What Makes a Running Shoe?

Today, women's running shoes are pretty technical. But the basic components of women's running shoes are the same as with most other shoes. Here, we take a quick look at the major pats of a running shoe: • The Upper. This is the fabric or leather portion of the shoe that encloses the top and sides of your foot from heel to toe. • Inner Sole. The inner sole is the (usually) removable padded liner that cradles your foot. • Mid-sole. This is the shoe's workhorse, and contains the cushioning layers and devices (if any). • Outer sole. This is where the rubber meets the road – literally. It's the bottom surface of your shoe. • Heel counter. This is a stiff (usually fiberboard or plastic) insert that cups the heel. • Toe Box. The forward portion of the shoe that encloses your toes. • Last. The “frame” on which the shoe was built. It's also used to describe the way the shoe was constructed – either with a board, fabric (slip), or a combination of both beneath the innersole.