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