Abstract: An article of footwear of shortened midsole construction includes a heel wedge member that extends forwardly from the rear portion of the article a distance of about three-fourths the length of the article, thereby to increase the flexibility of the article. Lock stitching secures the heel wedge member to the adjacent rear end portion of an annular welt member that extends around the bottom periphery of the foot enclosure portion of the article. The front portion of the outsole member is secured by front stitching to the adjacent forward portion of the welt, and the rear portion of the outsole member is secured to the heel wedge member, preferably by a layer of adhesive. The front stitching and the lock stitching overlap adjacent the juncture between the arch and ball portions of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: A shoe or boot includes an ankle support collar attached to an inside surface of an upper (e.g., via stitching along a lower portion of the ankle support collar) and is formed of a resilient and flexible material to allow engagement to ankle portions of the wearer. A collar band surrounds a posterior portion of the ankle support collar and has end regions extending over the instep region of the upper. The shoe or boot is of the type having an upper attached to the sole which together define a volume for receiving the wearer's foot. The upper further defines an open instep region including at least two lacing attachments (e.g., loops such as "D"-rings) disposed along the instep portion of the upper. The shoe or boot also includes lacing which passes through the two lacing attachments and end regions of the collar band to allow tightening of the upper around the wearer's foot and the ankle support collar around the ankle portions of the wearer.