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