The earliest known shoes date Running Shoes Repair from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and were found in Oregon, USA in 1938[1]. However, the materials used for making shoes do not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably in use long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he Running Shoes Repair has found evidence that the use of Shoes Merrell Running Shoemall shoes began Running Shoes Repair in Running Shoes Repair the period between about 40,000 and 26,000 years ago, based on the fact that the thickness of the bones of the toes (other than the big toe) decreased during this period, Running Shoes Repair on the premise that going barefoot results in greater bone growth before this period.[1]
Parts of a shoe
Gluing a new outsole to an athletic shoe
Sole
The bottom Running Shoes Repair of Running Shoes Repair a shoe is called the sole.
Insole
The insole is the Running Shoes Repair interior bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many Running Shoes Repair shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are often added for comfort or health Running Shoes Repair reasons (to control Running Shoes Repair the shape, moisture, or smell of the shoe).
Outsole
The outsole Running Shoes Repair is the layer in direct contact with the ground. Dress shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles made of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a single Running Shoes Repair piece, or may Running Shoes Repair comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the heel of the sole is rubber for durability and traction, while the front is Running Shoes Repair leather for style. Running Shoes Repair Specialized shoes will often have Running Shoes Repair modifications on this design: athletic Running Shoes Repair cleats Running Shoes Repair have spikes embedded Running Shoes Repair in the outsole to grip the ground; many kinds of dancing shoes have much softer or harder soles.
Midsole
The layer in between Running Shoes Repair the outsole Running Shoes Repair and the insole that is typically there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like running shoes, have another Running Shoes Repair material for shock absorption, usually Running Shoes Repair beneath the heel where one puts the most pressure down. Running Shoes Repair Different companies use different materials for the midsoles of their shoes. Some shoes may Running Shoes Repair not have a midsole at all.
Heel
Women's fashion boots
The bottom rear part of a shoe Running Shoes Repair is the heel. Running Shoes Repair Its function is Running Shoes Repair to support the heel of Running Shoes Repair the foot. They are often made of the same material as the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion or to make the person look taller, or flat for a more practical use.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has an Running Shoes Repair upper part that helps hold the shoe onto the foot. In Running Shoes Repair the simplest Running Shoes Repair cases, such as sandals or Running Shoes Repair flip flops, Running Shoes Repair this may be nothing Running Shoes Repair more than a few straps for Running Shoes Repair holding the sole in place. Running Shoes Repair Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will have a more complex upper. This part is often decorated or is made in a certain style to look attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 , from 1967, describes a method Running Shoes Repair for producing a shoe-upper (Hain 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to Running Shoes Repair insert a Running Shoes Repair foot into a shoe by keeping the shoe open Running Shoes Repair and providing a smooth surface for the foot to slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed inside Running Shoes Repair the shoe when user is not wearing it, to help Running Shoes Repair maintain the shoe's shape.
Shoe polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread on shoes to improve appearance, glossiness, and provide protection.
Shoe brush and polishing cloth: used to apply polish to shoes.
Overshoes or galoshes: a rubber covering placed over shoes for rain and Running Shoes Repair snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: insert of Running Shoes Repair various materials for cushioning, improved fit, Running Shoes Repair or reduced abrasion. These Running Shoes Repair include padding Running Shoes Repair and inner linings. Inserts may also be used to correct foot problems.
Shoe bag: a bag that protects shoes against damage when they are not being worn.
Shoe stretcher: a tool for making a shoe longer or wider or for reducing discomfort in areas of a shoe.
Snow shoe: Running Shoes Repair a wooden or leather piece which increases the area of ground covered by the shoe.
Shoelaces: Running Shoes Repair a system used to secure shoes.
Types of shoes
Shoes made from real crocodile skin, in a conservation exhibit at Bristol Zoo, England.
Dress and casual shoes
Dress Running Shoes Repair shoes Running Shoes Repair are categorized by smooth and supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow sleek figure. Casual shoes are characterized by sturdy leather Running Shoes Repair uppers, non-leather outsoles, and wide profile.
