A sole structure of an article of footwear includes a foam element and a non-foam element with different compressibilities. The foam element is positioned adjacent to the non-foam element. The non-foam element may define a plurality of apertures, with ends of at least a portion of the apertures being located adjacent to a lower area of the foam element. The non-foam element may also form a protrusion that may be located in a central area of the non-foam element and extends into the foam element. In addition, a portion of the non-foam element that forms a side of the sole structure may define an indentation.

A sole structure of an article of footwear includes a foam element and a non-foam element with different compressibilities. The foam element is positioned adjacent to the non-foam element. The non-foam element may define a plurality of apertures, with ends of at least a portion of the apertures being located adjacent to a lower area of the foam element. The non-foam element may also form a protrusion that may be located in a central area of the non-foam element and extends into the foam element. In addition, a portion of the non-foam element that forms a side of the sole structure may define an indentation.

A ballet pointe shoe has an upper which includes a tunnel having an open mouth by way of which a shank insert can be removably and replaceably installed in the tunnel. The tunnel may extend into at least a portion of the base of the toe box of the shoe. The mouth of the tunnel may be revealably concealed beneath an insole and may be accessed via the throat and foot compartment of the upper for installing, removing or replacing a shank insert without even partial deconstruction of the shoe. The shank insert may be one selected from a set of shank inserts which includes ones having different flexural rigidity profiles. An elastic loop may be routed-under a portion of the shank insert extending from the mouth of the tunnel or under a ledge which may be disposed beneath the insole and extends rearward of the mouth. In some embodiments a lower portion of said elastic loop may be releaseably captured between the ledge and a rear portion of said shank insert. In some embodiments a shank insert and/or the toe box may be thermally reshaped.

An article of footwear including a sole having a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion and a support member including a first part and a second part, where the first part extends at least partially into the forefoot portion, and the second part extends from the first part and at least partially into a portion of the sole that is in or between the midfoot portion and the heel portion, the first part including a lateral support member and a medial support member that form a continuous loop defining an opening, an outer edge of the lateral support member and the medial support member combining to form an outermost edge having a continuous convex curvature, where the support member has a front end portion and a rear end portion, and the front end portion or the rear end portion has a curve extending in a vertical direction.

An article of footwear including a sole having a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion and a support member including a first part and a second part, where the first part extends at least partially into the forefoot portion, and the second part extends from the first part and at least partially into a portion of the sole that is in or between the midfoot portion and the heel portion, the first part including a lateral support member and a medial support member that form a continuous loop defining an opening, an outer edge of the lateral support member and the medial support member combining to form an outermost edge having a continuous convex curvature, where the support member has a front end portion and a rear end portion, and the front end portion or the rear end portion has a curve extending in a vertical direction.

The present disclosure relates to a support plate configured to be arranged in a sole structure of a shoe. The support plate may comprise a first portion associated with a forefoot area of the sole structure and a second portion associated with a heel area of the sole structure. The support plate may be thinner in at least a part of the first portion as compared to the second portion.

The present disclosure relates to a support plate configured to be arranged in a sole structure of a shoe. The support plate may comprise a first portion associated with a forefoot area of the sole structure and a second portion associated with a heel area of the sole structure. The support plate may be thinner in at least a part of the first portion as compared to the second portion.

Shoe outsoles having anti-infective properties are provided herein, as are methods and materials for making shoes and shoe outsoles having anti-infective properties.

Shoe outsoles having anti-infective properties are provided herein, as are methods and materials for making shoes and shoe outsoles having anti-infective properties.