Stealth footwear

Abstract

A stalking shoe includes an upper portion and a sole portion that together define a foot pocket. The foot pocket is configured to surround a user's foot. The upper portion defines a foot opening and includes a stretch portion and a reinforcement portion. The reinforcement portion extends about a toe region at a front of the stalking shoe. The reinforcement portion fortifies the toe region against puncture and tearing and is configured to protect the user's foot. The stretch portion is configured to reduce weight of the stalking shoe and to provide elastic conformance between the upper portion and the user's foot. The sole portion includes a stealth portion where the stealth portion extends about a bottom surface of the stalking shoe. The stealth portion is formed of noise reducing material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stalking shoe comprising:
 an upper portion and a sole portion that together define a foot pocket, the foot pocket configured to surround a user's foot, the upper portion defining a foot opening, the upper portion including a stretch portion and a reinforcement portion, the reinforcement portion extending about a toe region at a front of the stalking shoe, the reinforcement portion fortifying the toe region against puncture and tearing and configured to protect the user's foot, the stretch portion configured to reduce weight of the stalking shoe and to provide elastic conformance between the upper portion and the user's foot, the sole portion including a stealth portion, the stealth portion extending about a bottom surface of the stalking shoe, the stealth portion formed of noise reducing material.   
     
     
         2 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the stretch portion extends between a first side and a second side of the stalking shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the stretch portion is made with polyester knit design. 
     
     
         4 . The stalking shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the polyester knit design includes a high breathability zone along first and second sides of the stalking shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The stalking shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the polyester knit design includes a support zone extending partially about a perimeter of the stalking shoe. 
     
     
         6 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion further includes a heel portion fortifying a heel region of the stalking shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion further includes a protective section extending partially along a first side of the stalking shoe and configured to improve puncture and tear resistance of the stalking shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the stalking shoe further comprises a heel reinforcement portion, the heel reinforcement portion configured to retain the heel of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement portion is made from a stiffer material than the stretch portion. 
     
     
         10 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement portion is made of leather. 
     
     
         11 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement portion extends between the stretch portion and the sole portion of the stalking shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The stalking shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the stalking shoe further comprises a tightening structure. 
     
     
         13 . A stalking shoe comprising:
 an upper portion configured to surround a user's foot, the upper portion including a stretch portion including an elastic material configured to conform to the user's foot, and a reinforcement portion having greater durability and tear resistance than the stretch portion; and   a sole portion connected to the upper portion, the sole portion extending about a bottom of the stalking shoe, the sole portion including a stealth portion configured to dampen noise and vibrations during movement, the stealth portion made from felt.   
     
     
         14 . The stalking shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the stretch portion comprises a knit design with varying knit patterns creating zones of differing breathability, support, or stretch within the same continuous stretch portion. 
     
     
         15 . The stalking shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the stealth portion extends about a bottom exterior surface of the stalking shoe, the stalking shoe further including grip features extending outward from the bottom exterior surface. 
     
     
         16 . The stalking shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the grip features are spaced apart from each other between 0.75 and 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The stalking shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the stalking shoe is packable to a height of less than 1 inch. 
     
     
         18 . The stalking shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the reinforcement portion extends at least about a toe region of the stalking shoe. 
     
     
         19 . The stalking shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the stalking shoe is compressible to fit within a pocket. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a stretch portion extending at least partially across a top foot region, the stretch portion including an elastic material configured to provide conformance between the stretch portion and the top foot region;   a reinforcement portion extending at least partially across the top foot region, the reinforcement portion connected to the stretch portion, the reinforcement portion having greater stiffness and tear resistance than the stretch portion; and   a stealth portion extending at least partially about a bottom exterior surface of the article of footwear, the stealth portion including a material with a porous structure, the stealth portion configured to contact the ground and dampen noise transmission.