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