Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: A footwear assembly comprising an upper connected to a sole assembly, the sole assembly having a midsole fixed to a bottom portion of the upper, the midsole being fixed to an outsole, wherein the midsole is sandwiched between the outsole and the upper, the upper having ankle, vamp, and heel portions defined by a plurality of interconnected panels, a top of the ankle portion defining an opening to an interior area, and a lower part of the ankle portion being connected to the vamp and heel portions; the vamp portion having a waterproof vamp panel securely connected along a bottom edge to the the sole assembly, a top edge portion being connected to one or more reinforcement panels, the vamp panel being a waterproof, co-molded, heat-embossed laminate structure comprising an inner open-cell foam layer sandwiched between inner and outer surface layers and of DWR coated fabric material, wherein the inner surface layer faces inwardly toward the interior area, and the outer surface layer is opposite the inner surface