bottom part of a shoe in the form of a stiff rib or bar running between the heel and ball of the foot under the insole, and more generally the area of a shoe between the shoe heel and forepart, of a similar or the same meaning as “waist”
Shanks:
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prevent collapse of the shoe into negative space between heel and ball
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support the foot when standing on the rungs of ladders or other narrow surfaces
Materials
- Wood
- Steel, often wrapped in fabric tape or other porous material to help gluing in place
- Fiberglass
- Carbon Fiber