Anatomy of a Hersey
Vamp
This is the cloth part of the shoe, and we can make it with either nylon mesh or 200 denier nylon. The mesh is more breathable but a little heavier, so we usually use the 200 where the weight of the shoe is a concern.
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TongueWe always make sure it's soft and comfy, and you can run your laces through the holes that are in it to help prevent your tongue from slipping, so to speak.
Back to "Anatomy" index Laces
They're Hersey gray, of course, but if you're dying to add a splash of color to your get-up, you can replace them for a very small investment at your local sports shop or super-drug. One customer got fluorescent orange laces that show up real well in traffic. But we make him take them out before he sends his shoes back for resoling so that we don't go blind.
Back to "Anatomy" index Eyelet stay
Eyelet stay is a fancy name for the leather horseshoe in the top of your shoe that holds the holes that hold your laces.Back to "Anatomy" index Midsole
Have you noticed how the midsoles in different Hersey Customs may have very different combinations of black, gray and white? The colors represent different densities of material, and I may use as many as seven different densities in a single shoe, placing each piece exactly where it needs to go to protect the foot in question. One of the biggest deficiencies of mass-produced shoes is that the midsoles of a given model are all the same, regardless of the size and abnormalities of the wearer. Even with perfect bio-mechanics, a 200-pound person simply can't get as much protection from the sole construction as a 120-pound person. Your Hersey is made just for you.
Back to "Anatomy" index Outersole
The thinner piece of black rubber on the very bottom of the shoe is the outersole. It will vary in nature depending upon what the shoe is going to be used for. A racing flat, for example, will have a blown rubber Vibram® outersole that is light in weight and designed for good traction on even surfaces but not on icy roads or trails. Our standard carbon rubber outersole is a medium-weight, all-purpose sole ideal for trainers and walking shoes, and it can handle moderately uneven terrain. For hiking and running on unpredictable off-road and winter surfaces, our heavier deep-lug sole is probably in order.
Back to "Anatomy" index Wear plug
If you're a heavy heel-striker, and the back edge of your outersole wears thin way before the rest, we put a "wear plug" on your shoe. It'll look like we just sliced your outersole into two pieces. The back part is the wear plug, and when it starts getting thin, we simply peel it off and replace it before you wear through to the midsole. It keeps you comfortable and saves you the cost of a complete resoling when you may not need one.
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Removable insertYou usually don't see this part unless you're staring down into your shoe, but you sure do feel it if it's not there. We have several different types, ranging from soft & cushy, to firm & supportive, to a multi-density insert especially helpful to people whose feet severely pronate. You can replace your inserts anytime.
Back to "Anatomy" index Our name
We wouldn't put it there if we weren't willing to stand behind the shoes we make for you. Whatever it takes, we'll get your shoes right because we want your repeat business.
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