Some designs of dress shoes can be worn by either gender. The majority of dress shoes have an upper covering, commonly made of leather, enclosing most of the lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This upper part of the Running Shoes Repair shoe is often made without apertures or openings, but may also be made with Running Shoes Repair openings Running Shoes Repair or even itself consist of a series of straps, Running Shoes Repair e.g. an Running Shoes Repair open toe featured in women's shoes. Shoes with uppers made high to cover the ankles are also available; a shoe with the Running Shoes Repair upper rising above the ankle is usually considered a boot but certain styles may be referred to as high-topped shoes or high-tops. Usually, a Running Shoes Repair high-topped shoe is secured by laces Running Shoes Repair or zippers, Running Shoes Repair although some Running Shoes Repair styles have Running Shoes Repair elastic inserts to ease slipping the Running Shoes Repair shoe on.
Men's shoes
Men's shoes can be categorized by how they Running Shoes Repair are closed:
Balmorals: the Running Shoes Repair vamp has a V-shaped slit to which the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In England, the balmoral is known as the Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American clothing companies to market shoes that are not balmorals, Running Shoes Repair such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: Running Shoes Repair the Running Shoes Repair laces are tied to two pieces of leather independently attached to the Running Shoes Repair vamp; also known Running Shoes Repair as "open lacing". In England, the Blucher is known as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: a buckle and strap instead of lacing
Various Running Shoes Repair other closings exist but are less popular such Running Shoes Repair as side-elastic closings.
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Men's shoes can Running Shoes Repair also be decorated in various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: has an extra layer of leather that "caps" the toe. This is possibly the most Running Shoes Repair popular Running Shoes Repair decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): The toe of the shoe is covered with a perforated panel, the wing-tip, which extends down either Running Shoes Repair side of the shoe. Brogues can be found Running Shoes Repair in both Running Shoes Repair balmoral and blucher styles. Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page Running Shoes Repair or at requests for expansion.
The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. Running Shoes Repair See Wikipedia's guide to writing better Running Shoes Repair articles for suggestions.(December Running Shoes Repair 2007)
Women's shoes
There is a large Running Shoes Repair variety of shoes available for women, in addition to most of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some broad Running Shoes Repair categories are:
Pumps, known in the US Running Shoes Repair and UK as ballerinas, ballet pumps or skimmers, Running Shoes Repair are Running Shoes Repair shoes with a very low heel Running Shoes Repair and a relatively short vamp, exposing much Running Shoes Repair of the instep. They are popular for warm-weather Running Shoes Repair wear, and may be seen Running Shoes Repair as more comfortable than shoes with a higher heel.
High heels may be shoes with Running Shoes Repair heels 2 inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen as having more sex appeal than low heels (see article for discussion) and are thus commonly worn by women for formal occasions or social outings.
Sneaker boot and sneaker pump: a shoe that looks Running Shoes Repair like an athletic shoe, Running Shoes Repair but is equipped with a heel, making it a Running Shoes Repair kind of novelty dress shoe.
Either gender
Women's sandals
Clog
Platform shoe: shoe with very thick soles and heels
Moccasin: originated by Native Americans, a soft shoe without a heel and usually made Running Shoes Repair of leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, leaving much of Running Shoes Repair the foot exposed to air. They are thus popular for warm-weather wear, because they Running Shoes Repair let the foot be cooler than a closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle Running Shoes Repair shoe: leather shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over the instep, typically white uppers with black "saddle".
Loafer: a dress or casual shoe without Running Shoes Repair laces; often with tassels, buckles, Running Shoes Repair or coin-holders (penny Running Shoes Repair loafers).
Boating shoes, also known Running Shoes Repair as boat shoes and deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. Laces, if present, are usually simple leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Often made of canvas or featuring a white sole. Running Shoes Repair They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring or scratching a boat deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) frequently made of leather. Some are Running Shoes Repair designed to be used in times of bad weather, or simply as an alternate style of casual Running Shoes Repair or dress wear. Styles include rubber boots and snow boots, as well as work boots and hiking boots.
Slippers: Running Shoes Repair For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's and women's athletic shoes and special Running Shoes Repair function shoes often have less difference between the sexes than in dress shoes. Running Shoes Repair In many cases these shoes can be worn by either Running Shoes Repair sex. Emphasis tends to be more on Running Shoes Repair function than style.
