Men's Shoes Key Terms

Knowing men's shoe terms can help you cater to your male customers

In order to help your male customers find the shoes that meet their needs, it is important for you to know the terminology related to how men's shoes are made. Learn enough to be able to discuss shoe options with your customers to help them find the most comfortable and useful shoe for them. Be sure to know the meaning of instep, all-terrain, shoelace, monk, lugs and arch support.

 

Instep

An instep is the front, top part of a shoe that covers the instep of the foot, or the part of the foot between the toes and the ankle.
Try: Running With Heels defines instep in its extensive shoe glossary.

All-terrain

The phrase all-terrain when referring to shoes means shoes that are suitable for many different activities, such as hiking and boating.
Try: Shopzilla shows a variety of men's all-terrain shoes.

Shoelace

A shoelace is the string cord that holds the shoe on the foot. Shoes that use shoelaces can be loosened to allow the foot to slide into place and then tightened and tied to keep the foot in place.
Try: Apparel Search has an interesting section on shoelaces, including a brief history. 

Monk

Monk is a type of men's shoe with a wide strap that goes over the instep of the shoe and fastens with a buckle on the side of the shoe. Monk shoes are close-toe shoes that don't require shoelaces.
Try: NexTag shows a variety of monk shoes for men. 

Lugs

Lugs are found on the outer sole of a shoe. They are made of rubber or a slip-resistant material and have deep treads. They can also be referred to as a lug sole.
Try: SHOEBACCA has a definition of a lug or lug sole in its shoe glossary.

Arch support

Arch support is the part of the shoe that covers and supports the foot's instep. Some shoes have better arch support than others, depending on the style of the shoe and the material used to make the shoe.
Try: Fog Dog Sports briefly defines an arch support. 

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