Abstract: Heel dampening systems and footwear including the same. Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes at least an outsole and a heel assembly. The heel assembly includes a heel dampening system, an upper heel layer that includes a cushion aperture, and a lower heel layer. The heel dampening system includes a heel dampening layer configured to at least partially absorb an impact force and a cushioning projection that extends from the heel dampening layer and at least partially through the cushion aperture in the upper heel layer.

Abstract: Heel dampening systems and footwear including the same. Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes at least an outsole and a heel assembly. The heel assembly includes a heel dampening system, an upper heel layer that includes a cushion aperture, and a lower heel layer. The heel dampening system includes a heel dampening layer configured to at least partially absorb an impact force and a cushioning projection that extends from the heel dampening layer and at least partially through the cushion aperture in the upper heel layer.

Abstract: Heel dampening systems and footwear including the same. Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes at least an outsole and a heel assembly. The heel assembly includes a heel dampening system, an upper heel layer that includes a cushion aperture, and a lower heel layer. The heel dampening system includes a heel dampening layer configured to at least partially absorb an impact force and a cushioning projection that extends from the heel dampening layer and at least partially through the cushion aperture in the upper heel layer.

Abstract: Articles of footwear with localized traction regions. An article of footwear includes an upper with a shell and a sole assembly coupled to the upper. The sole assembly includes an outsole with a traction surface and a heel region from which a heel projects. The sole assembly and the upper collectively define a foot compartment. The traction surface includes a plurality of distinct localized traction regions, each of which has a traction coefficient that is different than that of at least one other localized traction region. The traction surface further defines and/or includes a stirrup glide surface. The stirrup glide surface is configured to permit the article of footwear to be selectively inserted into and removed from a stirrup of a saddle by sliding along a tread surface of the stirrup without obstruction by the stirrup.

Abstract: Support plates, and footwear soles and articles of footwear containing the same. The support plate generally may provide one or more of heel cushioning, arch support in a midfoot region of the support plate, and integral medial and lateral legs extending from the midfoot region of the support plate towards an anterior end of the support plate. An article of footwear may include a support plate at least partially embedded within a sole assembly, such as a midsole thereof. The support plate may be configured to provide energy return and arch support to a wearer of the article of footwear. The support plate may include a domed structure with radially extending arms extending from a central heel portion, where the domed structure provides heel cushioning to the wearer when a force is transmitted through the midsole to the domed structure.

Abstract: Support plates, and footwear soles and articles of footwear containing the same. The support plate generally may provide one or more of heel cushioning, arch support in a midfoot region of the support plate, and integral medial and lateral legs extending from the midfoot region of the support plate towards an anterior end of the support plate. An article of footwear may include a support plate at least partially embedded within a sole assembly, such as a midsole thereof. The support plate may be configured to provide energy return and arch support to a wearer of the article of footwear. The support plate may include a domed structure with radially extending arms extending from a central heel portion, where the domed structure provides heel cushioning to the wearer when a force is transmitted through the midsole to the domed structure.

Abstract: Heel dampening systems and footwear including the same are disclosed herein. Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes at least an outsole and a heel assembly. The heel assembly includes a heel dampening system, an upper heel layer that includes a cushion aperture, and a lower heel layer. The heel dampening system includes a heel dampening layer configured to at least partially absorb an impact force and a cushioning projection that extends from the heel dampening layer and at least partially through the cushion aperture in the upper heel layer.

Abstract: Boots with external heel counters are disclosed herein. An external heel counter can include a heel counter body that is configured to form at least a portion of an external surface of a boot, where the heel counter body is configured to extend around a heel portion of the boot between an outsole of the boot and an upper of the boot. An external heel counter can further include a spur rest configured to support a yoke of a spur. Boots having an outsole and an upper, where the upper is configured to receive a wearer's foot, can receive and couple with an external heel counter according, wherein the external heel counter is configured to support the wearer's heel when the wearer wears the boot.

Abstract: Boots with spur stability systems are disclosed herein. A spur stability system can be configured to couple with a boot having an upper and an outsole, where the spur stability system includes at least one strap stability structure that is configured to resist motion of a spur strap relative to the boot when a spur is operatively attached to the boot with the spur strap. The spur stability system can have an upper strap coupled to the spur, in contact with at least one stability structure on the external surface of the upper. The spur stability system can additionally have a lower strap coupled to the spur, in contact with at least one stability structure on the external surface of the outsole.

Abstract: Boots with external heel counters are disclosed herein. An external heel counter can include a heel counter body that is configured to form at least a portion of an external surface of a boot, where the heel counter body is configured to extend around a heel portion of the boot between an outsole of the boot and an upper of the boot. An external heel counter can further include a spur rest configured to support a yoke of a spur. Boots having an outsole and an upper, where the upper is configured to receive a wearer's foot, can receive and couple with an external heel counter according, wherein the external heel counter is configured to support the wearer's heel when the wearer wears the boot.

Abstract: Support plates, and footwear soles and articles of footwear containing the same. The support plate generally may provide one or more of heel cushioning, arch support in a midfoot region of the support plate, and integral medial and lateral legs extending from the midfoot region of the support plate towards an anterior end of the support plate. An article of footwear may include a support plate at least partially embedded within a sole assembly, such as a midsole thereof. The support plate may be configured to provide energy return and arch support to a wearer of the article of footwear. The support plate may include a domed structure with radially extending arms extending from a central heel portion, where the domed structure provides heel cushioning to the wearer when a force is transmitted through the midsole to the domed structure.