Let us undertake another fun session of shoe encyclopedia. If you've been following along, you've already learned so much. You should be proud of yourself. You may have already discovered that shoe talk can be, not only fun, but very useful. Let us continue on with this fifth installment of the shoe encyclopedia. You'll learn about the approach shoe, exactly what supination is, about the exclusive Skate Park line and the definition for blucher.

Approach Shoe
The approach shoe is not going to walk up to you by itself. Rather, an approach shoe is one that will help you approach that mountain top with greater ease. It is actually a shoe designed with a special grip on the sole that is meant to aid rock climbers on the trail back and forth from the climbing area.

Supination
Supination is not a shoe or a shoe feature. Instead it's an action that can be done by the foot. It is when, during walking or running, the outermost part of the heel touches the ground as it's supposed to, but instead of rolling inward, like in a normal walking pattern, the pressure stays on that outside part of the heel. This causes pressure on the smaller toes and the lateral side of the foot. To help with this problem, supinators (those who walk or run with supination) can try neutral running shoes.

Skate Park
I'm not talking about the place you go hang out with your skateboarding buddies. This Skate Park is actually an exclusive Zappos collection made especially for skaters. It contains shoes, clothing and accessories for skaters, boarders and surfers. This is the place to get all the shoes and other gear you need to look awesome while you enjoy these great outdoor sports.

Blucher
A blucher is a shoe that features two side flaps of fabric or other material. These two materials feature lacing to hold them together. For instance, many tennis shoes feature the blucher style, as can dress shoes and even boots. In other words, many, or even most, shoes that contain laces display this style.

With the Olympics behind us, it is pretty obvious that swimming is a sport that more people are becoming interested in. Swimming is the best exercise, as well as the best therapy in the world. Just ask your doctor, and he or she will confirm that the buoyancy of water, the water resistance when working out during a water aerobics class, or the exercise received during swimming, far surpasses any other physical fitness activity.

The strength build by swimming may be a way to combat the back and neck pains many children experience at any early age as a result of the increasing number of cell phones, PDA's and other items weighing down the backpacks of today's youth. Swimming can also be the perfect remedy for the lack of exercise in a child's life. The benefits of learning to swim at any age far outweigh any excuse to not learn to swim.

Deciding to pursue swimming for fitness and comfort will require purchasing comfortable swim trunks or swimsuits, nonslip comfortable shoes to be worn around the pool area, and in some cases, other swim accessories. Some individuals prefer covering their eyes with goggles. Other individuals prefer wearing a swim cap to protect their hair from chlorine exposure.

You may not be the next Michael Phelps, but it is important to indulge in a sport like swimming that provides health benefits. But if purchasing the latest Speedo Goggles motivates you or your child to consider venturing into the water as a means of a healthy lifestyle, more power to you! Water is soothing, comfortable and definitely therapeutic. You can't go wrong if you make the decision to swim as a sport, for relaxation or simply to feel better. Even if you don't win a few gold medals, the time spent was well invested.

If you've been keeping up, you've already learned quite an array of shoe terms to keep you up to date. If not, don't despair. You can easily take a few moments to catch up by reading the previous installments of the shoe encyclopedia. At this point in the game, you should be really starting to impress your shoe-savvy friends while shoe shopping and gossiping. In fact, you're becoming quite the shoe connoisseur yourself.

Mule
This mule won't be carrying your baggage, but it could get you around with both style and comfort. In shoe talk, a mule is a slip-on shoe with a closed toe and an open heel. They are available in an array of choices, such as slippers, casuals or dress shoes. Mule shoes can come in a variety of styles for both women and men.

Hammertoe
Hammertoe is pretty much what it sounds like. It's a medical condition where a toe is bent in a shape that resembles a claw or the end of a hammer. Most of the time, hammertoes develop due to an imbalance of the muscles. However, they can also be caused by arthritis or even by ill-fitting shoes. So, be sure you pick the right size when you are shoe shopping.

Last
A last is a form used to make a shoe. The form can come in metal, wood, or plastic. The shoe is pulled and shaped around the form. That process is called lasting. Some shoes are hand lasted, while others are made using a shoe lasting machine. Since the use of a hand last is more time-consuming, hand-lasted shoes can sometimes have a higher price tag than machine-lasted shoes.

Lug Sole
A lug sole, when talking shoes, is a sole that is heavily treaded and made of rubber. Ever need some shoes strong enough to get you up a mountainside and also weather a storm? Maybe you're not quite that brave. How about some cute boots to get you around town during the winter season? Footwear with a lug sole can do either and more.

With the fall season around the corner, many people will quickly realize their relaxed summer habits may have left them in an emotional and physical slump. So what's a body to do? Get busy, get moving and start hiking. Fall is the perfect time of year to take on hiking in order to beat an emotional and physical slump.

