A footwear construction including a sole component and shock pods that
absorb impact forces caused by activity. The sole component can be a
midsole defining at least one shock pod hole that reduces in dimension
from a midsole lower surface toward a midsole upper surface. A shock pod
can be joined with the midsole, and extend from the lower surface toward
the upper surface. The midsole can be constructed from a harder material
than the material from which the shock pod is constructed. A outsole can
be joined with the midsole so that a lower portion of the shock pod, for
example a traction lug, extends through the outsole to form a ground
contacting surface. The shock pod and the shock pod hole can be of
corresponding frustoconical shapes. A method is provided including
joining a shock pod with a midsole, and joining an outsole with the
midsole.