A Quick Lesson in Shoe Anatomy
Today,
men's running shoes are pretty technical. But they also have a lot in common with most others. Here's a quick-and-dirty tour of the major pats of a men's 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.
