Sneaker Anatomy 101

Welcome to Sneaker Anatomy 101. A place where we will help you to spot the difference between a toebox and insole – and everything in between. We’re using the as our blueprint, and while parts may vary on other models, the terms are fairly universal.

Before getting into specific parts, let’s get something out of the way. A single foot is a shoe. Left and right feet form a pair of shoes. So please, when you’re at a sneaker store trying on a single foot, don’t ask for the ‘other pair’.

That’s all for Sneaker Anatomy 101: the main parts of a shoe. We hope you were paying attention, because now it’s time to revise and identify your lateral midsole logos from your medial quarters!