By understanding the parts of a shoe or boot, people can make informed choices about which walking shoe, running shoe, crosstrainer, or boot is best for their activity—and for their feet. The parts of a shoe are fairly common, regardless of what kind of shoe you are looking for.
· The shoe’s counter is the part that wraps around the heel of the foot.
· The heel is the back bottom of the shoe.
· The insole is the inner insert on which your foot rests. These are typically interchangeable.
· The outersole is the shoe’s bottom layer.
· The shoe’s shank is the part of the sole between the heel and the ball of the foot.
· The toebox is the tip of the shoe that shapes and protects the toes.
· The upper is the top of the shoe that surrounds the foot.
In the days ahead, we’ll look at footwear, how the shoe market changing and what that means for us. Stay tuned.