Sneakers/trainers Running Shoes Repair (also Running Shoes Repair called gym shoes or Running Shoes Repair tennis Running Shoes Repair shoes): general purpose athletic shoes; made out of Running Shoes Repair rubber, cloth, and/or plastic to be lightweight, flexible, Running Shoes Repair and have good traction. Special varieties are available for basketball or tennis.
Running shoes: very similar to above, with additional emphasis on cushioning.
Track shoes: lightweight; Running Shoes Repair often Running Shoes Repair with plastic or metal cleats
A shoe for Running Shoes Repair the right foot.
Cleat (shoe): a type of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Running Shoes Repair Usually worn while Running Shoes Repair playing sports such as rugby, football, American Running Shoes Repair football, or baseball.
A shoe for the right Running Shoes Repair foot.
Golf shoes: with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of Running Shoes Repair metal but replaceable Running Shoes Repair "soft spikes" made of synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around the edge of each spike are much more common today (and are required on many golf courses since they Running Shoes Repair cause less Running Shoes Repair damage to the greens).
Bowling shoes: Running Shoes Repair intermediate style between ordinary dress shoes and athletic shoes. They Running Shoes Repair have harder Running Shoes Repair rubber soles/heels so as not to damage bowling alley floors. They are often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a shoe designed for rock climbing. They typically have a close fit, little if any Running Shoes Repair padding, and a smooth sticky rubber sole with an extended rubber rand.
Hiking shoes or boots: usually have a high somewhat stiff upper with Running Shoes Repair many lace eyelets, to provide ankle support on uneven terrain, with extra large traction on the sole.
Walking shoes: have a more flexible sole than the running shoe, lighter in weight than the hiking boot, may have air holes, Running Shoes Repair may not be water proof.
Skating shoes: typically called skates. They have various attachments for skating on the bottom of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: a large, thick plastic boot specially designed for attachment to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes Running Shoes Repair have flat soles for a Running Shoes Repair better grip on a Running Shoes Repair skateboard. They are very wide and have extra layers of padding to protect the skateboarders feet.
Cycling shoes are equipped with a metal or plastic cleat Running Shoes Repair to interface with clipless pedals, as well as a stiff sole to maximize power transfer and support the foot.
Snowshoes are Running Shoes Repair special Running Shoes Repair shoes for walking in thick snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes are used for mostly recreational Running Shoes Repair purposes in winter.
Wrestling shoes are light, flexible shoes that mimic bare feet while providing additional traction and protection.
Orthopedic shoes
Orthopedic Running Shoes Repair or "comfort" Running Shoes Repair shoes are made with pedorthic and anatomically-correct comfort qualities, such as padded removable Running Shoes Repair footbeds, Running Shoes Repair wide toe boxes and arch support are made especially for those with problematic feet.
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Dance Running Shoes Repair shoes
Pointe shoes. Designed for ballet dancing. These have a toe box that is stiffened with Running Shoes Repair glue Running Shoes Repair and a hardened sole so the dancer Running Shoes Repair can stand Running Shoes Repair on the tips of their toes. They are secured by elastic straps and ribbons that are tied to the dancer's ankles.
Ballet shoes Heel-less slippers Running Shoes Repair made of canvas or leather, with either continuous or two-part sole Running Shoes Repair (i.e., split-sole). The sole is typically made of leather, with thicker material under the ball and heel of the foot, and thinner and thus more flexible Running Shoes Repair material under the arch so that the foot can be pointed to its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured Running Shoes Repair by Running Shoes Repair elastics that cross over the top Running Shoes Repair of the foot. They are most Running Shoes Repair commonly pink, white, black, or pale tan, although they may be made in specialty colours such as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have a two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., Running Shoes Repair split-sole) to provide both flexibility and traction, Running Shoes Repair and a low (one inch or shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by laces or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They fall into two categories for the two genres of dances as defined by the IDSF Running Shoes Repair (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom and Latin American. Both are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups with 1-inch heels and patent leather uppers. Ladies' Ballroom Running Shoes Repair shoes are typically court shoes with low 2-inch Running Shoes Repair heels, usually made of fabric so that they can be finished with a greater variety of colours to match the dancer's dress. Running Shoes Repair The low Ballroom heel distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Latin American shoes have Running Shoes Repair higher heels designed to throw the dancer's weight on to the toes Running Shoes Repair and the Running Shoes Repair soles are Running Shoes Repair more Running Shoes Repair flexible. Men's Latin shoes typically Running Shoes Repair have 1.5-inch to 2-inch shaped Running Shoes Repair heels while Running Shoes Repair Ladies' Latin shoes have 2,5-inch Running Shoes Repair to 3-inch heels, open-toed and strapped.
