A footwear article comprising: a generally elongate and substantially rigid sole member, that does not flex during ambulation and walking and remains as a substantially rigid body, having an upper surface for direct contact and interaction with at least a portion of the underside of the foot of the person, an under surface for interaction with a ground surface, a generally inelastic outer portion and having a rebate extending from the upper surface towards the under surface, and an elastic inner portion disposed within the rebate of said outer portion, wherein the rebate extends through said outer portion such that the outer portion is of annular form, and the inner portion extends therethrough; and a foot engagement member for securing the footwear article to the foot of a person, said foot engagement member extending laterally from a one side of the sole member to the other side of the sole member in a manner so as to extend over the upper side of the foot of a user so as to secure the footwear article to the foot of the user; wherein the outer portion of the sole member provides structural rigidity to the sole member and part of the outer portion forms part of the upper surface; and the inner portion forms a further part of the upper surface, is configured and arranged such that dampening is provided upon load being imparted to the foot of the person upon contact with the ground surface; wherein the inner portion comprises a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being for direct contact and interaction with at least a portion of the underside of the foot of the person; wherein the first portion is formed from a first polymeric material having a first density, and said second portion is formed from a second polymeric material having a second density; wherein the first portion and said second portion have been co-molded whilst within the rebate of said outer portion so as to form said inner portion. a generally elongate and substantially rigid sole member, that does not flex during ambulation and walking and remains as a substantially rigid body, having an upper surface for direct contact and interaction with at least a portion of the underside of the foot of the person, an under surface for interaction with a ground surface, a generally inelastic outer portion and having a rebate extending from the upper surface towards the under surface, and an elastic inner portion disposed within the rebate of said outer portion, wherein the rebate extends through said outer portion such that the outer portion is of annular form, and the inner portion extends therethrough; and a foot engagement member for securing the footwear article to the foot of a person, said foot engagement member extending laterally from a one side of the sole member to the other side of the sole member in a manner so as to extend over the upper side of the foot of a user so as to secure the footwear article to the foot of the user; wherein the outer portion of the sole member provides structural rigidity to the sole member and part of the outer portion forms part of the upper surface; and the inner portion forms a further part of the upper surface, is configured and arranged such that dampening is provided upon load being imparted to the foot of the person upon contact with the ground surface; wherein the inner portion comprises a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being for direct contact and interaction with at least a portion of the underside of the foot of the person; wherein the first portion is formed from a first polymeric material having a first density, and said second portion is formed from a second polymeric material having a second density; wherein the first portion and said second portion have been co-molded whilst within the rebate of said outer portion so as to form said inner portion.