5 Shoe Components

When purchasing a shoe, one typically looks for specific styles and colors of shoes without ever considering what components make up a shoe. By knowing the components, you can use that knowledge to make an educated purchase the next time you buy shoes.

1. Toe Box. This is the tip of the shoe. Depending on how the shoe is made, it can pointed, rounded, or square tipped. 
2. Vamp. The vamp is the upper part of the shoe where the laces or velco are. 
3. Sole. There are two parts of the sole, the insole and the outsole, which you might guess that the insole is inside of the shoe and the outsole is the part of the shoe that makes contact with the ground. Buying tip: The softer the sole, the greater the shoe's ability to absorb shock. 
4. Heel. The part of the shoe that is considered the heel is the bottom part of the rear of the shoe. Sometimes the heel provides elevation to the shoe.
5. Curve. The curve is near the arch of the foot and is what gives the distinction between right and left shoes. The curve conforms to the average foot shape.

Image by velo_city. (2008). I heart shoes. Flickr.