Hello, shoe students. If you've been following along with the shoe encyclopedia, you have learned a great deal and come a long way. Nevertheless, the shoe terms are aplenty in the shoe encyclopedia. So sit back, relax and read up on four more interesting shoe related words. The last lesson from the shoe encyclopedia was about the throat of the shoe, the shoetree, TS2 and Cambrelle. This time around, look forward to learning about the rearfoot, the Visible Air-Sole Unit, being biomechanically efficient and the graphite rollbar.

Rearfoot
The rearfoot is the area behind the arch. Think about cars for just a moment to understand what the rearfoot is. In cars, the shocks absorb some of the force of impact and make that gentler on the car and riders. For a foot, the same holds true with the rearfoot. The rearfoot is there to absorb much of the impact each time the foot lands on the ground.

Graphite Rollbar
Existing in some New Balance shoes, the graphite rollbar is designed to stop the rearfoot from moving. To create this design, a piece of graphite is molded into the desired shape and then positioned properly in the midsole of the shoe. The purpose of installing the graphite rollbar in shoes is to create better stability in the rearfoot. This is why it must stop the rearfoot from moving.

Visible Air-Sole Unit
This is a unit inside of a Nike shoe that is visible from the side or the inside. The clear, see-through design allows consumers to see this pocket of air. The Air Sole was designed with comfort in mind. Wearers of this shoe may feel as though they are "walking on air." In fact, they are, in a sense.

Biomechanically Efficient
A person who is naturally biomechanically efficient has a gait cycle that is neutral. This means that person's feet do not need extra stability support in their shoes. The reason is because the feet already are naturally designed with an even dispersion, creating natural stability. For those not biomechanically efficient, there are a wide variety of shoes that offer stability and comfort through design.

Sources:
http://www.shoebacca.com/resources/glossary/shoe-terms-p-q-r.html
http://www.shoebacca.com/resources/glossary/shoe-terms-b.html

How are all the shoe encyclopedia students doing? Well, I assume, since you came to class. Our last shoe encyclopedia session involved some interesting wordplay. First, we learned about a quarter that couldn't be spent. Then came the shank that was not a ham portion. Next, we learned of the crampon, not a cramp on the shoe. Finally, we discussed the top lift, which is on the bottom of the shoe. This week's terms include the throat, Cambrelle, shoetree and TS2. Remember that past lessons are always available on Zappos blogs if you've miss any.

Throat
No, this is not something from a science fiction fantasy. Shoes do indeed have throats. However, they hopefully won't be using them for talking, singing or swallowing anytime soon. If they do, you might want to pinch yourself and awaken from your nightmares. A throat in shoes is the opening that the foot goes into when sliding on the shoe. Some shoes have wide throats, while others have more narrow ones.

Cambrelle
A lightweight fabric lining, Cambrelle is found in varied shoe styles. It is designed to absorb high amounts of moisture during intense activities. Its design also allows for cooling of the feet during high heat and heating of the feet during colder temperatures. This way, no matter what the person wearing Cambrelle-lined footwear is doing, sweaty or freezing feet are less likely to distract them.

Shoetree
A shoetree is not an ideal addition to your landscaping. A more welcoming spot to plant that shoetree is inside of your favorite pair of stompers. A shoetree will help maintain the shape of your shoes for longer wear. Shoetrees can be made from wood, plastic or metal. Shoetrees made from cedar will help pull the moisture away from the shoes, leaving them fresher. Typically, shoetrees are made for dress shoes, but some people like to use them for casual footwear as well.

TS2
Unlike the PS2, the TS2 is not a popular video game. In New Balance footwear, TS2 is a specially designed insole. This heel-to-toe transitional post is designed to create more stability. Stability is of great importance when it comes to trainer shoes or other athletic footwear.

While they can't necessarily work miracles, comfort shoes provide the wearer with benefits such as additional padding, observation of pressure points, wider soles and better support that improve the walking experience.

When you have a medical condition that makes walking uncomfortable, comfort shoes come to the rescue with special construction that can help make walking easy again. While they can't necessarily work miracles, they do provide the wearer with benefits such as additional padding, observation of pressure points, wider soles and better support that improve the walking experience.

Sometimes referred to as "orthopedic," comfort shoes are produced by a wide variety of manufacturers, such as Dr. Scholl's, Comfort One and even New Balance. In some cases, they are geared toward specific conditions that consumers might be dealing with, such as diabetes, while in some, they are designed for the average consumer who might need some extra protection against the rigors of walking.

