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