In a boot or

shoe A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot. Though the human foot can adapt to varied terrains and climate conditions, it is vulnerable, and shoes provide protection. Form was originally tied to function, but ...

, the shank is a long, thin piece of material between the insole and outsole intended to support the foot and provide structure.

Background

Materials and design for shanks vary widely with the purpose of the footwear. The shank of a

pointe shoe A pointe shoe (, ), also referred to as a ''ballet shoe'', is a type of shoe worn by ballet dancers when performing pointe technique, pointe work. Pointe shoes were conceived in response to the desire for dancers to appear weightless and sylph-li ...

used for ballet is made of flexible materials like leather, plastic, or cardstock, and may have customized length, thickness, and stiffness. Heavy boots such as those used for construction or hiking have far more rigid and durable shanks, often using

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

, though contemporary shanks are more commonly made of less heat-conductive materials such as

fiberglass Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English) is a common type of fibre-reinforced plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened i ...

and Kevlar. These materials' rigid nature adds a protective element, helping shield feet from puncture wounds and stone bruises. The shank is crucial to the functionality of mountaineering boots, as they diminish the load incurred by the feet and calves over the course of an ascent.

Gallery

File:Shank in work boots.jpg, alt=shank in Dr. Martens Icon steel toe work boots, TPU shank in work boots File:Fiberglass shank in work boots.jpg, alt=fiberglass shank in steel toe work boots,

Fiberglass Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English) is a common type of fibre-reinforced plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened i ...

shank in steel toe boots

References

External links

What is a steel toe shank in a work boots?

Steel shank versus nylon shank (Differences and purposes)
{{clothing-stub Footwear components