An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper defines a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper is at least partially defined by a textile. The textile includes a first area that is substantially smooth. The first area defines a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity. The textile includes a second area. The second area includes a plurality of projection structures that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity at varying heights. The second area includes a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity. The plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures are in an alternating arrangement across the textile.

Upper components for footwear include: (a) a first layer including a first filament including first plural, non-intersecting, spaced apart path segments (wherein the first filament may have a width dimension of less than 3 mm wide); and (b) a second layer including a second filament including second plural, non-intersecting, spaced apart path segments (wherein the second filament may have a width dimension of less than 3 mm), wherein the second layer is fused to the first layer at locations where the layers contact one another. Additional layers of material, including additional layers with filament, may be included in the upper. The filament material in the different layers may be the same or different from one another (e.g., a thermoplastic material, a thermoplastic polyurethane material, a hydrophobic material, a water-repelling material, a non-water absorbing material, etc.). One or more layers each may be formed as a continuous extruded path of filament.

A method of producing a component for an article of footwear or apparel or a sporting goods accessory. The method of producing a component includes forming at least a first layer by braiding a first braided tube. Braiding may be performed with an empty braiding center. The method further includes arranging the first layer on a form.

An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.

A cycling shoe comprises a sole defining an undersurface of the cycling shoe, the sole having connection holes configured for connection of a pedal cleat to the sole. An upper is connected to the sole and defining with the sole a foot-receiving cavity. An expansion zone is located in a lateral or medial subportion of a metatarsal portion and/or toe portion of the cycling shoe and configured to be opposite a portion of at least a fifth metatarsal of a wearer of the cycling shoe, the expansion zone being entirely surrounded by a window of structural upper paneling and defined by at least one panel having a greater stretching characteristics than the structural upper paneling of the window.

A footwear article is provided comprising an upper and a wear guard. In at least one example, the wear guard may be structured with bellows extending along an edge of a lacing structure of the footwear article, the bellows positioned between the lacing structure and a toe of the footwear article.

An article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first section and a second section and may define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure, and the second section may articulate relative to the first section between an access position and a use position, the foot-receiving cavity being more exposed when the second section is in the access position. A magnetic coupling includes a first coupling member that may be operatively secured to the second section of the upper and a second coupling member may be operatively secured to the sole structure and positioned so that the first coupling member couples with the second coupling member by magnetic force when the second section is in the access position.

A reel based closure device includes a housing, a spool positioned within the interior region of the housing, a knob that is operably coupled with the spool and with the housing, and a rotation control component that is operably coupled with the knob. The knob is rotatable in a tightening direction to cause the spool to rotate within the housing and thereby wind the tension member about the spool. The knob is also rotatable in a loosening direction to cause the spool to rotate in an opposite direction within the housing and thereby unwind the tension member from about the spool. The rotation control component is configured to prevent accidental loosening of the tension member by inhibiting rotation of the knob in the loosening direction until a sufficient rotational force is exerted on the knob in the loosening direction.

Aspects hereof relate to a footwear upper formed from a plurality of tensile strands interwoven with a webbing material. The upper may have a bootie configuration. At least a portion of the strands may extend between a lateral-side portion of the upper and a medial-side portion of the upper and extend over an instep region and/or a sole region of the upper. The tensile strands may be bundled such that a plurality of strands forms a single weft or warp. Bundles having differing quantities of tensile strands may form a pattern on the upper that is effective for aiding conformance of the upper to a wearer's foot while enhancing ventilation and reducing water saturation. The tensile strands, whether singular or bundled, may be effective for transferring a load of a fastening mechanism through the woven upper while allowing the upper to have a desired degree of elasticity, support and/or comfort.

An article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first section and a second section and may define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure, and the second section may articulate relative to the first section between an access position and a use position, the foot-receiving cavity being more exposed when the second section is in the access position. A magnetic coupling includes a first coupling member that may be operatively secured to the second section of the upper and a second coupling member may be operatively secured to the sole structure and positioned so that the first coupling member couples with the second coupling member by magnetic force when the second section is in the access position.