If the SHOE fits...

      So my last entry was about the foot.  Well, one could say this is the squeal to that entry.  Today I am not going to talk about the foot but instead the typical shoe (not too uncommon if you look at my earlier entries) and its usual parts.  Below I have included a couple of labeled diagrams so you can visually see what I am referencing when I speak of certain parts.  

http://www.shoeguide.org/Shoe_Anatomy

    There is no better place to start than the bottom and work your way up. The outsole is the outermost part of the shoe that is in direct contact with the ground.  For very formal dress shoes it is made of compressed leather and for most other shoes it is made of a durable rubber.  Next is the midsole; the midsole lies between the outsole and the insole. "It is made of a variety of materials to give the shoe various characteristics of cushioning, support and flexibility." (http://walking.about.com/od/shoes/g/midsole.htm) And as far as soles are concerned the last one to mention is the insole.  The insole is a thin strip of material that is usually removable and lies directly under the foot for additional comfort.       

http://www.webefit.com/articles/article_47a_RunningShoes.html

    Now that we have discussed the bottom of the shoe let's move on to the upper parts of the shoe.  The upper just refers to all the top parts of the shoe put together.  Most people are familiar with the following parts of the upper:

• Toe Cap/ Toe Box: "
  The toe box is the part of a shoe that covers and protects your toes. Toe boxes come in a variety of shapes and styles, but they should be wide enough and long enough to accommodate the toes comfortably."
• Tongue: "
  The tongue of a shoe is a strip that runs up the top-center of the shoe and sits on the top part of the foot. Nearly always found on shoes with laces, the purpose of a shoe tongue is to protect the top of the foot, and to keep the laces from rubbing the foot."
• Eyelets: "
  The eyelet is the smooth circular piece that laces are thread through. Eyelets can be made of metal or plastic, and are used to cover the edges of holes made in shoes or clothing."
• Heel Counter: "
  The counter of a shoe sits behind the heel of the foot, and is used to stiffen the back part of the shoe, and to give it structure.

(definitions from: http://shoes.about.com/)

    So we have talked about the foot fitting and now we have talked about the shoe fitting, which means from now on when I mention the midsole of a shoe I expect all you faithful follows to know exactly what I am talking about.  This entry should be that last one that breaks from the usual routine of describing a specific shoe or shoe brand.  Just a preview for next week...Merrell Barefoots; I'll let you figure it out from there.  

Happy Trails :)