Which sole is better. Tep sole

It is worth considering in advance which shoes will serve the most suitable option For winter season, so that the leg does not “ride” and does not let you down at the most inopportune moment, and which one is better to remove for a while from the eyes away or not to buy at all.

If you are going to buy new shoes, think carefully about which sole does not slip, which material adheres more reliably to the surface of the sidewalk and the roadway, which often has to be crossed increased speeds. Most likely it is a thick corrugated sole made of synthetic materials. If you are attracted to a leather sole, you will have to improve it first in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. You can see for yourself that slippery shoes These are shoes with leather soles.

Slippery shoes with new leather soles - how to protect yourself

New leather soles should be treated better sandpaper to remove a polished layer that can famously roll you on asphalt with unpredictable consequences. You can rub a new sole raw potatoes. Layer potato starch help improve road grip.

It is also possible to pre-treat the sole surface with the well-known Moment glue: apply an arbitrary pattern on the sole with glue and sprinkle the dry glue with sand or salt. The glue dries, and you get a sole that reliably prevents forced “dancing on ice”. If the foot begins to slip again, of course, this shoe treatment will have to be repeated again from time to time.

In order not to dance pirouettes on ice, you can stick strips of sandpaper or pieces of felt on the sole. You can also use a pharmaceutical patch for this purpose, but this is not a durable method, the patch will have to be re-pasted daily.

The plastic sole also needs to be treated so that boots or boots do not slip when the thaw is replaced by frost. Take the old one kapron stocking, set it on fire, the melted material will drop small droplets onto the sole, which will harden in the form of small spikes. Then such boots will become quite “wearable” and help you walk down the street calmly, without undue stress. True, and skating on ice will no longer work.

On sale there are also shoes with factory protection so that the foot does not slip on ice. The sole of such shoes is made not only with application relief pattern, and is also complemented by various applications of anti-slip materials and studs that create a secure grip on smooth surfaces.

What kind of shoes do not slip?

Shoes with rubber soles are the least prone to unpleasant feature shoes with leather or plastic soles - give you a ride on the road when you don't expect it at all.

If you are not going to update the winter shoes purchased in previous years, it is worth taking a closer look at the condition of your old shoes- how comfortable, reliable and safe it is for walking on snowy and sometimes icy roads.

You can take the winter shoes to the workshop in advance and put the "roll" on the old slippery sole, a polyurethane patterned plate or a second sole. Don't worry, shoemakers will tell you everything in detail and give you practical advice.

To create anti-slip shoes, this option is also possible: now in shoe stores you can find special nozzles for the sole. They look quite aesthetically pleasing and reliably prevent unexpected “rolling” of the legs.

In any case, try to choose a reliable road, bypass dangerous places and look at your feet. Take care of your health and avoid trouble.

10.04.2014 459102

What is the difference between TEP and EVA? What does tunit promise me? PVC is a glue? What are the soles of these boots made of? - the modern buyer wants to know everything. In order not to lose face in front of him and be able to explain whether such a sole suits his soles, carefully study this article. In it, process engineer Igor Okorokov tells what materials shoe soles are made of and why each of them is good.

- Technological engineer of shoe production, graduate of Vitebsk State Technological University of Light Industry. Since 2002, he has been working as a specialist for various shoe companies in Russia.

Materials used for the manufacture of soles

The sole is one of the most important parts of the shoe, which protects it from wear and tear and largely determines its lifespan. It is the sole that is subjected to intense mechanical stress, abrasion on the ground and repeated deformations. Therefore, the materials used for the manufacture of soles must be as resistant to impact as possible. environment. In this article, I will explain what materials the sole can be made of and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Sole Attachment Methods

There are two main methods of attaching the sole: adhesive and injection. But contrary to popular belief, fastening technology does not affect the consumer properties of shoes. The glue method is used for classic and model weekend shoes, most often with leather or tunite soles. In the manufacture of comfortable shoes for everyday wear, the injection method is most often used.

For soles from different materials peculiar different methods mounts. Polyurethane soles are most often made by direct casting, but in rare cases, a pre-cast sole is glued to the upper. TPU soles are produced by injection molding at high temperature under pressure. Heels are also made from TPU. The TPE bottom is injection molded and then glued. PVC soles are most often attached by injection molding in the manufacture of shoes for active rest and everyday wear. EVA soles are attached to the top of the shoe only by injection, while tunite and leather soles are only glued. For TPR, both options can be applied.

