Importance

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Abstract

Articles of footwear (e.g., soft snowboard boots) that may be tightened from the rear side to enhance heel hold are disclosed. A lace may be coupled to a strap that extends along a portion of the rear side of the boot body. The lace and strap may be arranged such that, upon tightening of the lace, the strap is pulled toward the front side. Tensioning of the lace may cause the lace to be pulled inward so as to exert a normal pressure against the medial and lateral sides of the boot, resulting in the sides being drawn inward toward the shaft region of the boot. The lacing system may employ one or more tightening zones where separate regions of the boot may be tightened independently from, or simultaneously with, one another. For example, a boot that is configured to have two tightening zones may include a first lace arranged so as to tighten a portion of the boot including at least one of the rear side, the medial side and the lateral side; and a second lace arranged so as to tighten another portion of the boot, including at least part of the front side. As a result, various “zones” of the boot may be separately controlled, tightened independent from one another, as desired.

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First Claim