Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.

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 flexible shoe includes an under sole, a foot bed, a first over-foot portion, and a second over-foot portion. The under sole is formed of ballistic nylon. The foot bed is arranged on an upper surface of the under sole. The first over-foot portion is attached to the under sole and is configured to flexibly overly an instep of a foot of a user forward of an ankle of the user. The second over-foot portion is configured to flexibly wrap around a heel of the user rearward of the ankle of the user. The under sole, the first over-foot portion, and the second over-foot portion define a cavity configured to enclose the foot of the user. The foot bed is positioned entirely within the cavity.

An article of footwear includes a sole, an upper, a first collar fastener, a second collar fastener, and a strap. The upper is connected to the sole and includes a hindfoot portion and a collar extending from the hindfoot portion. The collar is configured for movement between a first position in which a first side of the collar is an exterior side, and a second position in which an opposite second side of the collar is the exterior side. The first collar fastener is mounted to the first side of the collar. The second collar fastener is mounted to the second side of the collar. The strap extends from the upper and includes a strap fastener. In the first position of the collar, the first collar fastener connects to the strap fastener. In the second position of the collar, the second collar fastener connects to the strap fastener.

Described are articles of wear including with a material with color changing properties. The material includes at least one elastic portion having an unstretched colored appearance and a stretched colored appearance. The material also includes at least one fixed portion having the stretched colored appearance regardless of a magnitude of an external force applied to the at least one fixed portion.

A shoe capable of maintaining shapes of an upper leather and a tongue so that a user can easily wear the shoe without bowing a waist of the user when the user wears the shoe is provided. The shoe includes a sole, an upper leather which is provided above the sole and includes a tip line forming a region into which a foot of a wearer is inserted and a first wearing guide portion which causes a rear region of the tip line to move rearward when the foot of the wearer is inserted into the shoe through the tip line. The first wearing guide portion includes a rear support portion which is elongated in a heel tab direction from a back counter, and an insertion guide portion which is provided to have a curve rearward from an upper portion of the rear support portion.

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.

Hot melt sequins and methods of applying these sequins are disclosed. The sequins may be stitched to a layer of an article in a pattern to form a relatively rigid structure. The sequins may be made of a hotmelt material and melted to form a continuous structure. The sequins may be located along a lacing region and used as eyelets to secure laces.

A rapid-entry shoe having an elastic element to enlarge a foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe and also having a stabilizer to prevent a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe from collapsing downward.