For example, Arcopedico is one of the most popular manufacturers of comfort shoes, and they provide options in a wide variety of styles, colors and widths. Their most notable feature is the polyurethane outsole, which helps absorb the impact of every footfall while providing additional traction to avoid slipping and falling. Other companies use similar materials for shock absorption and traction.

You'll also find that comfort shoes provide more room for the wearer, making it easier to stave off injuries to the foot, such as calluses, Dansko, for example, produces occupational comfort shoes that have Thermoplastic toe boxes that simultaneously provide the toes with more room and provide reinforcement for the shoe itself. Dansko also uses PVC for the inner frame, which protects the entire foot without sacrificing flexibility.

Dr. Scholl's also provides innovative designs in comfort shoes, such as their Women's Client mary janes, which have cushy memory foam insoles for shock absorption as well as suede leather uppers for maximum flexibility while walking.

Soft materials such as gel, memory foam and leather are the cornerstones of comfort shoes, as they allow the foot to move freely regardless of the speed or gait at which the wearer walks. In many cases, these materials are combined with reinforcements, such as the PVC in the Dansko shoes, providing support for the moments when you need it most. Some are also made with different variations of canvas, which is both breathable and durable.

Additionally, most comfort shoes are built upon a foundation of extreme traction because consumers who buy these types of shoes are more prone to slip-and-fall accidents. Rubber tread is the most frequently used material for this type of feature, and can vary depending on the amount of slip resistance required for the shoe. Cross-hatched tread is generally the most effective, and is common with tennis shoes, walking shoes and sometimes even sandals.

And finally, clogs are the latest style in comfort shoes, and are preferable to many closed-toe versions because of their breathability. In years past, comfort shoes were often considered ugly and were easily identifiable, but now manufacturers are focusing on style as much as function. Clogs often have adjustable heels that allow for swelling and other changes to the foot during the day, and are sometimes just as comfortable as your standard walking shoe.

While they can't necessarily work miracles, comfort shoes provide the wearer with benefits such as additional padding, observation of pressure points, wider soles and better support that improve the walking experience.

When you have a medical condition that makes walking uncomfortable, comfort shoes come to the rescue with special construction that can help make walking easy again. While they can't necessarily work miracles, they do provide the wearer with benefits such as additional padding, observation of pressure points, wider soles and better support that improve the walking experience.

Sometimes referred to as "orthopedic," comfort shoes are produced by a wide variety of manufacturers, such as Dr. Scholl's, Comfort One and even New Balance. In some cases, they are geared toward specific conditions that consumers might be dealing with, such as diabetes, while in some, they are designed for the average consumer who might need some
extra protection against the rigors of walking.

For example, Arcopedico is one of the most popular manufacturers of comfort shoes, and they provide options in a wide variety of styles, colors and widths. Their most notable feature is the polyurethane outsole, which helps absorb the impact of every footfall while providing additional traction to avoid slipping and falling. Other companies use similar materials
for shock absorption and traction.

You'll also find that comfort shoes provide more room for the wearer, making it easier to stave off injuries to the foot, such as calluses, Dansko, for example, produces occupational comfort shoes that have Thermoplastic toe boxes that simultaneously provide the toes with more room and provide reinforcement for the shoe itself. Dansko also uses PVC for the inner
frame, which protects the entire foot without sacrificing flexibility.

Dr. Scholl's also provides innovative designs in comfort shoes, such as their Women's Client mary janes, which have cushy memory foam insoles for shock absorption as well as suede leather uppers for maximum flexibility while walking.

Soft materials such as gel, memory foam and leather are the cornerstones of comfort shoes, as they allow the foot to move freely regardless of the speed or gait at which the wearer walks. In many cases, these materials are combined with reinforcements, such as the PVC in the Dansko shoes, providing support for the moments when you need it most. Some are also made with different variations of canvas, which is both breathable and durable.

Additionally, most comfort shoes are built upon a foundation of extreme traction because consumers who buy these types of shoes are more prone to slip-and-fall accidents. Rubber tread is the most frequently used material for this type of feature, and can vary depending on the amount of slip resistance required for the shoe. Cross-hatched tread is generally the most effective, and is common with tennis shoes, walking shoes and sometimes even
sandals.

And finally, clogs are the latest style in comfort shoes, and are preferable to many closed-toe versions because of their breathability. In years past, comfort shoes were often considered ugly and were easily identifiable, but now manufacturers are focusing on style as much as function.Clogs often have adjustable heels that allow for swelling and other changes to
the foot during the day, and are sometimes just as comfortable as your standard
walking shoe.