| 2A |
Fila brand visco-elastic polymer units that when placed inside the shoe construction absorb the shock on one's foot under high impact situations. |
| 3D Torsion |
An adidas brand device that causes the shoe to return to its stable base after allowing the foot to move as it normally would during the walking cycle. |
| 3D Ultra Lite |
A Reebok shoe made with a molded mixture of rubber and EVA thus eliminating the need for separate midsole and outsole pieces. |
| T.P.U. Post |
A New Balance brand device made of thermoplastic urethane placed in the heel of the midsole. This stability device can either aid in pronation or supination control depending on the need created by the individual's gait style. |
| Tap shoes |
Shoes used for tap dancing. They are embossed with a metal partial sole which is attached to the existing sole. |
| Tassel |
A decorative knotted rope usually hung from the vamp of a loafer styled shoe for style. |
| Tennis shoes |
Shoes made of durable rubber, specifically designed to wear on a clay court or grass surface for playing the sport of tennis. |
| Therma-FIT |
A Nike lightweight micro fleece material used to store and recirculate body heat in cold conditions. |
| Thinsulate |
Manmade microfiber created by 3M that traps insulating air to keep you warmer. It is non-bulky, lightweight, compact resistant and durable. Warmer than foam, felt, pile for the same thickness, it insulates under damp conditions absorbing less than 1% of it's weight in water and dries quickly. |
| Thong |
An open toed sandal that features a V-strap made of synthetic material or leather which fits in between the big and second toes and extends down the side of the foot for stability. |
| Throat |
The opening of a shoe that extends from the vamp to the ankle. The throat is where one would place their foot to put on the shoe. |
| Toe-box |
The upper part of the shoe which surrounds the toes. |
| Toe-off |
The final movement in the walking cycle which propels you forward due to your foot pushing off from the ground for leverage. |
| Tongue |
The part of the upper made of leather or synthetic material which is attached in the vamp of the shoes extending to the throat. The tongue is what separates the laces from the top of one's foot. |
| Torsion System |
The adidas lightweight arch support that controls the naturally occurring independent movement of the heel and forefoot. It allows the movement of the forefoot and heel to be completely independent of one another to provide for better surface adaptation and stability. |
| TPU |
A material known as Thermoplastic Urethane which can be adjusted to increase stiffness in a shoe and is used for making stabilizing plates within Nike shoes. |
| Traxion |
The adidas Traxion technology is designed to maximize ground grip with a patented stud design placed according to the needs of a specific sport and surface on which that sport is played. The stud design provides maximizes comfort due to the even pressure distribution. |
| Tread |
The design of a shoe's sole which affects the way the sole wears over time. |
| Trusstic System |
An Asics brand component that molds to the mid-area part of one's foot and with the help of the contoured midsole helps to control torsion. |
| Tru-Trak |
Multi-directional lug system inside a New Balance shoe which provides maximum traction and surface contact for the foot. |
| TS2 |
A New Balance insole support system made to provide a smooth transition from heel to toe. |
| UltraWelt |
The Carolina patented, lightweight layered welt design which increases flexibility, comfort and improves cushioning. |
| Unit bottom |
The bottom of the shoe which includes the sole made from a mold of rubber or plastic and the heel. |
| Upper |
The entire top section of the shoe that surrounds the toes, foot and heel and holds the laces. The upper includes everything but the sole and is the part that holds the primary part of the design. |
| Vamp |
The front portion of the top section of a shoe which covers the toes and some of the foot. |
| Velcro |
Velcro is the brand name of the hook and loop fasteners found on footwear for an easy alternative to lacing. Primarily it is found on designs specifically for children, orthotics and the elderly, but is also added to sport-specific shoes for additional support and security. |
| Vibram |
Vibram is a brand known for its soling products used primarily in outdoor or service footwear, including the military, industrial and field/stream. |
| Vinyl |
A liquid shoe coating that results in a shiny appearance. Vinyl is short for polyvinyl chloride. |
| Visible Air-Sole unit |
The Nike Air-Sole unit that can be seen from the side or inside of a shoe. The Air-Sole itself is meant to make the wearer feel as though they are walking on air which provides excellent comfort by cushioning the wearer's foot. |
| Visible Zoom Air |
A Nike brand sole made of fibers packed into a polyurethane bag so when it is combined with pressurized air the fibers act as springs, resulting in low-to-the-ground speed cushioning. |
| Vulcanized rubber |
The process in which rubber is converted from its natural state to one of durability and strength. |
