Abstract: A traction system for an ambulatory support such as a prosthetic foot blade or a crutch includes a sole plate, a latch assembly, and a strap. The sole plate is couplable to a distal end of the ambulatory support to extend under a bottom side of the ambulatory support and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front catch and a rear catch both fixable at a top side of the ambulatory support with the front catch nearer to the distal end of the ambulatory support than the rear catch, and a lever having a front end and a rear end, the front end releasably latchable to the front catch and the rear end releasably latchable to the rear catch when the lever is pivoted about the latched front end. The strap is secured to the lever and to the sole plate.

Abstract: Golf shoes include one or more of the following: (a) a foot stabilizer system that interacts with a shoe securing system to securely engage and/or wrap around a foot of a wearer; (b) a natural motion sole, optionally including flex grooves that allow a weight transfer from back-to-front and/or from side-to-side; (c) a six cleat configuration (e.g., four cleats in a forefoot region, two cleats in a heel region, and no cleats located directly under a big toe); (d) a forefoot moderator plate positioned to moderate or reduce user feel of the forefoot cleats; (e) a lateral half heel counter extending from a rear heel area to a lateral midfoot or lateral forward heel area of the shoe; and/or (f) one or more medial, forefoot, sidewall traction elements at or near a big toe area of the sole.

Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) an upper; (b) a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the outsole having a plurality of polygonal lugs arranged about a base surface of the outsole. The outsole may include one or more regions wherein the characteristics of a portion of the lugs within a region differ from the characteristics of a portion of the lugs in another region. The lugs may differ, for example based on size, construction and/or spacing between the lugs. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.

Abstract: A sole structure includes an outsole having an outsole body defining an inner body surface and an outer body surface opposite the inner body surface. The outsole has a plurality of traction elements each extending from the outsole body away from the inner body surface. Each of the traction elements includes a base coupled to the outsole body surface. Each of the traction elements includes a tip spaced apart from the outer body surface and has a pitch defined by a vector. The pitch of each of the plurality of traction elements varies as a function of a distance from the central axis to a respective traction element.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a first member that extends away from the sole structure. The first member at least partially defines a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. Moreover, the second member has a body, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The body is attached to the first member such that the first member and the body cooperate to define a void that is configured to receive a foot. The body is also attached to the sole structure. The first support arm is attached to the first member on the medial side, and the second support arm is attached to the first member on the lateral side.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a first member that extends away from the sole structure. The first member at least partially defines a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. Moreover, the second member has a body, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The body is attached to the first member such that the first member and the body cooperate to define a void that is configured to receive a foot. The body is also attached to the sole structure. The first support arm is attached to the first member on the medial side, and the second support arm is attached to the first member on the lateral side.

Abstract: Flexible cleats for flexible footwear (e.g., with natural motion sole structures) include a cleat structure that generally has the appearance of a cleat that has been separated into individual component parts by one or more flex grooves formed into the sole structure. Such structures provide additional flexibility at the areas of the cleats so as to avoid a “stiff” feeling in certain areas and/or during certain activities. The flexible cleats may be arranged around one or more intersections of flex grooves provided in a sole member, optionally in the form of an array of sole pods provided at least in a forefoot area of the sole member.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first and a second section and partially define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure and the second section may articulate between an access position and a use position. The foot-receiving cavity may be more exposed in the access position to allow easier foot entry. A strap may extend from one of the first and the second section. A looped handle may extend from the strap and may at least partially form a loop. The strap may extend across the second section of the upper when the second section is in the use position. The strap may have a distal portion configured to releasably secure to one of the first section or the second section with the looped handle exposed.

Abstract: An article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first section and a second section and may define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure, and the second section may articulate relative to the first section between an access position and a use position, the foot-receiving cavity being more exposed when the second section is in the access position. A magnetic coupling includes a first coupling member that may be operatively secured to the second section of the upper and a second coupling member may be operatively secured to the sole structure and positioned so that the first coupling member couples with the second coupling member by magnetic force when the second section is in the access position.

Abstract: A pair of shoes may be asymmetric between one another in various respects. For example, the left shoe may include a throat extending gradually towards a lateral side of the left shoe while the right shoe may include a throat extending gradually towards a medial side of the left shoe. In addition, the left shoe may include a heel counter constructed into a left-shoe heel portion that provides more support on the medial side than on the lateral side of the left shoe, while the right shoe may include a heel counter constructed into a right-shoe heel portion that provides more support on the lateral side than on the medial side of the right shoe.

Abstract: An upper component for an article of footwear allows easy entry of the foot into the article of footwear. The upper component includes a heel body, which includes a first portion partially defining an ankle opening. The heel body further includes a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion is foldable and partially defines the ankle opening. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The upper component includes at least one tension member coupled to the second portion. The tension member is movable relative to the first portion to move the second portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. The ankle opening is larger when the second portion is in the unfolded configuration than when the second portion is in the folded configuration.

Abstract: A sole structure includes an outsole having an outsole body defining an inner body surface and an outer body surface opposite the inner body surface. The outsole has a plurality of traction elements each extending from the outsole body away from the inner body surface. Each of the traction elements includes a base coupled to the outsole body surface. Each of the traction elements includes a tip spaced apart from the outer body surface and has a pitch defined by a vector. The pitch of each of the plurality of traction elements varies as a function of a distance from the central axis to a respective traction element.