A footwear assembly, such as a cycling show, includes a plantar shell, a dorsal shell, and a closure mechanism. The plantar shell that at least partially defines an interior area sized to receive a wearer’s foot and is shaped to conform to a bottom surface contour of the wearer’s foot. The dorsal shell shaped to conform to an upper surface contour of the wearer’s foot and includes a region positioned to apply a compressive force to a portion of the wearer’s foot. The closure mechanism configured to couple the dorsal shell to the plantar shell to apply the compressive force to the portion of the wearer’s foot to at least partially prevent movement of the wearer’s foot relative to the plantar shell.

A footwear assembly, such as a cycling show, includes a plantar shell, a dorsal shell, and a closure mechanism. The plantar shell that at least partially defines an interior area sized to receive a wearer’s foot and is shaped to conform to a bottom surface contour of the wearer’s foot. The dorsal shell shaped to conform to an upper surface contour of the wearer’s foot and includes a region positioned to apply a compressive force to a portion of the wearer’s foot. The closure mechanism configured to couple the dorsal shell to the plantar shell to apply the compressive force to the portion of the wearer’s foot to at least partially prevent movement of the wearer’s foot relative to the plantar shell.

An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.

An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

An article of footwear includes a strap system having a medial strap, a lateral strap, and a heel strap. The medial strap extends from a proximal end to a distal end selectively attachable to the upper at the lateral side. The lateral strap extends from a proximal end to a distal end selectively attachable to the upper at the medial side. The heel strap has a proximal portion fixed at the heel region and a distal portion selectively attachable to the upper by a heel strap fastener. The strap fastener is operable to attach one of the distal end of the medial strap and the distal end of the lateral strap to the heel strap.

An article of footwear includes a strap system having a medial strap, a lateral strap, and a heel strap. The medial strap extends from a proximal end to a distal end selectively attachable to the upper at the lateral side. The lateral strap extends from a proximal end to a distal end selectively attachable to the upper at the medial side. The heel strap has a proximal portion fixed at the heel region and a distal portion selectively attachable to the upper by a heel strap fastener. The strap fastener is operable to attach one of the distal end of the medial strap and the distal end of the lateral strap to the heel strap.

An upper for an article of footwear includes a first material defining a void operable to selectively receive a foot. The first material includes an outer surface. The upper also includes a first edge at least partially circumscribing the void at an uppermost extremity of the upper and a second edge disposed at a lowermost extremity of the upper. The upper further includes a first biasing member (i) disposed at the outer surface of the upper, (ii) attached to the first material, and (iii) spaced apart from the first edge and the second edge. The first biasing member is operable to exert a biasing force on the first material to bias the first edge away from the second edge.

A foot movement damper for damping a foot movement via the ankle joint, comprising a support arrangement for bearing on a lower leg and a holder arrangement for holding a foot, wherein a damping arrangement with at least one damping element is provided for damping a relative movement between the support arrangement and the holder arrangement, wherein the damping arrangement has a support binding for binding to the support arrangement and a holder binding for binding to the holder arrangement; and wherein the support arrangement has at least one bearing region and at least one bearing fixture, wherein the support arrangement can bear with the at least one bearing region over the malleolus of the ankle joint, and wherein the at least one bearing fixture is designed to fix the position of the at least one bearing region in a state when applied to the lower leg.