The layer between a shoe’s insole and outsole, often used for cushioning or support.
A midsole sits within the sole assembly, between the insole and the outsole. Its material and role depend on how the shoe is constructed. Paraboot describes an intermediate layer in sewn shoes, while Meermin’s Norwegian construction stitches the upper to the insole and midsole before a further seam passes through the outsole. In a running shoe, ASICS describes a spongy layer between the upper and outsole. The useful distinction is between this intermediate component and the outsole that meets the ground. The word alone does not establish a particular material or construction method.
In job listings
You are more likely to meet this word in footwear development than in a job description. It matters in technical conversations about cushioning and construction, and in explaining why a sneaker and a dress shoe feel so different underfoot. Search local jobs for “footwear”.
