Abstract: A shoe midsole (1) for shoes with exceptional walking comfort, eg hiking shoes. The shoe midsole is provided with a shock absorber (6) in its heel zone (4) and a bead (8) behind and adjacent the heel zone, said bead completely or partially following a U-shape and forming a side support for the heel of the wearer. The sole is flexible about at least two slightly curved bending lines (12,14), which are inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (10) of the sole, said lines being defined by channels or grooves (12,14) in the sole material. The bending lines do not intersect each other and their cavities face away from each other. The sole (1) has a particularly elastic portion (16) of a hand-like shape with at least two finger-shaped zones (18a,18b,18c) pointing towards the toe end (30) of the midsole. As a result the shoe midsole offers a considerable degree of flexibility during the wearer's walking motion.

Abstract: A shoe sole (1) manufactured of one or more pieces of a resilient material, such as plastics, natural or synthetic rubber, including a recess extending from below the heel and forward to the forefoot. The recess only allows the longitudinal circumferential rims of the shoe sole to come into contact with the walking surface when the user of the shoe is standing on said walking surface. A shock-absorbing projection (2) is provided in the recess opposite the heel bone of the foot, said projection not coming into contact with the walking surface at a low pressure load. At a high pressure load, such as when the user is walking or running, the shock-absorbing projection (2) comes into contact with the walking surface. In this manner the shocks usually affecting the heel of the shoe are moved to the heel bone as well as absorbed in the best possible manner. When the user is standing still the resilience is achieved by the circumferential rim of the shoe sole absorbing all the pressure in the heel area.