An outsole for an article of footwear includes a main body having a plurality of modules arranged in series from a first end to a second end, adjacent ones of the modules detachably connected to each other along one of a plurality of seams extending from a first side of the main body to a second side of the main body. The outsole further including at least one insert embedded in each of the modules and configured for selectively attaching a traction element to the outsole.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having an upper surface and a ground-facing surface and a ground engaging sole component affixed to the ground-facing surface of the midsole. The ground engaging sole component includes a substrate layer, a support layer, and a plurality of cleats, each cleat coupled to the support layer and held apart from the midsole by a distance that is greater than 0.0 mm.

A support interface apparatus removably couplable to a cleated cycling shoe to enable the user to walk on an underlying substrate with minimal slipping on the substrate and/or minimal damage to the underlying substrate by the cleat. The apparatus includes a base pad and a cleat cavity located in the front portion of the base pad. The cleat cavity includes a perimeter, a base, and a cleat-retaining space established by the perimeter and the base. The base pad of a first embodiment is formed of two layers of material and a second embodiment is formed of three layers of EVA material. The cleat cavity is arranged for removably retaining the cleat of the cycling shoe therein so that the user may walk on the underlying surface without the heel and the cleat making direct contact with the underlying substrate.

Ground-engaging components for articles of footwear include: (a) an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and (b) a matrix structure extending at least partially across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells in the open space at least at the forefoot support area. A plurality of these open cells of the open cellular construction have openings with curved perimeters and no distinct corners. Additional aspects of this invention relate to ground-engaging components that are very lightweight yet very stiff, particularly in the forefoot support area. Two or more sizes of the ground-engaging components may be provided with substantially constant forefoot stiffness (optionally substantially constant over a size run).

An article of footwear (100), apparel (500, 600), and/or sporting equipment (300, 400), and methods of manufacturing thereof, having a hydrogel present on at least a portion of an externally-facing side of the article. The hydrogel is effective in reducing soil accumulation on the article, and/or for reducing soil adhesion to the article.

A cleat adapter assembly is provided for a cycling shoe. The cleat adapter assembly basically includes a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion and an adjuster. The first connecting portion is configured to be connected to a cleat. The second connecting portion is adjustably connected to the first connecting portion. The adjuster is configured to adjust a relative position between the first connecting portion and the second connection portion.

A shoe sole includes a first sole layer including a first region having a first rigidity, and a second region extending in a longitudinal direction of the shoe sole. The second region is spaced from a toe edge of the first sole layer and is spaced from a heel edge of the first sole layer. The first sole layer has a cleat engagement part. The second region is located between the cleat engagement part and a side edge of the first sole layer.

A plate for an article of footwear includes a base layer, a first strand layer, and a second strand layer. The base layer has a peripheral edge defining a medial side and a lateral side extending between a heel region and a forefoot region. The first strand portion is attached to the base layer via first stitching that crosses over the first strand portion and penetrates the base layer at first attachment locations that are spaced apart from the first strand portion. The first strand portion further includes adjacent segments that form a first layer on the base layer. The second strand portion is disposed on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer and is attached to the base layer via second stitching.

Presented are S-shaped cleats for footwear, methods for making/using S-shaped cleats, and footwear fabricated with S-shaped cleats. A cleat structure for an article of footwear includes a mounting base, such as a pair of coplanar mounting plates, that attaches to the footwear's sole structure. A center wall projects downwardly from the mounting base and has opposing lateral sides with a distal end extending therebetween. A pair of sidewalls each projects downwardly from the base and adjoins a respective lateral side of the center wall. Each sidewall has a respective angled edge that projects at an oblique angle from the distal end of the center wall. The two sidewalls are located on opposing sides of the center wall; the sidewalls may be parallel to and extend in opposite directions of each other. The center wall and sidewalls may be substantially flat panels with multiple polygonal faces or may have arcuate sides.

An adaptor is connected to a bicycle shoe and includes an engaging portion and a base part. The engaging portion is formed on the first side of the base part, and protrudes from the first side of the base part so as to be connected to the underside of the bicycle shoe. A recess is defined in the second side of the base part and includes two first holes defined through its inner bottom. The two first holes are defined through the engaging portion. Two locking members extend through the two first holes and are connected to the bicycle shoe. A cleat is removably connected to the second side of the base part. The bicycle shoes with the cleat are used as mountain bike shoes, and used as road bike shoes by removing the cleats.