The Things You Should Know about Shoe Sole Types and Shoe Material Types

Shoe soles are the essential things that are to be seen and noticed while buying shoes from the stores. The soles not only provide flexibility to the feet and the right place for feet to be placed on but also proven to provide comfort, balance, and reliability.

There are many types of shoe soles, including PU, MD, EVA, or RB soles. Let us discuss below:

PVC outsoles:

PVC or polyvinyl chloride is a strength and durable material that is used to make soles of shoes. They are usually termed as the alternative to leather and are affordable too.

EVA outsoles:

EVA or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate is not only used for soles but also in each and every part of the shoe. They are used for sock liners, outsoles, -and the midsoles. They are best known for their shock-absorbing abilities. They are also flexible, lightweight, colorful, and easy to design.

TRP Bottom:

TRP or Thermoplastic Rubber is a beneficial material. Manufacturers use the car tires, which are shredded to make the shoe soles. Rubber is suitable for slippery surfaced and shock-absorbing, but they get hot quickly and are hard to stand on for hours.

PU Bottom:

PU or Polyurethane is durable, comfortable, and affordable. They are also waterproof and shockproof. They are unlike rubber, meaning they are easy to stand on for hours. For the medicated person, they are outstanding.

ABS Outsoles:

ABS or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene outsoles are new ones in the market, gaining more attraction by the public. They are plastic but still flexible and durable. They are non-toxic and breathable, meaning they provide higher performance, abrasion resistance, and impact resistance.

BPU:

BPU or Blocked Polyurethane is an upgrade and improved version of polyurethane. It is one of the most robust and most weather resistant soles in the market. They are best for the outdoor environment, are comfortable and medicated.

Shoe material type:

The material of shoes is also the most crucial factor while purchasing shoes. Different materials have different features and benefits, while there are also some drawbacks to each material used.

Leather:

Leather is the most used material in each and thing on earth. Shoes are no exception; they are made up of leather also, from the earlier period till today. It is derived from the skins and animal hides. Like the cows, crocodiles, and snakes, etc.

Leather nowadays is used to make dress shoes the most in men and women category. It is ideal for both comfort and durability. It is also elastic, stretching yet resistant to tearing. It can also absorb heat and temperature regulation.

The feel of class and tradition is the main thing in leather shoes, which is what the people are looking for, decency, and comfort.

Drawbacks are expensiveness, heavyweight, warmth and water damage

Textile:

Next to leather, textile, commonly known as the fabric is used in making shoes. It is available in all colors and varieties. The different and vast variations include fibers, denier or weaver and knits, etc.

In the textile, the most common ones are cotton, polyester, wool, and nylon, which are used in making the shoes by industries.

Other than that, textile shoes are found in the rayon, lycra, and polypropylene. The critical feature of textiles is its variety and availability. The different color combinations and designs are also the feature of textile material. Each one has its characteristics and physical properties.

Synthetic material:

Synthetic material includes PU leather or PU, Synthetic leather, or synthetic. They are nearly the same but with a bit of change in the two layers. The external surface which is adhered to the backing layer, composed of fibers (polyester). They are also used in making the most affordable and durable sports shoes.

Just like the textiles, Synthetic come in all kinds of variety and designs. The two layers include the weather layer, which is composed of polyester backing, which is woven and non-woven. Then there is another layer, which is adhesion used.  Whether there is a wet or dry process in it, it determines the quality and durability of synthetic material.

The smoothness determines the quality and price and resulting increases and wrinkles in lower models.

Rubber:

Rubber is used in the making of soles when it comes to shoes. The most popular use is their sports shoes, which are used in running and jumping. The most common rubber used is polyester, which is environmentally friendly.

Rubber is also termed as an all-season shoe material. It is also weatherproof, meaning it does not matter even it is raining or snowing. It will always be useful. They are also more economical than leather and are available for each industry.

Foam:

Foam is the most used and most common shoe material, which not only provides support to the upper part of shoes but also provides support and comfort to every part of the shoe. Foam can be combined with leather, textile, synthetic, and rubber. Therefore, they are universal in nature.

Foam is divided into two categories, the open ones, and the closed-cell ones. Foam is typically made of plastic; therefore, the materials are porous, which allows the water and air particles to pass through them.

The closed-cell types the same cells are sealed, meaning they do not let water and air particles pass through them or even the gases escape from shoes.

Open-cell foam is termed as KFF or KF foam material; they are made up of polyurethane plastic and are softer than other closed-cell foam. They can be found in the tongue of shoes or their collars. The different type of open-cell foam materials is there but most open of them all is the reticulated foam.

Closed cells are mostly used in shoe midsoles because of their denser materials. The most common type includes polyurethane and polyethylene, EVA foam, Latex, and Neoprene. Every kind of closed-cell one has its feature and property, but most of them have a waterproofing and elasticity feature.

Conclusion:

In this article we have covered what type of material used in shoe manufacturing and also we have discussed types of shoe soles. I hope you will appreciate it. Please give your feedback in the comment section below.

Are you interested to explore more options or some useful information about plantar fasciitis? Stay tuned! here is our blog.

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