Flexible forefoot protection for insoles and shoes

A shoe comprising;

• a) an outsole, wherein the outsole has a plurality of lugs and lug grooves located between the lugs for improved traction, wherein the lug grooves are thinner than the lugs;
• b) an upper coupled to the outsole and extending over the outsole;
• c) an insole configured for placement within the shoe and comprising:
• i) a protective plate, said protective plate comprising:
• a forefoot protective plate located over a forefoot portion of said shoe and comprising:
• a ball section comprising of hard plastic;
• a middle section comprising of hard plastic;
• and
• a lateral section comprising of hard plastic;
• wherein the middle section is located between the ball section and the lateral section;
• wherein the forefoot protective plate comprises a separation between the ball section and lateral section;
• wherein the insert is a removable insert for insertion and removal from the shoe;
• ii) a cushioning foam layer, wherein the forefoot protective plate is configured between the outsole and the cushioning foam layer,
• wherein the outsole has a lug groove between the ball section and middle section of the forefoot protective plate.

A shoe comprising a protective plate, said protective plate comprising:

• a) a forefoot protective plate located over a forefoot portion of said shoe and comprising:
• i) a ball section having a thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm;
• ii) a middle section having a thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm;
• and
• iii) a lateral section having a thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm;
• wherein the middle section is located between the ball section and the lateral section;
• wherein the forefoot protective plate is a single piece of material and comprises a separation between the ball section and lateral section;
• said shoe comprising:
• a) an outsole having a plurality of lugs and lug grooves located between the lugs for improved traction;
• wherein the lug grooves are thinner than the lugs;
• wherein the outsole has a lug groove between the ball section and middle section of the forefoot protective plate;
• b) an upper coupled to the outsole and extending over the outsole;
• c) an insole comprising a cushioning foam layer;
• wherein the forefoot protective plate is configured between the outsole and the insole;
• and wherein the thinner portion of the forefoot protective plate is aligned between adjacent lugs of the outsole and with the lug groove between the ball section and middle section of the forefoot protective plate.