An article of footwear may include various first strands and second strands. The cutting and second strands may extend from an area proximal to lace-receiving elements to an area proximal to the sole structure. The first strands may have a substantially vertical orientation and the second strands may have a rearwardly-angled orientation. The first strands may be located in a midfoot region of the footwear and the second strands may be located in both the midfoot region and a heel region of the footwear. Angles between the first strands and the second strands may be at least 40 degrees. Additionally, the second strands may have at least fifty percent greater tensile strength than the first strands.

A footwear article is provided comprising an upper and a wear guard. In at least one example, the wear guard may include an overlay formed with bellows positioned along a lacing structure of the footwear article, wherein the wear guard is a different material than the upper of the footwear article.

A footwear sole includes an outsole assembly having a heel outsole, a forefoot outsole spaced axially apart from the heel outsole by an arch gap, and a sidewall extending between the heel outsole and the forefoot outsole. The sidewall has an elevated bottom edge extending axially along the arch gap on each of a medial and lateral side of the outsole assembly. The footwear sole further includes a support frame in the outsole assembly. The frame has an arch support surface extending axially along the arch gap at an elevation below at least a portion of each bottom edge. The footwear sole further includes a cushioning midsole in the outsole assembly and extending along the arch gap atop the arch support surface.

A shank for an article of footwear including a substantially planar base portion extending within a first plane in the longitudinal and lateral directions and a substantially planar ramp portion designed to absorb footwear loads in a vertical direction, the ramp portion extending, in an uncompressed state, within a second plane that is oblique to the first plane. The base portion and the ramp portion are arranged such that they do not overlap in the vertical direction. A sole assembly is also described and includes an outsole divided into a first portion located at a forefoot portion of the sole assembly and a second portion located at an arch portion of the sole assembly. The second portion is designed to contact the midsole in a compressed state and form a gap between when a load is removed. Related methods of manufacturing are also described.

An article of footwear including an upper, a midsole, a lateral stabilizing rail, and a medial stabilizing rail. The lateral stabilizing rail may be coupled to the upper and the midsole and extend from a forefoot portion of the article of footwear to a heel portion of the article of footwear. The medial stabilizing rail may be coupled to the upper and the midsole and extend from the forefoot portion of the article of footwear to the heel portion of the article of footwear. The lateral stabilizing rail and the medial stabilizing rail may be separate pieces capable deforming independently of each other.

A footwear sole includes an outsole assembly having a heel outsole, a forefoot outsole spaced axially apart from the heel outsole by an arch gap, and a sidewall extending between the heel outsole and the forefoot outsole. The sidewall has an elevated bottom edge extending axially along the arch gap on each of a medial and lateral side of the outsole assembly. The footwear sole further includes a support frame in the outsole assembly. The frame has an arch support surface extending axially along the arch gap at an elevation below at least a portion of each bottom edge. The footwear sole further includes a cushioning midsole in the outsole assembly and extending along the arch gap atop the arch support surface.

An article of footwear has an upper and a fastener. The upper is attached to a sole structure. The fastener includes a handle disposed within a first cavity formed at a heel end of the sole structure. The handle is operably coupled to a cable that extends along the sole structure from a heel region to a midfoot region of the footwear. When the handle is rotated, the article of footwear is tightened or loosed within the midfoot region.

An article of footwear includes an upper having a lacing system, an underfoot support plate, and a holding cage that has support members extending up from the support plate, forming a portion of a cradle around and rearward of a wearer's calcaneus bone. The support members join with the lacing system so when the cage is in a loaded state, the system translates a forward force of a wearer's instep against it, through the members so the cradle is pulled toward the calcaneus bone, with the lacing system, to impair the foot from sliding forward over the support plate. The footwear can include a tensioning member, joined with the system and a constrictor strap that wraps rearward around an ankle of the wearer, and operable in a tightening mode in which the lace is tightened to lock the holding cage against the heel and tighten the strap around the ankle.

A footwear securing device is provided. The device includes a front strap, a mid strap, a rear strap, an ankle strap, a connector strap, and a base plate; the base plate configured to attach to a sole of a shoe and comprising a front portion, a mid portion, and a rear portion, the front portion comprising a front slot, the mid portion comprising a mid slot, and the rear portion comprising a rear slot; and the front strap configured to enter the front slot, the mid strap configured to enter the mid slot, and the rear strap configured to enter the rear slot.

A pair of minimalist barefoot shoes has two shoe units. Each shoe unit has a shoe member, a medial arch pulling member, and a pressing member. The shoe member has a shoe body, a toe member, and a sole. The shoe body has a medial arch segment, an instep lateral segment, a receiving space, an opening, and an attachment layer. The medial arch pulling member is mounted on the shoe member and has a pulling segment and a connection layer. The pressing member is mounted on the shoe body and has a pressing segment and a combination layer. The pressing segment is attached securely to the shoe body, extends around an medial arch segment of the shoe body, and covers the first end of the medial arch pulling member.