Actually, you do not need to know every element of a running shoe, but it is better to fill your repertoire with some knowledge when buying a pair of shoes for you, especially the pricy ones.

Basically, there are three main elements that make up a running shoe: upper, midsole, and outsole.

They are pretty simple, except all other components under these main elements, will spin your head a couple of times if you do not know what the functions are and where they are located. Here, we try our best to explain everything you should know about the anatomy of running shoes.

Upper

The upper of the shoe is everything above the sole. It protects your foot in a secure fit and gives you stability in the shoe.

The following are parts of the upper.

Fabric: It is an engineered mesh that is designed and partnered for flexibility and strength. It is a sock-like material.

Overlay: It is a hard material that crisscrosses the fabric to create durability and structure. In many cases, brands use reflective material for overlays to enhance visibility. Most manufactures use their logos and emblems as overlays as well.

Tongue: The tongue is underneath the shoelaces and serves to protect your feet against foreign materials, and friction from the laces.

Ankle collar: It is the area around your ankles. Most brands use extra padding on the ankle area for protection against blisters or bruising caused by friction while running.

Heel counter: It is at the back of the shoe and layered inside the rear foot to support your heel.

Toe box: The part protects your toes and enables flexibility while running. It should have enough room for your toes to prevent blisters.

Insole: It is the thin and often removable piece you rest your foot in the shoe.

Midsole

The mid-sole is a material inserted between the upper and the outsole. It is usually made of rubber-like foam and the midsole is the core of the shoe and provides cushioning and energy return.

Outsole

The outsole is the bottom of the shoe, usually made of solid rubber or blown (air-injected) rubber, or a combination of the two.

• Solid rubber is more durable.
• Air-injected rubber/blown rubber, which is more flexible.

The outsole matters with intended environment use, either road or trail running. The following are elements of the outsole:

Footbridge: It is located between the heel and forefoot. It prevents the shoe from twisting when you land on your foot, thereby preventing ankle injuries.

Tread: The outermost part of the shoe makes direct contact with the ground when you land. It is different in road or trail running shoes; in road running shoes, the tread is more flattened than trail running shoes that have raised lugs. The tread is what leaves a footprint on the ground.

Flex grooves: They are horizontal indentations at the forefoot that allow your shoe to bend as naturally as your foot. They are called flex grooves because they give the shoe a flexible outsole that doesn’t crack when you run.

Decoupled heel: It is a split heel added to the sole to absorb shock when your foot lands.

That’s it. Hope we did not spin your head a couple of times with the crazy jargons. 😝

Cheers.