Hiking may look like a major challenge to individuals who have never hiked before, but it is really all about following a couple of rules. First and foremost, buy a good pair of hiking shoes. There are a number of excellent hiking shoes made for all types of feet. These hiking shoes will insure the proper support for the feet, ankles and lower legs. Comfort and support are major safety factors when walking and trekking along an uneven surface. This is why you can expect a good workout during hiking. Hiking uses the legs and core region of the body.

Secondly, if you are a rookie, don't hike alone. Find a friend or associate who is also up to the challenge of hiking. Get the necessary hiking equipment including maps, compasses, water bottles, first-aid kits, mosquito repellant and other survival equipment. More importantly, know the environment and take on a terrain that is not an expert trail. Choose a trail that is ideal for the beginner to intermediate hikers. There are many specified hiking trails with park rangers in the area simply depending on the region one lives in.

The good thing about using hiking as a means of beating an emotional and physical slump is that the body and mind feels rejuvenated after a good workout. Being in the outdoors with nature is an ideal way to clear the mind, and definitely a great way to get back in shape after lounging all summer.

Fall is the perfect time to get busy, get moving and start considering taking on a new challenge. When you want to beat an emotional and physical slump, hiking is a healthy way of shaking up the body and the mind.

The history of shoes is littered with crazy ideas for footwear. Some of these crazy ideas last only a few minutes, while others spark fashion trends that last for years. One of the crazy ideas for footwear that seams to have stuck is the idea for Heelys. Heelys are shoes that have wheels that are built into the shoe's sole. The position of the wheel makes it possible for the shoe's wearer to roll, run and walk without having to change their shoes. What an invention!

The History of Heelys
Heelys are the brainchild of Roger Adams. This licensed psychologist invented these rollerskate/street shoes during what he refers to as his mid-life crisis. At the turn of the 21st century Adams was facing many challenges including a divorce and a stressful career. One day he was daydreaming and he thought how great it would be to be able to just shift your weight on your shoes and be able to roll away. That daydream turned into a multi-million dollar business in a matter of years.

In December 2000 Roger Adams opened his business, Heelys. He introduced his basic Heelys model at a trade show and he found a store that was interested in carrying his shoes. The first day that the store offered Heelys, their entire stock of the rollerskate street shoes sold out in a matter of hours. This sell out trend continued for months, and during the first year that Heelys were offered to consumers, over one million units were sold.

Heelys Models
The most popular Heelys model is the single wheel model. However, this is not the only option you have. Heelys also come in double wheel models, single wheel models with a grinding plate and Mack models with wheels on the sides of the shoe. One of the best features that all Heelys offer is the ability to remove the wheels and just wear the base of the Heelys as a great looking street shoe.

While Heelys are very popular with kids, teens and adults, they have also received some negative press because of their perceived dangerousness. However, this press hasn't dampened sales. As fashion trends change it will be interesting to see if Heelys are able to maintain their amazing popularity or if they will be replaced by the next great idea in footwear.

Shoe fashion in Europe has been very important throughout history. In England,
the capital of the shoe manufacturing industry has traditionally been
centered in Northamptonshire. This area is popular with shoe
manufacturers because it has all the ingredients needed for producing
shoes, including livestock, water and natural resources. This is where
the famous Padders shoe brand got its beginnings.

The Groocock Family Launches a Shoe Empire
The
Groocock family of Rothwell, England were retailers by trade. In 1905,
they opened a very successful retail store which was run by family
members. In 1914 the family branched out and started manufacturing
welted shoes. This was an interesting era to be in the shoe business,
because it was the height of the Edwardian era of fashion, which meant
that small feet were in fashion. The shoes
that were manufactured during this era by Thomas Groocock, the founder
of the T. Groocock & Co, ltd. company, were narrow and tight
fitting. Women of the day went to extremes to get their feet to fit
into the slim line shoes produced by this company including having
their little toes surgically removed.

The demand for Groocock
shoes was high from the get go, and by 1922 the family had to expand
their business by building a larger factory. By 1939, World War II was
impacting business all over the globe. The Groococks did their part for
the war effort by focusing their manufacturing efforts on army boots
and what they called men's "utility shoes."

After the war, the
company went back to producing high fashion shoes. In the latter part
of the 1950s they focused on pop culture fashion shoes like the
winkle-pickers and the beetle-crushers. The shoes manufactured by this
company were so popular that by 1959 they were manufacturing shoes
around the clock.

Padders Are Launched
The
Padders brand of shoes was launched in 1982 as the Groocock family
tried to redirect their shoe lines. The comfortable fit and extra
support provided by these shoes made them more attractive to the aging
communities of England, as opposed to the teens and twenty somethings
of Britain. This move was radical but smart, as the company has
continued to flourish even during a few downturns in the UK's economy.
Today Padders are manufactured, distributed and sold from a brand new
42,000 square foot building in Rothwell, as well as sold in 1,000
independent retail outlets scattered throughout the UK.

