Provided herein are systems and methods for fastening a shoe. In some embodiments, a shoe fastening system comprises an insert strap comprising a strap fastener and a first strap-eyelet connector configured to attach to a shoe using only one shoe eyelet, and a receiving strap comprising a strap-strap connector and a second strap-eyelet connector configured to attach to a shoe using only one shoe eyelet, wherein the strap fastener is sized to be inserted into the strap-strap connector, and the first strap-eyelet connector and second strap-eyelet connector each comprise a head having a diameter greater than or equal to ¼ of an inch and a shaft having a diameter of less than or equal to 3/16 of an inch.

Provided herein are various embodiments for a boot for releasable engagement with a binding having a downwardly facing ledge and a toe strap. The boot preferably contains a sole, a toe portion, and a heel portion. The boot preferably also contains a heel retaining device extending rearwardly from the heel portion of the boot and having an upwardly facing engagement surface at the top of the device which engages with the downwardly facing ledge of the binding to prevent vertical movement of the boot relative to the binding while allowing forward horizontal movement of the boot relative to the binding.

An article of footwear having a sole member is disclosed. The sole member includes an outsole defining a ground-contacting portion of the sole member; an insole defining a foot-contacting portion of the sole member; and a fastening member coupled to a peripheral edge of at least one of the outsole and the insole. The fastening member includes a body with a hook arm protruding from a portion of the body, the hook arm and the portion together disposed above the insole and defining a discontinuous gap in the body; and a coupling strap with a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end extending outwardly from the peripheral edge and the second end coupled to the portion of the body.

A shoe fastening system designed to engage the eyelet holes of a shoe, comprising, an anchor, wherein the anchor has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has means to detachably engage with an eyelet of a shoe and the second end has a connection means, an attachment member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is designed to securely fit within the connection means of the anchor and the second has a closed loop, a strap, wherein the strap is sized to fit through the closed loop of the attachment member and is a predetermined length and width, and a locking mechanism fitted to receive the strap and engage the strap to keep the strap at a specific length.

An exemplary embodiment provides for a conversion kit for a shoe, changing the configuration from lace to strap configuration, wherein the kit contains a strap with hook and loop material attached to the shoe through a shoe lace aperture, a loop piece attached to the shoe through a shoe lace aperture where the strap passes through the loop piece and is pulled taught to secure the shoe to the wearers' foot.

Exemplary embodiments of a shoe wrap and a shoe are provided. A shoe wrap can be provided having a strap configured for placement around a user's foot, and a bottom portion comprising a non-slip material adjoined to the strap and configured to be positioned in an instep area of a user's shoe. A shoe can be provided having a bottom portion configured for placement of a user's foot having a front portion and a rear portion, an instep area between the front portion and the rear portion, and a strap having a first portion configured for placement around a user's foot and a second portion comprising a non-slip material configured to be positioned at the instep area.

A shoe system includes a sole and a shoe upper connected with the sole. A gap is disposed between a first upper portion and a second upper portion. The shoe system also includes a first permanent connector permanently connected to the first upper portion; a second permanent connector permanently connected to the second upper portion, and a removable and printable connector strap connectable with the shoe upper. First and second releasable connector portions of the removable and printable connector strap are releasably connectable with the first and second permanent connectors, respectively.

A retention system for footwear can include opposed closure elements and a tensioner configured to urge the opposed closure elements toward each other in response to a tensile force applied to the tensioner. Opposed first and second anchors can be spaced from the tensioner. A retainer can have opposed first and second retainer couplers. The first retainer coupler can operatively engage the first anchor and the second retainer coupler can operatively engage the second anchor such that a tensile load applied to one or both of the first and second retainer couplers urges the retainer toward one or both of the first and second anchors. Each of the retainer couplers can be operatively engaged with the tensioner such that a tensile load applied to the tensioner urges the first retainer coupler and the second retainer coupler into tension and thereby urges the retainer toward one or both of the anchors.

A shoe quick tightening system includes two shoelace segments with aglets at the ends threaded through openings on the shoe, a pull-tab is connected to an aglet clip with at least two aglet channels to receive the two shoelace segments and aglets, and a clip cover engaged with the clip and enclosing the aglets within the clip and cover, the pull tab including hook and loop fastener portion adapted to couple with a mating hook and loop fastener portion on a surface of the shoe.

The elastic closure for footwear is a releasable closure for an open upper of an article of footwear. The elastic closure includes an elastomeric loop having opposed first and second ends, an anchoring member, such as a button, secured to the first end of the elastomeric loop, and an aglet secured to and covering the second end of the elastomeric loop. In use, the aglet and the second end of the elastomeric loop are inserted from above through a first eyelet of an upper of the article of footwear, so that the aglet and the second end of the elastomeric loop may be drawn through a second eyelet of the upper from below. The button prevents the first end of the elastomeric loop from passing through the first eyelet. The second end of the elastomeric loop is then stretched across the upper and releasably secured about the button.