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 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: A pair of shoes may be asymmetric between one another in various respects. For example, the left shoe may include a left-shoe wrapping panel non-releasably coupled to a left-shoe medial side and extending towards a left-shoe lateral side while the right shoe may include a wrapping panel non-releasably coupled to a right-shoe lateral side and extending towards a right-shoe medial side. The left-shoe wrapping panel may releasably couple to the left-shoe lateral side and the right-shoe wrapping panel may releasably couple to the right-shoe medial side. The left shoe and the right shoe may respectively include a left-shoe heel strap and a right-shoe heel strap. The left-shoe heel strap and a right-shoe heel strap each respectively wrap around, at least in part, a heel region of the left shoe and the right shoe.

Abstract: An article of footwear an upper and a sole structure that defines a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed proximate the medial side of the footwear, and the second portion is disposed proximate the lateral side. The first portion and the second portion are configured to move relative to each other. The article of footwear also includes a flexible biasing member including a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. The middle portion extends across the first portion and the second portion. The first and second ends extend out from the outer surface of the footwear from either the medial or lateral side. The middle portion of the biasing member is configured to bias the first and second portions toward each other.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an inner bootie that fits into and is strapped into an external shell to form the article of footwear. The inner bootie may have specially-treated regions that together allow the bootie to slip readily into the external shell and to be held firmly in place. When the inner bootie is in place in the external shell, cable loops woven into the lateral side and the medial side of the inner bootie protrude from corresponding openings in the external shell. A lace may then be laced through the cable loops to fasten the throat opening of the external shell over a wearer's foot.

Abstract: Articles of footwear (e.g., for long jump/triple jump events, etc.) may include a sole structure having: (a) a first impact force attenuating component (e.g., foam) that includes top and bottom surfaces (and may be engaged with an outsole member, such as a cleated sole member); (b) a rigid plate component that includes top and bottom surfaces, wherein the bottom surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the top surface of the first impact force attenuating component; and (c) a second impact force attenuating component (e.g., foam) that includes top and bottom surfaces, wherein the bottom surface of the second impact force attenuating component is engaged with the top surface of the rigid plate component. The rigid plate component may be the stiffest component in the sole structure (e.g., resistant to bending about an axis extending in the medial side-to-lateral side direction).

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: An article of footwear has an upper with multiple components. The upper includes a fastening system with a moveable assembly. The moveable assembly may include a flap portion and a throat portion. The moveable assembly is attached to the upper. The moveable assembly may be readily moved to facilitate entry of a foot into the article of footwear, or exit of a foot from the article of footwear.

Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (A) an upper; (B) a rear heel strap member engaged with or integrally formed with the upper and including: (i) a rear heel element, (ii) a lateral side strap element, and (iii) a medial side strap element; (C) a first strap member extending along the medial side of the upper, wherein the first strap member includes at least one structure for engaging a lace; (D) a second strap member extending along the lateral side of the upper, wherein the second strap member includes at least two structures for engaging the lace; (E) a tensioning system for engaging the medial side strap element with the first strap member; (F) another tensioning system for engaging the lateral side strap element with the second strap member; and (G) a sole structure.

Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, may include: (a) an upper including an opening through which a leg of a wearer extends, wherein the upper includes a foot insertion opening extending rearwardly and downwardly from a front portion of the leg opening at least to a heel area of the upper; (b) a closure system for releasably closing the foot insertion opening and optionally tightening the shoe on the foot; and (c) a sole structure engaged with the upper. The foot insertion opening widely opens the side and/or rear area of the shoe to allow for easy insertion and removal of a foot. Such uppers can be particularly useful for hightop athletic footwear, boots, or other footwear that extends up to or at least partially over a wearer's ankles.

Abstract: Footwear, including athletic footwear, opens very wide, e.g., by moving an ankle containing portion of a footwear upper laterally/sideways with respect to the sole structure or a base portion of the upper (e.g., rotate it to the lateral side). In effect, the ankle containing portion may move/rotate sideways with respect to the sole structure/base portion via a connecting member (e.g., moving akin to rotation on a hinge type structure) to open in somewhat of a “clamshell” fashion. The rear of the upper base portion in this open condition may appear somewhat as an open backed slipper or “slide” type shoe. These actions and features open the rear heel area of the upper wide and low to enable easy insertion of a foot into the interior chamber, generally from the rear of the footwear structure. One or more straps can be used to secure the upper to the foot.

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 an upper and a sole structure that defines a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed proximate the medial side of the footwear, and the second portion is disposed proximate the lateral side. The first portion and the second portion are configured to move relative to each other. The article of footwear also includes a flexible biasing member including a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. The middle portion extends across the first portion and the second portion. The first and second ends extend out from the outer surface of the footwear from either the medial or lateral side. The middle portion of the biasing member is configured to bias the first and second portions toward each other.

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. 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 an upper and a sole structure that defines a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed proximate the medial side of the footwear, and the second portion is disposed proximate the lateral side. The first portion and the second portion are configured to move relative to each other. The article of footwear also includes a flexible biasing member including a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. The middle portion extends across the first portion and the second portion. The first and second ends extend out from the outer surface of the footwear from either the medial or lateral side. The middle portion of the biasing member is configured to bias the first and second portions toward each other.

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.