Item of footwear having an upper arrangement and a sole, wherein the upper arrangement has a top material and an air-permeable layer arranged in a base of the upper, the air-permeable layer is arranged above the sole, in a sole-side, bottom region of the upper arrangement, the air-permeable layer has a three-dimensional structure allowing the through-passage of air in at least the horizontal direction, and a sole-side, bottom peripheral region of the top material of the upper is replaced, over at least part of its peripheral extent, by at least one connecting material which, beginning at least above an underside of the air-permeable layer and running outside the air-permeable layer, is arranged on the base of the upper and is air-permeable at least in a sub-region located at least in part at the same level as the air-permeable layer and thus connects the air-permeable layer to the exterior surroundings such that air can be exchanged between the exterior surroundings and the air-permeable layer.

A running shoe includes a sole, an upper connected to the sole, a foot cavity defined at least in part with the upper, insulation incorporated into the upper adjacent to the foot cavity, and a waterproof fabric distally located with respect to the insulation and forming a protective exterior of the upper.

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 water-vapor permeable shoe-sole combination (15) with an upper side (5) having at least on through hole (31) extending through the thickness of the shoe-sole combination, a barrier unit (35) with an upper side forming at least part of the upper side (50) of the shoe-sole combination, made of a water-vapor permeable barrier material (33) that forms a barrier against penetration of foreign bodies, by means of which the at least one through hole (31) is closed in a water-vapor permeable manner, a reinforcement device (25) formed for mechanical reinforcement of the shoe-sole combination (105), constructed with at least one reinforcement web (37) arranged on at least one surface of the barrier material (33) and at least partially crossing the at least one through hole (31), and at least one walking-sole part (117) arranged beneath the barrier unit (35).

A footwear (10) comprises an upper arrangement (20) and a sole (30), in which the upper arrangement (20) comprises an upper material (12) comprising in a lower peripheral area at least one air permeable portion (14), an air-permeable layer (16) arranged in a lower area of the upper arrangement (20) on the sole side above the sole (30), wherein the air-permeable layer (16) is water vapor permeable and has a three-dimensional structure that permits passage of air at least in the horizontal direction; and at least one water vapor permeable functional layer (18) arranged on an inner side of the upper material (12) and above the air-permeable layer (16). The at least one air permeable portion (14) enables the air permeable layer (16) to communicate with the outer surroundings such that air is exchanged between the outer surroundings and the air permeable layer (16), said air permeable portion (14) further enables the water vapor permeable functional layer (18) to communicate with the outer surroundings such that water vapor is transported from an inner side of the functional layer (18) to the outer surroundings. A water vapor permeable first protective layer (22) is arranged between the air permeable portion (14) and the functional layer (18) in at least an area of the air permeable portion (14) above the air-permeable layer (16), wherein the first protective layer (22) is adapted for protecting the functional layer (18) against particles penetrating through the air permeable portion (14).

A method for providing parts of waterproof and breathable shoes, parts of waterproof and breathable shoes provided with the method, and waterproof and breathable soles provided with the shoe parts. The method uses a mold including a first element and a second element, at least one of which has hollow regions of a matrix of impressions, which are filled with polymeric material in the fluid state by depositing it in the hollow regions or by injecting it while the mold is closed; a support made of flexible sheet is interposed between the first element and the second element and includes a waterproof and breathable functional element, on which, when the mold is closed, the polymeric material sets and adheres to the support.

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.

Provided herein are embodiments of a shoe component. The shoe component may include a toebox, an insole, an adhesive membrane, a thermal-resistant insert, a midsole, and an outsole. The insert may further include a footbed. The footbed may include an upper surface and a bottom surface. The insert may further include an upper laminate on the upper surface of the footbed and a lower laminate on the bottom surface of the footbed.

Disclosed are a dynamic non-wicking PU foam and preparation and application thereof The PU foam is prepared from polyether polyol, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, non-wicking additive and auxiliary agent. The dynamic non-wicking additive is composed of carboxylic acids, amines and alkyl alcohols in any proportion. The auxiliary agent is composed of silicone surfactant, amine promoter, tin catalyst, pigment and water. The dynamic non-wicking PU foam has a high stability and an extremely non-wicking effect. The shoes made of the dynamic non-wicking PU foam also have extremely good dynamic non-wicking and waterproof effects, thus ensuring both comfort and stability of quality.

The invention is an article of footwear incorporating insulation material, such as a low bulk insulation material, to provide warmth in cold weather, yet with the style, agility, and breathability of a typical conventional shoe or boot. Additionally, in a further embodiment, the invention includes these features in a shoe or boot which is also waterproof and breathable. These aspects of the present invention are achieved through a placement, or mapping, of low bulk insulation to maximize the footwear article attributes of warmth, style, agility, and breathability.