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