Soles made of polyurethane (PU, PU)

Advantages: Polyurethane has good performance properties: it weighs little, as it has a porous structure, resists abrasion well, is flexible, has excellent shock absorption and good thermal insulation. Soles made of polyurethane are light and flexible, so they are used in shoes where these characteristics are of particular importance.

Flaws: The porous structure of polyurethane is also peculiar reverse side medals. For example, because of her polyurethane sole has poor grip on snow and ice, so winter shoes with PU soles slip a lot. Also a disadvantage is the high density of the material and the loss of elasticity at low (from -20 degrees) temperatures. This results in fractures in the places where the sole is bent, the rate of occurrence of which depends on the characteristics of the operation of the shoe, in particular, on the person's gait, the degree of his mobility and other factors.

TPU soles (TPU, TPU)

Advantages: TPU has a sufficiently high density, due to which it can be used to make soles with deep tread, which provide excellent traction. Also, the advantages of TPU are high wear resistance and resistance to deformation, including cuts and punctures.

Flaws: The high density of TPU is also its disadvantage, because because of this, the weight of the TPU sole is quite large, and elasticity and thermal insulation leave much to be desired. To improve these characteristics, TPU is often combined with polyurethane, thereby reducing the weight of the sole, increasing its thermal insulation and elasticity. This method is called two-component casting, and it is quite easy to recognize: the sole made using this technology consists of two layers, and the upper layer is made of polyurethane (PU), and the lower one, in contact with the ground, is made of TPU.

Soles made of thermoplastic elastomer (TEP, TRP)

Advantages: This material can be considered all-weather. It is durable, elastic, resistant to frost and wear. TPE provides good cushioning and traction. Thanks to the manufacturing technology of the sole from TPE, its outer layer is monolithic, which provides it with strength, and the inner volume is porous, retaining heat. Thermoplastic elastomer can be recycled, which means that its use in soles saves resources and does not pollute the environment.

Flaws: At high and very low temperatures(over 50 degrees and below -45 degrees) TPE loses its properties, so it is used only in everyday shoes and, by the way, is rarely used for safety shoes.

Soles made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, PVC)

Advantages: PVC soles resist abrasion well, are resistant to aggressive environments and are easy to manufacture. They are often used in home and children's shoes, and earlier they were especially widely used for safety shoes, since when mixed with rubber, PVC receives properties such as oil and gasoline resistance.

Flaws: PVC is used only in the production of casual shoes for autumn or spring, because this material has a large mass and low frost resistance, not withstanding temperatures below -20 degrees. In addition, the PVC sole does not attach well to the leather upper of the shoe, so quality shoes made of leather with PVC soles is difficult and expensive to manufacture.

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA, EVA) soles

Advantages: EVA - very lightweight material with good shock absorbing properties. Mainly used in children's, home, summer and beach shoes, and in sports shoes- in the form of inserts, because it is able to absorb and distribute shock loads.

Flaws: EVA soles lose their cushioning properties over time. This is due to the fact that the walls of the pores are destroyed, and the entire mass of EVA becomes flatter and less elastic. Also, EVA is not suitable as a material for winter shoes, since this material is very slippery and unstable to frost.

Thermoplastic rubber soles (TPR, TPR)

thermoplastic rubber is a shoe rubber made from synthetic rubber, which is stronger than natural rubber, but no less elastic. However, modern technologies allow with various additives increase its flexibility.

Advantages: Thermoplastic rubber has a low density and, accordingly, less weight than other materials. There are no through pores in it, so moisture does not pass through it. However, there are surface pores in TPR, and they provide high thermal protection. In addition, TPR, like other porous rubber, - an elastic material that provides good cushioning properties. Thanks to this characteristic, shoes with TPR soles relieve unnecessary stress on the legs and spine.

Flaws: The low density of the material can be not only an advantage, but also a disadvantage. In the case of TPR, it leads to the fact that the sole made of this material does not have particularly outstanding heat-shielding properties. In addition, in wet and frosty weather, the thermoplastic rubber outsole is very slippery.

Leather soles (leather)

Advantages: Leather soles are used in all types of shoes, including children's, indoor and model shoes of all seasons. Shoes with leather soles look great and allow the foot to breathe because it is a natural membrane.

