An article of footwear including a sole structure attached to an upper defining an internal void configured to receive a foot of a wearer is described. The sole structure includes a sole body portion having a central sensory node element located in an aperture in the sole body portion. The central sensory node element has a bottom surface configured to contact the ground and move vertically within the aperture. The movement of the central sensory node element pushes a top surface of the sensory node element attached to a portion of the upper against the foot of the wearer. The central sensory node element is arranged approximately centrally between lateral and medial sides and between the toe and heel ends of the sole structure. The central sensory node element acts as a home button to provide sensory feedback about movement and direction of forces to the foot of the wearer.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.

A shoe insole having a protruding portion for stimulating the plantar side of a foot, and both shoe insole surfaces are used. The insole contains: a flat plate-shaped base portion made of a flexible material; and a protruding portion from at least one of the first and second insole surfaces and stimulates the plantar side of a foot. The first and second insole surfaces stimulate the same portion of the right and left feet when a load is applied by the foot from the second surface where the insole is in one of right and left shoes with the first surface having the protruding portion in contact with the shoe mid-sole portion, and when a load is applied by the foot from the first surface where the shoe insole is placed in the other of right and left shoes with the second surface in contact with the mid sole portion.

A method for making an article of footwear includes placing a purified recombinant resilin composition in a mold with a cross-linking solution, incubating the recombinant resilin composition in the cross-linking solution to generate a solid resilin material, fabricating a cushioning element of the article of footwear including at least a portion of the solid resilin material, and assembling the cushioning element insole with at least an upper of the article of footwear.

A midsole traction device is described. The midsole traction device comprises a first base portion; a second base portion and a flexible connector portion connecting the first base portion to the second base portion. The first base portion comprises a first traction aid on a first side of the midsole traction device. The second base portion comprising a second traction aid of the first side of the midsole traction device. The second traction aid is different to the first traction aid.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first midsole body and a second midsole body. The first midsole body defines a ground-facing surface and a foot-facing surface opposite the ground-facing surface and includes a first midsole material, which has a first hardness. The second midsole body extends through the first midsole body. As such, the second midsole body extends beyond the ground-facing surface of the first midsole body. The second midsole body includes a second midsole material, which has a second hardness, and the first hardness is greater than the second hardness.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first midsole body and a second midsole body. The first midsole body defines a ground-facing surface and a foot-facing surface opposite the ground-facing surface and includes a first midsole material, which has a first hardness. The second midsole body extends through the first midsole body. As such, the second midsole body extends beyond the ground-facing surface of the first midsole body. The second midsole body includes a second midsole material, which has a second hardness, and the first hardness is greater than the second hardness.

A sole structure can include provisions for improving the cushioning characteristics and stability of an article of footwear. The sole structure may include multiple layers with specialized structural properties designed to integrate regions of stiffness with cushioning layers. In some cases, the sole structure can include at least two independent stability layers that differ in stiffness.

A sole structure can include provisions for improving the cushioning characteristics and stability of an article of footwear. The sole structure may include multiple layers with specialized structural properties designed to integrate regions of stiffness with cushioning layers. In some cases, the sole structure can include at least two independent stability layers that differ in stiffness.

Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include a midfoot flex component, such as a bi-stable spring element, that moves the article of footwear/sole structure/foot support component/midfoot flex component between an open position/foot insertion or removal configuration and a closed position/foot supporting configuration and vice versa.