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\"Jackie O. wore them, as did John Lennon. Icons as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, wear them today. They are the timeless Frye boots! In 1863, John A. Frye opened the doors of a small shoe shop in Marlboro, Massachusetts. The shoes he made were to ease the everyday life of factory workers in that small New England town. Over a century later, the Frye Company has become the oldest continuously operating footwear brand in America. The boots Frye made weren't meant to be icons of fashion, yet somewhere along the line, they became just that. Frye: The Boots that Made History is a 150-year anniversary album that celebrates the early history of the brand, its cultural takeover in the early 1970s, and the artisanal methods that make its craftsmanship unique. Frye boots are captured in all the ways they are worn: rocked out and urbanized, accessorized and envied, worked and roughed up, flaunting their inimitable style and all-American cool. This book takes the reader through the style and personality of the distinctive designs and handsome detailing of Frye's most popular products, from its tough, treasured and instantly recognizable Harness Boot to the exclusive line dedicated to the American flag debuting this fall. With the strongest leather -- enough to withstand 20 lbs. of pressure -- and dozens of designs, the quality of Frye has always remained the same, making the brand not just a business but a way of life\"--Amazon.com, viewed October 31, 2013.

Background Football boots—serving as the critical interface between the player and the playing surface—play a decisive role in modulating the risk of non‑contact lower‑limb injuries. Although numerous studies have investigated the effects of stud configuration, sole‑plate stiffness, and boot–foot–surface interaction on lower‑limb biomechanics, an integrated evaluation of their injury implications remains lacking. Methods Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search (2005–2025) was conducted across Elsevier, EBSCO, Web of Science, PubMed Central, and Footwear Science. Thirty‑two studies met the inclusion criteria after dual‑reviewer screening, and methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results Evidence was triangulated to identify biomechanical mechanisms underpinning injury risk as influenced by boot design. Five principal findings emerged: 1. Stud pattern governs rotational traction. Screw-in (Soft Ground (SG)) and bladed studs generate supra-physiological rotational torque on both natural and artificial turf, producing a “foot-lock” phenomenon that elevates the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, ankle sprain, and metatarsal stress fracture. 2. Sole-plate stiffness shows a U-shaped relationship with injury risk. Excessive rigidity restricts first-ray dorsiflexion and precipitates focal plantar pressures, whereas excessive compliance amplifies ankle dorsiflexion/inversion and knee-valgus angles, thereby increasing ACL loading. 3. Boot–foot–surface mismatch (undersized lasts, stud–surface incompatibility, sex-specific traction overload) redistributes plantar pressure and alters joint moment arms, fostering over-use injuries. 4. Collar height augments ankle stability but induces compensatory knee torsion, shifting the failure locus proximally and raising the likelihood of knee-ligament trauma. 5. High-risk mechanical loading often occurs below athletes’ perceptual thresholds, suggesting that asymptomatic microdamage may accumulate over time. Conclusions Collectively, football‑boot architecture represents a modifiable determinant of non‑contact lower‑limb injury. Establishing standardized testing frameworks that calibrate stud geometry, sole‑plate stiffness, and last morphology—while accounting for surface type, sex, and playing level—will enable optimization of high‑performance yet low‑injury boot design. Key Points Stud configuration and outsole stiffness are key modifiable factors in non-contact lower-limb injury risk among football players. Excessively high traction and extreme outsole stiffness both elevate joint loading and injury susceptibility, showing a U-shaped risk profile. Optimized boot design should balance traction, stiffness, and fit while accounting for playing surface, sex, and player level to reduce injury risk.

This review article reports the recent advances in the study, design and production of ski-boots for alpine skiing. An overview of the different designs and the materials used in ski-boot construction is provided giving particular emphasis to the effect of these parameters on the final performances and on the prevention of injuries. The use of specific materials for ski-boots dedicated to different disciplines (race skiing, mogul skiing, ski-mountaineering etc.) has been correlated with the chemical and physical properties of the polymeric materials employed. A review of the scientific literature and the most interesting patents is also presented, correlating the results reported with the performances and industrial production of ski-boots. Suggestions for new studies and the use of advanced materials are also provided. A final section dedicated to the standards involved in ski-boot design completes this review article.

In the quest to uncover the underlying mechanisms responsible for the performance-enhancing benefits imparted by advanced footwear technology (AFT), footwear researchers are employing an individual-level approach. In doing so, they hope to unveil individual-specific responses to AFT otherwise masked by a group-level approach. Classifying an individual’s response on the basis of running economy (RE) is a logical strategy given that the intended purpose of AFT is to enhance performance; however, caution should be taken when doing so. Metabolic measurement devices are far from perfect, and given the known errors associated with metabolic measurements we would like to reiterate a suggestion first made 40 years ago: when seeking to quantify the interindividual variability of improvement in RE associated with running in AFT, the best practice is to rely on a minimum of two same-day measurements of RE.

