The earliest known shoes date from about 8000 to 7000 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes BCE and were found in Oregon, USA in 1938[1]. However, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes the materials used for Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes making Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shoes do not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably in use long before Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he has found evidence that the use of shoes began in the period between about Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 40,000 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes and 26,000 years ago, based on the fact Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes that the thickness Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of the bones of the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes toes (other than the big toe) Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes decreased during this period, on the premise that going barefoot Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes results in Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes greater bone growth before this period.[1]
Parts of a shoe
Gluing a new outsole to an athletic shoe
Sole
The Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes bottom of a shoe is 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, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes moisture, or Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes outsoles made of natural rubber or Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a single piece, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes or may comprise separate pieces of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes different materials. Often the heel of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes the sole is rubber for durability and traction, while the front Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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; Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes usually beneath the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes heel where one puts the most pressure down. Different companies use different Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes materials for the midsoles of their shoes. Some shoes may not have a midsole at all.
Heel
Women's fashion boots
The bottom rear part of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes a shoe is the heel. Its function is to support the heel of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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, 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes as sandals or flip flops, this may be Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes nothing more than a few straps Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes for holding the sole in place. Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Closed Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes footwear, such as boots, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes sneakers and most men's shoes, will have a more complex upper. This part is often decorated or is made Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes in a certain style to look attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 , from Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 1967, describes a method for producing a shoe-upper Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes (Hain 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to insert a foot into a shoe by keeping the shoe open and Under Armour Shoes providing a smooth surface for the foot to slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed inside the shoe when user is not wearing Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes it, to help maintain the shoe's shape.
Shoe polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread on shoes to improve appearance, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes glossiness, and provide protection.
Shoe brush and polishing cloth: used Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes to apply polish Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes to shoes.
Overshoes or galoshes: a Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes rubber covering placed over shoes for rain Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: insert Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of various materials for cushioning, improved fit, or Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes reduced abrasion. These include padding and inner linings. Inserts Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes may also Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes longer or wider or for reducing discomfort in areas of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes a shoe.
Snow shoe: a wooden or leather piece which increases the area of ground Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes covered by the shoe.
Shoelaces: a system used to secure shoes.
Types of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shoes
Shoes made from real crocodile Kelly S Shoes skin, in a conservation exhibit at Bristol Zoo, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes England.
Dress and Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized by smooth and supple leather uppers, leather soles, Brand Name Shoes For Less and narrow Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes sleek figure. Casual shoes are characterized by sturdy leather uppers, non-leather Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes outsoles, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes and wide Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes profile.
Some designs of dress shoes can be worn by either gender. The majority of dress shoes Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes have an upper covering, commonly made of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes leather, enclosing most of the lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This upper part Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of the shoe is often made without Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes apertures or openings, but may also be made with openings or even itself consist of a series of straps, e.g. an open toe featured in women's shoes. Shoes with uppers made high to cover the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes ankles are Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes also available; a shoe with the upper rising Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes above the ankle is usually considered a boot but certain styles may be referred to as high-topped shoes or high-tops. Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Usually, a Pikolino Shoes high-topped shoe is secured by laces Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes or zippers, although some styles have elastic inserts to ease slipping the shoe on.
Men's shoes
Men's shoes can be categorized by how they are closed:
Balmorals: the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes vamp has a V-shaped Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes slit to Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes which the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In England, the balmoral is known as the Oxford. Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes two Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes pieces of leather independently Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes attached to Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes the vamp; also known as "open lacing". In Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes England, the Blucher is known as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: a buckle and strap instead of lacing
Various other closings exist but Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes are less popular Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes such as side-elastic closings.
Men's shoes can also be decorated in various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes and no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: has an Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes extra layer of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes leather that "caps" the toe. This is possibly the most popular decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): The toe of the shoe is covered Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes with Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes a perforated panel, the wing-tip, which extends down either side of the shoe. Brogues can be Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes found in both balmoral and blucher Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 style Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes may be found on the talk Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes page. See Wikipedia's Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(December Discount Adidas Shoes 2007)
Women's shoes
There is a large Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes variety of shoes available for women, in addition to most of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some broad categories are:
Pumps, known in the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 instep. They are popular for 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 higher. They are often seen as having more Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes sex appeal than low heels Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes (see article for discussion) and are thus commonly worn by women for formal occasions or Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes social outings.
Sneaker Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes boot and sneaker pump: a shoe that looks like an athletic shoe, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes but is equipped with Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes a heel, making it a kind of novelty dress shoe.
Either gender
Women's sandals
Clog
Platform shoe: shoe with very thick soles and Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes heels
Moccasin: originated Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes by Native Americans, a soft shoe without Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes a heel and usually made of leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, leaving much of the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes foot exposed to air. They are thus popular for Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes warm-weather wear, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes because they let the foot be cooler than a closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle shoe: leather shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes the instep, typically white uppers with black "saddle".
Loafer: a dress or casual shoe without Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes laces; Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes often Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes with tassels, buckles, or coin-holders (penny loafers).
Boating shoes, also known Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes as Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes boat shoes and deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. Laces, if present, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes are usually simple Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Often made Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of canvas or featuring a white sole. They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring or scratching Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 simply as an alternate style of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes casual or dress wear. Styles Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes include rubber boots and snow boots, as well Red Bottom Shoes as work boots and hiking boots.
