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.