To assess the effect of data-driven custom-made footwear concepts on plantar pressure relief to prevent diabetic foot ulceration. Twenty-four neuropathic diabetic patients at high risk of foot ulceration were measured for in-shoe plantar pressures during walking in four data-driven custom-made footwear conditions, an athletic shoe and an off-the-shelf non-therapeutic shoe. Two evidence-based footwear conditions (Shoe-A; Insole-A) follow a scientific-based design protocol, are handmade, and use in-shoe plantar pressure guided optimization. One evidence-based insole condition (Insole-B) uses a barefoot plantar pressure and 3D foot shape-based computer-assisted design and manufacturing (CADCAM) routine. And one insole condition (Insole-C) uses a barefoot and in-shoe plantar pressure and 3D foot shape-based CADCAM design and optimization routine. Patient satisfaction was scored on walking comfort, shoe fit, weight and appearance. All data-driven footwear conditions significantly reduced metatarsal head peak pressure compared with the non-therapeutic shoe (17-53% relief). Shoe-A and Insole-A showed the lowest metatarsal head peak pressures (mean 112-155 kPa, 90-98% of cases <200 kPa), significantly lower than for Insole-B and Insole-C (mean 119-199 kPa, 52-100% <200 kPa). Patient satisfaction was not significantly different between footwear concepts. This study proves the offloading efficacy of a scientific-based, handmade, and in-shoe plantar pressure data-driven approach to custom-made footwear design, and advocates its implementation to optimize diabetic footwear for plantar foot ulcer prevention.

A carbon-fiber plate (CFP) embedded into running shoes is a commonly applied method to improve running economy, but little is known in regard the effects of CFP design features on internal foot mechanics. This study aimed to explore how systematic changes in CFP geometrical variations (i.e., thickness and location) can alter plantar pressure and strain under the forefoot as well as metatarsal stress state through computational simulations. A foot-shoe finite element (FE) model was built and different CFP features including three thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm) and three placements (high-loaded (just below the insole), mid-loaded (in between the midsole), and low-loaded (just above the outsole)) were further modulated within the shoe sole. Simulations were conducted at the impact peak instant during forefoot strike running. Compared with the no-CFP shoe, peak plantar pressure and compressive strain under the forefoot consistently decreased when the CFP thickness increased, and the low-loaded conditions were found more effective (peak pressure decreased up to 31.91% and compressive strain decreased up to 18.61%). In terms of metatarsal stress, CFP designs resulted in varied effects and were dependent on their locations. Specifically, high-loaded CFP led to relatively higher peak metatarsal stress without the reduction trend as thickness increased (peak stress increased up to 12.91%), while low-loaded conditions showed a gradual reduction in peak stress, decreasing by 0.74%. Therefore, a low-loaded thicker CFP should be considered to achieve the pressure-relief effects of running shoes without the expense of increased metatarsal stress.

Background Working conditions and the variety of activities performed in different occupations require footwear that meets the safety needs of the worker. More and more females are entering the industrial environment, which until recently was dominated by males, so there are indications of problems in adapting safety footwear to female feet. The aim of this research was to evaluate foot characteristics as well as perceived comfort, functionality and attractiveness of safety boots and their mutual relationships among production workers. Methods The study included 80 industrial workers aged 50–60 years (35 females; 45 males). The foot was evaluated using the CQ-ST Podoscope. Perception of comfort, functionality and attractiveness of GALMAG safety boots were evaluated. The research results were analyzed using Student’s t-test for independent variables, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman’s rank correlation. Results Statistically significant gender differences were found in terms of individualization ( p  = 0.044) and attractiveness of shoes ( p  = 0.041), as well as relationships of right ( p  = 0.010) and left ( p  = 0.030) foot width with shoe length perception, and Clarke’s angle of the right ( p  = 0. 004) and left ( p  = 0.020) foot with heel cushioning, Clarke’s angle of the right ( p  = 0.020) and left ( p  = 0.003) foot with shoe weight ratings, and Clarke’s angle of the right ( p  = 0.007) and left ( p  = 0.029) foot with shoe breathability. Clarke’s angle of the right ( p  = 0.020) and left ( p  = 0.049) foot also correlated with ratings of shoe style, and β angle of the right foot with shoe weight ( p  = 0.042) and breathability ( p  = 0.043). Conclusions It is necessary to develop recommendations for designers and manufacturers of safety boots to move away from the production of unisex footwear and the use of female’s lasts in the production of female footwear. Different widths for the same length should be considered when designing safety boots. People with high arches need better cushioning and therefore prefer insoles made of soft, flexible materials. More comfortable footwear is also more functional and aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, considering these aspects in the design and manufacture of footwear can result in the proper functioning of the worker in the workplace. Trial registration Not required, as the study design envisaged no health interventions whatsoever.

This article reports on a 4th-grade problem activity implemented as part of a 4-year longitudinal, design research study across grades 3–6. The activity integrated the four STEM disciplines through a focus on design. Following investigations of their feet measurements and shoes, two classes of 9-year-olds explored the roles of designers and engineers in shoe manufacture, experimented with materials, and then designed and constructed their own pairs of shoes. A conceptual framework, towards informed design (adapted from Crismond and Adams in J Eng Educ 101(4):738–797, 2012), is advanced for exploring students’ learning while designing. Drawing on this framework, consideration is given to students’ use of design strategies, including posing their own problems and design aims, sketching their shoe designs, testing and reflecting on their products, and redesigning and reconstructing. Although more students expressed a desired shoe than a design problem to be solved, they nevertheless were able to develop their own design aims and constraints. Designing a functional and aesthetically pleasing shoe was most common, together with comfort. Material properties typically less accessible to young students (water repellent, durable, insulated) were also considered in their designs. Students’ attention to detail in their design sketches (e.g., style features, 2-D and 3-D perspectives, measurements, materials) suggested they had progressed beyond beginning designers. Likewise, students’ increased satisfaction with their redesigns, displaying knowledge of material properties, measurement and spatial skills, and design processes indicated progress towards informed design.