Flaws: When worn in wet weather, the leather sole can be deformed, and caring for it involves the constant use of special sprays and impregnations. Leather has low wear resistance, so it is recommended to install prevention on leather soles, and it is mandatory for winter shoes, otherwise the sole will slide on ice and snow without it and deform even faster.

Tunit soles

Tunit- This is rubber with the inclusion of leather fibers, so the second name of this material is "leather".

Advantages: In appearance, hardness and plasticity, tunite soles are similar to leather ones, but they behave better in operation: they almost do not wear out and do not get wet. These soles are easy to emboss, giving them slightly more grip than leather.

Flaws: But even despite this, shoes with tunite soles are very slippery due to the high rigidity of the material. Therefore, tunit is used in the manufacture of only summer and spring-autumn shoes with an adhesive fastening method.

Soles made of wood (wood)

Advantages: Wood is an environmentally friendly and very hygienic material, and the wooden soles have an original appearance. However, in Lately instead of wood, plywood is more often used to make shoes. It can be made of birch, oak, beech or linden wood, and as a material it is easier to machine, well molded and inexpensive. Soles using cork material are also popular. When dealing with them, one must understand that cork wood, due to its natural softness, cannot serve as the main material for the manufacture of soles, therefore cork is used only for decorative covering.

Flaws: Wooden soles are hard, wear out quickly, and have poor water resistance. In the manufacture of such soles, a lot of material is consumed. Cork upholstery is prone to chips and defects due to the softness of the material.

Editorial Shoes Report

We often ignore the sole. But the material of manufacture is important not only for the top and lining. That is why we will now find out which sole is better.

wear resistance

An important point, because it is the sole that is in contact with the ground. It is important that it does not wear out, does not crack, does not burst.

Polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride are a little weaker in this regard. However, the sole of such materials is worn for a very long time and does not cause worries to the owner.

outsider is a leather sole that is only suitable for indoor wear. Therefore, it is immediately recommended to put prevention and soles made of more wear-resistant materials on such shoes.

Slip resistance

Perhaps here too leader can be called rubber. Most perfect option for winter time, when even roads sprinkled with reagents and sand are dangerous.

IN outsiders almost all other species are included. PVC, polyurethane and leather slip unrealistically. The latter - even on parquet and tiles. So be careful.

Heat resistance and moisture resistance

Excellent resistance to temperature changes rubber and polyurethane. We count them winners. They can be worn in both winter and summer.

Polyvinyl chloride does not tolerate frost well. In extreme cold, it can simply crack. Thermoplastic elastomer, on the contrary, does not tolerate high temperatures well. If you dry shoes with such soles near the battery, you can get some kind of viscous substance. These are explicit losers.

As for moisture, it is perfectly absorbed by the skin. It is generally not recommended to wear shoes with such soles in the rain. Even if you do not conquer the puddles.

Price

Leader in cheapness is a sole made of PVC and thermoplastic elastomer. That is why they are so common. Quite affordable for everyday shoes.

A little more expensive polyurethane and rubber. However, their quality is higher, so the costs are justified. At a minimum, spend less on prevention, and the service life is longer.

Leaderin price- leather sole. And, at the same time, impractical in regular wear. However, status and prestige. In addition, naturalness gives its own.

It is difficult to give a definite answer which sole is the best. Clearly stand out options from rubber and polyurethane. Pay attention to them the next time you go shopping for shoes.

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In order to accurately determine the right sole for safety shoes, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following table:

DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLES

Sole made of PVC, TPE and EVA (EVA)

Soles based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are very common where there are no requirements for abrasion and durability criteria. During production, it is necessary to balance the material with plasticizers (esters of serbacic and phthalic acids). The introduction of these substances allows to increase the frost resistance and elasticity of the sole.

TPE (thermoelastolast, or thermoelastomer) is a material from which it is very easy to produce a finished product, ready for use in everyday shoes. The thermoplasticity of such a sole significantly reduces the likelihood of use in specialized work shoes due to poor resistance to high temperatures.

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA or EVA) is the material most commonly used for midsoles, the layer between the upper and the outsole. The properties of this substance make it possible to achieve the necessary lightness, softness and elasticity of the workpiece, its reliable fastening with the top of the shoe. Thanks to the foam composition, shoes with EVA soles are well springy, easily restore their shape in case of reverse deformation, retain heat, do not let the cold through, but after a while, the sole will lose its shock-absorbing characteristics.

