot. The bootie is provided by a single air permeable, moisture vapor permeable, and waterproof sheet formed from a plurality of layers of material laminated together. The sheet forms at least one edge portion extending, at least one time, a distance between a toe end and a heel end of the bootie. A protection strip is attached to the outer surface of the sheet adjacent the at least one edge portion. A stitching seam is formed by a thread-type material securing the at least one edge portion of the bootie adjacent an outer peripheral edge portion of the infill panel. The thread-type material extends through the protection strip and the infill panel to form the seam.

A ventilated shoe, including a sole and an upper assembly associated therewith in an upward region, the upper assembly including: an external upper, with which an inner lining is associated which is constituted at least partly by a first element that defines at least one interspace that separates the foot of the user from the external upper and includes preferential passages for sweat that moves away from the foot of the user toward the upper external edge of the shoe; and a breathable insole, joined perimetrically at least to the inner lining.

A bootie for use in a footwear item, a method of making the bootie, and a footwear item including the bootie are provided. The bootie provides the upper of the footwear item that will surround the wearer's foot. The bootie includes a body formed from a single air permeable, moisture vapor permeable, and waterproof sheet formed from a plurality of layers of material laminated together. The body has a bottom portion that is located under a wearer's foot in use. The body defines an opening through which a wearer's foot will extend when in use. A single bottom seam extends substantially an entire length of the bottom portion of the body between a toe-end and a heal-end of the body.

Flexible shoe extending between rear and front ends, between lateral and medial sides, and between the sole assembly and an upper end of an upper. The upper includes an outer shell including an inner and outer layers, the latter having a foot insertion opening with rear and front divisions, the latter extending between lateral and medial edges. A device tightens the upper by bringing the lateral edge toward the medial edger. The inner layer extends opposite the outer layer and in the area of the front division of the foot insertion opening, between the lateral and medial edges. The inner layer is liquid-impermeable and flexible. When the lateral and medial edges of the outer layer are brought toward one another, the distance between the lateral and medial edges is shorter than the portion of the inner layer in the area of the front division or the foot insertion opening.

A shoe including a waterproof and vapor-permeable sole and an assembly associated in an upper region with respect to the sole. The assembly includes: an external vapor-permeable upper, an internal lining and, interposed between them, a first waterproof and vapor-permeable functional element, and a perforated or vapor-permeable insole, which is joined in a perimetric region at least to the lining. A flexible waterproof element is associated in a lower region with respect to the insole, at least partially perforated or vapor-permeable at a vapor permeation area, the sole being joined perimetrically to form a seal to the assembly and to the flexible element.

A layered product (1) comprises a waterproof and water vapor permeable membrane (4) having a first side (41) and a second side (42), the membrane comprising a membrane material (40, 40a, 40b) which is waterproof and water vapor permeable, and thermoplastic material (3) which covers at least a portion of the first side (41) of the membrane (4) and is formed by at least one three-dimensional build layer (3-1 to 3-n) printed onto the first side (41) of the membrane such that the thermoplastic material (3) of the at least one three-dimensional build layer (3-1 to 3-n) is bonded to the membrane material (40, 40a, 40b) of the membrane. The layered product can be part of footwear, such as a bootie or upper material.

A waterproof and breathable shoe that includes an upper assembly that wraps around a foot insertion region and associated, in its plantar region, with an outsole; the upper assembly has a first portion that is structured like an upper and a second portion, substantially a structural insert, that is structured like an assembly insole for the first portion and is extended at least at the forefoot; the first portion has at least one waterproof portion that is composed at least partly of a waterproof and breathable functional element that has a one piece structure made of polymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor, constituting for the first portion the structural layer of the upper of the waterproof and breathable shoe, at least one functional portion of the functional element having a thickness to give it a penetration resistance of more than approximately 10 N.