A footwear article comprising a generally elongate sole for engagement with and support of the foot of a person, said sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first portion being for direct contact and interaction with at least a portion of the underside of the foot of the person and being formed from a first polymeric material having a first density, and a second portion forming substantially the entire lower surface and being for direct contact and interaction with a surface and being formed from a second polymeric material having a second density, and a generally elongate and flexible foot engagement means for securing the footwear article to the foot of a person, said foot engagement means being engaged directly with at least said second portion and configured so as to extend over a portion of the upper side of the foot of the person; whereby the first polymeric material is provided in a gel form and the second polymeric material is provided in an expanded form whereby the first density is greater than the second density; the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material being selected and the first portion and the second portion being sized and arranged such that the sole is substantially flexible and elastic so as to allow for substantial flexion of the sole longitudinally and return, when in use and during ambulation of the person, whereby the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are selected and the first portion and the second portion are sized and arranged such that dampening is provided upon load being imparted to the foot of the person upon contact with a surface. a generally elongate sole for engagement with and support of the foot of a person, said sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first portion being for direct contact and interaction with at least a portion of the underside of the foot of the person and being formed from a first polymeric material having a first density, and a second portion forming substantially the entire lower surface and being for direct contact and interaction with a surface and being formed from a second polymeric material having a second density, and a generally elongate and flexible foot engagement means for securing the footwear article to the foot of a person, said foot engagement means being engaged directly with at least said second portion and configured so as to extend over a portion of the upper side of the foot of the person; whereby the first polymeric material is provided in a gel form and the second polymeric material is provided in an expanded form whereby the first density is greater than the second density; the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material being selected and the first portion and the second portion being sized and arranged such that the sole is substantially flexible and elastic so as to allow for substantial flexion of the sole longitudinally and return, when in use and during ambulation of the person, whereby the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are selected and the first portion and the second portion are sized and arranged such that dampening is provided upon load being imparted to the foot of the person upon contact with a surface.