Single-layer polyurethane sole (PU or PU sole)

Polyurethane soles for safety shoes have a number of advantages. With a relatively low material density and low mass, the soles of work shoes have high strength characteristics, abrasion resistance, resistance to repeated bending, and are perfectly attached to the leather upper. The pores of the polyurethane soles of work shoes are very small and not connected to each other. The disadvantages include the undesirability of manufacturing soles with large and deep lugs.

Positive characteristics provide high heat-shielding properties and water resistance of the bottom of the shoe. The material is not thermoplastic and relatively not easily soiled - it does not leave marks on the surface. PU soles are relatively cheap, compared to other types of soles, and have MBS and KShchS properties. When buying work safety shoes with PU soles, be guided by wearing in warm time years, since this material is not frost-resistant and rather slippery, only monolithic PU is more slippery for two-layer PU / PU soles.

PU / PU sole - or sole on two-layer polyurethane

To give extra durability, many manufacturers make two-layer PU soles with a second running layer that is more solid, thereby increasing the weight of the sole and the glide of the running surface.

Since a monolithic layer requires more polyurethane, manufacturers make layers of different colors to show this to the consumer.

The 2-layer polyurethane outsole is slightly heavier than a regular PU outsole. The first layer (running) is ideally monolithic and denser in composition than the second, the intermediate one is foam, shock-absorbing and lighter layer. PU/PU sole is the most slippery. Its disadvantages include the undesirability of manufacturing soles with large and deep lugs - the likelihood of breaking the sole is high.

TPU- outsole - single layer

Thermoplastic polyurethane is resistant to abrasion, low temperatures, tearing and aggressive environments, adheres well to the surface, restores its shape when deformed, is able to perfectly resist punctures, has slip resistance, it is possible to manufacture soles with large lugs. The disadvantages of TPU include the high density of the material, which, in turn, is reflected in the weight and elasticity. finished product. The sole made of this material adheres relatively poorly to the top of the workpiece during the injection method of fastening. The material, as the name implies, is not resistant to high temperatures (+80 C) - then the sole will simply melt, which makes it unsuitable for the manufacture of special footwear, the operation of which is meant in conditions of aggressive temperatures: hot shops, hot asphalt, etc.

TPU/PU outsole - double layer

TPU is often combined with polyurethane - where the running layer is made of TPU, and the intermediate shock absorbing layer is made of low density polyurethane. From TPU it is possible to manufacture shoes with a deep tread, large lugs. Safety shoes with TPU/PU soles also resist slipping like TPU and are better than products made of single-layer polyurethane and, moreover, two-layer ones; lighter than single layer TPU, but heavier than PU soles, but at the same time, the strength characteristics are high. Such a sole will not break and will not burst in the cold. The polyurethane layer provides good thermal insulation for safety footwear and is well bonded to the top of the safety footwear workpiece. TPU is a thermoplastic material, so it quickly wears out in summer and can melt on hot surfaces, which makes it impossible to wear such shoes, for example, in hot shops. But for winter and off-season - one of the best options. Lightweight, durable, can be with large and deep lugs, slips less, but its cost is quite high.

Rubber (nitrile) - single layer sole

According to statistics, at the moment, about 30% of all shoe soles in the global shoe industry are made of rubber. This material is better than others for special footwear soles: slip-resistant, durable, frost-resistant, MBS and KShchS. Some types of rubber soles are not only non-thermoplastic, but even heat-resistant up to +300 C. Allows you to make soles with large lugs. Attaches well to leather upper.

Along with their excellent properties, the main disadvantage of all shoe rubbers is both the multicomponent composition of the rubber sole and the complexity of connecting the components, and big number production operations in the manufacture of material. Therefore, the cost of the material is quite high. Wherein, rubber soles heavy and very fragile.

Rubber (nitrile) / PU soles - two-layer

In order to reduce weight and improve cushioning in the sole, manufacturers make two-layer soles with a rubber bottom and intermediate layer from expanded polyurethane. Rubber is perfectly combined with polyurethane only with reliable bonding. If the manufacturer complies with all the technology and maintains the process at the proper quality level, then the soles with this combination of rubber and PU layers include the most the best sides and characteristics of the above materials: the running layer is made of rubber, and the shock-absorbing layer is made of PU. The cost of such a sole is lower than rubber, the same can be said about weight. Unfortunately, on Russian market safety shoes with such soles are scarce and in a very expensive segment. This is explained by the fact that the reliability of mounting rubber with polyurethane - a big problem and not many can offer a quality product. In cheap versions, the rubber layer peels off from the polyurethane fairly quickly.

