Abstract: Footwear having an outsole including treads spaced about 3.0 mm to about 6.0 mm from one another so that a rocky terrain feature can fit between adjacent treads thereby providing traction through the outsole on the rocky terrain feature, each tread of a height of about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm so the tread engages the rocky terrain feature without substantially bending upon such engagement. The treads can include a tread edge defining a right angle to form a substantially non-radiused corner. The outsole can include preselected regions having different durometers, e.g., a harder durometer to assist the treads in holding firm against terrain features, and a softer durometer to add flexibility to the outsole. A footbed with zone pods and secondary pods can be secured to the upper in a Strobel construction, the zone pods and secondary pods interacting with the outsole to provide enhanced feedback to the wearer.

Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear includes a sole assembly, optionally including an outsole and a midsole adjacent outsole. The sole assembly and/or its components can include a heel portion that defines a void. First and second inserts can be located in the void, adjacent one another. The first and second inserts are movable and/or slideable relative to one another. This construction can attenuate vibration and shock imparted to the outsole and subsequently transferred to a wearer of the footwear.

Abstract: An article of footwear promotes complimentary movement and proprioceptive feedback of a user's foot (e.g., to help an infant learn to walk or an adult balance on an uneven surface) while wearing the article of footwear. The article of footwear includes an outsole having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a mid region substantially in between the forefoot and heel regions. The three regions are configured to provide complimentary movement with respect to the user's foot. The forefoot region of the outsole includes a base portion interconnecting ground contact pads configured to move relative to one another, each ground contact pad moving substantially independently of the other relative to the base portion.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a footwear upper and a sole assembly secured to the footwear upper. The sole assembly has a heelward portion and a toeward portion, and includes a deck assembly disposed substantially in the heelward portion of the sole assembly. The deck assembly includes an upper deck portion, a lower deck portion spaced from the upper deck portion, and right and left supports attached to respective right and left portions of the upper and lower deck portions substantially near respective right and left lateral edges of the upper and lower deck portions. The deck assembly defines a cavity between the upper and lower decks. The deck assembly directs translation of ground contact forces incurred by the heelward portion of the sole assembly at least partially laterally outwardly.

Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear includes an outsole, a midsole disposed on the outsole and having a heel portion that defines a void, and first and second inserts disposed in the void. The first insert is attached to the outsole, and the second insert is disposed on top of the first insert in a manner such that the first and second inserts are movable relative to one another.

Abstract: An article of footwear promotes complimentary movement and proprioceptive feedback of a user's foot (e.g., to help an infant learn to walk or an adult balance on an uneven surface) while wearing the article of footwear. The article of footwear includes an outsole having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a mid region substantially in between the forefoot and heel regions. The three regions are configured to provide complimentary movement with respect to the user's foot. The forefoot region of the outsole includes a base portion interconnecting ground contact pads configured to move relative to one another, each ground contact pad moving substantially independently of the other relative to the base portion.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a footwear upper and a sole assembly secured to the footwear upper. The sole assembly has a heelward portion and a toeward portion, and includes a deck assembly disposed substantially in the heelward portion of the sole assembly. The deck assembly includes an upper deck portion, a lower deck portion spaced from the upper deck portion, and right and left supports attached to respective right and left portions of the upper and lower deck portions substantially near respective right and left lateral edges of the upper and lower deck portions. The deck assembly defines a cavity between the upper and lower decks. The deck assembly directs translation of ground contact forces incurred by the heelward portion of the sole assembly at least partially laterally outwardly.