The fact is, everyone wasn't born equal. Just talk to an athlete with flat feet, and he or she will quickly tell you how the purchase of athletic shoes must be done carefully. Stepping into orthotics with style is easy since most of the athletic shoes and daily footwear now provide orthotic support. Some individuals are required to have professional orthotics made based on the severity of a foot disorder. However, footwear with features that include multi-density orthotic support that is removable is available.

There are a number of brands that offer the privilege of stepping into orthotics with style including Timberland, Ryka, Ara and Rockport to name a few. There are a few specific features to look for when selecting a shoe that provides orthotic support. If purchasing a product from an online retailer, all of the features should be listed. The wearer should look for the shoe product that offers removable or built-in orthotic support, a contoured foot bed to provide added arch and heel support, a polyurethane midsole for maximum support for the wearer, and a durable multi-density rubber outsole.
With the wide variety of attractive, popular shoes available that provide quality support, why not be smart and provide the feet and body the proper support needed, which results in overall better health?

The feet are the main support of the human body and if one's feet hurt, this will cause awkward walking in an effort to steer away the pain, which results in misalignment of the body. Why not stop the madness and take the initiative of voluntarily stepping into orthotics with style by purchasing the proper shoes that provide the necessary orthotic support for the foot and body type?
Shoes with built-in or removable orthotic support do not necessary cost more than other shoes. Great care has been taken by leading shoe manufacturers to ensure their products are competitive on all levels. In this day and age when much is demanded of an individual, being able to be comfortable and avoid foot pain is important. In fact stepping into orthotics with style is in fashion.

Lesson two ranged from comfort to tannage, and even a bit of gore. If you missed it, be sure to catch up. In this third lesson, learn how to impress your fellow shoe connoisseurs with a bit more knowledge on shoe speak. From toes to laces, get to know the ins and outs of those those fancy (or not so fancy) things on your feet, most commonly referred to as shoes. Plus, learn about a great spot to find the hottest shoe trends that's easier than trekking from mall to mall.

Aglet
Is this a farming reference? Well, you can certainly try making a planter out of a shoe if you want to, but I don't think crops will harvest too well that way. I could be wrong. Back to the shoe language, an aglet is that piece of plastic at the tip of shoelaces. It keeps them from fraying so you can keep those kicks looking nice and neat.

Cap Toe
At first glance this sounds like some illness or toe condition, like corns or blisters or something. But, no worries. A cap toe is actually what the toe or tip of the shoe is called when there is an extra strip of leather covering it.

The Strip
The Strip is not a tease, well, not the kind you may be thinking of. It's definitely sure to entice you with lots of great choices. The Strip is actually the hot spot on Zappos for the latest and greatest shoe trends and designs. Some of them are limited editions, so be sure to visit The Strip Collection for the latest updates.

Slingback
No, this is not some sort of device for back injuries. Hopefully, you know how to walk in your shoes well enough to avoid one of those. If not, that lesson's for another instructor, not this one. LOL When speaking shoe, a slingback is any shoe with a strap at the back of the heel or ankle to hold the foot inside. These can be sandles, heels, or various styles, such as crocs. Slingbacks can be worn by women or men, depending on the shoe.

The history of shoes would not be complete without talking about Nike shoes. This shoe manufacturer has changed the way we not only view athletic shoes but also how we view athletes. Nike's sponsorship of athletes created many of the sports heroes of the 1980s and 1990s, and Nike continues to bring new athletes into the limelight. The history of this company is truly a rags to riches tale.

Nike's Modest Beginnings
Nike originally was called Blue Ribbon Sports, or BRS. This small business sold Onitsuka Tiger shoes (a Japanese brand) out of the back of the company founders Philip Knight and Bill Boweman's car at local track meets. After a half decade of selling from their car, the founding fathers of BRS opened their first retail outlet in 1966 in Santa Monica, California. By 1971 the company dropped the Onitsuka Tiger line and launched their own shoe line with the official Nike symbol, the Swoosh. The Swoosh first appears on "Nike," which was a soccer cleat.

Nike - The Goddess of Victory
In 1978 BRS was officially renamed Nike, Inc. The name "Nike," which had christened their first original shoe design, and now was the banner head of their company, was derived from the Greek goddess of victory. A fitting name for this sports shoe line that would eventually capture over 50 percent of the U.S. athletic shoe market.

Victory was a theme that Nike lived by over the next four decades. To market their products they sponsored top athletes in a variety of sports. These athletes not only wore Nike products, but they also were the spokespeople for the Nike brand. Nike sponsorships brought many winning athletes into the spotlight and created athletic superheroes that kids, teens and adults around the globe idolized.

Nike Products
Nike is responsible for some of the most popular athletic footwear and equipment on the market. Their brands include Nike Golf, Nike+, Nike Skateboarding, Nike Pro, Air Jordan and Team Starter. They also own the subsidiaries of Cole Haan, Umbro, Hurly International and Converse. With such a huge presence in the athletic shoe world, if you have bought a pair of athletic shoes in the last thirty years, chances are you bought a Nike brand.