Many people know that when choosing shoes, the material of its manufacture plays a decisive role in making a decision. However, often only the top is taken into account, and the sole is not paid attention to. This is not entirely true, because it is this part of the shoe that is most affected. The foot and weight of a person presses on it from above, and the earth seeks to demonstrate its superiority from below. Therefore, the material of manufacture of this part must be reliable and comfortable to use. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the materials used in the manufacture of shoe soles.

Polyurethane soles

Flaws: The porous structure of polyurethane is also a kind of reverse side of the coin. For example, because of it, the polyurethane sole has poor grip on snow and ice, so winter shoes with PU soles are very slippery. Also a disadvantage is the high density of the material and the loss of elasticity at low (from -20 degrees) temperatures. This results in fractures in the places where the sole is bent, the rate of occurrence of which depends on the characteristics of the operation of the shoe, in particular, on the person's gait, the degree of his mobility and other factors.

TPU soles (TPU, TPU)

Soles made of thermoplastic elastomer (TEP, TRP)

Flaws: At high and very low temperatures (over 50 degrees and below -45 degrees) TPE loses its properties, so it is used only in everyday shoes.

Soles made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, PVC)

Advantages: PVC soles resist abrasion well, are resistant to aggressive environments and are easy to manufacture. They are often used in home and children's shoes.

Flaws: PVC is used only in the production of casual shoes for autumn or spring, because this material has a large mass and low frost resistance, not withstanding temperatures below -20 degrees. In addition, PVC soles do not adhere well to leather uppers, so quality leather shoes with PVC soles are difficult and expensive to produce.

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA, EVA) soles

Advantages: EVA is a very lightweight material with good cushioning properties. It is mainly used in children's, home, summer and beach shoes, and in sports shoes - in the form of inserts, because it is able to absorb and distribute shock loads.

Flaws: Over time, EVA soles lose their cushioning properties. This is due to the fact that the walls of the pores are destroyed, and the entire mass of EVA becomes flatter and less elastic. Also, EVA is not suitable as a material for winter shoes, since this material is very slippery and resistant to frost.

Thermoplastic rubber soles (TPR, TPR)

Thermoplastic rubber is shoe rubber made from synthetic rubber, which is stronger than natural rubber but no less elastic. However, modern technologies make it possible to increase its flexibility with the help of various additives. Due to its qualities, such a sole relieves the load from the spine during long-term use.

Advantages: Thermoplastic rubber has a low density and, accordingly, less weight than other materials. There are no through pores in it, so moisture does not pass through it. However, there are surface pores in TPR, and they provide high thermal protection. In addition, TPR, like other porous rubbers, is an elastic material that provides good cushioning properties. Thanks to this characteristic, shoes with TPR soles relieve unnecessary stress on the legs and spine.

Leather soles (leather)

Tunit soles

Tunit is rubber with the inclusion of leather fibers, so the second name of this material is "leather".

Soles made of wood (wood)

Advantages: Wood is an environmentally friendly and very hygienic material, and wooden soles have an original look. However, recently, instead of wood, plywood is more often used for making shoes. It can be made of birch, oak, beech or linden wood, and as a material it is easier to machine, well molded and inexpensive. Soles using cork material are also popular. When dealing with them, one must understand that cork wood, due to its natural softness, cannot serve as the main material for the manufacture of soles, therefore cork is used only for decorative covering.

Rubber soles

Previously, it was the most common, because it showed itself well. However, the mass production forced manufacturers to use other materials that are more profitable from an economic point of view.

Advantages: This material is slip-resistant, durable, frost-resistant. Attaches well to leather upper.

Flaws: the multicomponent composition of the rubber sole and the complexity of connecting the components, a large number of production operations in the manufacture of the material. At the same time, the rubber soles are heavy and very easily soiled. Therefore, the cost of the material is quite high. It is this factor that has forced manufacturers to use alternative materials.

This is what the most common shoe sole materials look like. Unfortunately, the ideal does not exist, however, certain types, with proper use, can manifest themselves exclusively on the positive side.