Devices and methods for enhancing the fit of boots and other footwear

A boot comprising:

• a sole;
• an upper that is attached to the sole and configured to fit around a foot and a portion of a leg of a user;
• a canopy or panel that is positioned under the upper near an instep of the boot, the canopy or panel having a fixed end that is coupled with a first side of the boot and a free end that is positioned on an opposite side of the boot, the canopy or panel also having a body portion that extends between the fixed end and the free end;
• a tension member;
• one or more guides that are coupled with the free end of the canopy or panel and that are configured to guide the tension member about a path within the boot;
• and
• a tightening mechanism that is operably coupled with the tension member and that is configured to effect tensioning of the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism.

A system for footwear about a user's foot, the system comprising:

• a canopy or panel that is positionable under an upper of the footwear near an instep of the footwear, the canopy or panel having a fixed end that is coupleable with a first side of the footwear and a free end that is positionable on an opposite side of the footwear, the canopy or panel having a body portion that extends between the fixed end and the free end;
• a tension member;
• one or more guides that are coupled with the free end of the canopy or panel and that are configured to guide the tension member about a path within the footwear;
• and
• a tightening mechanism that is operably coupled with the tension member and that is configured to effect tensioning of the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism.

A method of manufacturing footwear comprising:

• providing the footwear;
• positioning a canopy or panel under an upper of the footwear near an instep of the footwear and coupling a fixed end of the canopy or panel with a first side of the footwear, the canopy or panel having a free end that is positionable on an opposite side of the footwear and having a body portion that extends between the fixed end and the free end;
• coupling one or more guides with the free end of the canopy or panel;
• coupling one or more guides with the footwear;
• coupling a tension member with the one or more guides of the canopy or panel and the one or more guides of the footwear so that the tension member is routed or guided about a path within the footwear;
• and
• coupling a tightening mechanism with the footwear, the tightening mechanism being operably coupled with the tension member and that being configured to effect tensioning of the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism.