Parts of a shoe’s upper can include the vamp, the back, the tongue, the quarter, and the lining. Uppers can be made from a variety of materials, with the most popular being mesh, leather,satin, suede, and canvas.
The part of the shoe that covers your foot. Wrapping paper for the feet. Materials and construction can vary based on use-case scenarios (i.e. race day uppers are lighter and breathable, trail uppers are more durable). Most running shoes are a variation of knit, engineered mesh, or jacquard.
Eyelets are the holes on the upper of a shoe in which the laces go through. They have terrible vision, though.
Laces are f-ing shoelaces. If you don’t know what they are, we're not sure how you got here.
The vamp (toe box) is the section on the front of the foot from the front quarter to where the top ends. Doesn’t suck blood.
The Tongue is a strip of material under the laces, providing cushion and protection for the top of the foot. Popular in truth or dare or spin the bottle
A Gusset connects the tongue of a shoe to the inside of the upper and helps prevent the tongue from moving around in the shoe.
The throat is where the bottom of the tongue meets the shoe, generally where the shoelaces start (the mainstay). Does not approve of chain smoking.
The Saddle is part of the shoe on the instep that helps to secure the midfoot area. Giddy up.
Overlays & Underlays can vary from synthetic material applied to the upper to improve structure to welded taping these added pieces provide extra structure and support in key areas of the upper.
The collar is the edge that goes around your ankle, i.e. where your foot goes into the shoe. Usually padded for comfort. We would pop it if we could, but we’re just not that cool.
Padded footbed on the inside of the shoe that provides an extra layer of cushion and protection. Oftentimes removable. Sometimes used by companies to mask a firmer midsole by providing an initial comfort on step-in, only to compress significantly after a few runs. Scandalous.
Foxing (also known as heel cup or counter) is a strip of material, separate from the sole and upper, that secures the joint where the upper and sole meet, usually attached by a vulcanization process. Also a sport that involves bugles, beagles, and hunting via horseback.
Loop on the heel counter that’s fun as hell to pull on and helps get your foot into the shoe. The bigger the better, in our opinion.
The cushion of the shoe, i.e. the stuff between you and the road. Can feel firm or soft depending on the materials and air injection. Lifespan can vary wildly depending on those variables.
Depending on the purpose and price of the shoe, the foam can be soft and bouncy, firm and dense, or anything in between. Shoe design labs use various production methods to create different feeling midsoles, which are typically made from blown plastic polymers (though some use plant-based and recycled plastics).
Drop is the differential between the height of the heel crash pad and the height of the cushion under the ball of the runner’s feet and is measured in millimeters. Also the name of the best running podcast in the world, hosted by yours truly.
Height of the midsole cushion. Stack height is measured from the top of the insole to the bottom of the outsole, though internally some companies measure only the midsole (e.g. Asics).
The hardness of the midsole material. The lower the number, the softer the material, and vice versa. Ranges from 25C to 85C on the durometer scale.
The amount of energy returned to you after ground impact. Certain midsole applications and materials allow for a greater percentage of energy return. The feeling may be short-lived, as midsole compression generally occurs at a faster rate in shoes with a high air-injection ratio. In short, even if energy is returned, you won’t get a full refund.
The outsole is where the rubber meets the road, literally. Provides traction and security around turns or in less-than-ideal conditions. Adds durability in high abrasion sections and protects the midsole material
