Abstract: Magnetic footwear, magnetic footwear fasteners, magnetic couplers, and methods of utilizing the same are disclosed herein. A magnetic footwear fastener includes a pair of magnetic couplers that are selectively (magnetically) coupled together, such as to selectively secure footwear in a closed, or sized, configuration around a wearer's foot when magnetic coupling regions of the pair of magnetic couplers are magnetically coupled together. The magnetic couplers also include mechanical coupling regions that are configured to be attached to footwear, either in a temporary or permanent manner. When the magnetic couplers are temporarily coupled to the footwear, the mechanical coupling region of each magnetic coupler may include one or more coupler eyelets through which the footwear's lace extends. When the magnetic couplers are permanently coupled to the footwear, the mechanical coupling regions thereof may be integrated into the shell, tongue, vamp, or other upper region of the footwear.

Abstract: Footwear with magnetic closures are disclosed. Footwear include a shell with a heel section and a front section defining a lateral slit and a medial slit between the heel section and the front section. Footwear have a lateral magnetic closure associated with the lateral slit and a medial magnetic closure associated with the medial slit. The heel section is configured to support a user's heel when the lateral magnetic closure and the medial magnetic closure are closed. Further, the heel section is configured to flex rearward to expose a rear foot passage when the lateral magnetic closure and medial magnetic closure are open.

Abstract: A shoe has a coupling element extending between the front and rear portions of the shoe to maintain the shoe in a bent position. The shoe rests stably on the ground in the bent position so that the user may simply step into the shoe. The bent position is overcome by the user's bodyweight, which overcomes a locked position of the coupling element.