Dance sneakers. Running Shoes Repair Also known as dansneakers, these are a combination of a sneaker and a dance shoe, with a reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a Running Shoes Repair one to three inch heel, which are usually made of leather, and often Running Shoes Repair have one or more Running Shoes Repair straps across the instep Running Shoes Repair to secure the foot during dance. They may come in soft-soled (suede) Running Shoes Repair or hard-soled Running Shoes Repair varieties. They may be converted to tap shoes by attaching taps.
Foot thongs. Variously called Running Shoes Repair called Foot Paws Running Shoes Repair and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, Running Shoes Repair these are slip-on, partial foot covers that protect the ball of a Running Shoes Repair dancer's foot from skin abrasions while executing turns. From a distance, flesh colored foot thongs give a dancer the appearance of having bare feet.
Modern pointe shoes.
Ballet Running Shoes Repair shoes.
Jazz shoes. This style is frequently worn by acro dancers.
A foot thong, viewed from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are Running Shoes Repair designed to stand heavy wear, to protect the wearer, and provide high traction. They are generally made Running Shoes Repair from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or comfort Running Shoes Repair by nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly used for protection in industrial settings, construction, mining, and other workplaces. Protective features may include Running Shoes Repair steel-tipped toes and soles or ankle guards.
Historical shoes
Footwear Running Shoes Repair has been worn for tens Running Shoes Repair of thousands of years. Shoes of the past include:
Espadrilles: these Running Shoes Repair sandals, which are still worn today, are found as early as the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe used to keep a Running Shoes Repair person's feet dry outdoors. First worn in the middle ages, they continued in use even into the early 20th Running Shoes Repair century.
Poulaine: Running Shoes Repair a shoe with a long-pointed toe, popular Running Shoes Repair in Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: the historical shoe of many North American Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some shoes are made of hard but deformable material. After a person wears them multiple times, the material reforms to Running Shoes Repair fit the wearer's feet. The Running Shoes Repair person is said to have Running Shoes Repair broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water resistance (to some extent) and appearance, especially for leather shoes and boots.
Heel replacement: heels periodically wear out. Not all shoes are designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: soles also wear out. Not all shoes can Running Shoes Repair have Running Shoes Repair their soles Running Shoes Repair replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When unfit for use, shoes can be treated as trash Running Shoes Repair or municipal solid waste and disposed of. The exception can be with most athletic sneakers which can be recycled Running Shoes Repair and turned into other raw Running Shoes Repair materials. See Nike Grind Running Shoes Repair as an example.
Someone who makes Running Shoes Repair or repairs shoes in a shop is called a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In most parts of the world (Asia, Eastern Running Shoes Repair Europe, parts of the Middle East and Africa, much of Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Running Shoes Repair Alaska) it is customary to remove shoes when entering a house. In some areas of the United Running Shoes Repair States, especially the Midwest, it is expected that visitors remove their shoes Running Shoes Repair unless a host specifically invites them to leave their shoes on. People do this to avoid bringing dirt, mud or snow into the house. For some societies, including those in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for guests.
In the Middle East, Running Shoes Repair parts of Africa, Korea Running Shoes Repair and Thailand, it is considered rude to show the soles of the feet to others (even accidentally, such as by crossing the legs). In addition, in Thailand, it is an extreme insult for the foot, socks, or shoes Running Shoes Repair to touch Running Shoes Repair someone's head or be placed over it. Although feet touching heads is an extremely rare occurrence in any society, some Running Shoes Repair Muay Thai boxers insult each other by "kicking" the opponent's head with their foot (most Muay Thai kicks are executed with the shin). |
