A shoe construction having a sole in which the upper surface of the sole when in normal use on a flat surface is lower at the heel bed than at the foresole portion of the shoe. Canting of the upper sole surface in a downward direction at the rear, coupled with upwardly extending sections of the heel at the rear counter, provides cradle-like surface. The peripheral edge of the sole extends upwardly over the upper surface around at least a substantial portion of its periphery and, in particular, at the rear counter where the upper periphery of the rear counter extends substantially higher than the lower most portion of the upper surface in the heel region of the sole.