Slippers: For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes and women's athletic shoes and special function shoes often have less difference Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes between Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes the sexes than in Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes dress shoes. In many Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes cases these shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends 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, 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shoes: Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes lightweight; often with plastic or metal 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 baseball.
A shoe for the right Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes foot.
Golf shoes: with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Originally the spikes Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes or "cleats" were made of metal but replaceable "soft spikes" Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes made of synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around the edge of each spike are much more common today (and are Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes required on many golf courses since they cause less damage Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes to the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes greens).
Bowling shoes: intermediate style between ordinary dress shoes and athletic shoes. They have harder rubber soles/heels so as not to damage bowling alley floors. They are often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a shoe designed for rock climbing. Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes They typically have a close fit, little if Comfortable Women S Walking 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 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes holes, may not be Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes water proof.
Skating shoes: typically called skates. They have various attachments for skating on the bottom of the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: a Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 Pregnancy Shoes wide and have extra layers Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of padding to protect Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes the skateboarders Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes feet.
Cycling shoes are equipped with a metal or plastic cleat to interface with clipless pedals, as well as a stiff Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes sole to maximize power Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes transfer and support the foot.
Snowshoes are special shoes for walking in thick Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes snow. Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes In temperate climates, snowshoes are used for mostly recreational purposes in winter.
Wrestling shoes are light, flexible Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes removable Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes footbeds, wide toe boxes and Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes arch support are made especially for those with problematic feet.
Dance shoes
Pointe Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shoes. Designed for ballet dancing. These have a toe box that is stiffened Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes with glue and a hardened Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes sole so the dancer can stand Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes slippers made of canvas or leather, with either continuous or two-part sole (i.e., split-sole). Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes The sole is typically made of leather, with thicker material under the ball and heel of the foot, and thinner and thus more flexible material Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes under the arch so that the foot can be pointed to its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured by elastics that cross over the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes top of the foot. They are most commonly pink, white, black, or pale tan, although they may 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 Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes (one inch or Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by laces or elastic Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes fall into two categories for the two genres of dances as Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes defined by the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes IDSF (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom and Latin American. Both are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups with 1-inch heels Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes and patent leather uppers. Ladies' Ballroom shoes are typically court shoes with low Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 2-inch heels, usually made of fabric so that they can Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes be finished with a greater variety of colours to match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom heel distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Latin American shoes have higher heels designed to throw the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes dancer's weight on to the toes and the soles are more flexible. Men's Latin shoes typically have 1.5-inch to 2-inch Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shaped heels while Ladies' Latin shoes have 2,5-inch to 3-inch heels, open-toed and strapped.
Dance sneakers. Also known as dansneakers, these Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes are Comfortable Women S Walking 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 made Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of leather, and often have one or more straps across Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes the instep to Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes secure Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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. Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Variously called called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, these are slip-on, partial foot covers that protect the ball of a dancer's foot from skin abrasions while executing turns. From a distance, flesh colored foot Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes thongs give a Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes dancer the appearance of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes having bare feet.
Modern pointe shoes.
Ballet shoes.
Jazz shoes. This style is frequently Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes comfort by nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes etc. They are commonly used for protection in industrial settings, construction, mining, and other workplaces. Protective Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes features may include steel-tipped toes and soles or ankle guards.
Historical shoes
Footwear has been worn for Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes tens of thousands of years. Shoes of the past include:
Espadrilles: these sandals, which are still worn today, are found Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes as Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes early as the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe used to keep a person's feet dry outdoors. First worn in the middle ages, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes they continued in use even into Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes early 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe with a long-pointed Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes toe, popular in Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: the historical shoe of Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes many North American Patrick Harrington Golf Shoes Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some shoes are made of hard but deformable Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes material. After Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes a person wears them multiple times, the material reforms to fit the wearer's feet. The person is said Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes to have broken Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes 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 shoes are designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: soles also Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes wear out. Not all shoes can have Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes their soles replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When unfit for use, shoes can Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes be treated as trash or municipal solid waste and disposed of. The exception can be with most athletic sneakers which can be recycled and turned into other raw materials. See Nike Grind as an example.
Someone Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes who makes Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes or repairs Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shoes Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes in a shop is Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes called a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In most parts of the world (Asia, Eastern Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Europe, parts Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of the Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Middle East and Africa, Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes much of Northern Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Europe Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes and Canada, as Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes well as Alaska) it is customary to remove Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes shoes when entering a house. In some areas of the United States, especially the Midwest, it Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes is expected that visitors remove their shoes unless a host specifically invites them to leave their shoes on. People do this to avoid bringing dirt, mud or snow into the house. For some societies, including those in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes for guests.
In the Middle East, parts Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude to show the soles of the feet to Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes others Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes (even accidentally, such as by crossing the legs). In addition, in Thailand, it is an extreme Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes insult for the foot, socks, or shoes to touch someone's head or Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes be placed over it. Although feet touching heads is an extremely rare occurrence in any society, some Muay Thai boxers Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes insult each other by "kicking" the opponent's head with their foot (most Muay Comfortable Women S Walking Shoes Thai kicks are executed with the shin). |
