Item of footwear

1. An item of footwear comprising:

a sole having a layer of material defining a frontal/toe region, a mid-foot region and a heel region, wherein the heel region extends over the rearmost 29% to 39% of the sole, wherein the layer of material has a first major surface configured to face a foot of a wearer and a second major surface opposite the first major surface; and

a securing means for securing the item of footwear to the foot of the wearer such that a first surface of the sole is configured to contact the foot,

wherein:

the layer of material has a uniform composition in each of the frontal/toe region, the mid-foot region and the heel region;

the layer of material has a plurality of cavities formed in the frontal/toe region such that an average density of the frontal/toe region is less than an average density of the heel region;

the layer of material has a plurality of cavities formed in the mid-foot region such that an average density of the mid-foot region is less than the average density of the heel region;

the layer of material is solid and devoid of cavities in an entirety of the heel region; and

an outsole is provided adjacent to the second major surface of the layer of material closing the cavities in the layer of material in the frontal toe/region and mid-foot region.

2. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the average density of the frontal/toe region is greater than the average density of the mid-foot region.

3. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region and mid-foot region have widths that do not exceed 25 mm.

4. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region and mid-foot region have widths that are at least 10 mm.

5. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region and mid-foot region have depths that do not exceed 25 mm.

6. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region and mid-foot region have depths that are at least 12 mm.

7. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the layer of material between the first major surface and the second major surface that is devoid of a plurality of cavities has a minimum thickness of at least 5 mm.

8. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region and mid-foot region are cylindrical.

9. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region and mid-foot region have domed ends.

10. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region and mid-foot region extend to openings on the second major surface of the layer.

11. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region have smaller widths than the plurality of cavities in the mid-foot region.

12. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities in the frontal/toe region and mid-foot region are distributed in an irregular manner.

13. The item of footwear of 1 , wherein an average ASKER C hardness of the heel region ranges from 54 to 60.

14. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the layer comprises or is formed from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).

15. The item of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the outsole comprises or is formed from rubber.