An article of footwear includes an upper extending from a first end in a forefoot region to a second end in a heel region. The article of footwear also includes a sole structure attached to the upper and including a posterior end extending beyond the second end of the upper. The sole structure includes a bladder having a portion disposed between the second end of the upper and the posterior end of the sole structure.

A rearfoot support device is provided that extends upwards on both medial and lateral sides of the heel in order to stabilize the subtalar joint in a neutral position and reduce medial longitudinal arch collapse. The device supports the subtalar joint by cradling the heel on the medial and lateral sides to prevent the subtalar joint from deviating excessively from the neutral position. Unlike conventional orthotic support devices, the rearfoot support device includes a clamp closure system to accommodate different foot widths, which securely clamp the device to the rearfoot of a user and support the subtalar joint without the need for fasteners or wrapping around the midfoot or dorsum of the foot. The device fits securely to the heel and rearfoot, and can be worn barefoot, with backless footwear or with enclosed footwear to provide improved subtalar joint motion control.

A rearfoot support device is provided that extends upwards on both medial and lateral sides of the heel in order to stabilize the subtalar joint in a neutral position and reduce medial longitudinal arch collapse. The device supports the subtalar joint by cradling the heel on the medial and lateral sides to prevent the subtalar joint from deviating excessively from the neutral position. Unlike conventional orthotic support devices, the rearfoot support device includes a clamp closure system to accommodate different foot widths, which securely clamp the device to the rearfoot of a user and support the subtalar joint without the need for fasteners or wrapping around the midfoot or dorsum of the foot. The device fits securely to the heel and rearfoot, and can be worn barefoot, with backless footwear or with enclosed footwear to provide improved subtalar joint motion control.

A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a U-shaped foamed ankle collar. The ankle collar may form the topmost region of the foot receiving shoe opening and the foamed ankle collar may extend at least partially around and over a foot receiving shoe opening. The ankle collar is capable of being compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion and the ankle collar may exert pressure on the user's ankle once the foot is inserted. The ankle collar may have a flattened region along its length forming a downward angle from the topmost region toward the front of the article of footwear. The ankle collar may be located along at least a portion of an inner surface of a heel cup and the heel cup may have a shoe-horn like configuration. The ankle collar may reduce the dimensions of the shoe opening when not compressed.

A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A shock-absorbing shoe using a spring, comprising: a spring for absorbing shock by providing an elastic force; an outsole which constitutes the bottommost sole of a shoe; an upper sole which is fixed to the top of the outsole, has a gap between the heel part thereof and the heel part of the outsole so as to provide a space in which the spring is provided, and is lowed by the weight of a user or raised by the elastic force of the spring; a lower spring seat which is formed on the upper surface of the outsole and supports the lower end part of the spring; an upper spring seat which is formed below the bottom of the upper sole and supports the upper end part of the spring; and a raising and lowering guide for guiding the lowering and raising of the upper sole straightly.

A shock-absorbing shoe using a spring, comprising: a spring for absorbing shock by providing an elastic force; an outsole which constitutes the bottommost sole of a shoe; an upper sole which is fixed to the top of the outsole, has a gap between the heel part thereof and the heel part of the outsole so as to provide a space in which the spring is provided, and is lowed by the weight of a user or raised by the elastic force of the spring; a lower spring seat which is formed on the upper surface of the outsole and supports the lower end part of the spring; an upper spring seat which is formed below the bottom of the upper sole and supports the upper end part of the spring; and a raising and lowering guide for guiding the lowering and raising of the upper sole straightly.